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2021-07-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 08143560 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1149454

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

FOR

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

Reed Smith Associates Limited Copia House Great Cliffe Court Great Cliffe Road Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 3SP

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 4
Independent Examiner's Report 5
Statement of Financial Activities 6
Statement of Financial Position 7 to 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 to 15
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 16 to 17

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The Victoria Cross is the highest military honour of the United Kingdom honours system. It is awarded for gallantry and valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the British and Commonwealth servicemen and women. To date 1363 Victoria Crosses have been awarded since its creation in 1856.

Across the United Kingdom and the rest of the world, there are a large number of private graves and memorials to those awarded the Victoria Cross. A small number of these graves are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission because their remit only covers Victoria Cross recipients killed in action during either of the world wars.

All graves of Victoria Cross recipients who fought and died outside dates of these two conflicts are privately owned. A small number of these again are still cared for by their family, the rest lie forgotten, neglected and in some cases are now lost forever.

The Victoria Cross Trust (VCT) seeks to ensure that the final resting places of the Victoria Cross recipients remain tended and cared for respecting the wishes of families and communities alike. In addition, the charity also aims to educate the public in the stories behind the VC recipients and it is to fulfil these two objectives that the VCT was originally established in 2012.

Page 1

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Significant activities

During the period August 2020 to July 2021 we were able to complete the:

This focus on business planning took precedence in order to ensure that in the long term the VCT became self-sustaining financially.

The start of the 2020/21 financial year threw up a number of challenges for us to overcome if we were to be successful in achieving our aspirations of becoming self-sustaining whilst delivering our core charitable aims. These included:

  1. Our new premises at Armthorpe provided us with a base from which we could attend grave locations, produce retail products and plan for up-and-coming events for the 2020/2021 season. These did not however provide us with a year-round public facing location at which to maximise education and retail opportunities.

  2. Our social media and web presence was not cohesive and ad-hoc requiring further coordination of resources to ensure that consistent messaging was promoting the VCT. This would encourage new opportunities to clean, generate income and educate the public in the history behind the VC whilst also potentially attracting new volunteers with new skills with which to support us. This consistency and corporate branding was not in place.

  3. Our financial position was heavily reliant on reserves generated through the sale of assets as a result of the closure of the Ashworth Barracks Museum and whilst donations were picking up and online sales were increasing these alone would sustain us beyond 2021. New forms of income generation needed to be identified.

  4. Our workforce of veterans was ageing and reliance on them to continue to deliver our objectives was placing a strain on their resilience. We needed to provide greater resilience and generate a stronger volunteer presence at the VCT.

The trustees formulated a business plan to focus activity in three primary areas of activity. This included:

  1. Cleaning and restoration of VC graves

  2. Development of retail opportunities to generate income

  3. Development of events to promote education and retail

  4. Support veterans and volunteers by providing opportunities to work with us

In September 2020 the trustees formulated a proposal for funding to enable the VCT to pump prime our restoration, retail, events, and veteran volunteer network. This project entitled Maintaining the Memories was submitted for consideration to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund (AFCF) positive pathways programme. This laid out how we would continue to extend our grave cleaning, develop our retail and brand, attend, and run events to generate more support and income and provide veterans with an opportunity (positive pathway) to support us in our work.

In February 2021 we were informed that our proposal had been approved and that we would receive the maximum grant to implement our proposal from 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022. The VCT was immediately able to:

Page 2

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The outcomes for Maintaining the Memories in the period March to July 2021 saw a significant increase in income generated from events through retail and donations that indicated to us that we could replenish reserves through our work in this area of the business plan but not to the point of self-sustainability. We therefore explored an opportunity to create a memorial event with retail stalls at a popular retail outlet at Lakeside Doncaster. Such was the success at this event that we were invited in July 2021 to repeat it and were offered a rent-free presence in our own shop that we could take up from October to December 2021. The end of the 2020/21 financial year therefore saw the VCT business plan bearing fruit and moving us in the right direction in terms of maximising our objectives and charitable aims. The impact of our business plan is evident within our reported accounts which sees a significant reduction in reported loss compared to previous years.

