WINCHESTER RADIO
A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales, no. 1160752
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts 2025
A Friend in Need – an independent impact evaluation of hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting in the UK[] found that hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting* :
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has a positive impact on psychosocial health outcomes;
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creates connections between listeners, healthcare professionals, and volunteers, providing much needed social interaction;
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strengthens the sense of connection and belonging , with local news and interactive features helping them to maintain a connection with their community;
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enhances health and wellbeing by reaching audiences at the point they need information most in an accessible way.
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is creating positive impacts in the wider community by supporting the prevention agenda, providing a virtual social lifeline for the elderly, bringing the community together and making local connections, and being a mouthpiece for the community.
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Research undertaken by The Researchery and Shortwork , published in March 2026 by the Hospital Broadcasting Association .
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025 Photo Gallery
Winchester Radio
Our new studios
A major milestone during 2025 was when our Engineering team completed the fitting-out of our new studios. Studio 1 (top left) can accommodate a presenter and up to 4 guests. Studio 2 (bottom left) has room for 2 people. All the supporting technology is housed in a rack in a small Server Room (top right). Between the studios, there is a compact office space, with 3 workstations (bottom right).
Christmas
Christmas is always a busy time for Winchester Radio, as we cover events taking place in the community (such as, centre, the Round Table's Santa's Sleigh travelling around the city), broadcast well-wishes (including, right, from Chair of Hampshire Hospitals, Martin Earwicker), and produce special programmes (for example, "A Very Mayor-y Christmas", with Mayor Cllr Sudhakar Achwal, left).
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Clarendon Marathon
Once again, this year, Winchester Radio provided the public address at the finish line of the Rotary Clarendon Marathon, providing race commentary, chatting to friends and family waiting for runners to cross the line, and relaying information from the race organisers. The proceeds from the marathon are donated by Winchester Rotary to a number of local charities, including Winchester Radio.
Awards
Winchester Radio collected two trophies (left) at the National Hospital Radio Awards ceremony in Hinckley this year, for our speech-based programming. In addition, one of our journalist volunteers, Mary Blaxland, won a Mayor of Winchester Community Award (right), and one of our founder members, Tony Knight, still an active volunteer, won a Churchill Living Local Heroes Award (centre).
Opening of new GP Surgery
In January, St Clement's GP Surgery opened its new premises. Winchester Radio went along to see the new building and find-out from staff what a difference it will make. Winchester Radio is played in the waiting rooms, enhancing patient privacy whilst both providing a distraction and health & wellbeing information to patients.
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Winchester Radio
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Out-and about in the community
Every week, our volunteers are out-and-about in the community, reporting on what is going-on at a grass-roots level in the city, and encouraging listeners to get involved in their community. Examples include VE-Day commemorations at the Winchester Heights care home (top left), the visit of the Virtual Dementia Tour bus (top right) during Dementia Action Week, the Hampshire Changemakers Awards for those making an impact in their community (centre left), the 8-week circumnavigation around Britain by bus of "Brother on a Bus" John Green, one of the Brothers resident at the Hospital of St Cross (centre), the fundraising pilgrimage along the Camino Way undertaken by Sally Stoodley and her daughter Jannine, raising money for a hoist for Twyford Ward in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, where Sally was treated for a stroke in 2023 (centre right), tree planting at Hinton Ampner, co-ordinated by Winchester Rotary (bottom left), and the vigil in Abbey Gardens, marking the anniversary of the war in Ukraine (bottom right).
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Hampshire Hospitals
As well as broadcasting to patients in the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, and our ward befrienders visiting them to have a chat and collect music requests, Winchester Radio also covers news about the hospital and appeals from the hospital, the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that runs it, and the wider NHS – regionally and nationally. In 2025, this included the retirement of long-term Chief Executive, Alex Whitfield (left), and the appointment of Sue Harriman (right) as her replacement. Appeals included those for former patients to return walking aids (centre), as well as calls for people to take-up offers of vaccinations, and to avoid using A&E except in life- or limbthreatening cases when the hospital became overloaded and declared "critical incidents".
Fundraising and community engagement
Other vital roles our volunteers undertake include fundraising, without which the charity would not survive (including a car boot sale [top left] and coffee morning [bottom left]), and community engagement (e.g. a talk to the Hyde WI [top right]) – spreading the word about Winchester Radio, how to tune in, and how its service benefits the community. As a beneficiary of the Mayor of Winchester's Charity for the mayoral year until May, we also helped with fundraising events for that charity too (centre and bottom right)
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Trustees' Annual Report
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2025. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 1 to the accounts, and comply with the charity's Governing Document, the Charities Act 2011, and "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) Second Edition (effective 1 January 2019)".
The Trustees have considered their duties in accordance with the Charity Commission's regulations. The review of activities and achievements is contained below, and the Trustees believe that it gives a true record of the work the charity has done in fulfilling its charitable purposes for public benefit.
The Trustees believe they have complied with their duty, contained in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011, to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.
Organisation
Winchester Radio is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales on 4[th] March 2015 and governed by a constitution adopted on 26[th] November 2014 and updated on 19[th] November 2020.
Winchester Radio is managed by the Charity Trustees, the majority of whom are elected by the membership. New Trustees receive a Trustee pack, which includes Charity Commission guidance on their role and responsibilities, and induction training during their first 6 months in office.
Throughout the year, Winchester Radio operated with no paid staff, being run by a membership of volunteers. Winchester Radio has always benefited from having a diverse and intergenerational team of volunteers – during 2025, 37 volunteers were involved, ranging in age from 18 to 81. Two of our volunteers have been with the charity and its predecessors for over 40 years!
Charitable Objects
Winchester Radio has two objects:
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"the relief of sickness, poor health and old age amongst people living in the area served by the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or its successors by providing a local broadcasting service for hospitals, residential homes and similar institutions, and for patients receiving community care; and
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"the advancement of health and prevention or relief of sickness for the public benefit through the promotion of the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, and the importance of maintaining good personal mental and physical health by (mainly, but not exclusively) the means of broadcasting health education messages to people living in the area served by the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or its successors."
These objects are based on the model wording agreed between the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA) and the Charity Commission.
Winchester Radio provides a hospital radio service to patients at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH) via the bedside entertainment system in furtherance of the first object. This service was previously provided by the predecessor, unincorporated, charity Winchester Hospitals Radio since 24[th] September 1984.
In furtherance of its second object, Winchester Radio provides its community radio service for the local population outside the hospital (primarily those aged over 50), with the intent of helping and encouraging them to live a healthy and active life in the local community, and thus requiring them to make less use of the health services. This was launched on 24[th] March 2019, initially on 94.7FM and online, becoming available on DAB digital radio in October 2022.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Related Organisations
Winchester Radio is proud to be a member of a number of support organisations for the voluntary sector, and wish to extend our thanks and appreciation to them for the news and information they offer throughout the year.
Winchester Radio is a member of the Hospital Broadcasting Association (HBA), the national charity that supports and promotes hospital, health and wellbeing broadcasting in the UK; the Community Media Association (CMA), the organisation which supports and advocates for community media; and the UK Community Radio Network (UKCRN), which supports and advocates specifically for Ofcom-licensed community radio stations. Winchester Radio is also a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO).
Locally, Winchester Radio is a member of Community First, one of the local Councils for Voluntary Service; HIVCA, the Hampshire & Isle of Wight VCSE Health & Care Alliance (a collaboration established to facilitate the integration of the VCSE sector with the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care System); the Research Collective, facilitated by Action Hampshire; and a number of other local community forums and networking groups, including the Winchester District Older People’s Partnership (WDOPP); the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Social Prescribing Network; the Winchester Health and Wellbeing Community Forum; the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Dementia Alliance; and the Dementia Friendly Winchester action group network.
