Charity Number - 1148972 Company Number- 7992376
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GLIDING HERITAGE CENTRE FOR 2024/25
1 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
This is the report of the trustees of the Gliding Heritage Centre (GHC) covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The reference and administration information is given below.
Name The Gliding Heritage Centre Charity Registration Number 1148972 Company Registration Number 7992376 Principal Office C/O Lasham Gliding Society Lasham Aerodrome Alton, Hampshire GU34 5SS
The Charity’s Trustees Dr A Newbery Chairman Mr G Bradney Secretary Mr J Ben-David Treasurer Mr G Garnett Membership Secretary Mr G Pullen Aircraft and Hangar Manager
1
2 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The GHC is a private company limited by guarantee. There are no shareholders, and any profit cannot be distributed to members. The governing documents are the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. The directors of the company also act as the trustees of the charity, and they form the Management Committee of the GHC. New directors/trustees can be appointed in two ways:
-
a. By ordinary resolution at a general meeting . One third of the directors must retire in rotation each year and can offer themselves for re-election. New directors can be proposed for election by any member of the company.
-
b. By a resolution of the current directors . New directors appointed in this way must retire at the next annual general meeting.
The charity has only one class of member. Membership is open to all, with no restrictions. The primary benefits of membership are being able to participate in the activities of the GHC and support its objectives. There are no employees, and all the tasks involved in running and developing the centre are carried out by unpaid volunteer members.
3 OBJECTIVE AND ACTIVITIES
The object of the GHC as stated in the Articles of Association is:
“To advance the education of the public in the history of gliding, in particular but not exclusively, by the provision of a heritage centre and the preservation of historical gliders, artefacts and records which can be displayed.”
In more detail, the key aims are:
-
To educate the public, and in particular young people, about gliding and its history.
-
To raise the awareness and improve the understanding of gliding as a sport and to attract new people so that they can benefit from participating.
-
To preserve vintage gliders, historical gliding artefacts, knowledge and skills that would otherwise be lost to the nation.
-
To establish an archive of important documents, records and plans, and to make these available in an easily accessible form.
Although they are not primary aims the GHC also:
-
Provides support and advice to other people who own, operate and restore vintage gliders. This helps to preserve the heritage.
-
Forms an educational and recreational facility for aviation enthusiasts.
-
Provides a focus for the vintage gliding movement in the UK.
2
The trustees of the GHC pay due regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance when exercising their powers and duties to which the guidance is relevant. The charity complies with the Fundraising Regulator's voluntary regulation scheme. No professional fund-raisers or commercial organisations are involved. Visitors to the centre and to the internet site are invited to make donations but there is no obligation to do so.
The GHC is located on Lasham Airfield in Hampshire. The airfield is owned by the Lasham Gliding Society (LGS) which granted a 25-year rent-free lease running from February 2013. Many of the original members of the GHC are also members of the LGS but this is not mandatory. At the end of this reporting year the total membership numbered 389, an increase of 65 compared to the previous year. The main facilities of the GHC consists of two hangars and a workshop where vintage gliders and other displays can be seen by visitors. The original hangar was completed in August 2013 and a second hangar was opened in the summer of 2018. The workshop was completed in January 2021.
The GHC is a working heritage centre where vintage gliders can be seen both on the ground and in the air. GHC members, who are suitably qualified, can fly some of the gliders and thus keep alive the knowledge of how to operate historical aircraft of this kind. Members of the public are able to visit the centre on Sunday afternoons and at other times by arrangement. Flying days are held on the first Sunday of each month (subject to the weather) when visitors can see some of the vintage gliders in the air. To make the GHC as accessible as possible to members of the public there is no charge for entry although most visitors make voluntary donations
The running costs of the centre are covered mainly by the membership fees and by the contributions from members who enjoy an incidental benefit by keeping their privately owned vintage gliders in a hangar or using the workshop. The major building projects were largely funded by donations from current members and legacies from previous members and supporters.
4 ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE AND PLANS
The GHC continued to have a steady stream of visitors during 2024/25, in organised groups and on a casual basis on Sunday afternoons. One of the main aims of the centre is to attract young people so that they can learn about gliding and aviation in general. To this end, we continued a collaboration with a company that organises training for potential engineering students. A total of 450 students visited in the summer of 2024. They took part in practical demonstrations of glider maintenance and were introduced to different aspects of glider technology.
3
Students taking part in a demonstration of glider construction.
In the previous year (2023-24) one of the major achievements was the restoration and certification of an American TG-3a glider. This was originally used during World War II to train pilots of troop-carrying gliders in America. It is believed to be the only flying example left in the world. During this year (2024-25) the glider was flown extensively and attracted a great deal of interest from aviation enthusiasts and from the general public. It was one of the attractions during the display of military aviation at the Shuttleworth Collection in the summer where it was seen by a large audience.
