2025-03-31-accounts - Finchingfield Guildhall

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Trustees' Annual Report					for theperiod
From	Period start date			To	Period end date
	1	April	2024		31	March	2025

Section A Reference and administration details

FINCHINGFIELD GUILDHALL Charity name CHARITABLE INCORPORATED ORGANISATION Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1157103 Charity's principal address The Guildhall Church Hill Finchingfield, Essex Postcode CM7 4NN

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
Mrs Jacqueline Berry		12 November 2024
Mr John Holford
Dr Damian Loneragan
Mrs Janet Ridgewell
Rev Dr Alexander Shannon			The Church of St John the Baptist Parochial Church Council
Mrs Deborah Sheridan	Chair of Trustees
Mr Paul Sheridan
Mr Robert Stanger			Finchingfield Parish Council

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Finchingfield Guildhall CIO does not employ any staff. All trustees and supporters are volunteers. The CIO used the services of one self-employed Events Manager, Mrs Carol Bell, during the year.

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Finchingfield Guildhall Charitable Incorporated Organisation is governed
Type of governing document by a Constitution.
(eg. trust deed, constitution) The Charity has its origins in 1567: many changes have occurred
How the charity is constituted throughout the centuries. This culminated in our most recent significant
(eg. trust, association, company) revision in May 2014 when the Charity was given approval by the Charity Commission to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and this was amended in 2019 with approval from the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission’s model documentation was used for our governing documents.

The Trustee board comprises currently five members approved by the Trustee selection methods members of the CIO and two others – one nominated by Finchingfield (eg. appointed by, elected by) Parish Council and one by The Church of St John the Baptist Parochial Church Council.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

The Charity maintains relationships with Historic England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and Finchingfield Parish Council.

The Charity has maintained relationships with the Sir Robert Kempe Education Foundation, an charity in Finchingfield.

policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
The Guildhall’s Grade I listing denotes its national, regional and local
• the charity’s organisational importance. A major risk under constant consideration concerns the safe structure and any wider guarding of the structure and fabric of the building and the need to raise network with which the charity funds to ensure that this can be achieved. A maintenance plan has been works; compiled following advice from Historic England. Damage to the property
• relationship with any related or injury to members of the public is addressed by adequate property and public liability insurance policies. Annual checks are made to the fire
parties; extinguishers, emergency lighting, the electrical network and central
• trustees’ consideration of heating.. major risks and the system and procedures to manage

them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Section C	Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)	The Constitution dated January 2019 states that the objects of the CIO are: 1) to restore and preserve the Finchingfield Guildhall and associated land and buildings, having historic interest, architectural merit or amenity value for the benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit (Finchingfield and the surrounding area); 2) to provide facilities for the advancement of education and in the interests of social welfare to provide facilities for recreation with the object of improving the condition of life of the inhabitants; 3) to establish and maintain a museum and/or art gallery for the benefit of the inhabitants; and 4) to undertake any other charitable activity for the benefit of the inhabitants.
	Finchingfield Guildhall continues to be administered in accordance with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the CIO's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK. The trustees maintain their duty to examine and report on the benefit to public of their charity. 1. Trustees have continued in their work to restore and preserve Finchingfield Guildhall. This includes liaising with historic buildings advisers who have supported Trustees in developing a maintenance programme and with skilled specialist contractors to inspect and maintain services in the building. 2. The objects and activities provided by Finchingfield Guildhall continue to give identifiable benefits to the inhabitants in the area of benefit including befriending coffee mornings, maintaining the village library, talks that inform and educate, visits by Finchingfield’s primary school, visits by groups of tourists who also support Finchingfield’s economy 3. Trustees have maintained the Museum and have maintained the display of paintings by artist Arthur Legge for the benefit of the community. 4. The Trustees have undertaken a range of activities that have supported other local charities including the Royal British Legion, Sir Robert Kempe Educational Foundation.

