Registered as a Charity in EngFand and Wales No 1162687 Re8lStered as a Charity in Scotland No. SC046208 THE FRIENDS OF THE UNION CHAIN BRIDGE In th• parlsh¢s of Horncllffe IEnzland) •MI Hutton (Stotlwd) TRUSTEES. REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31" MARCH 2025 Ilob•rt Humphrnyi Honor Tr•asuv•r E O Cawthory Honorary Secretary The Frlends of thÈ Union Chajn Bridge 45 a charit3e IncorporatÈd OrtiOn cortstitut*l under the Charmes Act 2011 Page l of 10
CHARITY INFORMATION ss Chain Bridge Hous< Horncliffe. Bwwick-upon-Tweed TD15 Lyr 1162687 (England and Wales) SC046208 (Sc¢xJand) Dr Prof R A Paxton MBE Msc PhD HonDEng CEng FICE FRSE Heriot-watt Universrry Professor Paxton died on the 3 October 2025 Martha Veronica AndreVI (retired March 13° 2025) Edward Oates Cawthorn (retired March 13° 2025) Elizabeth Edgerton (representy'ng the interests of the Parish of Hutton) Sadie Holland obert Humphrey (appolnted March 13 2025. following COknOPQ'on) Carol Jones (office of trustee fdca*d 12th June 2025) Stephen Kedwyn Jones Philip Rowett (appointed March 13 2025. following COwOPtion) Clive Simpson Carol 114hinnom (appointsd March 13° 2025) Eric Wood (appoinced March 13° 2025) Ross Woodrow Vacant Robert Humphrey 8 Palace Green Berwick-upon-Tweed TDIS IHR EdvArd O Cawthorn Chain Bridge House Horncliffe Berwick.upon.Tweed TD15 2Kr Barclay5 Bank plc Edinburgh Princes Street Branch Edinburgh EH2 2AN James Waugh 34 Goldstone BerMck-upon-Tweed TD15 2ER Page 2 of 10
TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31" MARCH 2025 The Trustees present their Rewrt and Financial Statnert for the financial year ended 3 1st March 2025. The provisions of the Statement of Re¢ommended Prac (SORP) "Accounting and Rewrting by Charities" (March 2005) amended 2(hX is used in preF>aring this knnual Report and Financial Statemen( so far as it is applicable to the Charity5 cirfumstance& Constltution The Friends of the Union CtrRin Wge is a Charity regtstered in Enghnd and Wales and in Scodand and constttuted as a Chaiitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under a CanstttUQon dated the 4th May 2015. The conversion of the chaiitable tnjst inro a CIO vrds approved at Extraordinary General Meeting of the member5 of the Charity held in the Village Hall, Paxton on the 29th January 2015. The Constitution was amended at the Annual Generdl Meetr'ng in December 2021 to allow the TN5tees to invrte an appropriate OWdni5ation opernting in the parishes of Horncliffe or Hutton to nominate a resident of the parish to repre5ert the interests of the community of that parish on the CIO in the event of the irubility or failure of the Parish or Community Council, as the case may be. to appoint a representaiive in that capacity. The Objects of the CIO The objeccs of the CIO are: To promote for the benefft of the public the consemtion, protection and improvement of the physical, natyral and man-made environment by promoting the histori and 2rchitetturdl heritage of the Union Chain Bridge C'the Bn'dge.? in the parishes of Horndrf¢ Northumberlantl England and Hutton. BerCk$hIr< Scotland and of the naturnl environment in which the Bridge IS situated. To advance the education of the publi< in Farticular in relation to the history and architecture of the herrifage of the Bri(ige by developing public interest in the archiocture. history and heritage of the Bridge by means of publications public lectures and exhibitsons and ctroperation Ivith xhools artd other educational establishts and other bodies and societies. All the activrtses of the CIO to date have been in full accordan with its objert& Statement of Truste¢s' Responslbilities The law applicable to chartties in En812nd and Wales requires the TSteeS to prepare financial statements for each financial year which ve a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming reurCeS and application of resources of the Charity for that wiod. In preparing these financial statemen the Trnstees are required to." select suitable accounting policies and then appty them consiscently observe the method5 and princtples in the chariti.es SORP make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent state whether appli¢able accounting standard5 have been followed. subjert to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial ststsment prepare the financial statements on the g01ng-coern basi5 unless It is inapproprrate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation Page 3 of 10
