Trustees’ Report
for the Heritage Crafts Association (operating as ‘Heritage Crafts’) for the financial year 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
PATRON
HM King Charles III
VICE PATRON
The Rt Hon the Baroness Garden of Frognal
AMBASSADORS
Kaffe Fassett MBE Will Kirk Dr Alex Langlands Rose Sinclair MBE
TRUSTEES in the period July 2024 to June 2025
Chair David Clarke Co-Chair Jay Blades MBE (to 13 September 2024) Vice Chair Jo Sealy Treasurer Robert Murray Secretary Dr Alison Robinson Canham Other Trustees Katy Bevan Imogen Bright Moon (to 13 December 2024) Jennifer Chen Nicola Duncan-Finn (from 1 May 2025) Emma Jhita (from 1 May 2025) Catherine Lillie (from 1 May 2025)
Daahir Mohamed (from 1 May 2025) Helen Nichols (to 11 December 2024) Michael Osbaldeston (from 1 May 2025) Jonathan Reid Dr Simon Sadinsky (from 1 May 2025) Laura Southall
STAFF in the period July 2024 to June 2025
Daniel Carpenter – Executive Director Mary Lewis – Head of Craft Sustainability Elizabeth Fretty – Philanthropy and Membership Lead Tessa Osman – Recipient Engagement and Impact Officer Rachel Weaver – Grants, Awards and Membership Officer (from 19 May 2025) Ailsa Paterson – Finance Officer Hannah Lamare – Finance Officer (maternity cover) (from 14 October 2025) Zarka Iqbal – Project and Policy Officer (Shaping a Resilient Future) Finn Arschavir – Volunteer Coordination Officer (Shaping a Resilient Future) (from 19 August 2024)
REGISTERED OFFICE
81 North Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8NA
REGISTERED CIO NAME AND NUMBER
The Heritage Crafts Association 1159208 (previously registered charity number 1133646)
ACCOUNTS EXAMINED BY
Graham Darbourne FCA TC Group The Old Town Hall, Market Place, Oundle PE8 4BQ
BANKERS
CAF (Charities Aid Foundation)
Trustees’ Report | 1
Trustees’ Report
Heritage Crafts’ net incoming resources for the year were £593,527 (2024: £298.995) and the closing reserves held at 30 June 2025 were £393,079 (2024: £257,900).
Unrestricted income in the year of £294,065 was higher than the previous year (2024: £204,459). This increase was driven by unexpected unrestricted donations of £124,221 received during the year (2024: £14,188), including a legacy donation of £74,454 and three anonymous donations totalling £45,000.
In the previous year we were awarded a £157,989 grant over two years from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to expand our staff team, develop our governance and fundraising, and expand our reach to a more diverse audience. Expenditure against the grant in 2024/25 included staffing costs of £35,052 for our Philanthropy and Membership Lead and Project and Policy Officer, as well as the new Volunteer Coordination Officer recruited in August.
We drew down £35,000 for the second year‘s installment of the three-year grant awarded by the Swire Charitable Trust to cover core administrative costs.
UNRESTRICTED INCOME
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----- Start of picture text -----
Other income
Project management
Sponsorship
Donations
Membership
Grants
0
2024/25 2023/24
£300,000
£200,000
£100,000
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The proportion of income from corporate sponsorship was maintained from the previous year at £73,000 (2024: £76,012), including from The Royal Mint, to run the Winner’s Reception at Eltham Palace, and to provide bursaries for trainees in precious metal skills and a high-profile Precious Metalworker of the Year Award. Other sponsors included Soane Britain, House of Sonnaz, Rose Uniacke and Silverlining Furniture.
‘Remnant Weave’ interior design product line, which resulted in two generous donations totalling £11,013 (2024: £2,889).
As a result of a new payment platform requiring recurring members to re-register, we experienced a reduction in member numbers during the period. On 30 June 2025 Heritage Crafts had 964 members (2024: 1,493 members). However, as a result of the rate increase introduced in May 2024, membership income was maintained at £35,936 (2024: £36,955). The growth of membership remains critical to the future of Heritage Crafts and to ensure we can demonstrate wide support for our work.