Winchester Radio’s Chair continued in her role as the Chair of Dementia Friendly Winchester throughout the reporting period (Winchester Radio has been an active member organisation of Dementia Friendly Winchester since its inception in 2014). The Chair also represents Winchester Radio on a number of local community and voluntary-sector leaders' groups, health forums and business networks. In addition to those organisations already listed above, these include Winchester BID. Winchester Radio’s Treasurer continued in his role as a volunteer with the Hospital Broadcasting Association, providing advice on charity governance and management to its 160+ member organisations.
Being part of such networks helps Winchester Radio keep up-to-date on developments across all the sectors we operate in, encourages collaboration and sharing of best practice, and most importantly of all, it highlights the issues affecting people we support. This in turn means we can ensure our programming includes coverage of these issues and signposting to appropriate support, and that our community outreach work meeting older people helps raise awareness of how our service can help them keep connected, and promote positive ageing.
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) manages the RHCH, where Winchester Radio’s studio and FM transmitter are based, and where it delivers the hospital radio service. The RHCH is one of three hospitals managed by the Trust. Winchester Radio’s Chair liaises with members of HHFT's Senior Management Team, and other representatives of the Trust, notably ward staff, managers, Voluntary Services, Estates and the Communications team. HHFT news is regularly shared on-air, and interviews undertaken through the year to tie in with upcoming events and health topics.
Winchester Radio depends upon the services of:
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Spark TSL, the company that owns and runs the bedside entertainment system through which its programmes are delivered to patients at the RHCH.
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Winchester DAB, the company that operates the Winchester Small-Scale DAB network. Winchester Radio’s Treasurer is a Non- Executive Director of Winchester DAB Ltd, representing Winchester Radio.
Winchester Radio is proud to have been selected by Mayor Councillor Russell GordonSmith to be one of the four beneficiary charities of the Mayor of Winchester’s Charity for the mayoral year that ran from May 2024 to May 2025. Winchester Radio, alongside the Hampshire History Trust, St. John's Winchester Charity, and Winchester Sea Cadets, plus the Mayor and other councillors, organised a large number of fundraising events throughout the mayoral year, the proceeds of which were divided equally between the four charities after the end of the mayoral year.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025 Review of Activities and Achievements
Winchester Radio
Programming aims
Winchester Radio's aim is that our service:
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helps and encourages listeners to live a healthy, active, independent life, engaged in the social life of the local community; and
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where this isn't possible (for example due to ill-health), to help reduce boredom and social isolation by playing a great selection of music and keeping listeners in touch with what is happening locally;
with the ultimate aim of improving the quality of people’s lives as they get older, and thus reducing the need for support from the local health and care services.
Key commitments written into the Ofcom FM and DAB community radio licences require that Winchester Radio provides a service:
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primarily for people aged 50 and over, living in Winchester and the surrounding area;
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to help improve health and wellbeing; and
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that offers music and speech to entertain and engage the local community.
Until the end of April, the FM licence required a minimum of 56 hours per week of original output (output that is first produced for and transmitted by Winchester Radio). From May, as part of a wider streamlining and simplification, and alignment between FM and DAB, of community radio licence terms by Ofcom, this minimum quota was removed, in favour of a more qualitative approach to monitoring compliance with key commitments, based on the character of service and social gain requirements that are specified in the licences.
We aim to provide a mix of music and information tailored to the needs and interests of the older generation in Winchester – who are under-served by other local radio stations. Our music mix is distinctive, and our hyper-local focus on Winchester and the immediately surrounding villages is unique in this area and, we believe, highly appealing. Having attracted our audience, we then use behavioural economics ("nudge theory") to subtly encourage listeners to make the best lifestyle choices for their own health and wellbeing. We tell them about:
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all the enticing events happening on their doorstep;
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the range of local participative sports they can play;
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the great number of social groups, charities and other local organisations running activities they can join;
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the wide range of local support groups for those with long-term health conditions;
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the cultural scene in and around the city; and
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important local government plans, consultations, and decisions that might affect their lives;
and encourage listeners to get involved.
Programme and Community Engagement
Winchester Radio delivered an average of 53 hours of "original" hours of programme output per week, in furtherance of the charity’s aims, as part of the 168 hours a week we broadcast. Our programme schedule and style of service were in line with our Key Commitments to Ofcom, as outlined above.
In addition, we provided training to 22 of our volunteers – primarily new recruits. An average of 250 hours each week was donated by volunteers to deliver Winchester Radio.
Social Connection, Inclusion and Belonging: Our Ward befriending volunteers continued through the year to visit patients in hospital, to have a chat and collect music requests and dedications. Since the launch of our community radio service, we have expanded this particular aspect of our activities to include local older peoples' clubs and
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
support groups. Listeners can also call or email with requests and dedications. In 2025 we broadcast around 2000 music requests.
Our volunteer team were out-and-about in the community throughout 2025, both visiting and recording interviews for broadcast: visiting different community groups to hear more about their work; learning about and raising awareness of local support available for those in need; shining a spotlight on charities and individuals doing amazing things to help others; celebrating local organisations with significant anniversaries and sharing their work with listeners; capturing special moments at festivals, civic events, fundraisers and other gatherings across the Winchester area; highlighting achievements of the local business community; promoting local tourism destinations; engaging with the public to get their views on local topical issues; and meeting the public each week.
Coverage of Community Activities: Throughout the year, Winchester Radio continued to cover a diverse range of community hubs/venues, activities, services and opportunities (including physical activities, mental health support, and help available to those affected by the cost of living, or feeling lonely or isolated).
People have told us they are appreciative of hearing about local grassroots activities, as they do not get to hear about so many on larger regional radio stations. Our weekly news programme "Winchester Now" alone included coverage of 720 groups/local events during 2025 - this was in addition to all the mentions we made of these groups/events in our other scheduled programmes. Producing this in-house local news takes a considerable investment of time every single week by our small news team, but keeping people connected to the local community and what goes on, and how people can get more involved - including through volunteering, is a central aim to supporting people's health and wellbeing, and aiding community cohesion and a sense of belonging. In 2025 Winchester Radio volunteers also shared heart-warming stories with listeners of inspiring people in our community taking on challenges, overcoming adversity and being a light for others who may be struggling.
A number of the local church ministers, including members of the hospital's chaplaincy team, produced Reflections for us to broadcast to our audience during 2025 to support people’s spiritual health and emotional wellbeing too, for which we are very grateful.