The Trustee5 are responsible for keeptng proper accounting r&ords that disclose with sonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Chartty and enaNe them to ensure that the financi statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 {Enand and Wales) and the Chariues and Truscee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Att and Regulations 2m made under those Acts and the PrOS1on$ of the Chari$ Constitution dated 4th May 2015. They are a150 reSn$te for safegLtarding the assets of the Charity and hence for tthng reasonabte steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitres. Invertmtnt Policy The ConttTtution allNS the Trustees to invest fijnds in any investment they think f in their absolu discretion. To da thvy have not exercised th&'r to invest fund& Rlsk Review The Trustees continue to keep under wew the major risks to which the CIO is, or is likely to be exposed and of the systems and checks to mititye such risks arising from ffinanCr managemen¢ Invescments. contract5 etc. Charity propercy and the105s of seceS of officers either temporarily or permanently. The Trustees have adopted a BUne$S Continuity Plan to ensure the proper continuance of financial and Secretarial services in this event Public Benofit By considering the operation, achievements and perfomwKe and the finances of the Charity. the TrLFStees are satisfied that public beneftt has been provrded in accorthance wrth the Charities Att 201 l and the Charttyes and Trustee Invesonent (Scottand) 21x15 Act and the guidance provided the Charity Commissioners and the office d the Scottish Chaiity Regulator. Meetings The Trustres meet in accordance with a m*ting calendar. they meet in a bi-monthty cycle. with additional rneetings arranged as required. MeetiJw are held remotely by means of zoom or in hybrid frdshion in person and a zwm facilTty, as vns the case wtth the Annual General Meetin& The CharlS business is condutted in accordance with its Constitutson. There is no forni committee Structure but ad hoc commrttees and WIng group5 are appointed from tirne to time to deal •Mth specific aspects of business delegated to them. The Yart maioriry of business, however. is conducted by the full Trustse body. December 2025 Page 4 of 10
31ItM The Trustees continued to meet on a Eit4nonthly basis thr the year under revlew following their decision to move from monthly rneetings in December 2023. after completion of the rertoration works. The transiuon in the Charrtls acDNTts4 from close involvemert in the restoration proces5 as a partner in the Unron Bridge Projec¢ to a role as continuing guardian of the Bridge at lotal level and promoter of its heritage 2nd historical and enginwng 3ss¢ciations continued throughout the year. Talks on the Bridge's history, Capt Brown and the recent restofdtion were given to lo¢ history societies and other organisations and work startd on the preparation a small and affordable guide to the Briese and its restoration, leh it 15 hoped wtll be published during the forthcoming year. Work also proceeded w6th Kreative Technology of 8er.Ck-Up9n-Tweed, to assernb a new Friends, website with full details of the rertordtion. makn'ng use of the rega payment from Museums Northumberland, mentioned in the last reporL (rhe new website V*dS completed following the end of the year under review and has been widely prdlsed as a comprehensive introduction to the Bridge and its engineer and of the restoration work5. www.unionbridgefn'end&com). The number of visitors arriving at the Brldge having firrt seen the exhiL¥tions at erther Paxton House or the Honey Farni confirmed the Tnjrtees. view that the publicity now in place adeqtety meets the need to publicise the Bridge In accordance with the conditions of the Lottery avrdrd. During the year under review, Tnjstees assumed responsilyllty for the estsblished "&'tentenary events, preyiousty organised by Museums Northumberland and takn'ng the form of a picnic with music and dancing at the Chain &idge Honey Farni. They decided the forniat would benefir from driatyon and on the 26th July 2024 they orrdnlsed 3 Successful ceilidh and supper at the Hi)rncllffe Memorial Hall th muslc provided powerfulty by the GlerKlaie Clidh Band. The avrdrd of a National Trnnsport Trust "Red l#Vhe¢l" made in March 2024, but too late for inclusion in the last reporL This prestigious award. unveiled on behalf of the Nrr by its vKe chairnian, John Campbell C8e with retired trustee John Home Robertx)n. an¢J the only one in the Scottish Borders. FS di$played on the vrdll adjaceArt to the Scottish tower and has been Wide admired. On the 19th July 2024. our Chair