The American TG-3a Glider
Another ongoing project involves a Swiss Spalinger S21h glider that was built in 1943 and extensively restored by the GHC in 2022 and 2023. At present this type is not certified for operation in the UK and the test flying is proving problematic because of its difficult flying characteristics. However, the project is providing valuable test flying experience. By working with the British Gliding Association the Civil Aviation Authority, the TG-3a and the Spalinger projects are helping to re-establish a UK capability to test and certificate nationally registered vintage gliders.
4
The Spalinger S21h glider
It has been clear for a number of years that the GHC urgently needs more accommodation to house the expanding collection of gliders. The centre owns 45 gliders, some of which are housed in old, dilapidated trailers and are in danger of serious deterioration. A plan to extend the second hangar was developed and approved in 2022 but the work could not be started until there were sufficient funds. Accumulating the money has been slow because of the increasing cost of building materials but towards the end of 2024/25 there was sufficient confidence to clear the site and start some of the preparatory work. The next step will be to complete the groundwork and the drainage. As with previous GHC building projects, it is planned that much of the construction work will be carried out by members. It is now hoped that the project can be completed in 2025.
The workshop, which was constructed in 2021, has proved to be a major success. It has enabled us to undertake more ambitious projects including the restoration of rare vintage gliders which would otherwise have been lost. When not being used to the full capacity for GHC gliders, the spare space has allowed private owners to maintain their gliders in return for a donation to the centre. In this year it provided a net income of over £11,000. It was encouraging that several young people took part in the workshop activities under the guidance of more experienced GHC members. This not only gave them practical experience of aviation but helped to keep alive the knowledge and skills needed to work on vintage gliders.
In summary the GHC continues to do well. The organisation is in a sound financial state, and it enjoys wide recognition and support within the international gliding community. It is popular with visitors. For many it is their first contact with gliding and allows them to learn a little about the history as well as providing an interesting venue for an outing. The main challenge for the near future is the building of the hangar extension. In the longer term we hope to achieve our main outstanding objective by collaborating with the international Vintage Glider Club to establish a modern digital archive for the preservation of historic documents, records and construction plans. However, this will require a major investment and may only be possible if and when we receive another large legacy.
5
By order of the trustees
| Signature | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr A Newbery | Chairman | ||
| Mr G Bradney | Secretary | ||
| Mr J Ben-David | Treasurer |
6
5 FINANCIAL REVIEW OF THE GLIDING HERITAGE CENTRE FOR 2024/25
5.1 Funds
The GHC has two funds:
a. The Unrestricted Fund
This is a general fund that is used to pay for the following items:
-
Insurance cover for the GHC gliders, the buildings, directors' protection and public liability
-
Materials used for the routine maintenance of the gliders and the site. (The majority of the work is carried out by members.)
-
The facility fees that are payable to the Lasham Gliding Society for airworthy gliders flown at Lasham.
-
Fees payable to the British Gliding Association and the Civil Aviation Authority.
-
General administrative costs
-
The cost of electricity, water, gas for heating and fuel for the ground vehicles.
-
Business rates (if these are payable)
The income for the fund comes from the following sources:
-
Membership fees which are paid as regular donations to the charity.
-
Donations made by visitors.
-
Donations from members who enjoy the incidental benefit of flying the GHC gliders or keeping their private vintage gliders in the hangars so that they can be displayed to visitors.
-
Donations from members who use spare capacity in the workshop to maintain private gliders.
During 2024/25 the net income for the fund was £19778.
b. The Restricted Fund .
The restricted fund is used primarily to develop the GHC facilities and extend the collection of vintage gliders. During 2024/25 the main sources of income were donations from members, visitors and supporters, and bank interest. The largest expenditure during the year was on the restoration of vintage gliders and the depreciation of the buildings.
7
5.2 Reserves and Risk Policy
The running costs of the GHC are relatively low. There are no paid employees, the lease is rent-free, and most of the routine work is carried out by volunteer members. The running costs are paid from the unrestricted fund, and they are covered by the membership fees and the other contribution from members. The current policy of the trustees is to maintain the unrestricted fund at greater than £50,000 to allow for unplanned items. This ensures that the financial risks to the charity are relatively low.
5.3 Independent Examination of Accounts
The income and assets of the GHC mean that it is a small company below the threshold and so the accounts are not subject to a statutory audit. The accounts have been independently examined as required by the Charity Commission regulations.
5.4 Accounting Standard
The accounts follow the recommendations in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) FRS 102 effective from January 2019.
