GESS Charitable Trust
Annual Report
Year ended 5 April 2025
Registered Charity Number: 1151954
1
GESS Charitable Trust Annual Accounts and Trustees’ Report Year Ended 5 April 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 3 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 6 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 7 |
2
GESS Charitable Trust Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 5 April 2025
The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2025. They are satisfied that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Trust Deed as described below and the recommendations of the Statement of Recommended Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis.
Charitable Objects
The Foundation’s objects are to apply its income for the benefit of exclusively charitable purposes, and to make donations to charitable institutions, at the discretion of the trustees.
Public Benefit
The Trustee Board has complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission.
Review of Activities and Achievements
At 5 April 2025 the Trust had cash reserves of £33,763, represented by its bank account at National Westminster Bank plc. It plans to make further charitable donations in the year to April 2026.
Financial Review
During the period the Trust paid charitable donations, in accordance with its charitable objects, of £23,882. The Trust received donations of £25,000.
Risk Management
The Trustee Board is committed to the identification and management of the major strategic, business and operational risks which the Trust faces. The Trustee Board is tasked with identifying the likelihood and impact of any risks, together with such actions as may be necessary to mitigate such risks.
Reserves Policy
It is the Trustees’ objective that the Trust should maintain a positive level of reserves at all times. Free reserves currently stand at £33,732, which is the bank balance at 5 April 2025.
Plans for the Future
The Trust expects to continue to make grants broadly in line with previous history. The focus will include local charities.
3
GESS Charitable Trust Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year Ended 5 April 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing document
The Trust was created by a deed dated 6 February 2013. It was registered with the Charity Commission (Registration No. 1151954) on 18 March 2013.
Organisation
The Trustee Board sets and oversees the Trust’s strategy and objectives, monitors its effectiveness, and awards grants.
The Trust has no employees.
Appointment of Trustees
The Trustees are members of the Seligman Family.
Trustees are appointed by resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the Trustees. Apart from the first Trustees of the Trust, every Trustee must be appointed for a term of three years.
4
GESS Charitable Trust Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) Year Ended 5 April 2025
Reference and Administration Information
| Official name of Charity: | GESS Charitable Trust |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number: | 1151954 |
| Registered office: | Awbridge Mead |
| Dunbridge Lane | |
| Awbridge | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO51 0GQ | |
| Trustees: | Mr G Seligman |
| Mr M Seligman | |
| Ms V Seligman | |
| Bankers: | National Westminster Bank Plc |
| 15 Bishopsgate | |
| London | |
| EC2P 2AP | |
| Accountants: | Francis Clark LLP |
| Chartered Accountants | |
| Centenary House | |
| Peninsula Park | |
| Rydon Lane | |
| Exeter | |
| EX2 7XE |
George Seligman on behalf of the Trustees
05 February 2026
5
GESS Charitable Trust Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities Year Ended 5 April 2025
| Total and Unrestricted funds | Total and Unrestricted funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts and Payments Account | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||
| Voluntary receipts | ||
| Donations | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Gift aid | 6,250 | 11,225 |
| ______ | ______ | |
| 31,250 | 36,225 | |
| ______ | ______ | |
| Payments | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Charitable donations | 23,882 | 34,500 |
| Administration costs | - | 570 |
| ______ | ______ | |
| 23,882 | 35,070 | |
| ______ | ______ | |
| Excess of receipts over payments | 7,368 | 1,155 |
| Total funds brought forward | 26,395 | 25,240 |
| Bank balance at 5 April 2025 | 33,763 | 26,395 |
| ====== | ====== | |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||
| As at 5 April 2025 | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Bank balance at 5 April 2025 | 33,763 | 26,395 |
| ====== | ====== |
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 05 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
George Seligman Trustee
6
GESS Charitable Trust Independent Examiner’s Report Year Ended 5 April 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of GESS Charitable Trust for the Year Ended 5 April 2025
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of GESS Charitable Trust for the year ended 5 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the Charity Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directors given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Sharon Austen FCCA Francis Clark LLP Chartered Accountants Centenary House Peninsula Park Rydon Lane Exeter EX2 7XE
DATE: 05 February 2026