Here’s a snapshot of some health and community stories we featured and covered in 2025:
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Health topics and news such as the opening of new larger St. Clements Surgery, getting seasonal Covid and Flu jabs, critical incidents at local NHS organisations and how the public can help, dementia support, and local NHS courses such as diabetes prevention;
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Environmental projects such as Winchester Rotary environment days, tree planting at Hinton Ampner, conservation work with St. Giles Hill Park, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, the Hampshire House Martin Project, and the Big Butterfly Count;
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Volunteering opportunities such as supporting people experiencing homelessness, being a volunteer-trainer for Dogs for Deaf people, or helping with one-off volunteering opportunities with the Clarendon Marathon, or the Winchester Round Table teams;
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Tech Fest to help older people utilise technology and keep connected, Digital Drop-In events for those who may be digitally-excluded and want to learn, and A.I. workshops;
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Fun things such as the fireworks, concerts, local pantos, and the Christmas-Lights;
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Activities of local charities marking a special birthday during the year, such as: Friends of King Alfred Buses (40 years), MHA Communities (25 years), Home-Start Winchester & District (20 years), and Move Momentum (5 years);
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Commemorative gatherings, such as 250[th] anniversary celebratory events to mark the birth of Jane Austen, community parties for the 80[th] anniversary of VE Day, the Prayer Vigil in Abbey Gardens for Ukraine as part of Winchester being a City of Sanctuary; Mayors for Peace event at Abbey House; and Remembrance events and services; and
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Local issues which the public wanted to voice their views on, such as the potential loss of day-care services for older people at Chesil Lodge, the future of the derelict River Park Leisure Centre, the summer hose-pipe ban, and proposed bus service cuts.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Feedback and positive impact delivered
The Winchester Radio team are all volunteers – very altruistic, committed and dedicated individuals, all passionate about delivering our best to the audience we serve – giving time, enthusiasm and energy, and sharing personal skills and knowledge, for free. Many volunteers devote significant amounts of their life to helping Winchester Radio every single day of the year, and a number of the team are also actively engaged in other volunteering roles supporting the local community too.
It really means so much to know that what we do makes a positive impact on people's lives. It is great when listeners get in touch to say how much our service helps them and is valued; and when staff from other organisations getting publicity on-air for their causes and upcoming events take a moment to say "thank you" for our volunteers helping raise awareness of their organisation and its work. Here's just a selection of some the messages of gratitude we had through the year, highlighting the range of people we reach, and the lives we touch, through Winchester Radio's service:
"Thank you for all you do. It brightens up people’s lives and really makes a difference.”
“You are a LEGEND! Thank you so much for your support. I will be posting that and tagging you on social media later on this week. With your support, we really hope we can raise more awareness and get more people to return and recycle the walking aids". Hampshire Hospitals’ Allied Health Professionals Team
"Thank you so much for taking time to talk to me. I really appreciated your kindness and understanding. I wish you and everyone at Winchester Radio all the best".
"Thank you so much for interviewing my grandad! It is truly an honour to have such a wonderful man as my grandad. I can't wait to give it a listen!"
"I've been here in hospital 10 weeks now, on the Freshfield ward, and the lady came and chatted with me about a week ago, and brought me get well cards and biscuits. So very kind of you, I must say. Very kind of you, thank you very much. I look forward to another visit and music with you".
"Go Brother Green!! We are behind you all the way[...] Thank You Winchester Radio for all your support and coverage. More items on BOB 'Brother on a Bus Tour' to follow". Hospital of St. Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty
"Thank you […] for all the work you do at the radio station".
"Thanks for coming to cover the event – it was great to see you. Thanks so much for helping to spread the word and supporting the sector". Action Hampshire
"Thank you for playing my requests and having me 'In the country' with Cliff Richard and with Harry Secombe's ‘If I ruled the world' - it would certainly be a happier place than the world is now! I very much enjoy listening to Winchester Radio which has something for everyone".
"Getting in touch to say big thank you! Absolutely wonderful to hear a 'Community Shoutout' to share news of our charity’s 5th birthday! We truly appreciate it!" Move Momentum
"Thank you so much for playing [X's] request. He was tickled pink….and you made my sister-in-law cry! Lovely service and much appreciated".
"Abba and Tom Jones! Another two of my favourites to sing along to. Thank you also for the community shout out for the charity Brendoncare . Woop woop!!"
"Thank you for playing my music. It's sunny and I'm happy today. Thank your gentleman for visiting and the lady who played my request on the radio. All very much appreciated when you are in a hospital bed."
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
"Thank you for all the lovely foot tapping music you play."
"I'm in Freshfield ward again in the hospital. Thank you for playing my requests before – the music really helps. Grateful if you can play me Whitney Houston 'I wanna dance with somebody'. It’s a favourite of mine. Thank you very much." "Thank you for coming along and supporting the Purple Night Walk. So lovely to have you with us." Winchester Hospice
"Thank you so much for playing my request and doing my dedication on Winchester Radio. My family in Poland tuned in to listen too. It was lovely, thank you very much."
"Thank you for being with us on this important day." Winchester Ukrainian Cultural Association
"I am just writing to express my thanks on behalf of the trustees and conference team for organising an engaging session on Volunteering Engagement. The session was extremely well-received and your efforts helped make this part of the conference a great success." Hospital Broadcasting Association
"I'm in Victoria ward. Still in hospital – and still down in the dumps about it. But thank you for playing my requests – it's really helping to cheer me up."
"Thanks for the dedication and the shout-out for our church activities! So appreciated." Winchester Baptist Church
"I heard you mention on your radio station a local dance class for older people, that helps with balance. Thank you. Have followed-up."
"Just a line to say thank you for the request on Saturday. You certainly put a smile on his face!! Great fun and thanks again. Best wishes to you and I hope to meet you again sometime."
"Thanks to Winchester Radio for all that you do for the community. The radio is expanding, it’s growing – a lot more people are listening in, and a lot more people are joining in […] It provides support to the community, it's a training ground for young people […], and this radio provides support to the hospital patients, and others who are listening in to it. So that's the kind of work I admire. People like you are the glue that holds a society together. So thank you and the rest of the volunteers from Winchester Radio. You do a marvellous job." Cllr Sudhakar Achwal, 826[th] Mayor of Winchester
"A huge thank you from me to you, as I don’t think people realise how important the radio is all of the time, but so many of our patients and our staff hear the songs you play, hear the music, get contacted by your volunteers, and it really makes a difference. And it makes a difference not only to their wellbeing and their mood, but to their recovery as well. I really think it's an important part of healthcare, so I’m incredibly grateful to you and your volunteers, and everything you guys do." Alex Whitfield, Chief Executive, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
"Thank you so much for your kindness. We're all very touched and I know [X] will be too. We will be sure to listen in tonight and try to make sure he does too! He is on Clifton Ward now. […] Thank you again. What a wonderful service. You are all amazing xx"
Awards
'National Hospital Radio Awards'
We were thrilled our volunteer-run service keeping our community connected and sharing valued information and interviews on-air was recognised with two wins at these prestigious
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
annual national awards which are judged by a panel of professional broadcasters and senior managers from across the media industry and NHS.
Our 'Dementia Action Week' programming by the team won the Silver in the 'Best Special Event' category in these National Hospital, Health and Wellbeing Radio Awards. The comments from judges were: "The judges agreed this was a very difficult subject handled so deftly. Proper public service broadcasting – informative and useful – but with such warmth! One judge said, the story of 'John' remembering his first date with his wife through music moved me to tears. Well done."
We also won the Bronze award for promotion of our local news programme, "Winchester Now". The judges said "This was a well-produced, succinct, promo – giving a good, clear, overview of the programme it was promoting."
We were also a shortlisted Top 10 finalist in the Best Speech Package – for the quayside interview Mary Blaxland did with Gary Venturi when he returned home from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
'Mayor of Winchester’s Community Awards'
We were delighted that the sterling efforts of Mary Blaxland, one of our news team volunteers was recognised at this year's Mayor of Winchester's Community Awards. Here’s what we shared about Mary in the nomination we put forward:
"Mary Blaxland is a real community gem, deserving of recognition. A talented journalist, she volunteers every week with Winchester Radio, producing our weekly local news programme, 'Winchester Now', broadcast on-air and available as a podcast. Mary has produced over 100 episodes of this, which is a huge achievement in itself. But as well as being out and about in the community as part of the Winchester Radio team, Mary also edits and writes news for her local parish magazine; she volunteers as part of her church; and she is also a 'Street Pastor' volunteer in Winchester each month assisting young people."
