**Registered number: 07618194 Charity number: 1142619**
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Trustees' report and financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Contents**
||Page|
|---|---|
|**Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers**|1 - 2|
|**Trustees' report**|3 - 15|
|**Trustees' responsibilities statement**|16|
|**Independent auditors' report on the financial statements**|17 - 20|
|**Statement of financial activities**|21|
|**Balance sheet**|22|
|**Statement of cash flows**|23|
|**Notes to the financial statements**|24 - 41|
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers For the year ended 30 June 2025**
|**Trustees**|Oliver Hubbard, Student Trustee (resigned 20 May 2025)|
|---|---|
||Rudra Banerjee, Student Trustee (appointed 27 January 2025)|
||Joseph Cooper, Community Trustee (resigned 23 June 2025)|
||Michael Wigg, Community Trustee|
||Graham Briscoe, Community Trustee|
||Samantha Block, Student Trustee (resigned 9 October 2024)|
||Simran Thapa, Student Trustee|
||Hannah Sketchley, Community Trustee|
||Thomas Wren-Lowry, Community Trustee|
||Niamh Downing, University Trustee (appointed 10 September 2024, resigned 19
June 2025)|
||Molly Davies, President (Student Life) (appointed 1 July 2024)|
||Ali Ghega, Students'Union President (appointed 1 July 2024)|
||Sadia Haleema, President (Academic Life) (appointed 1 July 2024, resigned 30
June 2025)|
||Joseph Butler-Moor, Student Trustee (appointed 1 July 2025)|
||Professor Huxley-Binns, University Trustee (appointed 20 June 2025)|
||Emma Lawrence, Student Trustee (appointed 1 July 2025)|
||Kirsty McDonnell, Student Trustee (appointed 27 January 2025, resigned 6
October 2025)|
||Samuel Newman, Student Trustee (appointed 27 January 2025)|
||Raymond Shuai, Community Trustee (appointed 16 October 2024)|
|**Company registered**
**number**
07618194
**Charity registered**
**number**
1142619
**Registered office**
Mary Seacole
North Holmes Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 1QU
**Chief executive officer**
**Deputy CEO**
**Head of Business &**
**Development**
Ben MacPhee
Hannah Alcock
Chi Lau
**Independent auditors**
Kreston Reeves Audit LLP
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
37 St Margaret's Street
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2TU
**Bankers**
Metro Bank
2 St George's St
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2SR||
Page 1
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Reference and administrative details of the Charity, its Trustees and advisers (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **Insurers**
Endsleigh Quadrangle Imperial Square Cheltenham GL50 1PZ
Page 2
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Trustees' report For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **INTRODUCTION**
The trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, submit their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2025. In preparing this Report the trustees have complied with the Charities Act (2006), the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (revised 2005) (‘the Charity SORP’) and the constitution of Christ Church Students’ Union.
The official name of the organisation is Christ Church Students’ Union, however, the organisation is also referred to as ‘the Union’ and ‘CCSU’.
## **STATUS AND ADMINISTRATION**
The Union is constituted in accordance with its constitution and is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Following the Charities Act (2006) and the withdrawal of exempt charitable status for organisations with annual turnover exceeding £100,000, the Union subsequently registered with the Charity Commission in April 2011, Charity No. 1142619. The Union's major governing document is the Articles of Association, which were passed by an Annual Members’ Meeting of students on 6 November 2020, approved by the Governing Body of Canterbury Christ Church University on 23 March 2021, before being ratified by the Board of Trustees on 6 April 2021.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE, AND MANAGEMENT**
The Union is a membership organisation that is governed by a written constitution and via democratic structures detailed in its constitution. The constitution of the Union is the collective of the major governing document; the Articles of Association, and the minor governing document; the Bye-Laws of Christ Church Students’ Union, which were most recently reviewed in June 2024.
Students of Canterbury Christ Church University automatically become members of Christ Church Students’ Union upon enrolment at the University. Students have the right under the Education Act 1994 to opt out of Union membership; once their student status at the University ends (upon recommendation for an award) they cease to be members of the Union. The Union’s Articles of Association are reviewed at least every five years, and any changes are approved by members, through a General Meeting, and by the Governing Body of the University.
The Union has several formal and informal agreements with the University that ensure effective regulation under the 1994 Education Act as well as establish the independence of the Union from the University, whilst ensuring the two organisations work in close partnership for the benefit of students. These are:
- The Student and University Partnership Agreement;
- The Code of Practice for the Operation of the Students’ Union;
- The Data Sharing and Protection Agreement;
- The annual Financial Memorandum; and
- Professional service level agreements covering HR and Facilities.
The Board of Trustees comprises of up to eighteen trustees with the following designations:
- Up to five (5) Sabbatical Trustees, elected by a secret ballot open to all members of the Union;
- Up to six (6) Student Trustees, either elected by a secret ballot open to all members of the Union, or appointed by the Appointments Panel of the Union;
- Up to six (6) Community Trustees, selected by the Appointments Panel of the Union; and
- One (1) University Trustee, nominated by the University and selected by the Appointments Panel.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
Sabbatical Trustees are full-time and receive a bursary to reflect this, they may serve up to two terms of one (1) year. Student Trustees are volunteers and are not remunerated, but may claim legitimate expenses, and they are eligible to serve two (2) terms of two (2) years. Community Trustees and the University Trustee are also volunteers who may claim legitimate expenses, and can serve three (3) terms of three (3) years.
The Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees are elected by the Board of Trustees on an annual basis, according to the Articles of Association.
## **INDUCTION AND TRAINING OF TRUSTEES**
When becoming a trustee, all trustees undergo a predefined induction program which is supplemented with relevant training for their role. Further training is offered during their trusteeship.
## **CHARITY GOVERNANCE CODE**
The Union is best placed to achieve its ambitions if it has effective governance, the right leadership structures, and skilled and capable staff and trustees. Good governance also supports the Union’s compliance with relevant legislation and regulation and promotes a culture where everything works towards fulfilling the charity’s vision.
The Charity Governance Code has been developed by a steering group, with the help of over 200 charities, and is endorsed and recommended by the Charities Commission. The Code aims to help charities and their trustees develop high standards of governance and is intended as a practical tool to help trustees achieve this, and as a tool for continuous improvement towards the highest standards.
The Code is not a legal or regulatory requirement, instead, the Code sets the principles and recommended practice for good governance and is deliberately aspirational: some elements of the Code will be a stretch to achieve. The enhanced Code for students’ unions covers:
1. 1. Organisational Purpose - The board is clear about the charity’s aims and ensures that these are being delivered effectively and sustainably.
2. Leadership - Every charity is headed by an effective board that provides strategic leadership in line with the charity’s aims and values.