Section C

Objectives and activities

Summary of the
objects of the charity
set out in its governing
document
Summary of the main
activities undertaken
for the public benefit in
relation to these
objects (include within
this section the
statutory declaration
that trustees have had
regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)

The Constitution dated January 2019 states that the objects of the CIO are:
1) to restore and preserve the Finchingfield Guildhall and associated land and
buildings, having historic interest, architectural merit or amenity value for the
benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit (Finchingfield and the surrounding
area);
2) to provide facilities for the advancement of education and in the interests of
social welfare to provide facilities for recreation with the object of improving the
condition of life of the inhabitants;
3) to establish and maintain a museum and/or art gallery for the benefit of the
inhabitants; and
4) to undertake any other charitable activity for the benefit of the inhabitants.

Finchingfield Guildhall continues to be administered in accordance with the
current statutory requirements, the requirements of the CIO's governing
document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice
(SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK.
The trustees maintain their duty to examine and report on the benefit to public of
their charity.
1. Trustees have continued in their work to restore and preserve Finchingfield
Guildhall. This includes liaising with historic buildings advisers who have
supported Trustees in developing a maintenance programme and with skilled
specialist contractors to inspect and maintain services in the building.
2. The objects and activities provided by Finchingfield Guildhall continue to give
identifiable benefits to the inhabitants in the area of benefit including befriending
coffee mornings, maintaining the village library, talks that inform and educate,
visits by Finchingfield’s primary school, visits by groups of tourists who also
support Finchingfield’s economy
3. Trustees have maintained the Museum and have maintained the display of
paintings by artist Arthur Legge for the benefit of the community.
4. The Trustees have undertaken a range of activities that have supported other
local charities including the Royal British Legion, Sir Robert Kempe Educational
Foundation.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

policy on
grantmaking;
policy programme related investment;
contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the The Trustees acknowledge the need to safeguard the long-term future of the main achievements Guildhall, a significant historic asset owned by the community of Finchingfield. of the charity Trustees will continue to work with Finchingfield Parish Council and other during the year organisations to ensure it remains as such. The Trustees gratefully acknowledge the support of Finchingfield Parish Council who made a significant grant to the Guildhall. Trustees commenced contributions to the Local Neighbourhood Plan for both Finchingfield and Wethersfield parishes to support ‘Valued Landscape’ designation. This included providing evidence to the built, artistic and literary heritage of Finchingfield. Trustees supported students from the Courtauld Institute and Braintree Museum in their research into a painting of a local resident by an artist in Finchingfield. Following the damage to water and heating pipes following the protracted period of cold weather at the end of 2022/23, Trustees remain in contact with Historic England and the Heritage Lottery Fund to discuss a funding applications for repairs. A maintenance plan has been compiled following advice from Historic England. 2024/2025 saw an upturn in vistors to the Guildhall. In all, there were 1206 visitors to the Museum (760 in 2023/24). This reflects a rise in tourism to the village postpandemic and the withdrawal by Essex CC Highways dept of their planning application to demolish Finchingfield’s historic bridge, which had a negative impact on levels of tourism. Businesses in Finchingfield, however, report that midweek tourist numbers remain low The Guildhall was again host to group visits to the Guildhall and Museum. Pupils and staff of Finchingfield’s St John the Baptist C of E Primary Academy visited in December 2024. Four classes from Parkhill Junior School, Redbridge, made a return trip to explore both the village and the Guildhall. There were a number of visits by societies or by groups organised through Invitation To View. Our weekly coffee mornings continue to be popular with residents. Trustees are extremely grateful to our Guildhall supporters for organising and baking cakes for this activity which does so much to demonstrate the Guildhall’s public benefit for local people. The Library continues to serve our village, particularly supporting the school children through imaginative displays and events. The Library is actively seeking new members from residents of the new homes built in Finchingfield. The Guildhall organised a number of events that ran successfully but a some were cancelled because tickets were not sold. A number of successful Maker’s Markets were held. Monthly meetings of the Freshwell Surgery Low Carb Programme were held in the Guildroom with many attendees from Finchingfield and surrounding villages. The Trustees are grateful to those who update the Guildhall website to show events and who promote the Guildhall on social media. We continue to support the Sir Robert Kempe Educational Foundation in furtherance of our charitable objectives. The Guildhall was pleased to accept donations of a railway poster featuring Finchingfield from Mr & Mrs G Willetts and an iron chest and other expert metalwork from Mr & Mrs M Suckling.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The charity has a Reserves Policy which is currently met.