Inaugural Churchill Living 'Local Hero Awards'
We were over-the-moon that long-standing committed volunteer broadcaster, Tony Knight, was one of the 3 winners of these Local Hero Awards, which celebrate older people across the South of England region who actively support their local community through dedicated volunteer effort. The awards recognise and champion outstanding individuals aged 60 and over who make positive impacts in their communities through volunteering, fundraising, mentoring, or caring for neighbours. Tony Knight has volunteered at the hospital through charity Winchester Radio, and its predecessors (Winchester Hospital Radio, and before that the Southampton & Winchester Hospital Broadcasting Association), since 1978. Always incredibly caring, thoughtful, organised, knowledgeable and professional, he has given a life of service to the local Winchester community.
Studio relocation and re-equipping
We are thankful to Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for their ongoing support for what we do, and for continuing to provide us with free accommodation. We were informed by the Senior Management in May 2022 that the planned relocation of our studio to Level A of Burrell Wing was not going to be possible, due to redevelopment plans including a new elective orthopaedic hub. The viability of the final proposed location for our new studio, in Ashley Wing, remained uncertain well into 2024.
Operations were moved from our previous studio to the new studio in August 2024. At this point, however, there were no operational studios in the new accommodation, with presenters having to broadcast from home. A temporary studio was quickly set-up in the smaller studio, whilst work progressed on the fitting-out of the larger studio. Unfortunately, at this point, our Chief Engineer fell and broke his arm, requiring shoulder replacement surgery and many months of physiotherapy. This delayed work completing Studio 1 into the summer of 2025, with Studio 2 being largely completed by the end of the year.
By the end of 2025, a total of £8,321 had been spent on the studio relocation and reequipping. Less than £1,000 of additional expenditure is expected to be needed in 2026 to complete the project.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Whilst relocated into the new accommodation, the broadcast playout system that is mission-critical to Winchester Radio remaining on-air remains, however, substantially unchanged. It is running on versions of Windows that either are, or will shortly be, unsupported by Microsoft, and the playout software itself is also in need of updating. Plans to undertake this work have had to be pushed-back to 2026. Initial budgetary estimates put the cost of this upgrade at £15,000.
Recruitment and training
The availability of the studios, once again, has enabled volunteer recruitment and training to recommence. With a backlog of potential new volunteers having expressed an interest over the previous 18 months, by the end of 2025, 84 potential volunteers had been invited to an introductory session to find-out more about Winchester Radio, with 32 attending a session, and 18 going-on to start their volunteering journey with Winchester Radio, including a number of University students on short-term volunteer placements, building work experience as part of their studies.
Business planning
Towards the end of 2023, we were successful in our application to the Cranfield Trust for pro bono support from one of their volunteer consultants to develop a business plan, to assist in getting Winchester Radio into a position where it is a more sustainable social enterprise. The work started in 2024. Initially, good progress was made towards an overall business plan, including agreement between the Trustees as to the most-appropriate direction for the charity, and a financial model.
The business plan involves a transition from being entirely run by volunteers to having a small core team of part-time staff undertaking the day-to-day admin and station management. This will both release the current Trustees from the heavy burden of dayto-day management to focus on more strategic aspects and charity governance, and also make the role of Trustee easier to recruit into, as the workload will be significantly reduced.
Unfortunately, progress on the business plan had to be paused for a significant period, to focus on the studio relocation and re-equipping, and to understand the financial position of the charity by the time that work was complete.
Initial soundings taken from previous funders have indicated that it is going to be difficult to seek grant funding to cover the cost of employees during this transition period, especially given the charity’s current large cash reserves. One funder, in particular, stated that they saw no benefit in providing additional funding to cover staff when the existing volunteer team were already delivering the service – failing to grasp the reality that the existing operating model was unsustainable in the longer-term due to volunteer burn-out.
Now that the financial position of the charity is much clearer, the remaining work is mainly on the detailed financial modelling of the optimistic, pessimistic and median scenarios, and the role descriptions for the various roles (both voluntary and paid) envisaged. It is expected that this will be completed in 2026.
Acknowledgements
All Winchester Radio's activities have only been possible through the altruistic efforts of a small, hardworking and merry band of around 18 core regular volunteers, supplemented by a number of additional volunteers providing ad-hoc support. The charity could not achieve all it did over the last year without the enthusiasm, skills, time, kindness and dedication of our team, putting in literally thousands of hours of effort. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued care and commitment throughout another intensely busy year.
Overall, we conservatively estimate that the volunteer team has given almost 12,750 hours of their time to the charity during the year. Using the standard Ofcom volunteer rates , this is worth approximately £185,500.
Small charities such as Winchester Radio do not have the financial means to spend funds on professional services, cloud-based IT systems and advertising, so we are incredibly grateful that many businesses, large and small, have supported us during 2025.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
We'd also like to say a huge thank you to the many individuals who have donated to Winchester Radio during 2025, and the local companies and organisations who have supported us through taking radio-advertising with us, sponsored features, or provided grants. We are very grateful to all those who champion and support charity Winchester Radio – and, of course, to our many listeners!
Financial Performance
Overall, Winchester Radio is financially sound and has significant cash reserves.
At the end of 2025, Winchester Radio had total cash reserves, in-hand and at the bank, of just over £83,000 (2024: just over £74,000), of which £152 (2024: £2,167) is restricted funds. Overall assets totalled just over £96,000 (2024: just under £89,000).
As in previous years, there are approximately £1,400 of prepayments recorded. These relate to:
-
end-of-year adjustments, where the charity has paid in 2025 for a service to be only partly delivered in 2025 (for instance, it includes the part of the £950 annual Ofcom licence fees that relates to the period after 31[st] December 2025); and
-
pre-payment of credit with suppliers (for instance, we bulk-purchase credits from a supplier of professional-quality music downloads to obtain the best price).
This year the debt owed to Winchester Radio, is just £14 (2024: £2,782), consists of:
-
a Gift Aid reclaim from HMRC; and
-
three small donations made via payment platforms.
The £755 (2024: £674) of trade creditors relates to the cost of independent examination by an accountant of this Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts, a bill which was paid by Direct Debit in January 2026, and a VAT bill which was paid to HMRC in January 2026. The £2,936 (2024: £2,898) of payments received on account relates to advertising campaigns that ran partially in 2025 and partially in 2026. The £60 (2024: £60) of stock is fundraising CDs produced by the predecessor charity, Winchester Hospital Radio, and which are sold on enquiry from members of the public.
Income
Total recorded income was £36,795 (2024: £30,288), consisting of £12,437 in grants, donations and other monetary gifts (2024: £9,232), £16,029 worth of donations-in-kind (2024: £11,472), £6,953 income from trading activities (2024: £7,826) and £1,376 of bank interest (2024: £1,758).
Four significant grants were received during the year:
-
£3,201 from the Mayor of Winchester’s Charity, as a result of being one of the four beneficiary charities during the Mayoral year of Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith;
-
£2,240 from Winchester City Council, as part of its “Priority Outcomes Framework” grant-funding programme (this is the final year of a renewed 3-year grant programme);
-
£2,000 from Winchester Rotary, from the proceeds of the Clarendon Marathon;
-
£1,900 from the Winchester & District Round Table, the second of 3 years’ funding as part of the club’s Community Service grants scheme;
-
£942, deferred from 2024, from the Avery Winchester Heights Care Home for sponsorship of Community Messages from 4 local grassroots charities, which were broadcast each day for a period of a year; and
-
£500 as a result of one of our volunteers, Tony Knight being one of the winners for the South of England region in the Churchill Living Local Heroes Awards.