3. Integrity - The board acts with integrity, adopting values and creating a culture which helps achieve the organisation’s charitable purposes. The board is aware of the importance of the public’s confidence and trust in charities, and trustees undertake their duties accordingly.
4. Decision-making, risk and control - The board makes sure that its decision-making processes are informed, rigorous and timely, and that effective delegation, control and risk-assessment, and management systems are set up and monitored.
5. Board effectiveness - The board works as an effective team, using the appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and knowledge to make informed decisions.
6. Diversity - The board’s approach to equality, diversity, and inclusion supports its effectiveness, leadership and decision-making.
7. Openness and accountability - The board leads the organisation in being transparent and accountable.
8. Representation, Interests and Democracy - The students’ union is established as a democratic organisation that fundamentally exists to represent the needs of its membership. The principle of 'Democracy' is fundamental to all Students' Unions and is enshrined in the 1994 Education Act. This principle looks for students' unions to demonstrate that their membership is at the heart of the organisation. It also sets an expectation that students' unions should have fair and transparent democratic processes and procedures which are accessible to all.
In January 2022 trustees conducted an in-depth self-assessment exercise against the updated SU Charity Governance Code, which is a tailored version of the Charity Governance Code published by the National Union of Students. This was part of a wider governance review that took place during 2021/22 that also included a review of the sub-committee structure underneath the Board of Trustees, which created the new Charitable Services Sub-Committee and agreed updated Terms of Reference for all four sub-committees. Trustees revisited this self-assessment in January 2023, and again in January 2024.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
The Union did not review the Charity Governance Code during the year due to the time and focus required for the NUS Quality Students’ Unions (QSU) application, submission, and audit.
## **CHARITY GOVERNANCE CODE**
Quality Students’ Unions is an assurance framework specifically developed for SUs and run by the National Union of Students. The framework considers the quality, standards, and overall effectiveness of students’ unions.
Over the course of 2024/25 a submission with evidence of the Union’s work on behalf of and with students in areas such as strategy, governance, communications, services, relationships & partnerships, and student participation was compiled and submitted for review. The process involved critical self-assessment and reflection of the Union’s work, which was then scrutinised by external auditors against a number of criteria.
In August 2025 Christ Church Students’ Union awarded NUS’s Quality Students’ Union accreditation.
The twelve descriptors are individually assessed as either ‘working towards’, ‘good’. ‘Very good’, or ‘excellent’. Below are the individual audit outcomes:
- Strategy: Excellent
- Relationships and partnerships: Very Good
- Governance: Excellent
- Democracy: Very Good
- People: Excellent
- LEDI: Very Good
- Communication: Good
- Services: Very Good
- Participation: Very Good
- Representation and Campaigns: Very Good
- Sustainability: Good
- Insight and Learning: Very Good
Whilst we are delighted with the outcome we very much believe our work is ongoing - we know that we need to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, embrace change, and continually innovate and evolve, whilst never losing sight of our core ethos of being for students, by students. The Report details a number of areas for further improvement and we will waste no time in reviewing and implementing these.
## **DATA PROTECTION**
The Trustees embraced the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which replaced the 1995 Data Protection Directive (Directive 95/46/EC) when it came into force on 25 May 2018, and now the UK GDPR after the UK left the EU in January 2020. Compliance of the regulation is the responsibility of the Data Protection Champion, who is the Head of Business & Development.
## **SUSTAINABILITY**
Christ Church Students' Union has embedded a commitment to sustainability throughout the organisation. This has included:
- Previously gaining 'Excellent' in the NUS Green Impact Award scheme across multiple years;
- Gaining accreditation alongside the University in the NUS Responsible Futures scheme which looks at partnership working between the University and the Students' Union in all aspects of work relating to sustainability;
- Recognising the Climate Emergency by signing the EAUC’s Climate Emergency Pledge in 2019.
- Joining the University’s ‘Climate Emergency Strategy Group’; and
- Joining Canterbury City Council’s newly formed ‘Climate Change Partnership Board’.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES**
The trustees are ultimately responsible for the governance of Christ Church Students' Union. They are also responsible for the operations of the Union. This includes approving policy, procedure, strategy, and budgets, and ensuring compliance with the Articles of Association, Bye-Laws, and the requirements of companies' acts and education acts.
The trustees (who are also the directors of Christ Church Students' Union Ltd. for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Trustees:
- Accept ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity, and ensuring it is solvent, well-run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of members;
- Abide, individually and collectively, to the Nolan Principles;
- Undertake a skills audit upon recruitment
- Undergo a full induction upon starting office;
- Undertake continuous professional development as a trustee, and
- Complete and keep an updated Register of Interests.
The Board of Trustees has agreed, and reviews annually, a Democratic Bodies Scheme of Authority and Delegation of Authority which provides a framework for the responsibility and authority of the democratic and management pillars of the organisation. This was last reviewed and approved in June 2025 for the 2025/26 financial year.
The Board of Trustees has four sub-committees:
- **Finance & Risk Sub-Committee** , which has delegated responsibility from the Board of Trustees for ensuring the Union complies with relevant legislation and regulations; acts in accordance with the Union’s mission, vision and values; that the Union remains solvent and in sound financial health and analysing and managing the Union’s overall risk profile.
- **Charitable Services Sub-Committee** , which has responsibility for and oversight of the Union’s charitable services - sports, societies, volunteering, student voice, campaigns, and student events.
- **Appointments Committee** , which has the delegated authority over trustee appointments.
- **Appraisal Committee** , which has delegated authority over the performance management of the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board of Trustees appoint staff to take responsibility for operational aspects of the Union, via the Delegation of Authority, and monitor their performance. The trustees will work with the staff and officers to ensure consistency of the service delivered and advise on the policy and direction of the Union as appropriate. The trustees meet a minimum of four times per year, with the dates of these meetings set for the year ahead according to the availability of the members.
Page 6
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
During the year there were six Board of Trustees meetings, including the extraordinary meeting in July to approve the Union’s annual budget. The attendance record for the main Board of Trustees was:
## **PUBLIC BENEFIT**
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act (2006) to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit. The charitable purposes of Christ Church Students' Union are stated in the 'Objects and Activities' and the Trustees ensure that these purposes are carried out for the public benefit.
## **OBJECTS AND ACTIVITIES - OUR CHARITABLE PURPOSE**
Christ Church Students' Unions ("the Union") charitable objects are the advancement and education of students at Canterbury Christ Church University for the public benefit by:
- Being acknowledged as the recognised representative body for all students enrolled on a recognised program of study at Canterbury Christ Church University;
- Promoting the interests of students at Canterbury Christ Church University during their course of study and representing, supporting and advising members;
- Being acknowledged as the recognised representative channel between the students and the university and a representative channel between the students and any other external bodies;
- Providing social and recreational activities for members;
- Promoting cooperation with other universities and colleges and the local community;
- Promoting the welfare and individual development of members and providing advice services relating to educational and welfare issues, and
- Raising funds for other charitable entities.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
The Union has referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2024/25**
2024/25 was the second year of the Union’s three-year strategic plan: Your Best Student Life 2023-26, which came with refreshed Mission, Vision, Values, and Ambition for the organisation.
