## **Foundation For Common Land** **(A company limited by guarantee)** ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements** ## **30 June 2025** **Company registration number: 08113120 Charity registration number: 1150439** ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Contents** |Reference and Administrative Details|1| |---|---| |Trustees' report|2| |Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements|9| |Independent examiner's report|10| |Statement of financial activities|11| |Balance sheet|12| |Notes to the financial statements|13| ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Reference and Administrative Details** |**Charity name**|Foundation For Common Land|Foundation For Common Land| |---|---|---| |**Charity registration number**|1150439|| |**Company registration number**|08113120|| |**Principal office**|Low Nook|| ||University of Cumbria|| ||Rydal Road|| ||AMBLESIDE|| ||LA22 9BB|| |**Registered office**|Low Nook|| ||University of Cumbria|| ||Rydal Road|| ||AMBLESIDE|| ||LA22 9BB|| |**Trustees**|C Short|| ||J Bailey|| ||L M Stride|(Appointed 25 February 2025)| ||R J Milton|| ||J C Phelps|| ||L C Branfield|| ||H Fraser|| ||P Arkle|| |**Secretary**|L M Stride|(Resigned 25 February 2025)| |**Accountant**|Dodd & Co Limited|| ||FIFTEEN Rosehill|| ||Montgomery|Way| ||Rosehill Estate|| ||CARLISLE|| ||CA1 2RW|| Page 1 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2025. ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The aim of our work is to safeguard and enhance the heritage of common land and keep commons alive by supporting active grazing. Our aims fully reflect the purposes the charity was set up for. The Foundation for Common Land’s (FCL) charitable objectives as set out in its Articles of Association are: - Tomanagement of common land for the benefit of the public.conserve the agricultural systems and the cultural landscapes associated with commoning and the - Toresponsible and sustainable pastoral use of commons.promote the conservation of the physical and natural environment of common land by supporting the - Toresearch to the public at large.conduct and commission research into commoning and common land issues and publish the results of such - Tocommoning.educate the public, particularly policy makers and other interested parties in subjects pertaining to The common land of England and Wales and the common grazings of Scotland are nationally important for access, tourism, wildlife, carbon storage, water supply, archaeological conservation, food production and livestock breeding. Commons deliver more public benefits than any other type of farmland, but this heritage continues to be at risk from a continued decline in its active management and the challenges in accessing financial support for delivering public goods. ## **Strategies and activities for achieving objectives** We deliver our core work in the following ways: - Influencealliances and advocacy through bilateral engagement and membership of technical advisory groups and - Convene and chair strategic partnerships - Contract out work to the best consultants in our field - Designfuture commoningand deliver training to deepen the knowledge of policy makers and practitioners who can influence - Develop partnership projects to secure the cultural heritage of commoning - Provide up-to-date and in-depth information on common land and commoning on our website - Choose trustees with strong links to commoners and commoning - On the ground delivery to develop, demonstrate and disseminate best practice Due to devolution of agricultural and environmental policies to the devolved nations, and FCL being a small charity, our current activities are restricted to England though we seek to retain active links with networks in Scotland and Wales and our constitution allows us to work across Great Britain. Page 2 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## **How our activities deliver public benefit** In the 1600s over 50% of England was common land. It is now less than 3% and commons remain a resource under threat. Common land delivers more public benefits than any other type of farmland and is more heavily designated than enclosed land; for instance Common Land is seven times more likely to be designated for nature as a SSSI than enclosed land. Commons are closely linked with a history of traditional and sympathetic pastoral systems developed over many centuries, adapted to local circumstances and informed by the experience of local farming communities. However, as a result of inappropriate government policies and schemes from the mid 1970s onwards biodiversity declined and alongside this the cultural heritage of commoning remains at risk. Farming communities and conservation organisations alike are concerned about the loss of skills and heritage. The impacts of climate change are also becoming apparent though the potential for commons to mitigate the impacts of climate change and be a refuge for some species is high. It is now over nine years since the decision to leave the EU and therefore the Common Agricultural Policy. Sadly, the transition from BPS to ELM has moved backwards in the last year leading to significant risks that the environmental benefits from commons, both natural and cultural, are at risk as are the commoning communities that manage this land. While we fully support the policy of public money for public goods we are increasingly concerned that implementation by the Government falls far short of what is required. Responsible commoning is not financially viable in most areas of the UK without government support as there is no reward for public goods from the market. Private markets for public goods remain poorly developed and hard to access overall and particularly when land is held by multiple parties. If these traditional systems and techniques, local infrastructure and expertise is lost, they will be difficult and expensive to re-establish. Loss of pastoral grazing would lead to the loss of many significant habitats and species