Trustees’ Annual Report For the period
From (start date) 0 1 0 4 2 4 to (end date) 3 1 0 3 2 5
Section A – Reference and administration details
Charity name Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust Other names the charity is known by SCPT Registered charity number (if any) 1165749 Charity’s principal address The Green, Snodhill, Dorstone, Herefordshire, UK Postcode H R 3 6 B G
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Dates acted if not for
whole year Name of person (or body)
Trustee name O�ice (if any) entitled to appoint
From To
trustee (if any)
1 GARRY RAYMOND CROOK CHAIR
2 LOUISE MACINTYRE SECRETARY
SURREY GARLAND TREASURER
4 NICK LONGMAN VICE-CHAIR
5 BRIDGET KNIGHT
6 BRIDIE SULLIVAN
7 RUTH WOOLMER
8 SUSANNAH GARLAND
9 KATE HAYWARD
10 JADE LEIGH BERESFORD
11 JOE EMMETT
12 TOM OLIVER
13 SARAH LEWIS
14 WILLIAM KLEMPERER
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16
17
18
19
20
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any (for example any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
From To
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Section A – Reference and administration details (continued)
Names and addresses of advisers (optional information)
| Type of adviser | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Historic England, statutory authority | Neil Rimmington | Historic England |
| Archaeology and Excavations | Tim Hoverd | Herefordshire Council |
| Bookkeeper | Sarah Halliday | Common Bach, Dorstone |
Name of chief executive or names of senior sta� members (optional information)
n/a
Section B - Structure governance and management
Description of the charities’ trusts
Type of governing document Constitution (eg trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (eg trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods Appointed by trustees (eg appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (optional information)
| Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about: policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; relationship with any related parties; trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. |
The trust aims to adopt and follow the governance structures and procedures as outlined by the Charity Commission, NCVO, NLHF, Historic England, Herefordshire Council and other relevant bodies. Following the grant award by the NLHF in 2024, these structures and procedures, including those covering risk, safeguarding, fnance, volunteers and health and safety have been subject to review and ongoing revision as part of the 3-year ‘Fortifying the Future’ (FTF) resilience project. During the year in review the Trust joined Herefordshire County BID, the Heritage Trust Network, the Herefordshire Histories Week festival, and Charity Digital. We formed partner relationships with the Mortimer History Society and Hay Castle; and we established an ongoing association with the neighbouring HLF-funded projects of St Faith’s, Dorstone and St Peter’s, Peterchurch, with the aim of maximising synergies for the beneft of all . We continued to host Summer student archaeology digs in conjunction with Manchester and Cardi� Universities and the Institute of Field Research, San Francisco. As part of the FTF project, and funded by the NLHF, we initiated an exciting and innovative curriculum relationship with NMiTE, Hereford’s new engineering university; and partnered with the Cartshed and the Family Place Foundation, aiming to develop facilities for, and to deliver with them, ‘green welfare’ projects for vulnerable individuals and their carers. |
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Section C – Objectives and activities
| ection C – Objectives and activities | |
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| Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public beneft in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefts) |
“To preserve for the beneft of the people of the Hamlet of Snodhill, the Parishes of Dorstone and Peterchurch, Herefordshire and the Nation ("the benefciaries"), the historic, architectural and constructional heritage that exists in and around the Castle of Snodhill ("the area of beneft") in buildings (including any building as defned in Section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing acquiring, renovating, restoring and utilising for the beneft of the benefciaries the structure, curtilages, site and environs of Snodhill Castle, Snodhill , Herefordshire and to educate the general public in the geography, history, natural history, architecture and economic and social history of the area of beneft ("the Objects")". |
| The main activities pursued during the year continue to be the excavation, exploration, restoration and maintenance of the standing remains of Snodhill Castle and its wilderness setting, and initiating and broadening access, awareness and engagement among particular groups and the wider public in this mission. We do this by providing year-round access, online and on-site interpretation, site tours and events, as well as encouraging special interest groups to use and value its amenity for study, enrichment and recreation. The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued bythe CharityCommission onpublic benefts. |
Additional details of objectives and activities (optional information)
| Youmay chooseto include further statements, where relevant, about: policy on grantmaking policy programme related investment contribution made by volunteers |