Our Mission is your best student life.
Our Vision - is to support and empower every student.
Our Ambition is to play a central and exciting role in the lives of students through inclusive representation, comprehensive support, and student-led opportunities that help individuals shape their experiences and achieve their ambitions, now and in the future.
Our Values - Inclusive, Supportive, Exciting, Dependable, Ambitious, Independent.
This Report has been divided into the five areas of Student Focus in our Your Best Student Life strategy.
## **KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS**
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **FIVE STUDENT FOCUSSES**
1. **Your Course** - At the core of what we do is representing and empowering Members to shape their education by providing the spaces where their voices can be heard and amplified to help ensure you receive the best quality education.
- 4,178 votes were cast to elect the 2025/26 Student Leadership Team, which was nearly 15% of eligible voters - the highest percentage turnout since 2017.
- The 2025/26 Student Leadership Elections also saw the highest number of candidates ever.
- The Union organised two Vice Chancellors Q&A events, with one specifically focussed on the University’s Transformation Change Programme.
- There were 5 Academic Success Sessions in Medway, including the return of the Postgraduate Shut Up & Write Event.
- 452 Course Reps were recruited, with 185 fully trained.
- We piloted a digital platform, Unitu, to enhance Course Voice and empower Course Reps - this will be rolledout across the University in 2025/26.
- We co-organised a Canterbury Hustings event for the Kent County Council local elections in May 2025, with over 200 in attendance.
2. **Your Wellbeing** - Striving to help ensure our Members are healthy, happy, and safe, but also informed and empowered to support others.
- Cost of Living & Learning Crisis work again took precedence:
- The Union’s Mary Seacole Building in Canterbury remained a warm place to socialise, study, and heat & eat for students. In the period September - May there were 34,920 visits, which is over 4,000 more than the previous year.
- The free hot drinks offered in Mary Seacole continue to be popular, with 8,126 drinks dispensed. This has saved students approximately £18,283. The cost of this service during the year has been covered by the sponsorship deal we have with the Lost Sheep Coffee Company - a local company based in Whitstable.;
- The Union supported the Student Breakfast Club in Mary Seacole to the tune of £2,243 during the year. This service offers free toast, cereal, or porridge to students from 8:30am - 10:30am and is intended to be an incentive to drive students onto Campus, and to support them with the Cost of Living Crisis. The service is really popular with students, and indeed was very well received by parents at the recent Open Day.
- The Canterbury Campus Pantry supported 83 students in food crisis with an emergency food parcel.
- The Advice Team supported 499 student cases during the year - from plagiarism to appeals, and career or vocation-ending fitness-to-practice panels
- The ‘Don’t Burn Out!’ campaign included two Puppy Therapy Sessions, Medway Breakfasts, Paint & Pot, two fruit handouts in Augustine House during exam season, and a top tips series on Instagram.
- 200 Wellbeing bags were handed out to students - 50 at Solomans and 150 at Medway
3. **Your Self** - Higher education has the potential to be transformative for Members at all stages in their lives. It inspires and drives people to look at things how they could be, rather than how they are, to find yourself and find and accept others as they are.
- For One World Week, the annual cultural celebration, activities included a trip to Wildwood where students learnt about sustainability, a Mini Food Fayre, Morris Dancing, and Dhol Drummers performing.
- Free milk and dates were handed out throughout Ramadan in Mary Seacole, providing students with the opportunity to break fast after classes
- The Nepalese society hosted their end of year celebration in Mary Seacole, where they celebrated their achievements and said goodbye to their graduating students.
- The Black History Month Writing Competition saw students submit pieces of writing on 'Reclaiming Narratives'.
Page 9
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
- Women in Sport campaign - over 50 CCCU female athletes featured in the campaign video for Canterbury Varsity that successfully highlighted and celebrated female athletes in Christ Church Lions.
- International Food Fayre - Food cooked by staff and students from Nigeria, Ghana, Japan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Spain, Cyprus, Poland, Vietnam, Pakistan, Syria, India, Oman, Gibraltar, Uzbekistan, China, Nepal, Slovakia, Germany and the UK.
4. **Your Communities** - We commit to creating and supporting life-changing student communities, to breaking down barriers that hinder participation, and to actively celebrate diversity.
- As part of a renewed focus on the Medway Campus, during the year there were 19 pop up events at Medway including breakfast clubs, crafternoons, puppies and alpacas.
- Multiple sold out Give It A Go events, connecting 300 of our students to 17 unforgettable experiences.
5. **Your Success** - We believe that learning extends beyond a course, and we are here to empower Members to gain skills and experiences that prepare them to attain their future career and ambitions.
- At the CCSU Celebrates Awards the Union awarded, 5 Student Reps, 3 Peer Mentors, 5 Ambassadors, 7 GradForcers, 3 Society members and 7 Societies individually, and 60 Volunteers (24 for Bronze / 13 for Silver / 11 for Gold / 5 for Platinum / 6 for Diamond / 1 for Special Recognition). Also, 24 students from across the University were recognised with the Super Student Award.
- Course Reps worked with the University on Assessment Regulations, Interdisciplinary Modules, and the Student Success Modules - work that will positively impact students’ experiences for many years to come.
- Canterbury Varsity continued its success and growth, with 36 fixtures across seven days in which over 400 CCCU students competed. In addition, 1,200 watched the men’s and women’s rugby fixtures and 700 watched the Summer Cricket Varsity at the Spitfire Ground St. Lawrence.
- Christ Church Lions competed in 304 BUCS fixtures plus multiple teams and competitions and local leagues.
- 210 students attended the Sports Federation Awards evening.
- The Golden Apple (student-led teaching) Awards had 198 staff nominees by 419 students.
In terms of student satisfaction with their Students’ Union:
- The score for the students’ union question in the National Student Survey was 77% for taught students, an increase from 75.5% on last year and above the sector average. The figure for registered students was even higher at 84.6%.
- In the national league table of SU rankings of 140 NSS participants, the Union went from 113th in 2022, to 7th in 2025 (for registered students).
- 43% of students were satisfied with their students’ union according to the Union’s externally-run survey, which is up from 40% in 2022, but down from the 46% recorded in 2024.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
The accounting deficit for the year was £18,425. The operating surplus for the year was £22,635.
## **BASIS OF ACCOUNTING**
The annual financial statements of Christ Church Students’ Union are attached to this Report. They have been prepared using the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS102).