and damage archaeological sites as well as affecting access and recreation and an erosion of cultural heritage. We also support the appropriate planting of trees and natural regeneration of scrub on common land especially through maintaining, enhancing and creating new wood pasture which has been an ancient land use on common land with the New Forest being a shining example. There are safeguards though the Commons Act 2006 to ensure this is planned with full consultation as works on common require the Defra Secretary of State’s consent. Through our work we take action to address these concerns to enable our cultural and natural heritage on commons to thrive as well as the unique collaborative system of management. We work with commoners, owners of common land, environmental NGOs, farming bodies and government agencies to be the national voice for common land and commoning. Our ambition is to empower individuals and organisations through their work to improve outcomes for the public benefits from common land. ## **Staff and Trustees’ achievements and performance: July 2024 - June 2025** 2024/2025 was a year of intense activity making the most of the Our Upland Commons last 12 months of funding. ## _OUC Staffing (seconded from the National Trust)_ Sam Caraway the OUC Project Manager left in September 2024 and his position was filled by a combination of Keira Booth on project management and Jo Swiers for OUC staff management. Keria Booth, Claire Braeburn and Kinga Swobodzinska left at the end of Our Upland Commons (30th June 2025) while Tamsin Thomas transferred her employment from the National Trust to FCL to work on continuing Dartmoor activity. ## _Core Staff and Contractors_ Julia Aglionby returned as Executive Director in November 2024 and from an employed basis from January 2025 one day a week. Julia is contracted to undertake other work as funds allowed. Robin Milton continues to represent FCL at policy meeting with Defra and other officials. Jo Swiers led on project development, particularly focusing on resilience and the legacy of Our Upland Commons alongside Lyndsey Stride returned to being a Trustee and Susie Hodgson continues to undertake our Administrator Role, supporting both the core charity work and our grant contracts. Trustees remain actively engaged and we now have an established a staff and trustee buddy system. During this year Rhiannon Jones worked to support training and knowledge exchange two days a week and Owen Morgan after Tom Lawrence’s departure was promoted to run the SFI Moorland Survey App and is supported by Andrew Burrell, a freelance contractor. The FCL’s main activities and achievements for the year July 2024-June 2025 have been: Page 3 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## **Our Upland Commons – Our Common Cause** We completed this major £3.1 million National Lottery Heritage Fund project on 30th June 2025 maintaining effective working relationships with our 25 project partners. The accountable body is the National Trust so while the activities are managed by FCL the funds do not pass through our bank account. All reports from this project are available on our website in the Library. Highlights during 2024 / 2025 include: - Collaborativelyleaky dams, footpath diversions and wetland creation and restoration.delivered Natural Flood Management Interventions for Brant Common, Yorkshire Dales with - In Dartmoor a detailed management plan was finalised for Holne Common - Our Molinia Trials were completed in Dartmoor and a report published - Two major conferences held; one in Dartmoor and one in Cumbria each with over 120 people present. - A Policykindly hosted by the National Trust.meeting on 30 key people from government, farming and environmental NGOs was held in London - Interpretation panelsaward were co-designed and installed on the Longmynd, Shropshire and were nominated for an - OverLevel 4 accredited courses run by the University of Cumbria20 commoners and advisors were awarded bursary places for Uplands Environmental Land Management - Farmer Led Habitat Assessment undertaken by commoners on over 3,000 ha of moorland - We supported sustainable commoning by providing equipment including remote controlled bracken cutter, - • restoring historic sheep pens, and researching flock/herd health providing actionable insights for commoners to improving flock and herd health. - Weoutcomes from Common Land.produced and widely distributed our final Evaluation Report including our Theory of Change for improving ## **Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) - Moorland Survey Digital Service:** - We provide a phone based survey tool for moorland owners, managers and commoners to complete the - • actions of SFI MOR1 – an annual survey of their land above the moorland line – as part of a three year SFI agreement with Defra. - This is a paid for service that enables agreement holders to easily collect, analyse and store their data. - In 2024/25 we continued to deliver the SFI Digital App service and now have one part time employee and a part time contractor – a total of 1 FTE. The service enables managers of moorland both common and non-common - • moorland to survey their land on a phone app and assess the environmental benefits on the common and opportunities to enhance these public benefits. The information is then provided to the managers in a series of spatial maps and in a spreadsheet. - Over 168,000 ha of moorland used the SFI Moorland service in our financial year 2024/2025 - We have further trialled the Farmer Led Habitat Assessment Tool as a top up to the SFI following trialling duringOur Upland Commons. - We worked with the Land App to agree a partnership to migrate the underlying surveying service from Mergin toLandApp. This provides us with the ability to scale the service. - In March 2025 Defra with no notice closed the SFI scheme meant no one else could apply for MOR1. Due to - • the lag between being awarded an agreement and signing up to a service the demand for our service continued to