5.5 Acceptance of the Accounts.
The accounts were accepted by the members at the annual general meeting held on 14[th] September 2025.
8
5.6 Statement of Financial Activities
| Note Ref |
Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds | Prior Year Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income and Endowments From: | |||||
| 1,2 | Donations and Legacies | 37050 | 2783 | 39833 | 69255 |
| Total | 37050 | 2783 | 39833 | 69255 | |
| Investment Income | |||||
| Interest | 0 | 1274 | 1274 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 1274 | 1274 | 0 | |
| Total Income | 37050 | 4057 | 41107 | 69255 | |
| Expenditure On: | |||||
| 3 | Charitable Activities | -17272 | -24384 | -41656 | -38439 |
| Total | -17272 | -24384 | -41656 | -38439 | |
| Net Income/expenditure | 19778 | -20327 | -549 | 30816 | |
| Transfer Between Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other Recognised Gains/Losses | |||||
| Gains on Revaluation of Fixed Assets for Charity's Own Use |
0 | 750 | 750 | 9000 | |
| Net Movement in Funds | 19778 | -19577 | 201 | 39816 | |
| Reconciliation of Funds | |||||
| Total Funds Brought Forward | 96656 | 502541 | 599197 | 559381 | |
| Total Funds Carried Forward | 116434 | 482964 | 599398 | 599197 |
9
5.7 Balance Sheet
----- Start of picture text -----
Note Total Funds Prior Year
Ref Total Funds
£ £
Fixed Assets
4 Tangible Assets 286743 309886
5 Heritage Assets 110030 109280
Total Fixed Assets 396773 419166
Current Assets
Cash in Bank and in Hand 201298 178789
Debtors 1417 1242
Total Current Assets 202715 180031
Liabilities
Creditors:Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 90 0
Net Current Assets or Liabilities 202625 180031
Total Assets Less Current Liablities 599398 599197
Net Assets or Liabiities Excluding Pension Assets or
Liabilities 599398 599197
Total Net Assets or Liabilities 599398 599197
The Funds of the Charity
Restricted Income Funds 473214 493541
Unrestricted Funds 116434 96656
Revaluation Reserve 9750 9000
Total Unrestricted Funds 116434 96656
Total Charity Funds 599398 599197
----- End of picture text -----
For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ responsibilities:
-
the members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476
-
the directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts
-
these accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The notes on pages 11 to 15 form part of the financial statement.
Signature Date
Dr A Newbery Chairman Mr G Bradney Secretary Mr J Ben-David Treasurer
10
5.7 Notes
Note 1
The charity is run by volunteers who:
-
Restore and maintain the gliders
-
Maintain and develop the buildings and the grounds
-
Act as guides for visitors
-
Carry out all the management and administrative tasks.
The financial value of these contributions is not included these accounts.
Note 2
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Prior Year
Funds Funds Funds Total
Funds
Donations and Legacies £ £ £
Membership Subscriptions 9508 9508 7808
Donations Towards General Running Costs 27542 27542 28637
Donations to Develop the Centre 2783 2783 29560
Donations in Kind (Gliders) 0 3250
Donations in Kind (Other) 0 0
Total 37050 2783 39833 69255
----- End of picture text -----
Note 3
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds |
Prior Year Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charitable Activities | £ | £ | £ | |
| Insurance | 4338 | 4338 | 3980 | |
| Glider Maintenance | 2879 | 2879 | 2640 | |
| Fees to LGS,BGA and CAA | 2070 | 2070 | 2084 | |
| Glider Restoration | 969 | 969 | 656 | |
| Equipment | 2455 | 2455 | 279 | |
| Internet,Marketingand General Expences | 2850 | 237 | 3087 | 2854 |
| Buildingand Site Maintenance | 776 | 776 | 441 | |
| Governance | 34 | 35 | 69 | 48 |
| Electricity,Gas and Diesel | 1870 | 1870 | 2571 | |
| Depreciation of Tangible Assets | 23143 | 23143 | 22886 | |
| Total | 17272 | 24384 | 41656 | 38439 |
11
Note 4
The major tangible assets are the two hangars and the workshop. The policy is to depreciate the value of the buildings linearly over the 25 year period of the current lease which ends in 2038. Some lower value tangible assets are depreciated linearly over their estimated remaining lives.