Page 10
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **GOING CONCERN**
The financial relationship between Canterbury Christ Church University and Christ Church Students’ Union is agreed annually in the form of a Financial Memorandum. The Financial Memorandum confirms the annual allocation of a Block Grant paid by the University and further support in the form of accommodation provided on an in-kind basis. This non-monetary support is intrinsic to the relationship between the University and the Union.
There is no reason to believe that the support from the University will not continue for the foreseeable future, as the Education Act (1994) imposes a duty on the University to ensure the financial viability of the student representative body. These Financial Statements have therefore been prepared on a going-concern basis.
## **PRINCIPLE FUNDING SOURCES**
The majority of the Union’s funding is derived from the annual Block Grant from Canterbury Christ Church University. The remainder of the income is from advertising and sponsorships.
## **FUNDRAISING**
The Union’s fundraising work concerns Raise and Give (RaG), which is student-led fundraising for other charities. Christ Church Students’ Union does not make direct fundraising appeals to members or the general public. Christ Church Students’ Union supports the work and objectives of the Fundraising Regulator, however, the vast majority of the Union’s income is derived directly from the University and not regulated fundraising and as a consequence, the Union is not affiliated with the Fundraising Regulator as doing so is not in the best interests of members.
## **EXTERNAL AFFILIATIONS**
Under the Education Act (1994) the Union is required to report to its members, on an annual basis, all current external affiliations. As at 30 June 2025 the Union was affiliated to:
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **RESERVES AND RESERVES POLICY**
Christ Church Students' Union holds reserves that are categorised as either ‘unrestricted’ or ‘designated’. The management of the unrestricted reserves is guided by the Reserves Policy, which was reviewed and approved in January 2024.
The Reserves Policy has the following objectives, some of which are legal requirements and some are considered best practice:
- Charity law requires any income received by a charity to be spent within a reasonable period of receipt. Excess reserves can tie up charity money that by law should be spent on the charitable purposes of the Union, but insufficient reserves put the Union’s solvency and the future of achieving stated charitable objectives at risk. The Policy sets out the target reserves and the rationale for that target.
- Union funds must be used appropriately, prudently, lawfully and in accordance with the Unions’ purposes for the public benefit as outlined in the Articles of Association. The Policy sets out how the Union will use funds prudently and lawfully.
- Trustees should be able to justify the holding of income as reserves. The Policy will enable trustees to do this, whilst remaining accountable to the main stakeholders and funders of the charity and to members.
The Union considers that a certain level of Cash Reserves should normally be maintained to safeguard the Union against unexpected expenses or short to medium-term shortfall in income. This minimum amount to be designated for the Cash Reserves level will be established as an amount sufficient to maintain ongoing operations for a set period of time, taking into consideration the guaranteed income from the Financial Memorandum with the University applicable at that time. The Cash Reserves serve a dynamic role and will be reviewed and adjusted in response to internal and external changes and taking due consideration of the Union’s Risk Register.
The Union’s target reserves should ensure there are sufficient Cash Reserves to meet the estimated non-salary expenditure for a minimum period of 12 weeks. Salary costs are excluded from this calculation on the basis that the party liable for payroll expenditure and duties officially falls with the University. For 2024/25, the total budgeted non-pay expenditure was £248k, therefore the Cash Reserves target for the period was £57k.
## **RISK MANAGEMENT**
Trustees have identified the major risks facing the Union and recorded them, and the management of these, in the Union’s Risk Register and Dashboard. The Risk Register and Dashboard is actively maintained and reviewed, according to the Risk Management Policy. This was last reviewed and re-approved on 19 May 2025.
The Risk Register and Dashboard actively manage the ten (10) largest perceived risks to the organisation. Risks are graded from 1-5 for likelihood and multiplied by 1-5 for impact. In 2024/25 there were three risks that were considered particularly significant.
1. ‘Reduction in Block Grant income’ - the financial and political operating context in higher education is extremely challenging. The freeze in tuition fee funding, inflation, and other costs have significantly impacted finances at CCCU, as well as a reduction in direct-taught students. This is at a time when students’ expectations have grown, the demand for our services has increased, and our partnership work with the University has expanded. The SU needs to be proactive in these challenges.
2. ‘Loss of key staff and service continuity’ - Individuals playing key roles within the Union have little or no cover if required due to unforeseen absence, or instances of short notice periods, leaving the Union exposed to loss of continuity for specialisms and services. This risk was heightened year on year due to the necessary and significant reduction in FTE arising from funding cuts.
3. ‘Student recruitment’ - the student recruitment ‘market’ continues to be extremely challenging, and for institutions like Christ Church in particular as the expected uptick in 18 year olds entering higher education is not materialising, and changes to international student visas are impacting that aspect of recruitment.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **REMUNERATION**
All Christ Church Students’ Union staff are all, in practice, staff of the University seconded to the Union, with the same pay, pension, and benefits. Staff roles are graded according to the Higher Education Role Analysis (HERA) criteria, and the pay of each grade is determined nationally on an annual basis by the Universities & Colleges Employers Association in consultation with recognised trade unions.
The remuneration of Sabbatical Officers is determined every year after a benchmarking analysis of comparable roles in similar organisations, and a report is presented to the Union Council. The Union Council will then formally recommend a remuneration package to the Board of Trustees for final determination, according to the constitution of the Union and Financial Memorandum. Trustees with a conflict of interest in this decision are excluded from the vote. The Board of Trustees last reviewed the remuneration of Sabbatical Officers in May 2025.
## **GENDER PAY GAP**
The Gender Pay Gap legislation is not applicable to the Union by virtue of the small size of the organisation, however, as a transparent membership organisation the Union was committed to calculating and publishing a gender pay gap analysis as if the legislation had applied.
These calculations include sabbatical officers and were correct as of 31 March 2025. The figures below do not include bonus pay, as the Union does not operate a bonus scheme.
- Women’s mean hourly pay was £16.31 and men’s was £20.98, meaning by this measure women's earnings were 22% lower than men’s. In 2024 this was 9% lower.
- Women’s median hourly rate was £14.79 and men’s was £17.40, meaning by this measure women’s earnings were 15% lower than men’s. In 2024 this was 11% lower.
## **RELATIONSHIP WITH CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH UNIVERSITY**
Christ Church Students' Union receives an allocation of funds from Canterbury Christ Church University in the form of a Block Grant and additional ‘in-kind’ support with accommodation and other services. Guidance for the management and handling of the Union's financial accounts are agreed on an annual basis by Canterbury Christ Church University’s Board of Governors via the Finance Resources Committee and the Union's Board of Trustees in the form of a Financial Memorandum.