grow but there remain uncertainties as to with what actions Defra will reopen SFI. ## **North York Moors: Resilient Commoning in the North York Moors** From October 2024 to March 2025 we delivered a short project in the North York Moors (NYM) funded by a Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) grant made by the NYM National Park Authority using Defra funds. Match funding was provided by FCL and funds from the Federation of Yorkshire Commoners. Page 4 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** Arising from an approach for assistance by North York Moor Commoners the project focused on scoping opportunities to deliver positive outcomes for the landscape and people: developing a model for delivery with recommendations for Commons support in the future, including funding, governance and practical land management. The project was delivered by Claire Braeburn with management by Jo Swiers and supported by Susie Hodgson working closely with a local contractor and commoners across three commons in the north of the park. The project had high levels of engagement and concluded there was demand to formally establish a graziers group, a full report is on our website. At the end of the 2024/25 year a further grant from the FiPL was being negotiated for delivery in 2025/26. ## **Outreach and Engagement** - The level of outreach over the last four years was made possible by the funding of comms support by the Our - • Upland Commons. In 2024/25 as part of the wind up of the project we have been working to ensure these communication skills are integrated into FCL’s core staff activities. - Throughnatural and cultural heritage of common land, many targeted at hard-to-reach audiences.OUC we have engaged over 10,000 people in events educating, celebrating, and experiencing the - We produced sixclimate, heritage, collaboration, land management and engagement.Spotlight Sheets summarising in infographic form the outcomes of the projects across nature, - Our mailing database of interested individuals at the year-end stands at 1335 and MailChimp provides us with - • information about level of engagement whilst maintaining compliance with GDPR. We have an unusually high level of engagement with our emails. - A Quarterly newsletter was produced and distributed to all our contacts - Providedour website, attendance at their meetings and networksongoing guidance to commoners’ groups, commoners, owners of common land and stakeholders via - RaisingFarmer’s Guardian and in the Farmer supplement of the Cumberland Newsthe profile of commons through appearances on BBC Farming Today, the Financial Times, the - Hosted three wellthere have over 473 views of these webinars on YouTube after the live events.attended webinars during the 2024/25 year. Over 582 people registered for the webinars and - We hosted three Hill Farm Training courses for Conservation Professionals training over 35 individuals. These - • are delivered in partnership with the Farmer Network and were commissioned by the National Trust, Natural England and the RPA. - We werefor Land Management as part of their Uplands ELM series.awarded a contract to develop a CPD course for the University of Cumbria on Collaborative Practices ## **Advocacy** Regular attendance at Defra stakeholder and policy meetings with senior stakeholder staff to attempt to find ways forward for common land governance issues with agri-environment schemes We reviewed and enhanced our social media presence moving from Twitter (X) to LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook to reach a wider more public audience ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Review of the financial position** Our financial position has remained strong over 2024/2025. Our charitable activities have increased, and we have been successful in drawing down grant funding and contracts to undertake our work. Our total income was £313,513 (2024: £336,039) and our expenditure was £225,311 (2024: £330,285). We ended the year with overall free reserves of £215,155. ## **Going concern** After making appropriate enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. Page 5 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## **Principal financial management policies adopted** The directors scrutinise management accounts and budgets vs actual expenditure at monthly directors' meetings. This is for both the organisation as a whole and on a project/funding stream basis. The use of Xero bookkeeping system allows accounts to be kept up to date and easy to analyse. Dodds in Carlisle remain as our accountants who have offered excellent support to the staff over the past year. ## **Reserves policy** FCL has completed its thirteenth year of operation. During the year to which these accounts relate FCL had low liabilities with four permanent part time employees. We have low expenditure on overheads. The primary reason FCL needs reserves is to fund short-term deficits in cash flow and for investment in new projects where grant funding may not be forthcoming or for match funding for larger projects. The Trustees consider that present level of reserves available to the charity are enough and this is reviewed on a regular basis. The reserves held are considered sufficient due to the following financial situation: - We have sufficient reserves to meet our commitment for continuing operations. - Theshared office space at the University of Cumbria in Ambleside.charity owns no tangible assets that require repairs or investment. We have a license for a fully serviced - The charity employed four part time members of staff during the financial year. The SFI Digital App that has - • coveredAdministrator’s salaryall costs andingenerated2024-25 isa fundedsmall surplusby the toEsméeenableFairbairnus to developCore Fundingfuture whichdigitalalsotools.coversHalf allof ourthe Training and Knowledge Exchange post salary until September 2027. - Theoversight. Work on specific projects is undertaken as a contractor.Executive Director from 1st January 2025 was