----- Start of picture text -----
Hangars
At begining of year 179812
Additions 0
At End of Year 179812
Depreciation 12844
Net book value at end 166968
Other Tangible Assets (Inc Office
Equipment
At begining of year 2274
Additions 0
At end of Year 2274
Depreciation 1171
Net book value at end 1103
Workshop
At begining of year 127800
Additions 0
At End of Year 127800
Depreciation 9128
Net book value at end 118672
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
Cost or valuation of all Tangible Assets
At the beginning of the year 309886
Additions 0
At the end of the year 309886
Depreciation and impairment
Depreciation 23143
At the end of the year 23143
Net Book Values
Net book value at the beginning of the year 309886
Net book value at the end of the year 286743
----- End of picture text -----
12
Note 5
The current heritage assets shown in the report consist of the 45 vintage gliders which have been donated to the GHC together with their trailers and other equipment. The valuation of the gliders over the last 7 years is shown in the table below. A summary of acquisitions, valuations and disposals is shown in the second table. It illustrates how the collection has grown during this period.
The value of vintage gliders is difficult to estimate as the potential market is small, and they only change hands infrequently. The figures in the table have been based on recent sales of similar gliders. It is expected that the values the GHC gliders will be static or will possibly increase over time. If appropriate they are re-valued following restoration. In 2024/25 the value of the Skylark 4 was increased for this reason.
The GHC also has an archive of documents, plans and artefacts related to gliding. Although these items are important from a historical point of view, they have little or no market value and so the archive is not included in the financial report at present.
13
| Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glider Type | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Abbott-Baynes Scud 2 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Abbott-Baynes Scud 3 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Bolkow Phoebus 17 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | |||
| Colditz Cock | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 |
| Eon Baby | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Eon Eton | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| EoN Olympia 2b | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 |
| EoN Olympia 460 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | ||
| EoN Olympia 463 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 |
| Grunau Baby | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
| Jacobs Schweyer Weihe | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| JSH Scorpion | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kaiser Ka3 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
| Leister-Kaufmann TG4 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | |
| Lo 100 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| Manuel Crested Wren | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Manuel Hawk | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Oberlerchner Steinadler MG19 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 |
| PZL Pirat | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | |||
| Scheibe Bergfalke 55-11 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | |
| Scheibe Flugzeubau Mu13-d | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Scheibe Zugvogel 3b | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 |
| Scheibe Zugvogel 3b | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |
| Schleicher K8b * | 500 | 500 | 500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Schweizer TG3a ** | 3500 | 10500 | 10500 | ||||
| Scott Viking | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 |
| SlingsbyDart 15 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |
| SlingsbyDart 17R | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |||
| SlingsbyFalke T61 | 1500 | 1500 | |||||
| SlingsbyGrasshopper | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | |
| SlingsbyGrasshopper * | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SlingsbyPrefect | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| SlingsbyPrefect | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 |
| SlingsbySky | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | |||
| SlingsbySkylark 2 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | ||
| SlingsbySkylark 3b | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 |
| SlingsbySkylark 3f | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| SlingsbySkylark 4*** | 1750 | 2500 | |||||
| SlingsbySwallow | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 |
| SlingsbyTutor | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | |
| Spalinger S21H ** | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 3500 | 3500 |
| SZD Bocian | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | |||
| SZD Foka 4 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 |
| Yorkshire Sailplanes YS53 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Zlin Z24 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Total Value | 61530 | 75530 | 80530 | 93530 | 97030 | 109280 | 110030 |
| * Disposals in 2021/22 | |||||||
| ** Revaluations in 2023/24 | |||||||
| *** Revaluation in2024/25 |
14
----- Start of picture text -----
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Acquisitions 6000 14000 5000 14500 3500 3250
Revaluations 9000 750
Disposals -1500
Total Change in Year 6000 14000 5000 13000 3500 12250 750
Cumulative Value 61530 75530 80530 93530 97030 109280 110030
Proceeds from Disposals 360
----- End of picture text -----
15
Charity Number - 1148972 Company Number- 7992376
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE GLIDING HERITAGE CENTRE FOR 2024/25
1 REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
This is the report of the trustees of the Gliding Heritage Centre (GHC) covering the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The reference and administration information is given below.
Name The Gliding Heritage Centre Charity Registration Number 1148972 Company Registration Number 7992376 Principal Office C/O Lasham Gliding Society Lasham Aerodrome Alton, Hampshire GU34 5SS
The Charity’s Trustees Dr A Newbery Chairman Mr G Bradney Secretary Mr J Ben-David Treasurer Mr G Garnett Membership Secretary Mr G Pullen Aircraft and Hangar Manager
1
2 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The GHC is a private company limited by guarantee. There are no shareholders, and any profit cannot be distributed to members. The governing documents are the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. The directors of the company also act as the trustees of the charity, and they form the Management Committee of the GHC. New directors/trustees can be appointed in two ways:
-
a. By ordinary resolution at a general meeting . One third of the directors must retire in rotation each year and can offer themselves for re-election. New directors can be proposed for election by any member of the company.