## **PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS**
2025/26 is the final year of Christ Church Students’ Union’s three-year strategic plan: ‘Your Best Student Life 2023-26’. The Plan is comprised of:
- Three Foundations;
- Five Enabling Sub-Strategies; and
- Five areas of Student Focus.
## **THREE FOUNDATIONS**
1. Governance - Students’ Unions’ are unique organisations operating within a complex and burdensome regulatory framework. Strong and effective governance is an essential bedrock to everything we do. Christ Church SU starts ‘Your Best Student Life’ with an effective governance model, but this will need to be reviewed during the life of the Strategy to ensure it continues to act as both an enabler of our student-led ethos and our independence, and not a bureaucratic barrier to getting things done.
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**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
2. Finance - Without well managed finances we can’t hope to achieve our ambitions. Christ Church SU has transformed its financial management and position in the last strategic period, which has helped to build confidence in us with both Members and stakeholders. However we, like many universities and SUs, face significant financial uncertainty ahead. We are over-reliant upon the University for funding, and so to help ensure our ambitions are deliverable we need to investigate new areas of income generation and continue to focus on value for money and impact for our Members, and ultimately, the University as our major funder.
3. Partnerships - We can’t do everything, and so to succeed for and with our Members we have developed effective partnerships with others to further our Mission and Vision. To help ensure a greater impact, we will need to continue to deepen our partnerships with students to co-create and deliver activity, as well as other values-driven organisations that share our mission to create your best student life. Our major partnership is with Canterbury Christ Church University, and is one of mutuality and respect. As our primary funder and regulator, we must hold ourselves accountable for delivering key aspects of the student experience, demonstrating our impact, our effectiveness and our value. But we also need a relationship that empowers and respects our right to constructively disagree with and challenge the University by advocating for positive changes on behalf of students in a positive and productive way.
## **FIVE SUB-STRATEGIES**
1. People & Culture - Great people help to create a great culture. Christ Church SU should be an aspirational and inclusive employer for values-driven people who actively embrace change and want to support and empower others. We start from a good place, but we can’t lose sight that as a small team with a constant churn of staff and sabbatical officers, we need to continue to work at this to succeed in building and maintaining a high-performing team that is reflective of our student membership. Our People & Culture SubStrategy details how we will recruit, develop, and retain great people and help to ensure their time with Christ Church SU is exciting and transformative.
2. Insight - Research, evidence, and insight should inform all of our work, drive improvement, empower our people, and deliver and demonstrate impact for students. Our Insight Sub-Strategy details how we move from knowing our Members, to understanding them in a way that helps us to more effectively communicate with, and advocate for, them.
3. Engagement - Our Vision, Mission, and Ambition are about empowering and supporting people. We simply can’t do this without effective people engagement. Our Engagement Sub-Strategy details how we will deliver dependable direct and co-created student-led services to meet our ambition of offering at least one thing that excites all students, whilst all the time pushing for even deeper engagement.
4. Communication - Students are busy, and getting our message across is ever more challenging, but it is vital to showcase all we do for, and with, students that can help you get Your Best Student Life. Our Communication Sub-Strategy, drawing upon our Insight and Engagement Sub-Strategies, details how we will move towards engaging, tailored, two-way communication with all students to ensure we are relevant to you. This means ensuring you know what we do with you and for you, why we do it, and to communicate with confidence in your spaces to your preference.
5. Sustainability - Christ Church SU acknowledges the climate emergency and the prevailing inaction on this across society. We also acknowledge that although our impact may be small in this space, we have a moral obligation and therefore determination to act. Our Sustainability Sub-Strategy details how we will take direct action ourselves, to work and influence others, and to educate students on how we all can contribute to the societal changes needed to tackle ecological breakdown.
## **FIVE STUDENT FOCUSSES**
1. Your Course - At the core of what we do is representing and empowering Members to shape their education by providing the spaces where their voices can be heard and amplified to help ensure you receive the best quality education.
2. Your Wellbeing - Striving to help ensure our Members are healthy, happy, and safe, but also informed and empowered to support others.
Page 14
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Trustees' report (continued) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
3. Your Self - Higher education has the potential to be transformative for Members at all stages in their lives. It inspires and drives people to look at things how they could be, rather than how they are, to find yourself and find and accept others as they are.
4. Your Communities - We commit to creating and supporting life-changing student communities, to breaking down barriers that hinder participation, and to actively celebrate diversity.
5. Your Success - We believe that learning extends beyond a course, and we are here to empower Members to gain skills and experiences that prepare them to attain their future career and ambitions.
In addition, Student Leadership Team have also adopted the BIG FOUR ambitions for the year:
1. The ‘Your SU’ campaign.
2. CCSU Community events.
3. Overt academic support.
4. Skills and Employability.
The Union's full 2025/26 operating plan is again hosted dynamically and publicly on Trello for students and stakeholders to view - https://trello.com/b/8FhuWjyV.
## **AUDITORS**
The audit registration of Kreston Reeves LLP was transferred to Kreston Reeves Audit LLP on 6 October 2025. Kreston Reeves Audit LLP were formally appointed as auditor to the company on 6 October 2025.
## **CONCLUSION**
The Trustees would like to sincerely thank the members, volunteers, staff, and stakeholders of Christ Church Students’ Union, and the governors, SMT, and staff of Canterbury Christ Church University, who all provide an invaluable contribution to the ongoing success and development of the Students’ Union and enable us to ‘better student life and enrich students’ experiences’.
Approved by order of the members of the board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
**Molly Davies** President (Student Life) Chair of the Board of Trustees Date: 13 October 2025
Page 15
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Statement of Trustees' responsibilities For the year ended 30 June 2025**
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the Charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
- make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards (FRS 102) have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and 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 Companies Act 2006. They 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.
Page 16
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Independent auditors' report to the Members of Christ Church Students' Union**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Christ Church Students' Union (the 'charity') for the year ended 30 June 2025 which comprise the Statement of financial activities, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows and the related notes, 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:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 30 June 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **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 charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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 charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Page 17
**Christ Church Students' Union**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Independent auditors' report to the Members of Christ Church Students' Union (continued)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' 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 course of 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 this gives rise to 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.
## **Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006**
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
- the information given in the Trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.
- the Trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
- the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 charitable company'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 charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Page 18
**Christ Church Students' Union**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Independent auditors' report to the Members of Christ Church Students' Union (continued)**
## **Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
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 Auditors' 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:
## _Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud_
Based on our understanding of the charity and industry, and through discussion with the trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to health and safety, anti-bribery and employment law. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and taxation legislation. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to management bias in accounting estimates and judgemental areas of the financial statements. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
- Discussions with management and assessment of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations (including health and safety) and fraud; and
- Assessment of identified fraud risk factors; and
- Walkthrough of internal controls procedures relating to expenditure potentially more susceptible to fraud and other irregularities including cash, payroll and credit card expenditure; and
- Performing analytical procedures with automated data analytics to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships, including related party transactions, that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; and
- Confirmation of related parties with management, and review of transactions throughout the period to identify any previously undisclosed transactions with related parties outside the normal course of business; and
- Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and reviewing correspondence with relevant regulatory authorities; and
- Review of significant and unusual transactions and evaluation of the underlying financial rationale supporting the transactions; and
- Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any manual entries made at the year end for financial statement preparation.