employed one day a week for core governance and - Additional Senior Operations Support was contracted in on a temporary basis – Jo Swiers. - The charity’s Director Trustees are chosen as individuals who are actively involved through their day jobs in - • activities that are closely linked to FCL’s charitable objective so that in the worst case that project income ceased our Directors would continue to deliver the charitable objects if at a lower level of activity. The Charity has enough funds in unrestricted funds to cover essential Trustee expenses of insurance, our part-time administrator, travel to the Annual Meeting and Accountants costs for at least 6 months as recommended by the Charity Commission. In 2024/25 we have maintained our unrestricted funds through the delivery of contracts to have reserves for all essential costs for at least 12 months and to be able to make offer match funding for future grant applications as we expect to enter a period of growth. ## **Principal funding sources** We receive a grant of £49,000 per annum for four years from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; this will last until September 2027. This is the 14th year Esmée Fairbairn has supported FCL. In addition to Esmée Fairbairn Foundation core funding in 2024/25 has come from Defra for undertaking work related to the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group and from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Esmée Fairbairn for Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons and the Hadfield Trust Our investment in the Moorland SFI Phone app means we are now operating a paid for service to over 168,000 ha of moorland. This service is available to all charging a nominal fee per Ha, providing an important tool and with the aim of covering all costs and it generates some financial surplus which contributes towards our charitable objectives. For this year the main source of funding of our charitable activity is via the £3.1 million ‘Our Common Cause: Our Upland Commons’ National Lottery Heritage Fund project. The Foundation for Common Land holds the grant with the National Trust who are the accountable body for the finances for that project. This means staff are employed by the NT and seconded to FCL and that contracts are with the NT. Our Executive Director chairs the project board and leads the partnership. ## **Funders** A list of all our funders and their contributions appear in the income section of these accounts. As ever, we would like to express our huge gratitude to all who have supported our work this year and we would like to take the opportunity to thank the following for their kind support: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Hadfield Trust and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) as well as the many trusts and partners who contributed in cash and kind to Our Upland Commons. Page 6 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** Foundation for Common Land is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity governed by its memorandum and articles of association. These were amended by special resolution registered at Companies House on 28 November 2012. ## **Recruitment and Appointment of the Director-Trustees** The management of FCL is the responsibility of the charity trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association. Under FCL's Articles of Association the trustees are known as the directors. The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the directors are elected to serve for a period up to the following year's AGM where all directors stand down and stand for re-election. ## Lyndsey Stride was appointed a Trustee in February 2025. ## **Methods adopted for the training and induction of director/ trustees** The Charity Commission's guide "the Essential Trustee" is available to all Directors via a shared filing system. This system also contains all the essential governance documents including: Memorandum and Articles of Association; minutes of Director Meetings, away days, business plan, financial records, register of Directors' interests, project files and policies. FCL recognises the need for directors to be familiar with the work of the organisation. Staff are invited to attend the Trustees’ Meetings to encourage sharing of information and experience and all the team gather together for 2 days each autumn. Staff have also been buddied with Trustees for mentoring and support. Directors are encouraged to be members of relevant working parties and advisory panels and attend conferences (often giving presentations on our work) to keep their knowledge current. ## **Organisational structure** The affairs of FCL are managed by the directors of the limited company who are also trustees of the Charity. According to the Articles of Association there must be a minimum of three Directors and there is no maximum number of directors. The directors are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of FCL. At the year end we had eight director trustees from a variety of backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The Executive Director, Company Secretary, and other staff and consultants also attend director meetings as appropriate but have no voting rights. The Directors have four meetings a year of the main Board with additional topic meetings as required. A Finance sub-committee was instituted this year. While most meetings are on line the Directors meet face to face for two days each year as part of the combined staff and Directors gathering. The minutes are recorded and reviewed at each subsequent meeting. A scheme of delegation is in place and day-to-day responsibility for the work of FCL rests with the Executive Director, the Operations Lead and the Administrator. They are responsible for ensuring that FCL delivers agreed projects and contracts and all work is delivered in line with good practice models and relevant quality standards and key performance indicators are met. ## **Risk management** The Trustees have assessed the risks related to the operations and finances of the charity and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks. The directors 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. A risk register has been developed and is regularly reviewed. ## **The Focus of our forthcoming work in 2025-2026** Build on the just completed Lottery funded ‘Our Upland Commons’ project through sharing the outputs from the project with partners, commoners, landowners. Develop our internal capacity to deliver future programmes ourselves rather than relying on others as an accountable body. We have been awarded a new two year resilience grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to review and enhance our governance and capacity and activities will include. Page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ncome and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable Activities
3