Significant donations-in-kind included:
- free-of-charge accommodation, provided by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, worth £13,130 (previous years: £8,450);
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
-
free access from Google to its Workspace email and collaboration software, worth £2,053;
-
free cloud-hosted Voice-over-IP telephony services, providing the charity with a memorable telephone number and remote access to make and receive calls and messages, courtesy of Nimvelo, worth £600; and
-
free internet stream hosting, allowing Winchester Radio to broadcast online and deliver our service to the Winchester DAB network, worth almost £200, courtesy of Streamerr.
Trading income is split between income generated in the furtherance of Winchester Radio’s charitable purposes (a combination of advertising sales and paid-for editorial), and income generated from fundraising activities (non-charitable advertising sales and fundraising events) and consisted of:
-
sales of on-air advertising to local businesses, councils and charities £5,361, (2024: £6,205); in addition, a further £2,936 (2024: £1,457) of advertising sales were completed for campaigns to run on-air in 2026;
-
a fundraising car boot sale collecting £627 (2024: £578) in sellers' pitch fees; and
-
a fundraising coffee morning raising over £145 (2024: £303), and also bringing-in £90 of donations.
Expenditure
Just under £5,500 of capital expenditure was made during the year (2024: £5,870), almost £4,000 of which was to purchase fixtures, fittings and equipment for our new studios. £1,000 was spent on repairs to our FM transmitter antenna and mast, and £250 on renewing the trademark on the name “Winchester Radio”.
As part of the studio relocation, a large number of fixed assets were put into temporary storage pending potential re-use in the new studios. During this year, a further batch of these have been disposed of. These were fully depreciated in the accounts, and had no second-hand value, resulting in no change to the charity’s financial situation.
There is anticipated to be further disposals of fixed assets in 2026, now that the studio relocation is largely complete, with further to follow with the replacement/upgrading of the broadcast playout system. Once again, the vast majority of these items will have been fully depreciated in the accounts, although some may have a second-hand value.
By far the most-significant ongoing revenue expense is music copyright licensing fees, totalling £2,873 this year (2024: £2,812). This is followed by the carriage fee for broadcasting on the Winchester Small-Scale DAB network (£1,000), Ofcom licences required to broadcast as a community radio station (£850 per annum for the FM licence, plus £100 per annum for the DAB licence) and insurance £856 this year, (£853 in 2024). The next two most-significant ongoing costs are the IRN news subscription, which provides us with hourly national/international news bulletins, plus access to news stories via their "Net Newsroom" facility, and the broadband internet connection.
Banking fees include:
-
a monthly fee charged by CAF Bank; and
-
payment processing fees from PayPal (donations/membership subscriptions), donr (text donations), SumUp (card payments at fundraising events) and GoCardless (membership fee direct debits).
Wherever possible, use was made of products and services made available free-of-charge or at reduced price to charities. This includes:
-
Google Workspace;
-
the VoIP telephone system from Nimvelo;
-
audio stream hosting from Streamerr; and
-
website hosting from Umbrella Host.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Financial Management and Reserves Policies
Winchester Radio has a Financial Management Policy which defines the controls to be implemented to ensure that the charity's assets are secure. This policy meets all the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity Commission guidelines "Internal Financial Controls for Charities (CC8)". The policy states that unrestricted reserves should be held equivalent to a typical year's cash expenditure.
Based on the core running costs for providing both the community and hospital radio services for 2025, this works out to approximately £12,000, although this might increase considerably if the currently draft business plan is formally agreed and some paid-for administrative help is employed.
The charity and its predecessor had been slowly building up a reserve for an inevitable move and re-equipping of studios. It was expected that Winchester Radio would need to pay for significant building works to make whatever accommodation was provided by Hampshire Hospitals suitable for its use. Because of the delays in finding Winchester Radio suitable accommodation, and the urgent need to release the previous accommodation to allow for the development of an Orthopaedic Elective Surgery facility, the necessary building works were paid for as part of the NHS redevelopment project, leaving Winchester Radio to pay only for the fitting-out of the new accommodation. As reported above, this took place during 2024 and 2025, costing just over £8,000, with only relatively minor further expenditure needed in 2026.
Of the remaining funds that the Trustees had designated for use on the relocation and reequipping project, £15,000 has now been reallocated to the broadcast playout system replacement project, to be completed in 2026.
As reported above, the Trustees are in the process of developing a business plan that involves the charity moving from being entirely run by volunteers to having a small core team of part-time staff. As a result, the Trustees have designated the remaining “excess” reserves to be used to employ staff during the transition period and until such time as the charity’s accounts show the “new normal” in terms of core running costs.
Management of Major Risks
The launch of our community radio service in 2019, with the attendant significant increase in running costs, was (and remains) a significant risk to Winchester Radio. The project was approved on the basis of three major income streams, all of which have risks – grant funding, commercial advertising and sponsorship, and personal donations. However, with the financial buffer afforded by the current reserves, and the accommodation issue having been resolved, the Trustees are confident that the charity has a long-term future. Grant funding-wise, the 3-year agreement with Winchester & District Round Table , a long-term relationship with Winchester Rotary, and slowly growing advertising sales, provides further confidence.
As described above, we have received pro bono support from the Cranfield Trust to assist with the development of a longer-term business plan. Whilst, unfortunately, this work is incomplete at the time of writing, good progress has been made, and the plan is well on the way to completion, with agreement as to the most-appropriate direction for the charity from all of the Trustees. This provides additional confidence that the charity has a longterm future.
Page 15
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Charity Trustees
Anna O'Brien (Chair) Paul Blitz (resigned 31 March 2026) Nigel Dallard Jeff Wearing (resigned 31 March 2025) Ian Kemp (appointed 26 June 2025)
Charity Number
1160752 (England and Wales)
Principal Address
Mailpoint MP66 Royal Hampshire County Hospital Romsey Road Winchester Hampshire SO22 5DG
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner
Jason Foxwell FCCA FCIE independent-examiner.net PO Box 9846, Poole. BH15 9JZ
Signed on behalf of the Trustees,
Anna O'Brien Chair 15[th] July 2026
Nigel Dallard Treasurer 15[th] July 2026
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Winchester Radio ("the Charity") for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 18 to 27.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity, 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 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions 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.