Page 19
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Independent auditors' report to the Members of Christ Church Students' Union (continued)**
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
- Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the charitable company's internal control.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the Trustees.
- Conclude on the appropriateness of the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our Auditors' report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our Auditors' report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
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 charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and its members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Samantha Rouse FCCA DChA (Senior statutory auditor)**
for and on behalf of **Kreston Reeves Audit LLP**
Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor Canterbury
16 October 2025
Page 20
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Statement of financial activities (incorporating income and expenditure account) For the year ended 30 June 2025**
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
7
**Total expenditure**
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
Net movement in funds
**Total funds carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**853,835**
**113,914**
**9,634**
**977,383**
**7,455**
**988,353**
**995,808**
**(18,425)**
**479,640**
**(18,425)**
**461,215**|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**853,835**
**113,914**
**9,634**
**977,383**
**7,455**
**988,353**
**995,808**
**(18,425)**
**479,640**
**(18,425)**
**461,215**|Total
funds
2024
£
952,243
135,390
10,400
1,098,033
18,795
1,114,498
1,133,293
(35,260)
514,900
(35,260)
479,640|
|---|---|---|---|
The Statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.
Page 21
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee) Registered number: 07618194**
## **Balance sheet As at 30 June 2025**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
12
**Current assets**
Debtors
13
Cash at bank and in hand
**Current liabilities**
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
14
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**Charity funds**
Restricted funds
15
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
15
General funds
15
Total unrestricted funds
15
**Total funds**|**27,496**
**339,256**
**366,752**
**(130,048)**
**298,974**
**162,241**|**2025**
**£**
**224,511**
**236,704**
**461,215**
**-**
**461,215**
**461,215**|25,236
372,811
398,047
(179,302)
340,034
139,606|2024
£
260,895
218,745|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|||||479,640|
|||||-
479,640|
||||||
|||||479,640|
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## **Molly Davies**
Chair of the Board of Trustees Date: 13 October 2025
The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.
Page 22
**Christ Church Students' Union (A company limited by guarantee)**
|**Statement of cash flows**
**For the year ended 30 June 2025**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash used in operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
**Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**
The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements|**2025**
**£**
**(40,948)**
**9,634**
**(2,241)**
**7,393**
**(33,555)**
**372,811**
**339,256**|2024
£
4,537
10,400
(265,004)
**(254,604)**
**(250,067)**
622,878
372,811|
|---|---|---|
Page 23
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **1. General information**
Christ Church Students' Union is a charity, limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales.
The charity's registered office is Mary Seacole, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 1QU.
The charitable activities of the charity are the provision of social, recreational and representative services to students studying at Canterbury Christ Church University.
## **2. Accounting policies**
## **2.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements**
The financial statements 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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS102) published on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Christ Church Students' Union 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.
The charity's functional currency is Pounds Sterling.
The charity's financial statements are presented to the nearest pound.
## **2.2 Going Concern**
The financial relationship between Canterbury Christ Church University and Christ Church Students' Union is agreed annually in the form of a Financial Memorandum, and as determined in the Code of Practice and Articles of Association.
The Financial Memorandum confirms the annual allocation of a Block Grant paid by the University and further support in the form of accommodation provided on an in-kind basis. This non-monetary support is intrinsic to the relationship between the University and the Students' Union.
There is no reason to believe that the support from the University will not continue for the foreseeable future, as the Education Act 1994 imposes a duty on the University to ensure the financial viability of its student representative body. These financial statements have therefore been prepared on a going concern basis.
Page 24
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.3 Income**
All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants are included in the Statement of financial activities on a receivable basis. The balance of income received for specific purposes but not expended during the period is shown in the relevant funds on the Balance sheet. Where income is received in advance of entitlement of receipt, its recognition is deferred and included in creditors as deferred income. Where entitlement occurs before income is received, the income is accrued.
Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold.
Donated goods and services are recognised by the charity as income. Donated goods are measured at fair value. Donated services are measured at the amount that the charity would expect to pay in the open market for an alternative benefit to the charity. Value to the charity may be lower than, but cannot exceed, the price the charity would pay in the open market.
No income is recognised in respect of the contribution of unpaid volunteers.
## **2.4 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity and inculde project management carried out at Headquarters.
Expenditure on raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the Charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities events and non-charitable trading.
Expenditure on charitable activities is incurred on directly undertaking the activities which further the Charity's objectives, as well as any associated support costs.
All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
## **2.5 Interest receivable**
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the institution with whom the funds are deposited.
Page 25
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.6 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.
## **2.7 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation**
Tangible fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably.
Tangible fixed assets are initially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bring a tangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of tangible fixed assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
|Property improvements|-|10% on cost per annum|
|---|---|---|
|Plant and machinery|-|20% on cost per annum|
|Fixtures and fittings|-|10% on cost per annum|
|Office equipment|-|25% on cost per annum|
## **2.8 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
## **2.9 Cash at bank and in hand**
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **2.10 Liabilities and provisions**
Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.
Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the Charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.
Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised in the Statement of financial activities as a finance cost.
Page 26
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **2. Accounting policies (continued)**
## **2.11 Financial instruments**
The Charity only has financial assets and financial 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 with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **2.12 Operating leases**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of financial activities on a straightline basis over the lease term.