UNRESTRICTED EXPENSES
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Other costs
Events
Sponsorship costs
Staff costs
0
2024/25 2023/24
£300,000
£200,000
£100,000
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2 | Trustees’ Report
We have continued to manage costs as prudently as possible. The largest item of unrestricted expenditure continues to be salary costs, which totalled £114,586 in the period (2024: £108,900). All of our staff work from home, and receive a monthly working from home allowance of £26 to contribute to increased energy usage.
Trustees are not remunerated for their work with Heritage Crafts. Travel costs incurred in attending meetings on behalf of the organisation are reimbursed. Trustee expenses for the year were £979 (2024: £800).
The amount of restricted funds received in the year to 30 June 2025 was £299,462 (2024: £94,536). This significant increase was made up largely from grants of £212,286 from trusts and foundations to fund our grants and awards programmes, and restricted anonymous donation of £50,000 to fund our new Maker Relief Fund.
Our training bursaries scheme, launched in 2021, continues to grow with 29 bursaries awarded in the autumn funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, City & Guilds Foundation, William Grant Foundation, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Army Benevolent Fund,
Royal British Legion, Ashley Family Foundation, Newby Trust, Sussex Heritage Trust, Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, Anthony and Elizabeth Mellows Charitable Settlement, Soane Britain, Kendrick Hobbs and Malcolm and Rosalind Gammie, and a further 14 in the spring, funded by The Royal Mint, the Costume Society, the Leathersellers’ Foundation, the British Leather Industry Development Trust, the Cordwainers’ Company, the Society of Scribes & Illuminators and the International Guild of Knot Tyers. The value of the 43 bursaries awarded was £165,312 (2024: £70,090 awarded to 19 recipients).
The Endangered Crafts Fund, launched in 2019, remains an important element of our strategy with seven grants awarded in the autumn funded by a private donor, the Pilgrim Trust and the William Grant Foundation, and a further eight in the spring, funded by a private donor, the James and Lucilla Joll Charitable Trust and the William Grant Foundation. The value of the 15 grants awarded was £29,747 (2024: £29,355 awarded to 16 recipients).
RESTRICTED INCOME
RESTRICTED EXPENSES
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Other income Other costs
Donations Projects and events
Grants Grants and awards
Staff costs
0 0
2024/25 2023/24 2024/25 2023/24
£300,000 £300,000
£200,000 £200,000
£100,000 £100,000
----- End of picture text -----
Trustees’ Report | 3
Following a restricted donation of £50,000 in October 2024, we set up a new hardship fund called the Maker Relief Fund to disseminate 50 £1,000 grants to makers struggling to make ends meet. By the end of the period 1,019 applications had been received and 35 grants awarded.
instalment of a three year grant of $105,000 USD from the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation based in California, to grow and professionalise the awards scheme. Prizes totalled £29,000, supported by the King Charles III Charitable Fund, The Royal Mint, Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundatiom, Marsh Charitable Trust, Axminster Tools, Costume Society, William Grant Foundation, Silverlining Furniture, British Leather Industry Development Trust, Leathersellers' Foundation, English Heritage, House of Sonnaz, Rose Uniacke, Broderers' Company and Lucy and Laurence Butcher (2022/23: £19,000 awarded to 14 recipients).
Future Financial Plans
The future focus of the Trustees continues to be growing Heritage Crafts as a self-funding organisation as regards its core costs, while working in partnership with other organisations and funders to deliver key projects that promote and develop heritage crafts. Core costs will increasingly be covered by membership fees, corporate sponsorship and contract income, project administration charges and core costs charged directly to projects. In the coming year, the Trustees and staff will be working to develop the new strategic plan to take effect in 2026.