Jason Foxwell FCCA FCIE independent-examiner.net 12 Hillbourne Road, Poole, BH17 7JB
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
| Notes 2a 2b 2c 2d 3a 3b 10 Cash at bank and in hand Fixed Assets Debtors Creditors Stock Total funds carried forward Income and Endowments from: Expenditure on: Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses): Net income/(expenditure) Extraordinary items Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments Total Income Raising funds Charitable activities Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total Expenditure Net gains/(losses) on investments Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity's own use Other gains/(losses) Other recognised gains/(losses): Reconciliation of funds: Transfers between funds |
2025 2024 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Total funds |
|---|---|
| £ £ £ £ 28,466 - 28,466 20,704 820 - 820 1,795 6,133 - 6,133 6,031 1,376 - 1,376 1,758 |
|
| 36,795 - 36,795 30,288 |
|
| 375 - 375 3,073 28,538 326 28,864 32,136 |
|
| 28,913 326 29,239 35,209 |
|
| 7,882 (326) 7,556 (4,921) - - - - 7,882 (326) 7,556 (4,921) - - - - 1,689 (1,689) - - - - - - - - - - |
|
| 9,571 (2,015) 7,556 (4,921) |
|
| 72,048 2,167 74,215 78,860 14,032 - 14,032 12,799 3,960 - 3,960 3,891 (3,572) - (3,572) (1,994) 60 - 60 60 |
|
| 96,099 152 96,251 88,695 |
Page 18
Winchester Radio
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Balance Sheet as at 31[st] December 2025
| Notes Tangible assets 5a Intangible assets 5b Investments Total fixed assets Stock 6 Debtors 7 Investments Cash at bank and in hand 9 Total current assets Amounts falling due within one year 8 Net current assets/(liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Amounts falling due after one year Provision for liabilities Total net assets or liabilities Restricted funds 10 Unrestricted funds 10 Total funds Fixed assets: Current assets: Creditors: Creditors: Funds of the Charity: |
2025 2024 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds Total funds |
|---|---|
| £ £ £ £ 12,589 - 12,589 10,727 2,758 - 2,758 3,305 - - - - |
|
| 15,347 - 15,347 14,032 |
|
| 60 - 60 60 1,390 - 1,390 3,960 - - - - 82,993 152 83,145 74,215 |
|
| 84,443 152 84,595 78,235 |
|
| 3,691 - 3,691 3,572 |
|
| 80,752 152 80,904 74,663 |
|
| 96,099 152 96,251 88,695 |
|
| - - - - - - - - |
|
| 96,099 152 96,251 88,695 |
|
| - 152 152 2,167 96,099 - 96,099 86,528 |
|
| 96,099 152 96,251 88,695 |
Signed on behalf of the Trustees,
Anna O'Brien Chair 15[th] July 2026
Nigel Dallard Treasurer
15[th] July 2026
Page 19
Winchester Radio
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025 Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
The accounts 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) Second Edition (effective 1 January 2019);
-
the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); and
-
• the Charities Act 2011.
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
(b) Income
i) Recognition of income
Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when:
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the Trustees will receive the resources; and
-
• the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
ii) Offsetting
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
iii) Grants and donations
Grants and donations are only included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the general income recognition criteria, specified in the FRS 102 SORP, are met.
In the case of performance-related grants, income is only recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services, as entitlement to the grant only occurs when performance-related conditions are met.
iv) Gift Aid
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of the gift, and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor of the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
v) Contractual income and performance-related grants
This is only included in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has provided the related goods or services, or met the performance-related conditions.
vi) Donated goods
Donated goods are measured at fair value (the amount for which the asset could be exchanged) unless impractical to do so.
The cost of any stock of goods donated for distribution to beneficiaries is recognised on receipt at the fair value of those gifts at the time of their receipt. In the reporting period in which the stocks are distributed, they are recognised as an expense at the carrying amount of the stocks at distribution.
Donated goods for resale are measured at fair value on initial recognition, which is the expected proceeds from the sale less any expected costs of sale, and recognised in "income from other trading activities", with the corresponding stock recognised in the balance sheet. On its sale, the value of stock is charged against "Income from other trading activities" and the proceeds from the sale also recognised as "Income from other trading activities".
Goods donated for ongoing use by the charity are recognised as fixed assets and included in the Statement of Financial Activities as incoming resources when receivable.
Gifts-in-kind for use by the charity are included in the Statement of Financial Activities as income from donations when receivable.
vii) Donated services and facilities
Donated services and facilities are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when received, at the value of the gift to the charity, provided the value of the gift can be measured reliably.
Donated services and facilities that are consumed immediately are recognised as income, with an equivalent amount recognised as an expense under the appropriate heading in the Statement of Financial Activities.
viii) Volunteer help
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts, but it is described in the Trustees' Annual Report.
ix) Income from interest, royalties and dividends
This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
x) Income from membership subscriptions
Membership subscriptions, which are received in the nature of a gift, are recognised in Donations and Legacies.
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
(c) Expenditure and liabilities
i) Liability recognition
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources, and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
ii) Provisions for liabilities
A liability is measured on recognition at its historical cost, and then subsequently measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.
iii) Creditors
The charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts.
(d) Assets
i) Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, at the value to the charity on receipt.
Depreciation is calculated on a "straight line" basis at a rate to write-off the cost of tangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives. The rates applied per annum are as follows:
-
fixtures and fittings 10%
-
• computers & computer systems 20% • portable recording equipment 20% • branded gazebo & accessories 20% • other electronic equipment 10% • physical music library 10%
-
ii) Intangible fixed assets y g , , y p y identifiable and are controlled by the charity through custody or legal rights. They are valued at cost or, if gifted, as the value to the charity on receipt,
Amortisation is calculated on a "straight line" basis at a rate to write-off the cost of the intangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives. The rates applied per annum are as follows:
-
software 20%
-
• visual branding 10% • audio branding 20% • digital music library 10%
iii) Stocks
Stocks held for sale as part of non-charitable trade are measured at the lower of cost or net realisable value.
Goods or services provided as part of a charitable activity are measured at net realisable value based on the service potential provided by items of stock.
iv) Debtors
Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts. Subsequently they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
Page 21
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
2. INCOME
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| (a) | Donations and legacies | ||||||
| Donations and gifts | |||||||
| Donation from Rick Stein Winchester | - | - | - | 479 | |||
| Donations via PayPal Giving Fund/Facebook | 5 | - | 5 | - | |||
| Donations via "Give As You Live" | - | - | - | 16 | |||
| Donations via Text Message | 50 | - | 50 | 10 | |||
| Other donations | 893 | - | 893 | 1,053 | |||
| Gift Aid | 186 | - | 186 | 206 | |||
| Legacies | - | - | - | - | |||
| Grants (note 2e) | |||||||
| Mayor of Winchester's Charity | 3,201 | - | 3,201 | - | |||
| Winchester City Council Priority Outcomes Framework | 2,240 | - | 2,240 | 2,240 | |||
| Clarendon Marathon | 2,000 | - | 2,000 | 2,000 | |||
| Winchester & District Round Table | 1,900 | - | 1,900 | 1,900 | |||
| Winchester Heights Care Home | 942 | - | 942 | 808 | |||
| Churchill Local Heroes Awards | 500 | - | 500 | - | |||
| Membership subscriptions | 520 | - | 520 | 520 | |||
| Donated goods, facilities & services (note 2f) | |||||||
| Accommodation | 13,130 | - | 13,130 | 8,450 | |||
| Google Workspace | 2,053 | - | 2,053 | 1,200 | |||
| VoIP phone system | 600 | - | 600 | 576 | |||
| Stream Hosting | 180 | - | 180 | 180 | |||
| Website Hosting | 66 | - | 66 | 66 | |||
| Advertisement on heritage bus | - | - | - | 1,000 | |||
| Total | 28,466 | - | 28,466 | 20,704 | |||
| (b) | Charitable activities | ||||||
| Programme/Feature Sales | 820 | - | 820 | 740 | |||
| Advertising Sales | - | - | - | 1,055 | |||
| Total | 820 | - | 820 | 1,795 | |||
| (c) | Other trading activities | ||||||
| Advertising Sales | 5,361 | - | 5,361 | 5,150 | |||
| Car Boot Sales | 627 | - | 627 | 578 | |||
| Coffee Morning | 145 | - | 145 | 303 | |||
| Total | 6,133 | - | 6,133 | 6,031 | |||
| (d) | Income from investments | ||||||
| Interest | 1,376 | - | 1,376 | 1,758 | |||
| Total | 1,376 | - | 1,376 | 1,758 |
(e) Grants i) Mayor of Winchester's Charity
Winchester Radio was fortunate to be one of 4 charities chosen by the Mayor of Winchester, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, to benefit from the Mayor of Winchester's Charity during his term of office, which finished in May 2025.
ii) Winchester City Council Priority Outcomes Framework
This is an extension year of what was originally a 3-year grant award, renewed for a second term, based on Winchester Radio's activities furthering the City Council's priorities for community development.
iii) Clarendon Marathon
This unrestricted grant was made by the organisers of the marathon (Winchester Rotary) from funds raised as a result of the 2025 event.
iv) Winchester & District Round Table
This unrestricted grant was made by the Round Table as part of their Community Service grants programme. It is the second year of a three-year grant award.
