LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Report and Accounts for year ending 31 March 2025
Income and expenditure year ending 31/03/2025
| Income Sales 6th Ed Guide Book Sales 6th Ed Guide Book Discount 7th Ed Guide Book Discount 7th Edition Guide Book Adverts 7th Ed Guide Book Sales Other Book Sales 200 Years of the Lancaster Canal Plaque Sales Post & Packing Sales Fundraising & Interest on Balances Buy a Block Fund The Bund Total Other - Gift Aided Interest General Fund Talks Membership and Donations Membership Subscriptions 100 Club Subscriptions Other Income Gift Aid Donations Donations - Howard Broomby Trip Boat Regular Boat Trips Chartered Trips Trip Boat Tickets Boater's Dinner income Other Comprehensive Income Total Income Expenditures Promotion & Events Country Fest - Current Year |
0.00 15.50 0.00 0.00 -280.80 -645.60 0.00 0.00 1,351.00 2,554.30 23.00 304.80 115.50 277.50 16.50 57.00 3.00 24.00 1,228.20 2,587.50 120.00 120.00 0.00 96.00 0.00 0.00 4,800.14 3,388.84 0.00 0.00 263.91 310.00 5,184.05 3,914.84 3,376.65 3,689.00 444.00 504.00 65.00 0.00 1,652.38 0.00 25,624.30 2,628.99 0.00 175.62 31,162.33 6,997.61 0.00 350.72 465.00 690.00 1,970.15 2,483.00 569.50 555.00 3,004.65 4,078.72 0.00 15,500.00 40,579.23 33,078.67 0.00 194.00 Year to 31/03/2025 Year to 31/03/2024 |
|---|---|
| 3,376.65 444.00 65.00 1,652.38 25,624.30 0.00 |
|
| 0.00 465.00 1,970.15 569.50 |
|
| 0.00 |
| Westmorland Show | 0.00 | 1,135.20 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web Site | 520.39 | 411.59 | ||
| 520.39 | 1,740.79 | |||
| Memberships & Subscriptions | ||||
| LCRP | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Subscriptions Paid | 133.00 | 133.00 | ||
| 133.00 | 133.00 | |||
| Restoration and Working Parties | ||||
| 2018 FF Relining | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Consumables | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Contractors | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| FF Materials | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| F2&3 | 0.00 | 780.74 | ||
| Miscelllaneous | 0.00 | 757.98 | ||
| 2020 FF Stop Planks | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Equipment | 339.00 | 69.00 | ||
| General | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| WRG Work Camp | 0.00 | 3,316.44 | ||
| Working Party Materials | 332.98 | 304.09 | ||
| 671.98 | 5,228.25 | |||
| Trip Boat Expenses | ||||
| Boat Fuel | 339.82 | 224.96 | ||
| Boat Insurance | 0.00 | 1,393.52 | ||
| Boat Licence (C&RT) | 944.70 | 891.24 | ||
| Boat Other Running Costs | 905.51 | 310.55 | ||
| Boat Refurbishment | 2,803.48 | 1,275.44 | ||
| Boat Training | 454.10 | 1,939.28 | ||
| Boater's Dinner Costs | 554.50 | 555.00 | ||
| 6,002.11 | 6,589.99 | |||
| Waterwitch Magazine | ||||
| Distribution | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| Printing | 578.00 | 2,092.00 | ||
| 578.00 | 2,092.00 | |||
| Governance Costs | ||||
| Accountancy | 33.60 | 355.20 | ||
| AGM | 257.50 | 443.00 | ||
| Insurance | 2,653.49 | 1,580.32 | ||
| Bank Charges | 80.20 | 98.15 | ||
| 3,024.79 | 2,476.67 | |||
| Running Costs and Costs Of Fundraising | ||||
| Millness Building & Wharf | 115.84 | 95.86 | ||
| Utility Costs | 10.14 | 0.00 | ||
| Repairs and Maintenance | 94.66 | 58.90 | ||
| Small Tools and Equipment | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 7th Ed Guide Book Costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 200 Years of the Lancaster Canal Cos | 0.00 | 0.00 | ||
| 100 Club Prizes & Costs | 0.00 | 100.00 | ||
| Cost of Sales | 338.97 | 655.83 | ||
| Postage | 669.33 | 1,287.35 | ||
| 1,228.94 | 2,197.94 |
Total Expenditure
12,159.21
20,458.64
28,420.02
12,620.03
Surplus/(deficit) for the year
Balance Sheet
| alance Sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2025 | March 31, 2024 | |
| Fixed Asset | ||
| Total Fixed Asset | 27,500.00 | 27,500.00 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||
| CAF Bank | 21,320.11 | 23,787.52 |
| NatWest | 1,265.60 | 628.60 |
| PayPal | 0.00 | 271.08 |
| Stripe | 21.26 | 0.00 |
| Total Petty Cash | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| United Trust Bank | 118,903.39 | 89,146.20 |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand | 141,510.36 | 113,833.40 |
| Debtors | ||
| Accounts Receivable | 0.00 | 150.00 |
| Total Debtors | 0.00 | 150.00 |
| Current Assets | ||
| Stock | 3,725.23 | 4,064.20 |
| Total Current Assets | 3,725.23 | 4,064.20 |
| Net current assets | 145,235.59 | 118,047.60 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
| Total Trade Creditors | 454.10 | 1,686.13 |
| Total Creditors: amounts falling due within | ||
| one year | 454.10 | 1,686.13 |
| Net current assets (liabilities) | 144,781.49 | 116,361.47 |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 172,281.49 | 143,861.47 |
| Total net assets (liabilities) | 172,281.49 | 143,861.47 |
| Charity funds | ||
| Share Capital Account | 94,896.75 | 94,896.75 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 77,384.74 | 48,964.72 |
| Total Charity funds | 172,281.49 | 143,861.47 |
Treasurer's Report:
Sales are down this year compared to last which reflects the newness of the 7th Edition in the prior year. Interest received - prinicpally on the reserve account held with United Trust Bank was higher by £1,400 as interest reates rose to a peak during the year and are currently falling - reflecting the reduction in the Base Rate. We claimed Gift Aid for the prior three years thi syear which brought in £1652. We recieved a bequest of £25,000 in the year from the estate of our former, and much missed, Secretary - David Gibson. Trip boat income was about £1,000 lower last year reflecting a rather wet summer and lack of customers. We have sought to improve this theis year with wider advertising and promotion. This has resulted in a higher income overall of ££7,000.