Risk Management
We recognise that our operating environment continues to be very challenging. In order to understand the risks the organisation is facing, we maintain an organic risk register which is reviewed regularly by the Board and Sub-Committees. Each risk is assessed and the Board focuses on those which have the greatest likely impact. We try to reduce the possible impact of all risks but it is not possible to entirely eliminate them.
We have assessed our top two risks to be:
Financial risk – the risk that Heritage Crafts will not be able to raise sufficient funds through grants, membership and/or fundraising to maintain its charitable purpose. In the current economic climate we are seeing rising cost pressures, particularly salary costs, which increase our need for funding. We are working hard on engaging with relevant stakeholders, through our fundraising strategy, to ensure that Heritage Crafts will be able to carry out its aims.
Reputational risk – operating in a public environment always carries with it a possibility of miscommunication or misinterpretation which could lead to loss of reputation, and therefore a risk that supporters will fall away, and Trustees, Ambassadors, Benefactors and sponsors will be brought into disrepute and leave. We are continuously working to ensure that our public communication is clear and driven by our organisational values, our strategy and objectives.
In addition, we recognise that the people who work for Heritage Crafts, whether as Trustees or employees, bring unique skills and are difficult to replace. We are working on strengthening our governance structure to ensure that we always retain a core number of Trustees with relevant skills and that our employees are properly supported.
4 | Trustees’ Report
Reserves Policy
The Board assesses the reserves policy on an annual basis. In the light of continued economic uncertainty the Board has decided to retain the level of reserves held by the charity at the equivalent of twelve months’ core expenditure.
Our free reserves at 30 June 2025 are £317,290 which exceeds twelve months of core expenditure, in line with the policy noted above.
The Board of Trustees has kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at Board meetings and when making decisions around the implementation of the objects and activities of Heritage Crafts.
Fundraising Statement
Heritage Crafts is committed to ensuring its fundraising activities are responsible, ethical and transparent and as such aims to comply with best practice as set out by the Fundraising Regulator in the Fundraising Code.
Signed by Treasurer
Signature:
Name: Robert Murray, Treasurer Date: 2 January 2026
Signed by Chair of Trustees on behalf of all Trustees
Signature: Name: David Clarke, Chair
Date: 2 January 2026
Trustees’ Report | 5
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the Heritage Crafts Association I report on the accounts of the Herltage Crafts Association {operating ag Heritage Crafts) for the year ènded 30 June 2025. which are set out on pages 6 to 11 Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner The ¢harity's Trustees are re$ponsiblè for the preparation of thÈ aceounts. Thè charity's Trustèes consider that an audlt is not requirad for this year under section 144121 of tha Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examina- tlon is n?edgd. It Is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 14S of the 2011 Act: to follow the procedure5 Laid down In th• 4n•ral Dir&ctions 8lv•n by th8 Charity Commission under section 14SIS}Ib) of the 2011 Act,. and to State whether particular mattars hava come to my att•ntlon. Basis of indepondent examiner's report My •xamination was carrl•d out In accordanc• wlth Gen•ral Directions Iwen by the Charity Cornrnis¥ion. An examination in¢lud¢s a review of the ac¢ountini reeords k•pt by th• eharity And a comparlson of the accounts presented wlth those records. It also Includes consld•ratSon of any unusual Items or dis¢10sure$ In the a¢¢ounts and sa•kin¥ &xpLan•tion$ from you as Truste•$ ¢on¢rnin¥ any such matt•rs. Th• pioc•dures undertaken do not provlde all the •vSd•nc• that would be requSr•d In an audit, and consequently no opinion is given aB to whth¥r th• a¢¢ounts pr•$•nt a 'true and fair, vlew and th• report Is limited to those mattèrs set out in th• stat•ment below. Independent examiner's statement In eonn•ction with my examination. no mattèr has eom• to my att8ntion'. 