-
b. By a resolution of the current directors . New directors appointed in this way must retire at the next annual general meeting.
The charity has only one class of member. Membership is open to all, with no restrictions. The primary benefits of membership are being able to participate in the activities of the GHC and support its objectives. There are no employees, and all the tasks involved in running and developing the centre are carried out by unpaid volunteer members.
3 OBJECTIVE AND ACTIVITIES
The object of the GHC as stated in the Articles of Association is:
“To advance the education of the public in the history of gliding, in particular but not exclusively, by the provision of a heritage centre and the preservation of historical gliders, artefacts and records which can be displayed.”
In more detail, the key aims are:
-
To educate the public, and in particular young people, about gliding and its history.
-
To raise the awareness and improve the understanding of gliding as a sport and to attract new people so that they can benefit from participating.
-
To preserve vintage gliders, historical gliding artefacts, knowledge and skills that would otherwise be lost to the nation.
-
To establish an archive of important documents, records and plans, and to make these available in an easily accessible form.
Although they are not primary aims the GHC also:
-
Provides support and advice to other people who own, operate and restore vintage gliders. This helps to preserve the heritage.
-
Forms an educational and recreational facility for aviation enthusiasts.
-
Provides a focus for the vintage gliding movement in the UK.
2
The trustees of the GHC pay due regard to the Charity Commission's public benefit guidance when exercising their powers and duties to which the guidance is relevant. The charity complies with the Fundraising Regulator's voluntary regulation scheme. No professional fund-raisers or commercial organisations are involved. Visitors to the centre and to the internet site are invited to make donations but there is no obligation to do so.
The GHC is located on Lasham Airfield in Hampshire. The airfield is owned by the Lasham Gliding Society (LGS) which granted a 25-year rent-free lease running from February 2013. Many of the original members of the GHC are also members of the LGS but this is not mandatory. At the end of this reporting year the total membership numbered 389, an increase of 65 compared to the previous year. The main facilities of the GHC consists of two hangars and a workshop where vintage gliders and other displays can be seen by visitors. The original hangar was completed in August 2013 and a second hangar was opened in the summer of 2018. The workshop was completed in January 2021.
The GHC is a working heritage centre where vintage gliders can be seen both on the ground and in the air. GHC members, who are suitably qualified, can fly some of the gliders and thus keep alive the knowledge of how to operate historical aircraft of this kind. Members of the public are able to visit the centre on Sunday afternoons and at other times by arrangement. Flying days are held on the first Sunday of each month (subject to the weather) when visitors can see some of the vintage gliders in the air. To make the GHC as accessible as possible to members of the public there is no charge for entry although most visitors make voluntary donations
The running costs of the centre are covered mainly by the membership fees and by the contributions from members who enjoy an incidental benefit by keeping their privately owned vintage gliders in a hangar or using the workshop. The major building projects were largely funded by donations from current members and legacies from previous members and supporters.
4 ACHIEVEMENTS, PERFORMANCE AND PLANS
The GHC continued to have a steady stream of visitors during 2024/25, in organised groups and on a casual basis on Sunday afternoons. One of the main aims of the centre is to attract young people so that they can learn about gliding and aviation in general. To this end, we continued a collaboration with a company that organises training for potential engineering students. A total of 450 students visited in the summer of 2024. They took part in practical demonstrations of glider maintenance and were introduced to different aspects of glider technology.
3
Students taking part in a demonstration of glider construction.
In the previous year (2023-24) one of the major achievements was the restoration and certification of an American TG-3a glider. This was originally used during World War II to train pilots of troop-carrying gliders in America. It is believed to be the only flying example left in the world. During this year (2024-25) the glider was flown extensively and attracted a great deal of interest from aviation enthusiasts and from the general public. It was one of the attractions during the display of military aviation at the Shuttleworth Collection in the summer where it was seen by a large audience.
The American TG-3a Glider
Another ongoing project involves a Swiss Spalinger S21h glider that was built in 1943 and extensively restored by the GHC in 2022 and 2023. At present this type is not certified for operation in the UK and the test flying is proving problematic because of its difficult flying characteristics. However, the project is providing valuable test flying experience. By working with the British Gliding Association the Civil Aviation Authority, the TG-3a and the Spalinger projects are helping to re-establish a UK capability to test and certificate nationally registered vintage gliders.