Martha Andrews was the guest of Spentv Engineering at the New Ctvil Engineer annual abydrds Ceremony in London when the company VAS pre5eneed wr¢h the Award for a Historlc Bridge ProjecL recognlslng Spencer5' delivery of the Union Bridge contract and its "positive collabordtion partners and stakeholders" We were delighted when Diane Rowe of the company travelled especialty to Ber+vick on the 26th Juty 2024 - the 204th anniversary of the Bridge'$ opening. to present to the Friends the Award that Sp•ncars had rnceived & week earlier. Last yearfs report referred to problems concerning the disappearanty durtng the restoration, of the ancient track leading from the riverside to the public highaY at Bridge Hou$& Trustees continued to express concern to Scottish Borders Council about the loss of the track and continued to make representat"ons. both directly and through the Scottish W of Way SocTrety. for its reinstatement and an acknowledgement of rt$ 5tstLF$ as a public right of way. Some more posruve indicats'ons of an acceptance of the Friends, concerns were evident during the year and the Trustees are hopeful that the issue 15 capable of solution satisfactory to all partie& Trustees were sadderled to learn of the death. in January 2025. ofjohn Harnilwn who had retFred as Honornry Treasurer in March 2024. Finally. the Trustees continue to value the continurng support and interes¢ of Friends in our most remarkable Brrdge of which we are the unofficial, and self-appoin local custodiarbs. December 2025 Page 5 of 10
TH FRIENDS OF THE UNION CHAIN BRIDGE E SHEEfAT 31" MARCH 2025 2024 2025 1,981 Flxed Assets 2J06 5to¢k Debtovs 26N35 Cash: BalIV5 Bank eurrent account (fornierfy general fundsl 26,600 Cash: Bar¢lay5 Bank doposlt account (fornwrty desl8nated fund5) Current Uabllttle5 30.064 Page 6 of 10
THE FRIENDS OF THE UNION CHAIN BRI STATEMEPlf OF FINANCIAL AcfiviTIES INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDMJRE ACCOUNr FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 315r MARCH 2025 2024 Incom1 resour¢es 2,034 59,450 Resources expended 1.869 149.6021 Net m¢)vement In funds 165 76,037* Totsl funds brought forward 26A35 26,435 Totsl funds carried forward 26,600 as per note 1.2 In 2022123 Accounts The Ilnanclal staternents were approved by the Trustees on 2025 and slgned on thelr behall by: ~ITrusteel Page 7 of 10
Notes to the Accounts Accounting policies l. I Charity irrforn)ation The Friends of the Union Chain BridD a Charity registered in both England and Wales and Scottand. was established on 4th May 2015. to promote for the benef of the public the historical and archttectural heritsge of the Union Chain Bridge and to develop public interest in the archttetture. history and heritage of the Bridge. 1.2 Accountlng conventlon The financial ststements have been wepared under the historical cost convention. The Accounts (financial statsmerbts) have been prepared in accordance wrth the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting and reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Stsndard applicable in the UK and Republic of IreLand (FRS 102) issued in the UK and Republic of Ireland. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" {"FRS 102"). "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" the Statement of Recommended Practice ft>r charities applying FRS 101 the Charities Act 201 l. the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2(K)5 Att and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practrce as it applies from l JanLUry 2019. The Charity 15 a Public Benefit En(iw as defined by FRS 102. The accounts are prepared in sterlin& whlch is the funttional currency of the Charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £. 1.3 Accounting Policy As the Charity obtained sponsorship for the refurbishment projec¢ it carried substsntial income requiring r( to use accrual accounting methods for the period between 2019 and 2022. With the disbursement of the funds and the reduttion of gr0$5 income. a reversion to the cash accounting methods previousty used is now being used. This was disclosed in the Accounts for the financial year 2022123. Golng Concern At the time of approving the accounts. the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequatr resource5 to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The trustees continue to adopt the "going concern" basis of accounting in preparing the accounts. 1.5 Charitable funds Unrestricted fiJnd5 are avaitable for use at the discreti¢)n of the trustees in furtherance of their charitrble objeccs unless the funds have been designated for other purpose& Restrithd funds are subjett to specifK conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The Charity held no such restricted funds in the financial year to 31 st March 2025. Page 8 of 10