Total income and endowments
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income before transfers
**Transfers**
Transfers between funds
Net movements in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
264,263|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
49,250
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
49,250
264,263|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
165,250
170,789| |---|---|---|---|---| ||264,263|49,250|313,513|336,039| ||176,061|49,250|225,311|330,285| ||176,061|49,250|225,311|330,285| ||88,202
-|-
-|88,202
-|5,754
-| ||88,202
128,053|-
-|88,202
128,053|5,754
122,299| ||216,255|-|216,255|128,053| All of the Charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above periods. The notes on pages 13 to 21 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 11 **----- Start of picture text -----**
2025 2024
Note £ £ £ " " £
9 01022 342 720
02 10 481909 /1:;9
40@194; 0:01;8:
4901;94 0901493
00 11 D4818;3E D0:1/09E
40@10@@ 0431:::
40814@@ 04;12@:
H H
40814@@ 04;12@:
40814@@14@@4@@ 04;12@:12@:2@:
**----- End of picture text -----**
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oundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## **1 Accounting policies** ## **Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates** The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. ## **Statement of compliance** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. ## **Basis of preparation** The charitable company 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 notes. ## **Going concern** These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. ## **Fund accounting policy** Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 15. ## **Income and endowments** Donations are recognised when the Charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the Charity before the Charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the Charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period. Legacy gifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the grant of probate when the administor/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measured with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the Charity. Income from Government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Page 13 **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## _......... continued_ ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. ## **Support costs** Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage. ## **Irrecoverable VAT** Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred. ## **Taxation** The Charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the Charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. ## **Fixed assets** Individual fixed assets costing £200 or more are initially recorded at cost. ## **Depreciation** Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows: Fixtures, fittings and office equipment 3 years straight line basis ## **Trade Debtors** Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the Charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. ## **Cash and Cash Equivalents** Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. ## **Liabilities** Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the Charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Page 14 **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** ## _......... continued_ ## **Operating leases** Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Rentals payable under operating leases are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the lease term. ## **Pensions** The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged in the statement of financial activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme. ## **Financial instruments** Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Charity after deducting all of its liabilities. All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the Charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the Charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the Charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party. Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires. ## **2 Donations and legacies** |**Grants**
Esmee Fairbairn
Garfield Weston|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
49,250
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
49,250
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
115,250
50,000| |---|---|---|---|---| ||-|49,250|49,250|165,250| Of the donations and legacies income in 2024, all income related to restricted funds. Page 15 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **3 Charitable Activities** |Provision of project management for Our Uplands
Common
Defra Lowlands T&T
SFI Road Test
SFI Commercial
Hill Farm Training
Exeter Funding
Cumbria Rivers
North York Moors FIPL|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
92,266
-
-
82,313
24,162
1,800
5,789
57,933|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
92,266
-
-
82,313
24,162
1,800
5,789
57,933|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
49,654
42,360