## **2.13 Fund accounting**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**Grants**
Block grant
797,657
Benefit in Kind
56,178
**Total 2025**
853,835
Total 2024
952,243|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**797,657**
**56,178**
**853,835**
952,243|Total
funds
2024
£
900,883
51,360|
|---|---|---|
|||952,243|
||||
Page 27
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **4. Income from charitable activities**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Fundraising events
8,630
Membership Income - Sport
37,430
Membership Income - Societies
25,994
Marketing Income
32,697
Miscellaneous Income
9,163
**Total 2025**
113,914
Total 2024
135,390|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**8,630**
**37,430**
**25,994**
**32,697**
**9,163**
**113,914**
135,390|Total
funds
2024
£
14,129
36,499
41,460
31,393
11,909|
|---|---|---|
|||135,390|
||||
## **5. Investment income**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Bank interest receivable
9,634
Total 2024
10,400|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**9,634**
10,400|Total
funds
2024
£
10,400|
|---|---|---|
||||
Page 28
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **6. Expenditure on raising funds**
## **Costs of raising voluntary income**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
RAG Funds
7,455
Total 2024
18,795|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**7,455**
18,795|Total
funds
2024
£
18,795|
|---|---|---|
||||
## **7. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities**
- **Summary by fund type**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Student Representation
886,681
Student Activities
75,759
Student Events
25,913
988,353
Total 2024
1,114,498|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
**886,681**
**75,759**
**25,913**
**988,353**
1,114,498|Total
2024
£
989,747
87,164
37,587|
|---|---|---|
|||1,114,498|
||||
Page 29
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **8. Analysis of expenditure by activities**
|Student Representation
Sport
Societies
Total 2024
**Analysis of direct costs**
Staff costs
Other direct cost|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**2025**
**£**
619,965
75,759
25,913
721,637
811,839|**Support**
**costs**
**2025**
**£**
266,716
-
-
266,716
302,659|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**886,681**
**75,759**
**25,913**
**988,353**
1,114,498
**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**581,866**
**139,771**
**721,637**|Total
funds
2024
£
989,747
87,164
37,587|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,114,498|
|||||Total
funds
2024
£
638,806
173,033|
|||||811,839|
Page 30
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **8. Analysis of expenditure by activities (continued)**
## **Analysis of support costs**
|Advertising, Sales and Marketing
Vehicles, Travel, and Staff Costs
Establishment Costs
Office Costs
Facilities and IT
Governance
**9.**
**Auditors' remuneration**
Fees payable to the Charity's auditor for the audit of the Charity's annual
accounts
**10.**
**Staff costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**47,022**
**14,258**
**110,989**
**18,938**
**7,310**
**68,199**
**266,716**
**2025**
**£**
**13,000**
**2025**
**£**
**472,761**
**41,379**
**67,726**
**581,866**|Total
funds
2024
£
33,144
17,875
105,080
46,051
11,355
89,154|
|---|---|---|
|||302,659|
|||2024
£
11,230|
|||2024
£
515,201
45,328
78,277|
||||
|||638,806|
During the year £27,069 was paid in redundancy costs before the balance sheet date.
Page 31
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **10. Staff costs (continued)**
The average number of persons employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
|Student Activities
Student Representatives
Clerical & Admin|**2025**
**No.**
**4**
**6**
**2**
**12**|2024
No.
3
8
5|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||16|
The number of employees whose employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) exceeded £60,000 was:
|||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**No.**|No.|
|In the band £60,001|- £70,000|**1**|1|
## **11. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
During the year, Trustees received remuneration amounting to £75,830 (2024: £85,562). Trustees, who are employed as sabbatical officers are remunerated in their roles as sabbatical officers.
During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2024: £NIL).
|||**2025**|2024|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|£|
|Max Elvin|Remuneration|**-**|25,598|
||Pension contributions paid|**-**|4,295|
|Inés Abella Romero|Remuneration|**-**|25,189|
||Pension contributions paid|**-**|2,113|
|Alice Lundy|Remuneration|**-**|14,990|
||Pension contributions paid|**-**|2,585|
|Thomas Abbott|Remuneration|**-**|19,786|
||Pension contributions paid|**-**|3,429|
|Molly Davies|Remuneration|**25,678**|-|
||Pension contributions paid|**4,814**|-|
|Ali Ghega|Remuneration|**25,174**|-|
|Sadia Haleema|Remuneration|**24,978**|-|
||Pension contributions paid|**2,312**|-|
During the year ended 30 June 2025, expenses totalling £1,917 were reimbursed or paid directly to 8 Trustees (2024 - £1,654 to 12 Trustees).
Page 32
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **12. Tangible fixed assets**
|**Property**
**improvements**
**£**
**Cost or valuation**
At 1 July 2024
**156,564**
Additions
**-**
At 30 June 2025
**156,564**
**Depreciation**
At 1 July 2024
**49,867**
Charge for the year
**11,864**
At 30 June 2025
**61,731**
**Net book value**
At 30 June 2025
**94,833**
At 30 June 2024
106,697
**Debtors**
**Due within one year**
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
**13,080**
**-**
**13,080**
**2,180**
**2,616**
**4,796**
**8,284**
10,900|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**£**
**135,975**
**-**
**135,975**
**11,330**
**13,597**
**24,927**
**111,048**
124,645||**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
**52,220**
**2,241**
**54,461**
**33,567**
**10,548**
**44,115**
**10,346**
18,653
**2025**
**£**
**11,655**
**9,691**
**6,150**
**27,496**|**Total**
**£**
**357,839**
**2,241**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**360,080**|
||||||**96,944**
**38,625**|
||||||**135,569**|
||||||**224,511**|
||||||260,895|
||||||2024
£
9,650
8,280
7,306
25,236|
## **13. Debtors**
Page 33
## **Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **14. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income
**Accruals and deferred income**
Deferred income at 1 July 2024
Resources deferred during the year
Amounts released from previous periods|**2025**
**£**
**61,920**
**68,128**
**130,048**
**2025**
**£**
**1,000**
**2,146**
**(1,000)**
**2,146**|2024
£
102,402
76,900
179,302
2024
£
2,567
1,000
(2,567)
1,000|
|---|---|---|
Page 34
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **15. Statement of funds**
## **Statement of funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Fixed assets
Club & Societies
Lucy Bannister
RAG
Opportunities Hardship Fund
Success Fund
**General funds**
General Funds
**Total Unrestricted funds**|**Balance at 1**
**July 2024**
**£**
**260,895**
**63,598**
**5,494**
**4,068**
**5,053**
**926**
**340,034**
**Balance at 1**
**July 2024**
**£**
**139,606**
**479,640**|**Income**
**£**
**-**
**63,424**
**-**
**7,432**
**-**
**-**
**70,856**
**Income**
**£**
**906,527**
**977,383**|**Expenditure**
**£**
**-**
**(67,151)**
**-**
**(6,516)**
**(939)**
**(926)**
**(75,532)**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**(920,276)**
**(995,808)**|**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**(36,384)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**(36,384)**
**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**36,384**
**-**|**Balance at**
**30 June**
**2025**
**£**
**224,511**
**59,871**
**5,494**
**4,984**
**4,114**
**-**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**298,974**|
||||||**Balance at**
**30 June**
**2025**
**£**
**162,241**|
||||||**461,215**|
Page 35
**Christ Church Students' Union**
**(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **15. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Clubs and societies**
The Trustees treat income received and expenditure incurred by clubs and societies as Designated Funds. In the event of a club or society ceasing to operate anymore a surplus of funds will be returned to the General Fund.
## **Lucy Bannister**
The Lucy Bannister Fund was established by MidSoc in 2018 to support student midwives at the University who are experiencing hardship with the cost of academic and co-curricular activities. Applications and awards from the Fund are managed by MidSoc with the oversight of the Students' Union.