The year 2021/22 was clearly laid out with opportunities for us to maximise our financial strategy enabling us to continue at least in the medium term to clean and restore VC graves and educate the public whilst providing welfare support to veterans.

Volunteers

The Trust has been very fortunate to have benefitted from the contributions of dedicated volunteers, without whom the cost of grave restoration and running the museum would be significantly higher.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Company number

08143560 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1149454

Registered office

Unit 3, Yorkshire Way Armthorpe Doncaster South Yorkshire DN3 3GW

Trustees

D Ashworth (resigned 27/8/2020) B J Balliger T P Hazeltine (resigned 27/8/2020) K Lumley F A Adams C G Aston (resigned 30/4/2021) R D Paddey (appointed 31/5/2021)

Page 3

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Independent Examiner

Stuart Martin Reed Reed Smith Associates Limited Copia House Great Cliffe Court Great Cliffe Road Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 3SP

Bankers

Virgin Money Timor House Mariner Court Clydebank Business Park Glasgow G81 2NR

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 27 April 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

K Lumley - Trustee

Page 4

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Victoria Cross Trust ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 July 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  2. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  3. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Stuart Martin Reed Reed Smith Associates Limited Copia House Great Cliffe Court Great Cliffe Road Barnsley South Yorkshire S75 3SP

27 April 2022

Page 5

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
6,517
Other trading activities
2
42,300
Investment income
3
84
Other income
6,494
Total
55,395
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
25,193
Charitable activities
Restore and maintain Victoria Cross recipients
graves and educate the public about their lives and
deeds
39,419
Total
64,612
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(9,217)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
135,073
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
125,856
Restricted
fund
£
20,212
-
-
-
20,212
-
20,212
20,212
-
2,021
2,021
31.7.21
Total
funds
£
26,729
42,300
84
6,494
75,607
25,193
59,631
84,824
(9,217)
137,094
127,877
31.7.20
Total
funds
£
10,010
27,657
48
11,204
48,919
9,522
89,839
99,361
(50,442)
187,536
137,094

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 6

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 JULY 2021

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
8
74,154
CURRENT ASSETS
Stocks
9
6,578
Debtors
10
3,715
Cash at bank and in hand
50,105
60,398
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
11
(8,696)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
51,702
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
125,856
NET ASSETS
125,856
FUNDS
13
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
15,059
15,059
(13,038)
2,021
2,021
2,021
31.7.21
Total
funds
£
74,154
6,578
3,715
65,164
75,457
(21,734)
53,723
127,877
127,877
125,856
2,021
127,877
31.7.20
Total
funds
£
77,227
23,052
7,698
42,593
73,343
(13,476)
59,867
137,094
137,094
135,073
2,021
137,094

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 July 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

The notes form part of these financial statements

continued...

Page 7

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION - continued 31 JULY 2021

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 27 April 2022 and were signed on its behalf by:

K Lumley - Trustee

F A Adams - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, 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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Museum catalogue - 5% on reducing balance Fixtures and fittings - 15% on reducing balance

Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

continued...

Page 9

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Sales 40,700 27,657
Sales of services 1,600 -
42,300 27,657
INVESTMENT INCOME
31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Interest receivable 84 48
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):
31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Depreciation - owned assets 8,751 35,828
Hire of plant and machinery 240 530
Surplus on disposal of fixed assets - (8,862)

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

4. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2021 nor for the year ended 31 July 2020.

Trustees' expenses

The charity trustees claimed expenses which related to travel and subsistence costs for attending trustee and management meetings.

6. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

31.7.21 31.7.20
General manager 1 1
Activities staff 1 1
Administration support 1 -
3 2

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

continued...

Page 10

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

7.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
fund
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
10,010
Other trading activities
27,657
Investment income
48
Other income
11,204
Total
48,919
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
9,522
Charitable activities
Restore and maintain Victoria Cross recipients
graves and educate the public about their lives
and deeds
89,839
Total
99,361
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(50,442)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
185,515
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
135,073
Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,021
2,021
Total
funds
£
10,010
27,657
48
11,204
48,919
9,522
89,839
99,361
(50,442)
187,536
137,094

continued...