28,429
37,413
11,133
1,800
-
-| |---|---|---|---|---| ||264,263|-|264,263|170,789| Of the other trading activites income in 2024, £145,933 related to unrestricted funds and £24,856 related to restricted funds. Page 16 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **4 Expenditure** |**Direct costs**
Provision of Charitable Activities
Our Uplands Commons
Hill Farm Training
Lowlands T&T
SFI Road Test
North York Moors FIPL
West Cumbria Rivers Trust
SFI Commercial
Wages and salaries
Staff pensions
**Support costs**
Rent
Insurance
Computer software and maintenance costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Sundry expenses
Cost of trustee meetings
Travel and subsistence
Accountancy fees
Independent examiner's fee
Consultancy fees
Bank charges
Depreciation of office equipment|**Charitable**
**activity**
**£**
10,317
60,035
8,081
-
-
54,940
2,893
15,383
52,683
992|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
10,317
60,035
8,081
-
-
54,940
2,893
15,383
52,683
992|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
12,046
154,078
10,842
17,989
64,271
-
-
10,921
40,995
825| |---|---|---|---| ||205,324|205,324|311,967| ||1,178
386
1,108
42
167
2,002
550
1,523
500
12,170
33
328|1,178
386
1,108
42
167
2,002
550
1,523
500
12,170
33
328|1,011
522
-
-
11,322
-
-
1,053
500
3,850
47
13| ||19,987|19,987|18,318| ||225,311|225,311|330,285| Of the expenditure in 2024, £114,103 related to unrestricted funds and £216,182 related to restricted funds. ## **5 Governance costs** |Accountancy fees
Independent examiner's fee
Cost of trustee meetings|**2025**
**£**
1,523
500
2,002
4,025|**2024**
**£**

1,053

500

-| |---|---|---| |||1,553| Page 17 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **6 Trustees' remuneration and expenses** Expenses totalling £653 (2024 - £497) in relation to travel were claimed by 3 trustees. Trustee R Milton received £3,500 (2024 - £1,750) in relation to consultancy & advocacy work. ## **7 Net income** Net income is stated after charging: Depreciation of tangible fixed assets |**2025**||**2024**|| |---|---|---|---| |**£**||**£**|| ||328||13| ## **8 Employees' remuneration** The monthly average number of persons (including senior management) employed by the charity during the year was as follows: |Charitable activities
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Other pension costs|**2025**
**No.**
4
**2025**
**£**
52,683
992
53,675|**2024**
**No.**
3| |---|---|---| |||**2024**
**£**
40,995
825| |||41,820| No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year (2024 - No. 0). Page 18 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **9 Tangible fixed assets** |**Cost**
As at 1 July 2024
Additions
As at 30 June 2025
**Depreciation**
As at 1 July 2024
Charge for the year
As at 30 June 2025
**Net book value**
As at 30 June 2025
As at 30 June 2024
**Debtors**
Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-||**Fixtures,**
**fittings and**
**office**
**equipment**
**£**
1,367
708
2,075
647
328
975
1,100
720
**2025**
**£**
25,181
1,233
26,414
**2025**
**£**
17,839
7,055
193
1,600
26,687|**Total**
**£**
1,367
708
2,075
647
328
975
1,100
720
**2024**
**£**
9,384
-| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||9,384| |||||**2024**
**£**
100
4,403
121
9,290| |||||13,914| ## **10 Debtors** ## **11 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year** ## **12 Members' liability** The charity is a private company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the members is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation. Page 19 ## **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **13 Pension scheme** ## **Defined contribution pension scheme** The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the period represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £992 (2024 - £825). Contributions totalling £193 (2024 - £121) were payable to the scheme at the end of the period and are included in creditors. ## **14 Related parties** ## **Controlling entity** The charity is controlled by the trustees who are all directors of the company. ## **15 Analysis of funds** |**General Funds**
Unrestricted income fund
**Restricted Funds**
Restricted income fund|**At 1 July**
**2024**
**£**
128,053
-
128,053|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
264,263
49,250
313,513|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(176,061)
(49,250)
(225,311)|**At 30 June**
**2025**
**£**
216,255
-| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||216,255| Restricted funds - these are funds received from Esmee Fairbairn for core funding ## **Prior period** |**General Funds**
Unrestricted income fund
**Restricted Funds**
Restricted income fund
DEFRA|**At 1 July**
**2023**
**£**
95,496
1,947
24,856
26,803
122,299|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
145,933
165,250
24,856
190,106
336,039|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(114,103)|**Transfers**
**£**
727|**At 30 June**
**2024**
**£**
128,053| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||(166,470)
(49,712)|(727)
-|-
-| ||||(216,182)|(727)|-| ||||(330,285)|-|128,053| Page 20 **Foundation For Common Land** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2025** _......... continued_ ## **16 Net assets by fund** |Tangible assets
Current assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Net assets
**Prior period**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
1,100
241,842
(26,687)
216,255|**Total Funds**
**2025**
**£**
1,100
241,842
(26,687)
216,255|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
720
141,247
(13,914)| |---|---|---|---| ||||128,053| |Tangible assets
Current assets
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one
year
Net assets|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
720
141,247
(13,914)
128,053|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
720
141,247
(13,914)
128,053|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
-
138,476
(16,177)| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||122,299| Page 21