Details of any funds materially

in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

The principal sources of funding for Finchingfield Guildhall CIO are:

Funds raised through hiring the Guildhall for private family functions, for meetings, talks and events
From donations made by visitors to the Guildhall and its museum
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) D. Sheridan Full name(s) Deborah Sheridan Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 8 July 2025

Finchingfield Guildhall Charitable Incorporated Organisation 11

Recei ts and a ments accou p p y For the period Period start date To from 01/04/2024 ~~eeee ee a~~ Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted Endowment Restricted funds funds funds

to the nearest £

	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Endowment funds to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations	3,539	-	-
Grants	2,500	-	-
Hire of Guildhall	2,288	-	-
Events	861	-	-
KempLand income	3,690	-	-
Other income	47	-	-
Libraryicome	600	-	-
Plant donations	248
Guided Tours	607
Deposit Account interest	75
	-	-	-

Sub total (Gross income for AR) 14,455 - -

*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -	*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -	*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -	*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -	*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -	*Sub total(Gross income for AR)14,455* - -
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). - - - - - - Sub total - - - ~~Se~~
*Total receipts* A3 Payments	14,455 - ~~		~~
AccountingFees	219		-		-
Bank Charges	421		-		-
Insurance	3,886		-		-
KempEducational Foundation Donation	2,767		-		-
Electricity,Oiland Water	2,205		-		-
Office Costs	396		-		-
Event expenditure	481		-		-
Repairs and Maintenance	1,693		-		-
	-		-		-
**Sub total **	12,068		-		-
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) - - Sub total - ~~SE~~			- - -	- - - ~~—~~
CCXX R1 accounts (SS) *Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)*	1 21/07/2025 12,068 - - 2,387 - - ~~	~~ ~~	~~ ~~	~~ ~~es~~

A5 Transfers between funds - - - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 2,387 - -

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the perio

Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B3 Investment assets	Details Finchingfield Guildhall Guildhall Depreciation Museum Equipment Museum Depreciation Current Account Deposit Account Details Details *Total cash funds* (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Kemp Land rented to the Spains Hall Estate	Unrestricted funds to nearest £
		9,141
		5,152
		-
		14,293
		Agreement Error
		Unrestricted funds to nearest £
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		-
		Fund to which asset belongs





		Fund to which asset belongs
	Finchingfield Guildhall
	Guildhall Depreciation
	Museum Equipment
	Museum Depreciation

Details

Fund to which liability relates

Finchingfield Guildhall Depreciation

B5 Liabilities

CCXX R3 accounts (SS)

~~21/07/2025~~

~~3~~

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

Signature D. Sheridan	Print N
	Deborah S

CCXX R4 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025

157103

unts Period end date 31/03/2025

CC16a

Total funds Last year

to the nearest £ to the nearest £

3,539		385
2,500		-
2,288		1,671
861		503
3,690		3,690
47		937
600		-
248
607		287
75
-		-
14,455		7,473

-
-		-
-		-
14,455		7,473

219		-
421		-
3,886		3,630
2,767		2,766
2,205		4,248
396		1,214
481		279
1,693		3,177
-		-
12,068		15,314

-
-
-		-
12,068		15,314
5 2,387	-	7,841

CCXX R5 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025

-		-
-		-
2,387		- 7,841

CCXX R6 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025

od

od
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - -	Endowment funds to nearest £
	-
	-
	-
	-
	OK
	Endowment funds to nearest £
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-

Cost (optional) - - - - -	Current value (optional)
-	250,000
-	-
-	-
-	-
-	-

~~7~~ Cost (optional) - 54,006 - 2,694 - - - - - Amount due (optional)	Current value (optional)
	1,146,132
	-
	17,258
	-
	-
	-
	-
	-
	-
	When due (optional)

CCXX R7 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025

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-
-
-
Name Date of approval
Sheridan 08-Jul-25
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CCXX R8 accounts (SS)

21/07/2025