Page 11

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures
Museum and
catalogue fittings Totals
£ £ £
COST
At 1 August 2020 80,482 29,691 110,173
Additions - 5,678 5,678
At 31 July 2021 80,482 35,369 115,851
DEPRECIATION
At 1 August 2020 18,016 14,930 32,946
Charge for year 5,937 2,814 8,751
At 31 July 2021 23,953 17,744 41,697
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 July 2021 56,529 17,625 74,154
At 31 July 2020 62,466 14,761 77,227
9. STOCKS
31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Stocks 6,578 23,052
10. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Trade debtors 180 -
Prepayments and other debtors 3,535 7,698
3,715 7,698

continued...

Page 12

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

11. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Other taxation and social security
Accruals and other creditors
Deferred grant income
LEASING AGREEMENTS
Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:
Within one year
Between one and five years
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
At 1.8.20
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
135,073
Restricted funds
Restricted Funds
2,021
TOTAL FUNDS
137,094
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
55,395
Restricted funds
Restricted Funds
20,212
TOTAL FUNDS
75,607
31.7.21
31.7.20
£
£
6,069
6,109
2,627
7,367
13,038
-
21,734
13,476
31.7.21
31.7.20
£
£
10,957
10,957
6,392
17,349
17,349
28,306
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.7.21
£
£
(9,217)
125,856
-
2,021
(9,217)
127,877
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(64,612)
(9,217)
(20,212)
-
(84,824)
(9,217)

12. LEASING AGREEMENTS

13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

continued...

Page 13

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

At 1.8.19
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
185,515
Restricted funds
Restricted Funds
2,021
TOTAL FUNDS
187,536
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
48,919
TOTAL FUNDS
48,919
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.7.20
£
£
(50,442)
135,073
-
2,021
(50,442)
137,094
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(99,361)
(50,442)
(99,361)
(50,442)
At
31.7.20
£
135,073
2,021
At
31.7.20
£
135,073
2,021
137,094
(50,442)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Restricted Funds
TOTAL FUNDS
At 1.8.19
£
185,515
2,021
187,536
Net
movement
in funds
£
(59,659)
-
(59,659)
At
31.7.21
£
125,856
2,021
127,877

continued...

Page 14

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

13. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 104,314 (163,973) (59,659)
Restricted funds
Restricted Funds 20,212 (20,212) -
TOTAL FUNDS 124,526 (184,185) (59,659)

14. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 July 2021.

Page 15

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations 6,517 10,010
Grants 20,212 -
26,729 10,010
Other trading activities
Sales 40,700 27,657
Sales of services 1,600 -
42,300 27,657
Investment income
Interest receivable 84 48
Other income
Gain on sale of tangible fixed assets - 8,862
Bank compensation 150 -
Miscellaneous income 579 -
Government grants 5,765 2,342
6,494 11,204
Total incoming resources 75,607 48,919
EXPENDITURE
Other trading activities
Purchases 25,193 9,522
Charitable activities
Wages and national insurance 22,227 20,276
Rent of equipment 240 530
Rent and rates 11,833 5,833
Light and heat 923 4,469
Telephone and internet 1,718 4,376
Office expenses and stationery 1,001 252
Advertising and promotion 192 657
Cleaning and sundry expenses 621 598
Insurance 1,533 1,514
Repairs and maintenance 1,290 144
Motor expenses and travelling 3,200 2,871
Subscriptions 178 72
Professional fees 2,642 9,107
Consultancy fees 1,910 -
Carried forward 49,508 50,699

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 16

VICTORIA CROSS TRUST

DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2021

31.7.21 31.7.20
£ £
Charitable activities
Brought forward 49,508 50,699
Grave cleaning and other projects 545 -
Donations - 600
Haulage - 800
Auction charges - 447
Late filing penalty - 400
Depreciation 8,751 35,828
Bank charges 827 1,065
59,631 89,839
Total resources expended 84,824 99,361
Net expenditure (9,217) (50,442)

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 17