Charity registration number: 1156236
THE FARRIERS FOUNDATION TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Farriers Foundation Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
| Trustees' Report | 2—3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7—11 |
| The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts: | |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 12 |
The Farriers Foundation Reference and Administrative Details For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Trustees | Mr M Trussler |
|---|---|
| Mr M J Handley (resigned 30/09/2024) | |
| Mr A J Bowyer (appointed 26/11/2024) | |
| Mr C Watton | |
| Mr C J Carrel | |
| Mr G D Moon (resigned 30/09/2024) | |
| Mr J Nunn (resigned 14/05/2025) | |
| Mrs S Nunn (resigned 14/05/2025) | |
| Charity Number | 1156236 |
| Principal Address | Duart, Moray Place |
| Gargunnock | |
| Stirling | |
| FK8 3BT | |
| Independent Examiner | Deans Chartered Accountants |
| Deans | |
| Chartered Accountants | |
| Gibson House Hurricane Close | |
| Stafford | |
| Staffordshire | |
| ST16 1GZ |
Page 1
The Farriers Foundation
Trustees' Report For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Objectives and Activities
Aims and Objectives
Our charity's purposes and aims are as set out in our constitution:
"Providing relief of financial hardship amongst farriers or retired farriers and their dependants who, by virtue of illness or premature retirement or any other reason, have need of such assistance.
The Farriers Foundation aims to support, rehabilitate, educate and thus prevent."
The trustees meet regularly, to review our aims and to ensure that our objectives have been achieved. These reviews enable us to confirm that we have focused upon our aims and that those farriers, their families, and their dependants in need of assistance have been helped in the most beneficial way, appropriate to their individual situation. The trustees look at how successful each activity or resource has been in promoting the purposes of The Farriers Foundation when planning future activities to continue to deliver our aims.
Delivering our aims
Six of the eight trustees hold farriery qualifications, and their primary occupation is the shoeing of horses. Amongst the farrier trustees are lecturers, examiners, clinicians, and competitors ensuring that the work of The Farriers Foundation is visible and accessible across all regions of the United Kingdom. They understand the relevance of contemporary difficulties faced by the industry and have first-hand experience of safety issues and the impact that injury or illness can have on the families and businesses of farriers. The two non-farrier trustees bring significant experience and expertise to the role. All trustees are equally active and dedicated.
Our main objectives have continued to be the relief of financial hardship and to support and assist the return to work and rehabilitation of farriers and their dependants who have been affected by illness or injury and to instigate activities intended to prevent injury to those working around horses, especially within the farriery industry. The strategies we used to meet these objectives included:
-
The provision of grants.
-
Provision of tools, equipment, or voluntary physical assistance.
-
Promoting unity and empathy amongst the farriery industry to assist with identifying potential beneficiaries.
-
- Supporting access to other relevant agencies and services to ensure that the best solution or course of action ispursued and achieved for each beneficiary.
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Hosting educational events, with the emphasis on safe working practice and instigation of preventative measures.
Public Benefit
Our main activities and who we try to help are described below. All our charitable activities focus upon the relief of financial hardship for farriers, retired farriers and their dependants and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.
The Farriers Foundation is inclusive and shows no prejudice. It provides a service to all farriers and their dependants, whether currently registered or not, retired or undertaking an apprenticeship within England and Wales. Beneficiaries are identified and referred to the foundation via the professional farriery network and via organisations such as the British Farrier & Blacksmiths Association and the Worshipful Company of Farriers. There continues to be more than 3000 registered farriers in England and Wales, plus retired and apprentice farriers.
The work of The Farriers Foundation has been promoted on various professional websites including 'forgemagazine.co.uk', 'forgeandfarrier.co.uk', forfarriersbyfarriers.co.uk, as well as our own website 'thefarriersfoundation.co.uk'. Facebook has proved instrumental in identifying beneficiaries and encouraging many farriers to become involved with the foundation and its aims. The charity has used various social media platforms for social events, 'fun' auctions of donated items, online quizzes, and competitions. These have also encouraged farriers and their families to socialise and provide support for each other.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
Page 2
The Farriers Foundation Trustees' Report (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
Main Achievements
Fundraising activities
Following the coronavirus pandemic, attendance at competitions, events and agricultural shows has slowly increased alongside the lifting of social distancing restrictions.
The Foundation has been supported generously by public donations and bequests, but by far the best supporters have been individual farriers, who have promoted the charity and advertised our merchandise on social media.
Farrier industry suppliers and distributors who have invited us to attend their events and clinics, continued to purchase items and donated wherever possible.
After 2023 we felt there wasn't the same interest in doing a Tour de Farrier again so we talked about other fundraising events that we could maybe do. BFBA Focus was our main event and again we had the speednail competition and sold donated items, one in particular being a restored wall bracket.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The charity is controlled by its constitution, as a charitable incorporated organisation.