4
The Spalinger S21h glider
It has been clear for a number of years that the GHC urgently needs more accommodation to house the expanding collection of gliders. The centre owns 45 gliders, some of which are housed in old, dilapidated trailers and are in danger of serious deterioration. A plan to extend the second hangar was developed and approved in 2022 but the work could not be started until there were sufficient funds. Accumulating the money has been slow because of the increasing cost of building materials but towards the end of 2024/25 there was sufficient confidence to clear the site and start some of the preparatory work. The next step will be to complete the groundwork and the drainage. As with previous GHC building projects, it is planned that much of the construction work will be carried out by members. It is now hoped that the project can be completed in 2025.
The workshop, which was constructed in 2021, has proved to be a major success. It has enabled us to undertake more ambitious projects including the restoration of rare vintage gliders which would otherwise have been lost. When not being used to the full capacity for GHC gliders, the spare space has allowed private owners to maintain their gliders in return for a donation to the centre. In this year it provided a net income of over £11,000. It was encouraging that several young people took part in the workshop activities under the guidance of more experienced GHC members. This not only gave them practical experience of aviation but helped to keep alive the knowledge and skills needed to work on vintage gliders.
In summary the GHC continues to do well. The organisation is in a sound financial state, and it enjoys wide recognition and support within the international gliding community. It is popular with visitors. For many it is their first contact with gliding and allows them to learn a little about the history as well as providing an interesting venue for an outing. The main challenge for the near future is the building of the hangar extension. In the longer term we hope to achieve our main outstanding objective by collaborating with the international Vintage Glider Club to establish a modern digital archive for the preservation of historic documents, records and construction plans. However, this will require a major investment and may only be possible if and when we receive another large legacy.
5
By order of the trustees
| Signature | Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr A Newbery | Chairman | ||
| Mr G Bradney | Secretary | ||
| Mr J Ben-David | Treasurer |
6
5 FINANCIAL REVIEW OF THE GLIDING HERITAGE CENTRE FOR 2024/25
5.1 Funds
The GHC has two funds:
a. The Unrestricted Fund
This is a general fund that is used to pay for the following items:
-
Insurance cover for the GHC gliders, the buildings, directors' protection and public liability
-
Materials used for the routine maintenance of the gliders and the site. (The majority of the work is carried out by members.)
-
The facility fees that are payable to the Lasham Gliding Society for airworthy gliders flown at Lasham.
-
Fees payable to the British Gliding Association and the Civil Aviation Authority.
-
General administrative costs
-
The cost of electricity, water, gas for heating and fuel for the ground vehicles.
-
Business rates (if these are payable)
The income for the fund comes from the following sources:
-
Membership fees which are paid as regular donations to the charity.
-
Donations made by visitors.
-
Donations from members who enjoy the incidental benefit of flying the GHC gliders or keeping their private vintage gliders in the hangars so that they can be displayed to visitors.
-
Donations from members who use spare capacity in the workshop to maintain private gliders.
During 2024/25 the net income for the fund was £19778.
b. The Restricted Fund .
The restricted fund is used primarily to develop the GHC facilities and extend the collection of vintage gliders. During 2024/25 the main sources of income were donations from members, visitors and supporters, and bank interest. The largest expenditure during the year was on the restoration of vintage gliders and the depreciation of the buildings.
7
5.2 Reserves and Risk Policy
The running costs of the GHC are relatively low. There are no paid employees, the lease is rent-free, and most of the routine work is carried out by volunteer members. The running costs are paid from the unrestricted fund, and they are covered by the membership fees and the other contribution from members. The current policy of the trustees is to maintain the unrestricted fund at greater than £50,000 to allow for unplanned items. This ensures that the financial risks to the charity are relatively low.
5.3 Independent Examination of Accounts
The income and assets of the GHC mean that it is a small company below the threshold and so the accounts are not subject to a statutory audit. The accounts have been independently examined as required by the Charity Commission regulations.
5.4 Accounting Standard
The accounts follow the recommendations in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) FRS 102 effective from January 2019.
5.5 Acceptance of the Accounts.
The accounts were accepted by the members at the annual general meeting held on 14[th] September 2025.