1. whlch Klv•s me reasonable cause to believ? that in any material re$p¢t tho r*qulr¢m¢nt$'. to k••p aeeountin¥ reeord$ in Accordance with sectlon 130 of the 2011 Act: and to p¥epare accounts which accord with the accountine re¢ord$ and Comply with thè accountink requirements of the 2011 Act have not bèèn mat.. or 2. to which, In my opinion. attention should bg drawn in order to enable a prop¢r undèrstanding of th• a¢¢ounts to be r•a¢h¢d. Signcd bji indL'Pc'ndcnt cxaminer Signature.. Name.. Graham Darbourne FCA. TC Group Relevant professional qualification.. Chartered accountant Address.. The Old Town Hall Market Place Oundle PE8 48Q I Independent Examiner's Report
Statement of Financial Activities
| To the nearest £ | To the nearest £ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As of 30 June 2025 | Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | Designated | Total | Last year |
| RECEIPTS | ||||||
| Grants | 2 | £23,956 | £212,286 | – | £236,242 | £104,331 |
| Membership | 3 | £35,936 | – | – | £35,936 | £36,955 |
| Donations | 4 | £124,221 | £68,076 | – | £192,297 | £26,425 |
| Corporate sponsorship | 5 | £73,000 | £6,550 | – | £79,550 | £76,012 |
| Project management income | £23,462 | – | – | £23,462 | £30,003 | |
| Interest | £3,584 | – | – | £3,584 | £2,092 | |
| Gift Aid | £2,219 | £12,500 | – | £14,719 | £2,680 | |
| Miscellaneous | 6 | £7,687 | £50 | – | £7,737 | £20,498 |
| Subtotal | £294,065 | £299,462 | – | £593,527 | £298,995 | |
| Assets and investment sales | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Subtotal | – | – | – | – | – | |
| TOTAL RECEIPTS | £294,065 | £299,462 | – | £593,527 | £298,995 | |
| PAYMENTS | ||||||
| Staf costs | 7 | £114,586 | £51,608 | – | £166,194 | £108,900 |
| Grants, awards and bursaries | – | £174,931 | – | £174,931 | £82,598 | |
| Project costs | – | £20,690 | – | £20,690 | £18,438 | |
| Costs associated with sponsorship | £41,040 | – | – | £41,040 | £26,153 | |
| Events | £8,408 | £3,780 | – | £12,188 | £17,382 | |
| Administration costs | 9 | £25,933 | £8,615 | – | £34,548 | £18,183 |
| Other core costs | 10 | £8,757 | – | – | £8,757 | £20,151 |
| Subtotal | £198,724 | £259,624 | – | £458,348 | £291,805 | |
| Assets and investment purchase | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Subtotal | – | – | – | – | – | |
| TOTAL PAYMENTS | £198,724 | £259,624 | – | £458,348 | £291,805 | |
| NET OF RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS) | £95,341 | £39,838 | – | £135,179 | £7,190 | |
| Transfer between funds | 13 | (£20,000) | £30,000 | (£10,000) | – | – |
| TOTAL FUNDS LAST YEAR END | 14 | £134,744 | £113,156 | £10,000 | £257,900 | £250,710 |
| TOTAL FUNDS THIS YEAR END | £210,085 | £182,994 | – | £393,079 | £257,900 |
Statement of Financial Activities | 7
Balance sheet
| To the nearest £ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| As of 30 June 2025 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Total |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Ofce equipment | £572 | – | £572 |
| less accumulated depreciation | (£102) | – | (£102) |
| TOTAL FIXED ASSETS | £470 | – | £470 |
| ASSETS | |||
| Cash at hand and in bank | £378,846 | £130,170 | £509,016 |
| Trade debtors | £1,203 | – | £1,203 |
| Other debtors | £14,108 | £52,824 | £66,932 |
| Prepayments | – | – | – |
| TOTAL ASSETS | £394,627 | £182,994 | £577,621 |
| LIABILITIES | £184,541 | – | £184,541 |
| TOTAL FUNDS AS AT 30 JUNE 2025 | £210,086 | £182,994 | £393,080 |
| To the nearest £ | |||
| As of 30 June 2024 | Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Total |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Ofce equipment | £674 | – | £674 |
| less accumulated depreciation | (£102) | – | (£102) |
| TOTAL FIXED ASSETS | £572 | – | £572 |