Trustee Selection Methods
All new trustees are appointed via nomination and a majority vote amongst current trustees. The Chairperson holds the deciding vote should it be necessary. The role of trustee is voluntary.
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.
Additional Note
During the Autumn Jon and Sara Nunn's personal and business issues started to have an effect and so Jon asked if we could change the chairing role from him to another trustee. Mark Trussler took on chairing and tried to resolve outstanding issues such as the overdue accounts whilst creating a more balanced approach with each trustee assigned a specific role/s. We started to plan for fundraising events in 2025, redesign the merchandise, improve commuications with applicants and sort out the overdue annual returns and accounts.
In January 2025 we started to get some resistance to the questions we as trustees were asking of Jon and Sara for information regarding the outstanding accounts and another trustee noticed that cash raised at Focus in 2024 had not been paid in to the bank. He contacted the chairman to ask if this could be investigated by asking Jon and Sara why it was not showing on the statements. The chairman also contacted Dean's accountants independently to ask if they had/were the acting accountants for the charity.
The trustees' report was approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Mark Trussler
Mr M Trussler Trustee te 29 Apr 2026
Page 3
The Farriers Foundation Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Farriers Foundation For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Farriers Foundation (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent Examiner's Statement - matter of concern identified
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and contents of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
In carrying out my examination I have dealt with a matter of concern that charity funds appear to have been misappropriated as they were not paid into the charity's bank account. The accounting records have been reviewed and corrected by the trustees with the unaccounted monies showing as a recoverable 'other debtor' in the notes to the accounts. There is also additional disclosure in the trustee's report and related party note to these accounts.
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Deans
29 Apr 2026 Deans Chartered Accountants
Date Gibson House Hurricane Close Stafford Staffordshire ST16 1GZ
Page 4
The Farriers Foundation Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies 3 Other trading activities 4 Investments 5 EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds 6 Charitable activities: 6 Other Grants to beneficiaries NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS: Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 13 |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ 9,953 8,912 34 |
2024 Unrestricted funds £ 16,700 36,166 21 |
|---|---|---|
| 18,899 | 52,887 | |
| (1,616 ) (1,798 ) (17,300 ) |
(5,754 ) (1,920 ) (14,600 ) |
|
| (20,714 ) | (22,274 ) | |
| (1,815 ) | 30,613 | |
| (1,815 ) 59,963 |
30,613 29,350 |
|
| 58,148 | 59,963 |
The notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
Page 5
The Farriers Foundation Statement of Financial Position As At 31 March 2025
| Notes CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 10 Debtors 11 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year 12 NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Unrestricted Funds TOTAL FUNDS 13 On behalf of the board Mr M Trussler Trustee te Mark Trussler 29 Apr 2026 |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ 4,250 41,826 15,357 |
2024 Total funds £ 4,250 39,586 18,153 |
|---|---|---|
| 61,433 (3,285 ) |
61,989 (2,026 ) |
|
| 58,148 | 59,963 | |
| 58,148 | 59,963 | |
| 58,148 | 59,963 | |
| 58,148 | 59,963 | |
| 58,148 | 59,963 | |
The notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
Page 6
The Farriers Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
1. General Information
The Farriers Foundation is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission, registered charity number 1156236 . The principal address is Duart, Moray Place, Gargunnock, Stirling, FK8 3BT.
2. Accounting Policies
2.1. Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statements 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 Charities Act 2011.
The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
2.2. Going Concern Disclosure
The trustees have not identified any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
2.3. Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for a specific purpose.
Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2.4. Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).
Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes and it includes interest only. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method.
2.5. Resources Expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
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Costs of raising funds includes merchandise costs and the Winter Ball costs;
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Expenditure on charitable activities includes grants to beneficiaries and donations to individuals; and
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Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Grants payable to third parties are within the charitable objectives. Where unconditional grants are offered, this is accrued as soon as the recipient is notified of the grant, as this gives rise to a reasonable expectation that the recipient will receive the grants. Where grants are conditional relating to performance then the grant is only accrued when any unfulfilled conditions are outside of the control of the charity.
Other support costs
...CONTINUED
Page 7
The Farriers Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
2.5. Resources Expended - continued
Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include governance costs, postage costs and advertising costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity.
Fund-raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
2.6. Stocks and Work in Progress
Stocks and work in progress are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks.
Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
2.7. Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and are readily convertible to a known amount of cash with insignificant risk of change in value, and bank overdrafts.