8
5.6 Statement of Financial Activities
| Note Ref |
Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds | Prior Year Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income and Endowments From: | |||||
| 1,2 | Donations and Legacies | 37050 | 2783 | 39833 | 69255 |
| Total | 37050 | 2783 | 39833 | 69255 | |
| Investment Income | |||||
| Interest | 0 | 1274 | 1274 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 1274 | 1274 | 0 | |
| Total Income | 37050 | 4057 | 41107 | 69255 | |
| Expenditure On: | |||||
| 3 | Charitable Activities | -17272 | -24384 | -41656 | -38439 |
| Total | -17272 | -24384 | -41656 | -38439 | |
| Net Income/expenditure | 19778 | -20327 | -549 | 30816 | |
| Transfer Between Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other Recognised Gains/Losses | |||||
| Gains on Revaluation of Fixed Assets for Charity's Own Use |
0 | 750 | 750 | 9000 | |
| Net Movement in Funds | 19778 | -19577 | 201 | 39816 | |
| Reconciliation of Funds | |||||
| Total Funds Brought Forward | 96656 | 502541 | 599197 | 559381 | |
| Total Funds Carried Forward | 116434 | 482964 | 599398 | 599197 |
9
5.7 Balance Sheet
----- Start of picture text -----
Note Total Funds Prior Year
Ref Total Funds
£ £
Fixed Assets
4 Tangible Assets 286743 309886
5 Heritage Assets 110030 109280
Total Fixed Assets 396773 419166
Current Assets
Cash in Bank and in Hand 201298 178789
Debtors 1417 1242
Total Current Assets 202715 180031
Liabilities
Creditors:Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 90 0
Net Current Assets or Liabilities 202625 180031
Total Assets Less Current Liablities 599398 599197
Net Assets or Liabiities Excluding Pension Assets or
Liabilities 599398 599197
Total Net Assets or Liabilities 599398 599197
The Funds of the Charity
Restricted Income Funds 473214 493541
Unrestricted Funds 116434 96656
Revaluation Reserve 9750 9000
Total Unrestricted Funds 116434 96656
Total Charity Funds 599398 599197
----- End of picture text -----
For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Directors’ responsibilities:
-
the members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476
-
the directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts
-
these accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The notes on pages 11 to 15 form part of the financial statement.
Signature Date
Dr A Newbery Chairman Mr G Bradney Secretary Mr J Ben-David Treasurer
10
5.7 Notes
Note 1
The charity is run by volunteers who:
-
Restore and maintain the gliders
-
Maintain and develop the buildings and the grounds
-
Act as guides for visitors
-
Carry out all the management and administrative tasks.
The financial value of these contributions is not included these accounts.
Note 2
----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Prior Year
Funds Funds Funds Total
Funds
Donations and Legacies £ £ £
Membership Subscriptions 9508 9508 7808
Donations Towards General Running Costs 27542 27542 28637
Donations to Develop the Centre 2783 2783 29560
Donations in Kind (Gliders) 0 3250
Donations in Kind (Other) 0 0
Total 37050 2783 39833 69255
----- End of picture text -----
Note 3
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds |
Prior Year Total Funds |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charitable Activities | £ | £ | £ | |
| Insurance | 4338 | 4338 | 3980 | |
| Glider Maintenance | 2879 | 2879 | 2640 | |
| Fees to LGS,BGA and CAA | 2070 | 2070 | 2084 | |
| Glider Restoration | 969 | 969 | 656 | |
| Equipment | 2455 | 2455 | 279 | |
| Internet,Marketingand General Expences | 2850 | 237 | 3087 | 2854 |
| Buildingand Site Maintenance | 776 | 776 | 441 | |
| Governance | 34 | 35 | 69 | 48 |
| Electricity,Gas and Diesel | 1870 | 1870 | 2571 | |
| Depreciation of Tangible Assets | 23143 | 23143 | 22886 | |
| Total | 17272 | 24384 | 41656 | 38439 |
11
Note 4
The major tangible assets are the two hangars and the workshop. The policy is to depreciate the value of the buildings linearly over the 25 year period of the current lease which ends in 2038. Some lower value tangible assets are depreciated linearly over their estimated remaining lives.
----- Start of picture text -----
Hangars
At begining of year 179812
Additions 0
At End of Year 179812
Depreciation 12844
Net book value at end 166968
Other Tangible Assets (Inc Office
Equipment
At begining of year 2274
Additions 0
At end of Year 2274
Depreciation 1171
Net book value at end 1103
Workshop
At begining of year 127800
Additions 0
At End of Year 127800
Depreciation 9128
Net book value at end 118672
----- End of picture text -----
----- Start of picture text -----
Cost or valuation of all Tangible Assets
At the beginning of the year 309886
Additions 0
At the end of the year 309886
Depreciation and impairment
Depreciation 23143
At the end of the year 23143
Net Book Values
Net book value at the beginning of the year 309886
Net book value at the end of the year 286743
----- End of picture text -----
12
Note 5
The current heritage assets shown in the report consist of the 45 vintage gliders which have been donated to the GHC together with their trailers and other equipment. The valuation of the gliders over the last 7 years is shown in the table below. A summary of acquisitions, valuations and disposals is shown in the second table. It illustrates how the collection has grown during this period.
The value of vintage gliders is difficult to estimate as the potential market is small, and they only change hands infrequently. The figures in the table have been based on recent sales of similar gliders. It is expected that the values the GHC gliders will be static or will possibly increase over time. If appropriate they are re-valued following restoration. In 2024/25 the value of the Skylark 4 was increased for this reason.