The Trust makes no grants and has no investments. Details of our fnancial position over the year are in the attached Accounts. The successful fulflment of our mission depends entirely on the e�orts of volunteers of whom the management and Trust body is entirely comprised, and who contributed on average some 5 hours per person per week, or over 3500 hours a year. During the year in review the Trust welcomed four new volunteers who brought with them valuable skillsets in architecture and public administration. |
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Section D – Achievements and performance
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year Section E – Financial review Brief statement of the charity’s reserve policy Details of any funds materially in defcit |
During the year in review the charity prepared, applied for (in April 2024) and won (in July) a ‘Heritage Resilience’ grant of £201,104 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for our three-year ‘Fortifying the Future’ (FTF)project. Half of the total grant was drawn down (though not spent) during the year in review. This ambitious programme aims to upgrade the Trust’s governance, procedures, IT and communications, enabling us to greatly enhance our engagement reach and performance. As part of FTF, a Conservation Management Plan was initiated with a year- long wildlife survey commencing in April, and work began on its various timelined initiatives in November. Meanwhile during the year in review the castle hosted pilgrims for hedgerow communions, tours for Hay Festival attendees and History groups including Cambrian Archaeology, Leintwardine Archaeology Society, AbbeyCwmHir History Group, Hay Castle Volunteers and Walk Hay. A tour was hosted for the Mortimer History Society and the Trust published a feature article in Mortimer Matters, their journal. The Trust completed the second phase of the restoration of the Royal Free Chapel and held an event in the Summer for VIPs, donors and benefactors. As part of the FTF project the trust advertised and recruited specialist consultants in project management, ecology, engagement, IT and evaluation. By the end of the year in review (April 2025) these consultants were successfully recruited and in place. |
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| The Trust continued to maintain £10k as a contingency reserve as per our stated policy. |
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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about: Our income has been entirely derived from:
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1) Grants – The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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2) Appeals – The Royal Free Chapel Appeal Fund
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the charity’s principal sources 2) Appeals – The Royal Free Chapel Appeal Fund of funds (including any 3) Donations – as recorded in our financial report fundraising) 4) Sales - of Christmas cards, artworks and firewood – as recorded in our financial report
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity Our expenditure has supported the charity by enabling the purchase and maintenance of equipment and supplies to support the fulfilment of our investment policy and objects during the year. objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted The trust has no investments.
Section F – Other optional information
Section G – Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the Charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Garry Crook Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Chair
Date 3 0 0 1 2 6
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust (registered charity number 1165749)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2025. The accounts comprise the attached receipts and payments account and the statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and, in carrying out my examination, I have followed applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Stephen Purse Chartered Accountant 30 January 2026
Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust Year ended 31 March 2025
Receipts and payments account
| Receipts and payments account | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts Grants Donations Miscellaneous sales Interest income Payments Project expenditure Restoration costs Insurance Website Miscellaneous expenses Asset and investment purchases Net income/(expenditure) Funds brought forward Funds carried forward Statement of assets and liabilities Cash funds Liabilities Net assets Assets retained for the charity's own use |
2025 | ||
| Unrestricted funds Chapel Appeal Fund £ £ - - 6,155 1,350 353 - 1,114 - 7,622 1,350 - - 4,562 5,938 906 - 1,035 - 964 - 7,467 5,938 - - 155 (4,588) 12,053 4,588 12,208 - at the end of the year Container at cost Snodhill Castle Unpaid bills Current account Deposit account |
Notes:
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The trust acquired a long lease of Snodhill Castle at no cost. The lease is recorded at a nominal amount of £1. 2. The Chapel Appeal was launched in May 2023 to fund restoration work on the castle's Royal Free Chapel.
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The Heritage Fund results from a grant awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the long term resilience of the trust.
| Signed on behalf of the trustees |
Signature Print Name Garry Crook Date of Approval 30.01.26 |
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