Designated funds are donations held by the Charity in respect of non-statutory elements of the Union Bridge restoration contract 2019_2023 and are designated for transfer to Northumberland County Council in that conneccion. 1.6 Incomlng resources Income is recognised when the Charity is legalty entided to it after any performance conditions have been me( the amounts on be measured reliably. and it is probable that income will be received. Cash donations are recognised on receipL Other donations are recognised once the Charity has been notif of the donation. unless perfornlle conditions require deferral of the amounL Income rax recoverable in relatlon to donations received under GFft Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the Charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is knovm, and receipt is expected. If the amount Ss not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset 1.7 Cash and cash equlvalents Cash and cash equirdlents include cash in hand. deposits hekl at call with banks. other shorc-terni liquid investments wh onginal maturiries of three months or less. and bank overdrafts. Income Detallj 2024 2025 Members subscriptlons Donatlons 1,055 899 6.6T7 405 Sales 1.369 330 Glft Ald 697 Other Income 50 400 Expenditure Detalls 2024 2025 NCC 50.0 Printing 650 Hall Hire Event Expenses 989 Photography PaEe 9 of 10
Audit Insurance 281 281 3.8 rr 1146 120 3.9 Other Expenditure 1.503 471 Bank and Deposits Bank and Deposits 2024 2025 Barclays Bank Business Account Barclays Bank Savings Account 26.435 26,600 Investments The Chaiity hold5 no investments and there was rbo investment actsvity during the year. Income from Investments There was no inc¢xne from investments during the accounting period. Employees There yre no employees of the Chryty during the year. Current Creditors and Debtors Debtors are the amounts owed to the Charny. They are measured on the basis of their recovernble amount Creditors are the amounts owed by the Charity. They are measured at the amount the Charity expects to have to pay to settle the debL Dlrect Charitable Expendlture No expenditure was incurred that was not for tsitable purposes. Governance Costs No governance costs were M)curred during the accountancy period. Trustees, remuneration and Expenses No trustee received any expenses during the accountancy period other than reimbursement for postage and prinung costs incurred in the administration of th• Charity or travel whilst representing the Charity. No remunerdtion directly or indirectly out of funds of the Charity was paid or payable for the year to any trustee or to any person or persons known to be connected wlth them. 10 Page 10 of 10
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trustees The Frierth tha Union Chan BrvJg8 On accounts forthe year ended 31 Mar¢h %f25 Charity no (rf any) 1162687 (arFty fft Twsn forthe year ended 31 Mar¢h 2025. Responsibilities and aCcnts in accord Ihe reWErnts of the Charities Act 2011 fthe A¢) I rewrt in respect of my ekimination of the Tnjsfs accowtts Carr1 out uler seth.on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examinatw, I have follo atl the apF4icat4e 'rtrOrts given by the CharTty Commission ur•Yer seclion 145(5)(b) ofthe A¢ Independent examinevs statement I have completed my examination. I CLMfirm that no material matters have coma to my attenli(xb n Connecaion th the 8xaminats.0n10the grves me cause to belwe that in, any matyal of the Chanties Art or Ihe drd not ac£ord with the a(xwnts'ng records., or the Th)t comjy th• applioble requirements conmMg the fonrs and conterrt of acccxjnts set out in the Charittes (AcCn aKI ReForts) Regal)n$ 21x18 other than any requirement that the aiLwits gv8 a knje and vw vthich is not a matter I have no arKf have come aL¥OSS othar matters li connecaion ryth ts examination to attenbcn shwkl be thawn in this report in Ord to enabk a of the accounts to be read*d. . word8 in the bftckets 11ttY do not apply. ned". Relevant professional IER Oct 2018
qualmcation(s} or body (IF any): Sèction 8 Disclosure Onty complete if the examiner dS to hhajhI material matters of conrn {see CC32, Independerrt examinat¥ of charity accounts: i*rections and guidart8 forexaniners). Give here brief detaus of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018