Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Annual Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2025
Charity No. 1143173
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Index | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 - 4 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | 5 - 6 |
| Accounting policies | 7 |
| Statement of financial activities | 8 |
| Balance sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 10 - 12 |
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
1
Report of the Trustees
The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the Charity for the period ended 31 December 2025
The Hospital of St Cross
Described by Simon Jenkins as “England’s oldest and most perfect almshouse” the Hospital continues to provide charitable support and a home for up to 25 Brothers. The complex of buildings comprises a fine Norman Church, the accommodation wing, and the halls and supporting rooms, all set in tranquil gardens.
The Hospital is famous for its unique and ancient tradition of the Wayfarer’s Dole. All visitors can receive a drink of beer and some bread reflecting ancient times when travelling pilgrims and merchants received this sustenance when they passed by.
The Hospital is open to visitors 363 days of the year. For much of the year refreshments are available in the Hundred Men’s Hall, on the site where, from the late fourteenth century, the “hundred men” were fed each day.
Reference and administrative details
Charity registration number 1143173
Address
c/o Porter's Lodge, Hospital of St Cross, Winchester, SO23 9SD
Trustees
John Pringle (Chair) Philippa Billington Marion Carr Anthony Gaster (Treasurer) Fiona Goodman Lesley Loughridge Clare MacDonnell Felicity Pennycook Emma Pike (appointed 10.4.25) Jonathan Portal Gillian Rushton (resigned 10.4.25) Stephen Shuttleworth Jonathan Sleath Susan Woodward
Bankers CAF Bank Limited Co-Operative Bank plc CCLA Investment Management Limited
Independent examiner Data Developments
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
2
Report of the Trustees
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The Charity is governed by its Constitution.
Trustees
In accordance with the Constitution new Trustees may be appointed from the membership. Nominations proposed and seconded by members must be received by the Trustees at least fourteen days before the date of the Annual General Meeting. Elections take into account personal competence, specialist skills and local availability. Trustees serve for a term of three years after which period they are eligible for reelection. The Constitution specifies that two Trustees must also be Trustees of the Hospital of St Cross.
Trustee training
New Trustees are inducted into the working of the Charity and the Hospital of St Cross by other Trustees, the Master of St Cross and the Clerk to the Trustees of the Hospital.
Organisational management
The Trustees meet as a Board at least four times a year to determine the general policy of the Charity and review its overall management and control, for which they are legally responsible. The Board delegates to three committees, the Marketing Committee, the Finance and Administration Committee, and the Nominations Committee the detailed running of the Charity. The part-time Administrator and the volunteer Treasurer manage the day-to-day administration of the membership and finance.
Organisational relationship
The Charity works closely with the Trustees and management of the Hospital of St Cross.
Risk Management
The Trustees have examined the principal areas of risk of the Charity’s operations and considered the risks faced in each area. In the opinion of the Trustees the Charity has established resources and review systems which, under normal circumstances, should allow these risks to be mitigated to an acceptable level in its day-to-day operations.
Objects
The Charity’s objects are:
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i. to preserve for the benefit of the public the historical, architectural and constructional heritage of the Hospital by the provision of funding to maintain and improve the buildings and grounds within the Hospital precinct.
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ii. for the public benefit to advance education in the historical, architectural and constructional heritage of the Hospital in particular, but not exclusively, by the provision of lectures, visits and open days.
The principal means by which the Charity aims to achieve these objectives is by soliciting memberships in order to raise funds for preservation and maintenance, and by organising events to advance knowledge and appreciation of the Hospital of St Cross and other subjects.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
3
Report of the Trustees
Achievements
During the year a total of 79 new Friends Memberships were added. However, deaths and non-renewals totalled 40 so that there was a net gain of 39 memberships. This brought the total number of Memberships at the end of the year to 537 and individual Friends to 788. During 2025 19 events were organised, including 6 lectures and 3 lunches. We continue to seek different events to benefit our Friends and encourage new memberships.
Communication with our Friends was maintained through our annual reports and monthly eBulletins. Social Media ensured that news about the Hospital and community happenings was available to Friends. A grant corresponding to the surplus achieved in 2024 of £21,000 was made to the Hospital for the following projects:
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New curtains for the chapel's west door and organ vestry.