2.8. Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
3. Income from Donations and Legacies
| . Income from Donations and Legacies |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
| funds | funds | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donations and gifts | 9,953 | 16,700 |
4. Income from Other Trading Activities
| Fundraising events . Investment Income Bank interest receivable |
2025 Unrestricted funds £ 8,912 |
2024 Unrestricted funds £ 36,166 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Unrestricted funds £ 34 |
2024 Unrestricted funds £ 21 |
5. Investment Income
Page 8
The Farriers Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
6. Analysis of Expenditure
| Activities undertaken directly £ Raising funds 1,616 Grants to beneficiaries - Other - 1,616 Activities undertaken directly £ Raising funds 5,754 Grants to beneficiaries - Other - 5,754 7. Support Costs General administration Governance costs General administration Governance costs 8. Independent Examiner's Remuneration Independent examination of the financial statements 9. Average Number of Employees Average number of employees during the year was: NIL (2024: NIL) |
Activities undertaken directly £ 1,616 - - |
Grant funding of activities £ - 17,300 - |
Grant funding of activities £ - 17,300 - |
Support costs (see note 7 ) £ - - 1,798 |
2025 Total £ 1,616 17,300 1,798 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,616 | 17,300 | 1,798 | 20,714 | ||
| Activities undertaken directly £ 5,754 - - |
Grant funding of activities £ - 14,600 - |
Support costs (see note 7 ) £ - - 1,920 |
2024 Total £ 5,754 14,600 1,920 |
||
| 5,754 | 14,600 | 1,920 | 22,274 | ||
| 2025 £ 1,260 |
2025 Other £ 538 1,260 |
||||
| 1,798 | |||||
| 2024 Other £ 518 1,402 |
|||||
| 1,920 | |||||
| 2024 £ 1,200 |
|||||
Page 9
The Farriers Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 10. Stocks Merchandise goods 11. Debtors Due within one year Other debtors 12. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year Accruals and deferred income 13. Movement in Funds Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Total funds Unrestricted funds General: General unrestricted fund Total funds |
As at 1 April 2024 £ 59,963 |
Income £ 18,899 |
2025 £ 4,250 2025 £ 41,826 2025 £ 3,285 Expenditure £ (20,714 ) |
2024 £ 4,250 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 £ 39,586 |
|||||
| 2024 £ 2,026 |
|||||
| As at 31 March 2025 £ 58,148 |
|||||
| 59,963 | 18,899 | (20,714 ) | 58,148 | ||
| As at 1 April 2023 £ 29,350 |
Income £ 52,887 |
Expenditure £ (22,274 ) |
As at 31 March 2024 £ 59,963 |
||
| 29,350 | 52,887 | (22,274 ) | 59,963 |
14. Transactions with Trustees
None of the trustees received any remuneration or any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity during the current or previous year.
During the year the expenses reimbursed to the trustees or paid directly to third parties were as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Other Expenses | - | 202 |
Number of trustees reimbursed for expenses during the year was 0 (2024: 1)
Page 10
The Farriers Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements (continued) For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
15. Related Party Disclosures
In 2018 Ms Sara Nunn a trustee explained that the charity's Nationwide Building Society passbook account was insuffient for their needs as they were required to make online payments, however she was unable to open a charity current account. A FlexAccount with Nationwide Building Society was then opened in Ms Nunn's name to deal with the day to day transactions of the charity. This was reported in the accounts and to the Charity Commission that this was incorrect. It wasn't until March 2023 that a charity account with CAF bank was opened.
During the year ended 31 March 2025 amounts totalling £460 were transferred out of the FlexAccount into another bank account of unverified ownership, but believed to be belonging to Ms Nunn. Further funds of £1,800.00 were transferred to a company named Central Forge a company owned and controlled Mr J Nunn, also a trustee and husband of Ms Nunn.
At the year end the FlexAccount held £0.28 (2024: £20.28) of charity funds and the remainder £41,825.94 (2024: £39,565.94) were due from Ms Nunn. This collective amount of £41,826.22 (2024: £39,586.22) is included within debtors.
Page 11
The Farriers Foundation Detailed Statement of Financial Activities For The Year Ended 31 March 2025
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Donations and legacies Donations Other trading activities Fundraising events and merchandise sales Investments Bank interest receivable EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Opening stock Purchases Cost of raising funds Closing stock Charitable Activities: Grants to beneficiaries Grants to individuals Other Printing, postage and stationery Bank charges Sundry expenses Trustees' expenses Independent examiner's fees NET (EXPENDITURE)/INCOME |
2025 Total funds £ 9,953 |
2024 Total funds £ 16,700 |
|---|---|---|
| 9,953 8,912 |
16,700 36,166 |
|
| 8,912 34 |
36,166 21 |
|
| 34 | 21 | |
| 18,899 (4,250) (1,198) (418) 4,250 |
52,887 (4,250) (5,538) (216) 4,250 |
|
| (1,616) (17,300) |
(5,754) (14,600) |
|
| (17,300) (24) (85) (429) - (1,260) |
(14,600) (10) (109) (399) (202) (1,200) |
|
| (1,798) | (1,920) | |
| (20,714) | (22,274) | |
| (1,815) | 30,613 |
Page 12
Issuer
Deans
Document generated Tue, 21st Apr 2026 15:44:51 BST
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Audit history log
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