## **RAG funds**
These represent Raise and Give (RAG), which is student-led fundraising for other charities.
## **NaSFA**
Funds held on behalf of the National Student Fundraising Association.
## **Opportunities Hardship**
A new fund created from an insurance rebate which students who are experiencing financial hardship will be able to apply to cover the cost of their club or society membership.
## **Success Fund**
A new fund created from the designated funds of extinct societies that current societies can submit bids to for significant development activity.
## **Student Hub**
A strategic priority for the Students’ Union for a number of years has been to move Union Staff and the office to the main Canterbury Campus, in recognition that the Union can be more effective at achieving stated charitable objects by being closer to the membership.
Page 36
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **15. Statement of funds (continued)**
## **Statement of funds - prior year**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**Designated funds**
Fixed assets
Club & Societies
Lucy Bannister
RAG
NaSFA
Opportunities Hardship Fund
Success Fund
Student Hub
**General funds**
General Funds
**Total Unrestricted funds**|Balance at
1 July 2023
£
33,375
69,127
2,490
12,805
48
2,234
2,158
244,405
366,642
Balance at
1 July 2023
£
148,258
514,900|Income
£
-
77,959
3,004
4,728
-
5,456
-
-
91,147
Income
£
1,006,886
1,098,033|Expenditure
£
-
(83,488)
-
(13,465)
(48)
(2,637)
(1,232)
-
(100,870)
Expenditure
£
(1,032,423)
(1,133,293)|Transfers
in/out
£
227,520
-
-
-
-
-
-
(244,405)
(16,885)
Transfers
in/out
£
16,885
-|Balance at
30 June
2024
£
260,895
63,598
5,494
4,068
-
5,053
926
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||340,034|
||||||Balance at
30 June
2024
£
139,606|
||||||479,640|
Page 37
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **16. Summary of funds**
## **Summary of funds - current year**
|Designated funds
General funds|**Balance at 1**
**July 2024**
**£**
**340,034**
**139,606**
**479,640**
Balance at
1 July 2023
£
366,642
148,258
514,900|**Income**
**£**
**70,856**
**906,527**
**977,383**
Income
£
91,147
1,006,886
1,098,033|**Expenditure**
**£**
**(75,532)**
**(920,276)**
**(995,808)**
Expenditure
£
(100,870)
(1,032,423)
(1,133,293)|**Transfers**
**in/out**
**£**
**(36,384)**
**36,384**
**-**
Transfers
in/out
£
(16,885)
16,885
-|**Balance at**
**30 June**
**2025**
**£**
**298,974**
**162,241**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||**461,215**|
||||||Balance at
30 June
2024
£
340,034
139,606|
|**Summary of funds - prior year**||||||
|Designated funds
General funds||||||
||||||479,640|
## **17. Analysis of net assets between funds**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - current year**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Tangible fixed assets
224,511
Current assets
366,752
Creditors due within one year
(130,048)
**Total**
461,215|**Total**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
**224,511**
**366,752**
**(130,048)**|
|---|---|
||**461,215**|
Page 38
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
## **Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **17. Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)**
## **Analysis of net assets between funds - prior year**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one year
**Total**|Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
260,895
398,047
(179,302)
479,640|Total
funds
2024
£
260,895
398,047
(179,302)
479,640|
|---|---|---|
## **18. Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities**
|Net expenditure for the year (as per Statement of Financial Activities)
**Adjustments for:**
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interests and rents from investments
Decrease/(increase) in debtors
Decrease in creditors
**Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities**
**19.**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
Cash in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**|**2025**
**£**
**(18,425)**
**38,625**
**(9,634)**
**(2,260)**
**(49,254)**
**(40,948)**
**2025**
**£**
**339,256**
**339,256**|2024
£
(35,260)
37,484
(10,400)
47,631
(34,918)
4,537
2024
£
372,811
372,811|
|---|---|---|
Page 39
**Christ Church Students' Union**
## **(A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **20. Analysis of changes in net debt**
|Cash at bank and in hand|**At 1 July**
**2024**
**£**
**372,811**
**372,811**|**Cash flows**
**£**
**(33,555)**
**(33,555)**|**At 30 June**
**2025**
**£**
**339,256**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**339,256**|
## **21. Pension commitments**
As employees of Canterbury Christ Church University the pension costs relate to pension recharges by the University to the Charity and amounted to £67,726 (2024 - 78,277) The Union is not the admitted member of the defined benefit scheme and the Charity has no liability for the scheme. As a result there is £Nil (2024 - £Nil) amounts payable to the fund at the balance sheet date.
## **22. Operating lease commitments**
The charity's property is the subject of an operating lease between the Charity and Canterbury Christ Church University at a nominal rent of £1 per year. The value of this is considered to be £56,178 (2024: £51,360) and is recognised in the income as a benefit in kind.
The Charity had no commitments under non-cancellable operating leases at 30 June 2025.
Page 40
**Christ Church Students' Union (A company limited by guarantee)**
**Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 30 June 2025**
## **23. Related party transactions**
Christ Church Students' Union is an independent body operating separately from Canterbury Christ Church University but the two entities work together closely and the majority of the Charity's income is derived from the University. The Trustees are of the opinion that this financial assistance is not an influencing factor with regards to the formulation of Union policy, nor does it have any effect on the internal management and decision making of the Union.
Christ Church Students' Union is in receipt of a Block Grant of £797,657 (2024: £900,883) and in-kind support to the value of £56,178 (2024: £51,360) for accommodation from Canterbury Christ Church University. Canterbury Christ Church University also reimbursed expenditure incurred by Christ Church Students' Union totalling £2,000 (2024: £Nil) and provided other support totalling £1,139 (2024: £Nil). In accordance with Charities SORP 2015 the value of buildings and services are determined at market value. Christ Church Students' Union incurred expenditure from Canterbury Christ Church University for support costs of £572,585 (2024: £663,783). The balance due to the Canterbury Christ Church University at the balance sheet date was £82,686 (2024: £149,985). Additionally, the Charity has charged Canterbury Christ Church University expenses incurred on their behalf, in relation to sports activities, total amount of £Nil (2024: £Nil). The balance due from Canterbury Christ Church University at the balance sheet date is £450 (2024: £7,884).
Key management personnel that served in the year was considered to be those included in the reference and administrative details on page 1 and Sabbatical Officers. The aggregate amount of contractual benefits paid to these individuals, including pension contributions and National Insurance Contributions, during the year was £296,355 (2024: £304,070).
For details on Trustees' remuneration and claimed expenses whilst carrying out their duties, see note 11.
## **24. Controlling party**
The ultimate control of the Union is vested under the Constitution in the members. As such no single person or entity controls the Union as defined by the Financial Reporting Standard 102.
Page 41