Page 22
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
v) Winchester Heights Care Home
This is part of a grant from Avery Healthcare's Winchester Heights Care Home, received in 2024, sponsoring daily community messages broadcast on Winchester Radio in support of 4 local charities. This part of the grant covers the broadcasting of community messages in 2025, and was deferred to this year on the basis that the terms of the donation had not been met at the end of the previous accounting period in relation to those community messages.
vi) Churchill Local Heroes Awards
This grant was awarded as one of our volunteers, Tony Knight, was a Highly Commended runner-up for the South of England region in the Churchill Local Heroes Awards, which celebrate the positive contribution of older people who are making a difference in their communities.
(f) Donated goods, facilities & services
i) Accommodation
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides the charity with 27.7m[2] of accommodation free-of-charge. The Trust calculates that the cost of this accommodation is £474 /m[2] .
ii) Google Workspace email/collaboration service
Google makes its Workspace Business Starter email and collaboration service available free-of-charge to UK registered charities. The normal cost is £5.90 per user, per month. This represents the cost of Winchester Radio purchasing an appropriate number of accounts at standard prices.
iii) VoIP Phone System
Nimvelo offers its cloud-hosted VoIP phone system free-of-charge to UK registered charities. The value of the donation is calculated based on the usual cost of the service features being used by Winchester Radio.
iv) Stream Hosting
streamerr offers its internet streaming service free-of-charge to UK registered charities. The value of the donation is calculated based on the usual cost of the service features being used by Winchester Radio.
v) Website Hosting
Umbrella Host offers its website hosting service free-of-charge to UK registered charities. The value of the donation is calculated based on the usual cost of the service features being used by Winchester Radio.
Other information
All income in the current and prior years was unrestricted.
3. EXPENDITURE
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| (a) | Expenditure on raising funds | ||||||
| Cost of advertising sales | 285 | - | 285 | 240 | |||
| Staging fundraising events | 90 | - | 90 | 90 | |||
| Community Business Development Manager | |||||||
| Salary | 2,639 | ||||||
| Pension contributions (defined contribution scheme) | - | - | - | 52 | |||
| Out-of-pocket expenses | - | - | - | 21 | |||
| Mobile Phone | - | - | - | 31 | |||
| Total | 375 | - | 375 | 3,073 |
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Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | ||||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| (b) | Expenditure on charitable activities | ||||||
| Station running expenses | |||||||
| Music copyright licences | 2,873 | - | 2,873 | 2,812 | |||
| Google Workspace Email & Collaboration Service | 2,053 | - | 2,053 | 1,200 | |||
| Winchester Small-Scale DAB carriage fee | 1,000 | - | 1,000 | 893 | |||
| Ofcom Broadcasting licences | 950 | - | 950 | 950 | |||
| Insurance | 856 ` | 856 | 853 | ||||
| IRN news licence | 614 | - | 614 | 413 | |||
| VoIP telephone system | 600 | - | 600 | 576 | |||
| Broadband internet connection | 405 | - | 405 | 579 | |||
| Equipment for New Studio | - | 326 | 326 | 115 | |||
| Stream hosting | 180 | - | 180 | 180 | |||
| Broadcast playout system remote access licence | 173 | - | 173 | 168 | |||
| TV licence | 173 | - | 173 | 165 | |||
| CMA membership fee | 110 | - | 110 | 79 | |||
| Banking fees | 88 | - | 88 | 76 | |||
| Equipment replacements / engineering | 79 | - | 79 | 74 | |||
| Ofcom PMSE Radiomic licence | 68 | - | 68 | 68 | |||
| HBA membership fee | 50 | - | 50 | 50 | |||
| Volunteer refreshments | 10 | - | 10 | 36 | |||
| Community First membership fee | 8 | - | 8 | 8 | |||
| UK Radioplayer subscription | - | - | - | 68 | |||
| Office Consumables | - | - | - | 59 | |||
| Miscellaneous (inc TescoMobile) | 30 | - | 30 | 46 | |||
| Cost of advertising sales | |||||||
| Advertising/community messages production costs | 65 | - | 65 | 442 | |||
| Community Business Development Manager | |||||||
| Salary | - | - | - | 7,915 | |||
| Pension contributions (defined contribution scheme) | - | - | - | 155 | |||
| Out-of-pocket expenses | - | - | - | 64 | |||
| Mobile Phone | - | - | - | 92 | |||
| Return of unspent Community Radio Fund grant | - | - | - | 157 | |||
| Communications and publicity | |||||||
| Website/internet domain hosting | 135 | - | 135 | 131 | |||
| Promotional Flyers | 72 | - | 72 | - | |||
| Accommodation | 13,130 | - | 13,130 | 8,450 | |||
| Independent Examination of accounts | 650 | - | 650 | 625 | |||
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets | - | - | - | 263 | |||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 3,298 | - | 3,298 | 3,358 | |||
| Amortisation of intangible fixed assets | 868 | - | 868 | 1,016 | |||
| Total | 28,538 | 326 | 28,864 | 32,136 | |||
| 4. | PAID EMPLOYEES | ||||||
| (a) | Staff Costs | ||||||
| Salaries & wages | 10,554 | ||||||
| Pension contributions (defined contribution scheme) | - | - | - | 207 | |||
| Other employee benefits | - | - | - | - | |||
| Total | - | - | - | 10,761 |
No employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) for the reporting period of more than £60,000
(b) Average head count
Average number of employees
2025 2024 0.00 0.58
A single employee was employed for a total of 7 months during the previous year, in a community business development role. As the purpose of the role was to generate a mix of primary purpose and non-primary purpose income, the employment costs were been allocated 75% to expenditure on charitable activities and 25% to costs of raising funds.
Page 24
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
5. FIXED ASSETS (a) Tangible fixed assets
| Tangible fixed assets D ASSETS |
|
|---|---|
| Additions Depreciation as at 1 January 2025 Charge for year Elimination on disposal Depreciation as at 31 December 2025 Net book value as at 1 January 2025 Net book value as at 31 December 2025 Cost as at 1 January 2025 Disposals Cost as at 31 December 2025 |
Music library Fixtures & fittings Computers, Portable Recording Eqpt, Gazebo Electronic equipment Total £ £ £ £ £ 5,000 5,087 25,006 29,391 64,484 - 2,441 1,013 1,706 5,160 - (350) (1,184) (1,350) (2,884) |
| 5,000 7,178 24,835 29,747 66,760 |
|
| 5,000 2,910 22,854 22,993 53,757 - 543 831 1,924 3,298 - (350) (1,184) (1,350) (2,884) |
|
| 5,000 3,103 22,501 23,567 54,171 |
|
| - 2,177 2,152 6,398 10,727 |
|
| - 4,075 2,334 6,180 12,589 |
All tangible fixed assets relate to unrestricted funds.