| ASSETS | |||
| Cash at hand and in bank | £245,165 | £68,131 | £313,296 |
| Trade debtors | – | £45,025 | £45,025 |
| Other debtors | £9,501 | – | £9,501 |
| Prepayments | £3.370 | – | £3,370 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | £258,608 | £113,156 | £371,764 |
| LIABILITIES | £113,864 | – | £113,864 |
| TOTAL FUNDS AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 | £144,744 | £113,156 | £257,900 |
8 | Balance Sheet
Statement of Cash Flow
| Statement of Cash Flow | ||
|---|---|---|
| To the nearest £ | ||
| As of 30 June 2025 | 2025 | 2024 |
| CASHFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Net surplus (defcit) from Statement of Financial Activities | £135,179 | £7,190 |
| Adjustment for | ||
| Depreciation charges | £102 | £102 |
| Changes in working capital | ||
| (Increase)/Decrease in trade debtors | £43,822 | (£45,025) |
| (Increase)/Decrease in other debtors | (£57,431) | £29,320 |
| (Increase)/Decrease in pre-payments | £3,370 | (£940) |
| Increase/(Decrease) in liabilities | £70,677 | £94,275 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | £195,719 | £84,922 |
| CASHFLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES | ||
| Purchase of fxed assets | – | (£674) |
| Change in cash and cash equivalent in the reporting period | £195,719 | £84,248 |
| Cash and cash equivalent at the beginning of the reporting period | £313,296 | £229,047 |
| Cash and cash equivalent at the end of the reporting period | £509,015 | £313,296 |
Notes to the Accounts
1. Accounting policies
a) Basis of accounting
Heritage Crafts currently has a gross income of more than £250,000 per annum and is therefore required by the Charity Commission to prepare accruals accounts. As the Board considered that the financial situation was best given by preparing the accounts in accordance with Charity SORP (FRS 102) it has already been preparing accruals accounts since 1 July 2022.
d) Restricted funds
Restricted funds are funds which are used in accordance with specific instructions imposed by the donor. Details of the restricted funds received by Heritage Crafts are provided in note 2b below.
e) Resources expended
Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. period in which they are incurred.
b) Statement of compliance and basis of preparation
- 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 (FRS102) (effective I January 2015) - (Charities SORP FRS102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102). The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.
c) Income
All income, donations and subscriptions are
2. Grants
Heritage Crafts is extremely grateful to all our grant providers for this vital funding and support for our work.
a) Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted grants of £23,956 (2023/24: £34,083) were received from funders. This includes the second installment of a three-year a grant of £105,000 received from the Swire Charitable Trust to fund our administrative costs.
b) Restricted funds
During the year Heritage Crafts received and utilised restricted funds as follows.
accounted for as received by Heritage Crafts.
Membership subscriptions are recognised over the membership period.
To the nearest £
| As of 30 June 2025 | Training | Endangered | Maker | Awards | Strategic | Ernest | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bursaries | Crafts Fund | Relief | projects | Cook* | |||
| Opening restricted funds at 1 July 2024 | £79,046 | £30,204 | – | £6,365 | (£2,909) | £450 | £113,156 |
| New funds received | £132,164 | £33,900 | £47,500 | £23,325 | £62,574 | – | £299,463 |
| Transfer of funds from unrestricted** | – | – | – | – | £30,000 | – | £30,000 |
| Grants awarded | (£103,057) | (£18,874) | (£35,000) | (£18,000) | – | – | (£174,931) |
| Expenses incurred | – | – | – | – | (£84,693) | – | (£84,693) |
| Operating surplus/(defcit) | £29,107 | £15,026 | £12,500 | £5,325 | £7,881 | – | £69,839 |
| Closing restricted funds at 30 June 2025 £108,153 | £45,230 | £12,500 | £11,690 | £4,972 | £450 | £182,995 |
* Ernest Cook residual balance of £450 is for Superact (in liquidation).