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Chapel clock chiming mechanism.
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Hundred Men’s Hall coffee machine and other equipment.
During the year one new Trustee joined the Friends Board and one trustee stood down. The Board together with the part-time Administrator and a Brother’s representative met quarterly during the year. The Marketing and Finance and Administration Committees met at least quarterly to take forward the regular management of the Charity. The Nominations Committee did not meet in 2025.
Future Plans
We will continue to seek new memberships and promote our activities, keeping in touch with our Friends with regular monthly communications. Together with the Hospital initial ideas have been discussed for celebrating the 900th anniversary of the founding of the Hospital in 2032.
To secure smooth succession we continue to seek new Trustees to take forward the work of your charity. If you would like to be involved, please contact the Chairman.
Financial Review
2025 was a strong year for the Friends with net incoming resources of £36,018 (2024 £19,652) before grants. Increased membership together with a rise in the membership fee led to a £2,754 increase in membership income. In addition, we received legacies of £4,319. Net income from events was over £16,000 compared to around £7,000 in 2024. This increase is almost entirely as a result of holding the Summer Party in the grounds of the Hospital this year, with no equivalent event in 2024.
Net incoming resources of £15,018 (2024 £2,652) is after a grant of £21,000 to the Hospital (2024 £17,000). Our reserves now stand at £76,646 (2024 £61,628), so we are in a strong position to continue supporting the Hospital with annual grants and also consider special arrangements in their 900[th] anniversary year 2032.
Investment and reserves policy
Investment Policy
Funds surplus to current requirements are transferred to the CCLA Charities Deposit Fund to benefit from a higher rate of interest.
Allocation of Funds and Reserves policy
Funds from net incoming resources each year will be allocated by the Board of Trustees to projects identified by the Trustees of the Hospital. A proportion of the net income may be retained as a reserve against major projects or emergency requests from the Hospital.
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester
4
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Trustees' responsibilities for the financial statements
Charity law in the United Kingdom requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees should follow best practice and:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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state whether applicable accounting policies and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the Charity and to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable law. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees confirm that they have followed these charity law requirements in the year under consideration.
ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
John Pringle Chairman
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
5
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester
I report on the financial statements of Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 7-12.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the financial statements under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
This report, including my statement, have been prepared for and only for the Charity’s Trustees as a body. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees as a body for my examination work, for this report, or for the statements I have made.
Basis of Independent Examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, which is complete, no matters have come to my attention which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
6
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Data Developments Date:27[th] March 2026
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Principal accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) – (Charities SORP FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester 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 principal accounting policies are set out below.
Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the Charity is a going concern. The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties on the Charity’s ability to continue its activities for the foreseeable future.
Income
Memberships
Annual memberships are recognised in full in the year in which they are received. Term memberships of 5 and 10 years are amortised over the relevant period with a full year recognised in the year of receipt. Life memberships are amortised over a period of 15 years with a full year recognised in the year of receipt. Gift Aid income tax recoveries are recognised in the year in which they are claimed.
Legacies
Legacies are recognised once notification of payment has been received from the Executor(s) of the estate.
Other voluntary income
Donations and other revenues are recognised in full in the year of receipt. Sponsorship income is recognised in the year in which the sponsored event(s) takes place.
Investment income
Interest and other investment income is accounted for when received.
Resources expended
Costs of Charitable activities include support costs associated with the management of the Charity. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the Charity and its compliance with regulations and good practice.
Grants payable are recognised in the balance sheet as a liability once the grant has been notified to the recipient and is unconditional.