There are no contractual commitments for the acquisition of tangible fixed assets.
(b) Intangible assets
| Intangible assets | |
|---|---|
| Cost as at 1 January 2025 Additions Amortisation as at 31 December 2025 Net book value as at 1 January 2025 Disposals Cost as at 31 December 2025 Amortisation as at 1 January 2025 Charge for year Elimination on disposal Net book value as at 31 December 2025 |
Digital Music Library Audio Branding Visual branding Software Total £ £ £ £ £ 364 3,500 7,000 2,985 13,849 71 - 250 - 321 - - - - - |
| 435 3,500 7,250 2,985 14,170 |
|
| 159 3,100 4,300 2,985 10,544 43 100 725 - 868 - - - - - |
|
| 202 3,200 5,025 2,985 11,412 |
|
| 205 400 2,700 - 3,305 |
|
| 233 300 2,225 - 2,758 |
All intangible assets relate to unrestricted funds.
6. STOCKS
| STOCKS | |
|---|---|
| Total this year Opening Added in period Fundraising CDs Closing Impaired Expensed in period |
For distribution For resale For distribution For resale £ £ £ £ - 60 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Stock Donated goods |
| - 60 - - |
|
| - 60 - - |
Total this year
Page 25
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
7. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS
| DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Trade debtors | 14 | - | 14 | 2,782 | ||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 1,376 | - | 1,376 | 1,178 | ||
| Total | 1,390 | - | 1,390 | 3,960 |
8. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year | ||||||
| Trade creditors | 755 | - | 755 | 674 | ||
| Payments received on account for contracts or performance-related | ||||||
| grants | 2,936 | - | 2,936 | 2,898 | ||
| Total | 3,691 | - | 3,691 | 3,572 | ||
| CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND | ||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||||
| funds | funds | Total funds | Total funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| CAFCash current account | 5,509 | 152 | 5,661 | 3,220 | ||
| CAF | Gold deposit account | 77,055 | 0 | 77,055 | 70,687 | |
| PayPal account | 429 | 0 | 429 | 308 | ||
| Cash | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 82,993 | 152 | 83,145 | 74,215 | ||
| MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | ||||||
| (a) | Current year | |||||
| Balance | Balance | |||||
| 01/01/2025 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 31/12/2025 | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | ||||||
| General (inc. fixed assets) | 32,253 | 36,795 | (28,913) | (15,036) | 25,099 | |
| Future Staff Costs | - | - | - | 55,000 | 55,000 | |
| Playout System Upgrade | - | - | - | 15,000 | 15,000 | |
| Studio relocation/re-equipping | 54,275 | - | - | (53,275) | 1,000 | |
| Total | 86,528 | 36,795 | (28,913) | 1,689 | 96,099 | |
| Restricted Funds | ||||||
| Remote Broadcasting | 152 | - | - | - | 152 | |
| Studio relocation/re-equipping | 2,015 | - | (326) | (1,689) | - | |
| Total | 2,167 | - | (326) | (1,689) | 152 | |
| Total Funds | 88,695 | 36,795 | (29,239) | - | 96,251 | |
| (b) | Prior year | |||||
| Balance | Balance | |||||
| 01/01/2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 31/12/2024 | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | ||||||
| General (inc. fixed assets) | 26,819 | 30,288 | (28,602) | 3,748 | 32,253 | |
| Studio relocation/re-equipping | 54,275 | - | - | - | 54,275 | |
| Total | 81,094 | 30,288 | (28,602) | 3,748 | 86,528 | |
| Restricted Funds | ||||||
| DCMS/Ofcom Community Radio Fund | 6,243 | - | (6,243) | - | - | |
| Studio relocation/re-equipping | 5,992 | - | (364) | (3,613) | 2,015 | |
| Remote Broadcasting | 152 | - | - | - | 152 | |
| Computer systems | 135 | - | - | (135) | - | |
| Total | 12,522 | - | (6,607) | (3,748) | 2,167 |
9. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (a) Current year
Page 26
Trustees’ Annual Report & Accounts 2025
Winchester Radio
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2025 (continued)
Purpose and restrictions of funds
(a) General (inc. fixed assets)
This fund represents the general unrestricted assets of the charity, including the current value of fixed assets, stock and debts owed to the charity.
(b) Studio relocation/re-equipping
There are both restricted and designated funds to cover the cost of relocating and re-equipping the studios. The restricted funds are the result of a successful crowdfunding campaign that completed in 2020. In addition, since 2019, the Trustees have formally designated reserves in excess of the charity's stated reserves policy (see Note 12) for this purpose.
Winchester Radio was expecting to have to cover the cost of relocation and re-equipping from our own funds. However, due to delays in Hampshire Hospitals identifying a new location for us, and the urgent need to re-use our existing accommodation for clinical purposes, the NHS Trust paid for the necessary buyilding works to bring the new accommodation into a usable space, leaving Winchester Radio to pay for the fixture & fittings, and the necessary new equipment. This work was largely complete by the end of 2025, consuming teh restricted funds and part of the designated funds. The majority of the remaining designated funds have thus been re-designated (see below).
(c) Playout system upgrade
This fund is intended to cover the upgrade, in 2026, of the broadcast playout system and its underlying computer hardware. New computer hardware running Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 will replace 8 year-old computers running Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016, and the playout system software will be upgraded from the now unsupported Myriad v5.23 to the current v6.9.
(d) Future staff costs
This fund is intended to cover the first two years of staff costs, enabling Winchester Radio to apply for grant funding to cover core running costs including the cost of employing a small number of part-time staff. As explained in the Trustees' Annual Report, it has proved impossible to obtain sufficient grant funding to cover employing staff whilst operating an on purely volunteer basis.
(d) Remote broadcasting
This fund consists of the residue from a grant from the Grand Provincial Lodge of Master Mark Masons of Hampshire & Isle of Wight to purchase equipment to allow our volunteers to broadcast from outside our studio.
- (e) DCMS/Ofcom Community Radio Fund
This was seed funding from the Dept for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, via the Ofcom-administered Community Radio Fund, to employ a part-time Community Business Development Manager for 12 months, to grow Winchester Radio's earned income.The employee left Winchester Radio during the prior reporting period, having failed to raise sufficient funds to cover their salary.
(e) Computer systems
This fund consisted of the residue of grants and donations in prior years towards replacing/upgrading the charity's computer systems, on which it is reliant to provide its 24 hour radio service.
11. TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTIES
(a) Trustee remuneration and benefits
None of the Trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from an employment with the charity or a related entity.
(b) Trustees' expenses
| Trustees' expenses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Number of Trustees who were paid expenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Reimbursement for products/services purchased on behalf of the charity | £3,826 | £3,095 | |
| Travel and subsistence | £8 | - | |
| Accommodation | - | - | |
| Other (specify) | - | - | |
| Total | £3,834 | £3,095 |
(c) Transactions with related parties
Other than the reimbursement of Trustees for products/services purchased on behalf of the charity, there were no transactions with related parties in either the current or prior year.
12. RESERVES POLICY
The Trustees have determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted reserves at the bank equivalent to approximately 12 months operating costs. Discounting regular donations-in-kind, and based on the expenditure during the current and recent prior years, this equates to approximately £12,000. The Trustees have designated funds held in excess of this amount to be used for specific projects (see Note 10 above).
Page 27