** Match funding for the National Lottery Heritage Fund project from unrestricted reserves.
Strategic projects include income of £44,574 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund against the two-year grant of £157,989 awarded in February 2024, and £18,000 from the Pilgrim Trust against the two-year grant of £29,000 for the Red List of Endangered Crafts project awarded in 2023.
3. Membership
As of 30 June 2025, Heritage Crafts had 964 members through its membership scheme (2024: 1,493 members). A total of £35,936 was recognised as membership income during the year to 30 June 2025 (2024: £36,955).
4. Donations
Heritage Crafts is extremely grateful to all our donors for providing this vital funding and support for our work. Unrestricted donations of £124,221 (2024: £14,188) were received from individuals.
5. Corporate sponsorship
contributor to overall income in 2024/25, with £73,000 received from The Royal Mint, Axminister Tools, Soane Britain, Silverlining Furniture, House of Sonnaz, Rose Uniacke and Kendrick Hobbs (2024: £76,012).
6. Miscellaneous income
Miscellaneous income includes contracts, consultancy income, event income, sales income and other income.
7. Staff costs
Staff costs include salaries, National Insurance, pensions (including additional elective salary-sacrifice pension contributions) and working from home allowance, but not staff travel costs. The average number of employees in the 2024-25 year was seven (2024: five). There were no employees who received employee benefits of more than £60,000.
8. Trustee costs
The Trustees are all unpaid. Trustees are reimbursed for any expenses incurred on behalf of Heritage Crafts, including travel to Board meetings and other events they are required to attend. These costs are included in the administration costs below. Trustee travel and meeting costs in 2024/25 were £1,177 (2024: £1,050).
9. Administration costs
| To the | nearest £ | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Staf travel | (£12,551) | (£8,745) |
| IT, software and website | (£3,504) | (£1,113) |
| Consultancy | (£3,044) | (£600) |
| Telephony/postage/stationery | (£1,565) | (£970) |
| Marketing | (£1,214) | (£1,861) |
| Trustee travel and meeting costs | (£1,177) |
(£1,050) |
| Subscriptions | (£964) | (£521) |
| Insurances | (£770) | (£503) |
| Accountancy fees | (£690) | (£1,290) |
| Payment processing fees(£) | (£212) | (£764) |
| Recruitment and training | (£150) | (£382) |
| Entertainment | (£92) | (£201) |
| Total admin expenses | (£25,933) | (£18,000) |
10 | Notes to the Accounts
10. Other core costs
Other core costs includes costs of delivering contracts.
111. Taxation
As a registered charity Heritage Crafts is exempt from corporation tax since all income is applied for charitable purposes.
12. Asset purchases
During the year Heritage Crafts made no asset purchases, and exists fixed assets of £572 depreciated by a further £102.
13. Transfer between funds
£10,000 of designated funds originally assigned to the creation and maintenance of a new website has been transferred back to unrestricted reserves, as these costs have been met by the National Lottery Heritage Fund project.
14. Total funds at year end
Total funds movements during the year have been as the follows:
-
Unrestricted funds are used to pay core costs of the charity, including salary costs.
-
Restricted funds projects agreed with funders. More details of these funds are given in note 2b.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant received in February 2024 included a £30,000 match funding requirement, to be met from unrestricted funds. These funds were transferred to the restricted National Lottery Heritage Fund project this year.
| To the nearest £ | To the nearest £ | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Designated funds | Total | |
| Opening funds at 1 July 2024 | £134,744 | £113,156 | £10,000 | £257,900 |
| Net income/receipts | £95,341 | £39,838 | – | £135,179 |
| Transfer between funds* | (£20,000) | £30,000 | (£10,000) | – |
| Closing funds at 30 June 2025 | £210,085 | £182,994 | – | £393,079 |
* Transfer of funds from unrestricted for match funding of National Lottery Heritage Fund project
Notes to the Accounts | 11