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
8
Statement of financial activities
| Note | Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Incoming resources | |||
| Voluntary income | 1 | 29,048 | 21,450 |
| Activities for generating funds | 2 | 26,329 | 11,862 |
| Investment income | 3 | 3,104 | 3,791 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Total incoming resources | 58,481 | 37,103 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Resources expended | |||
| Costs of generating funds: | |||
| Costs of fund-raising events | 9,705 | 4,460 | |
| Charitable activities: | |||
| Grants to the Hospital of St Cross | 21,000 | 17,000 | |
| Support costs | 4 | 12,758 | 12,991 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Total resources expended | 43,463 | 34,451 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Net incoming resources for the year | 15,018 | 2,652 | |
| Balance brought forward | 61,628 | 58,976 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Balance carried forward | 76,646 | 61,628 | |
| ==================== | ==================== |
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
9
Balance sheet
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Fixed assets | |||
| Investments | 5 | 79,042 | 72,943 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 6 | 234 | 859 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 8,314 | 2,730 | |
| Current liabilities | |||
| Creditors | 7 | (300) | (1,720) |
| Deferred income | 8 | (10,644) | (13,184) |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Net current liabilities | (2,396) | (14,904) | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 76,646 | 61,628 | |
| ==================== | ==================== | ||
| Representing: | |||
| Unrestricted funds | 76,646 | 61,628 | |
| ==================== | ==================== |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 23 April 2026
Tony Gaster - Treasurer
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form part of these financial statements.
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
10
1
3
4
Notes to the financial statements
Voluntary income
2
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Membership | 18,562 | 15,808 |
| Gift Aid recoveries | 3,504 | 3,085 |
| Donations | 1,163 | 1,057 |
| Legacies | 4,319 | - |
| Sponsorship | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| 29,048 | 21,450 | |
| ============= | =================== | |
| Activities for generating funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Events | 26,079 | 11,262 |
| Advertising | 250 | 600 |
| ------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| 26,329 | 11,862 | |
| ============== | =================== | |
| Investment income | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Interest on bank deposits | 3,104 | 3,791 |
| ============ | ==================== | |
| Support costs | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Printing, postage, stationery etc | 3,197 | 3,286 |
| IT costs | 1,446 | 783 |
| Professional fees | 7,580 | 7,964 |
| Insurance | 235 | 245 |
| Training | - | 463 |
| Governance costs (independent examination) | 300 | 250 |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| 12,758 | 12,991 | |
| =============== | ==================== |
The Charity has no employees. The Trustees received reimbursement of expenses totalling £nil (2024: £nil).
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
11
| 5 | Investments | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| COIF Charities Deposit Fund | |||
| At 1 January | 72,943 | 68,152 | |
| Interest received | 3,104 | 3,791 | |
| Net transfer of funds | 2,995 | 1,000 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| At 31 December | 79,042 | 72,943 | |
| ================ | ============== | ||
| 6 | Debtors | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Gift Aid claimed | 234 | 859 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| 234 | 859 | ||
| ================ | ============== | ||
| 7 | Creditors | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Independent Examination | 300 | 250 | |
| Tickets sold in advance | - | 1,470 | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| 300 | 1,720 | ||
| ================ | ============== | ||
| 8 | Deferred income | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| At 1 January | 13,184 | 14,699 | |
| Resources deferred during the year | 1,688 | 2,687 | |
| Amounts released from previous years | (4,228) | (4,202) | |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ||
| At 31 December | 10,644 | 13,184 | |
| ================ | ============== |
9 Related parties
There have been no related party transactions during the year (2024: £nil).
Friends of St Cross Hospital Winchester Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
12
Prior year comparative
Statement of financial activities
| Unrestricted funds | Unrestricted funds | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Incoming resources | ||
| Voluntary income | 21,450 | 21,235 |
| Activities for generating funds | 11,862 | 17,957 |
| Investment income | 3,791 | 3,552 |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| Total incoming resources | 37,103 | 42,744 |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| Resources expended | ||
| Costs of generating funds: | ||
| Costs of fund-raising events | 4,460 | 6,958 |
| Charitable activities: | ||
| Grants to the Hospital of St Cross | 17,000 | 17,000 |
| Support costs | 12,991 | 11,064 |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| Total resources expended | 34,451 | 35,022 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| Net incoming resources for the year | 2,652 | 7,722 |
| Balance brought forward | 58,976 | 51,254 |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | |
| Balance carried forward | 61,628 | 58,976 |
| ==================== | ==================== |