The GHC also has an archive of documents, plans and artefacts related to gliding. Although these items are important from a historical point of view, they have little or no market value and so the archive is not included in the financial report at present.
13
| Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glider Type | 2018/19 | 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
| Abbott-Baynes Scud 2 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Abbott-Baynes Scud 3 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Bolkow Phoebus 17 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | |||
| Colditz Cock | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 | 450 |
| Eon Baby | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Eon Eton | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 |
| EoN Olympia 2b | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 | 1250 |
| EoN Olympia 460 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | ||
| EoN Olympia 463 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 | 2250 |
| Grunau Baby | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
| Jacobs Schweyer Weihe | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| JSH Scorpion | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kaiser Ka3 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 |
| Leister-Kaufmann TG4 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | |
| Lo 100 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 |
| Manuel Crested Wren | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Manuel Hawk | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Oberlerchner Steinadler MG19 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 | 7500 |
| PZL Pirat | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | 2000 | |||
| Scheibe Bergfalke 55-11 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | |
| Scheibe Flugzeubau Mu13-d | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Scheibe Zugvogel 3b | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 |
| Scheibe Zugvogel 3b | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |
| Schleicher K8b * | 500 | 500 | 500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Schweizer TG3a ** | 3500 | 10500 | 10500 | ||||
| Scott Viking | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 | 5830 |
| SlingsbyDart 15 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |
| SlingsbyDart 17R | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | |||
| SlingsbyFalke T61 | 1500 | 1500 | |||||
| SlingsbyGrasshopper | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | |
| SlingsbyGrasshopper * | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SlingsbyPrefect | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| SlingsbyPrefect | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 |
| SlingsbySky | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | 4500 | |||
| SlingsbySkylark 2 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | ||
| SlingsbySkylark 3b | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 | 1750 |
| SlingsbySkylark 3f | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| SlingsbySkylark 4*** | 1750 | 2500 | |||||
| SlingsbySwallow | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 | 1800 |
| SlingsbyTutor | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | |
| Spalinger S21H ** | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 1500 | 3500 | 3500 |
| SZD Bocian | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | 2500 | |||
| SZD Foka 4 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 | 4050 |
| Yorkshire Sailplanes YS53 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Zlin Z24 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 | 3000 |
| Total Value | 61530 | 75530 | 80530 | 93530 | 97030 | 109280 | 110030 |
| * Disposals in 2021/22 | |||||||
| ** Revaluations in 2023/24 | |||||||
| *** Revaluation in2024/25 |
14
----- Start of picture text -----
2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25
Acquisitions 6000 14000 5000 14500 3500 3250
Revaluations 9000 750
Disposals -1500
Total Change in Year 6000 14000 5000 13000 3500 12250 750
Cumulative Value 61530 75530 80530 93530 97030 109280 110030
Proceeds from Disposals 360
----- End of picture text -----
15
Independent Examine¢s Ststement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attentlon: l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material aspect the requirements: a. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companles Act 2006: and b. To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirement of sertion 396 of the Companies Att 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reportin8 by Charlties. Have not been met; or 2. To which In rny opinion. attentlon should be drawn In order to enable proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Slgned.... ... Name: Date: Address: Susan Brooke 11 August 2025 l Maplehurst Chase Hatch Warren Basingstoke Hants RG22 4XQ Professlonal Qualification: FMA4T Number: 0241673
Independent Examlnerfs Report To the Trnstees of: The Glldlng Herlta8e Centre My report covers the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2025, whlch are set out in section 5 of the annual report of the trustee5 of The Glidlng Heritage Centre. Respectlve Responslbllltles of Trustees and Examlner The trustees {who are also the dlrectors of the company for the purposes of company lawl, re responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audlt Is not required for the th15 year under section 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent examlnatlon is acceptable as the charit5 gr055 income does not exceed £250,000. The company Is also exempt from an audit under section 477 of the Companles Act 2006 relatln8 to srnall companles. The examlner's responslbllltles are therefore to: I, Examlne the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 2, To follow the procedures laid down In the general dlrectlon5 glven by the Charltv Commlsslon under sectlon 14515}Ibl of the 2011 Act; and 3. To state whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlon. Basls of Independent Examlnerfs Report My examlnatlon was carrled out in accordance wlth the General Directlons glven by the Charity Commission. An examlnation includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual Items or disclosures In the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustee5 concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provlde all the evidence that would be required In an audlt and consequently no opinlon15 given as to whether the accounts present a "true and fair vlew" and the report is limited to those matters set out In the statement below.