In terms of expences we paid for the county show in September twice in 2023-24 (i.e. for the 2024 event and teh 2023 event) which is why we have nothing showing for the last year. We have undertaken less restoratiuon work this year and thus spent £4,500 less this year. We saved about £300 by combining the boat and general insurance policies with a new supplier - and these are now all reflected under insurance, rather than insurance and boat insurance. Boat insurance is higher as we have paid half of the cost of a new boat cover in this year - the remainder has been paaid in 2025-26 and the cover is in place. Accountancy costs reduced as we ceased to use Quikbooks for accounting saving their monthly charge.
Overall we had a surpulus of £28,420 in year.
Chair’s Annual Report 2024-5 Author: Peter Jones (Vice Chair) Date: 15/07/25
I am presenting this report as acting chair as a result of the resignation of Robin Yates due to ill health. The trustees would like to express our thanks to Robin for his considerable work with the Trust and wish him well for the future. This leaves the Trust in the situation of having neither a chair or secretary and reduces the number of trustees. This is not really sustainable for the long term and the trustees are endeavouring to fill these posts and making a proposal to reduce the formally required number of trustees should that prove necessary.
Sadly, in recent months, we have learnt of the passing away of two stalwart supporters of the Trust, Gordon Biddle and John Gavan. Their contribution to the foundation and development of the Trust was considerable and the trustees have recorded their formal appreciation of this. Obituaries have or will be included in the Waterwitch magazine.
In terms of membership we are getting a few new members but the trend seems to be downwards. It is sad to have posted copies of Waterwitch magazine returned because the member has passed away or is no longer at the address we have.
The financial status of the Trust continues to be solid, as seen in the accounts. Little has been paid out for restoration recently (as will be referred to) and we continue to benefit from legacies.
As we are all painfully aware the prospects of achieving one of the main aims of the Trust, notably the full restoration of the Northern Reaches, get further out of reach and it becomes harder to ‘sell’ the vision to members and the public at large. Perhaps this is the time to review this ambition.
In terms of smaller scale restoration the reduced availability of technical expertise and volunteer effort within the Trust led to the consideration of whether further work (after the First Furlong at Stainton) should be suspended until resources became available. However, in view of the fact that we have funds and out of respect for the the donors who wished to support restoration it is proposed to continue and restore the next (f2an3) length to Wellheads Lane. This may require a greater use of contractors external expertise. This can be financed from existing funds but going further will require considerably more.
The final First Furlong connection to the canal is, frustratingly, still not complete. We are still in discussion with Canal & River Trust (CRT) about leakage acceptability and the removal of the bund at Stainton. In terms of our general Working Party activities we are refocussing on the general maintenance along our own length and working with CRT further south. It has not proved possible, so far, to continue the regular volunteers bulletin that Robin produced but the mailing list is used to notify volunteers of future activities etc. The lack of a nominated working party supervisor has meant that the role has been distributed amongst other volunteers.
In recent time the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership (LCRP) has had a surge of enthusiasm and activity, including, in particular the extension to the Towpath Trail as far as Holme with plans to go further. As part of this partnership the Trust has been able to contribute its knowledge and expertise. A main aim of LCRP activities is to make the Northern Reaches a mulit-user attraction with events and general publicity. This coincides with one of the objectives of the Trust itself so it is beneficial for us to work together.
The Trust continues to have a presence at the annual Country Fest and the County Show at Crooklands. It must be admitted that selling the full restoration story (as previously mentioned) on the stand gets more difficult. They are good times for meeting members and other useful contacts.
We were pleased to share the stand recently with LCRP. We must record a note of thanks to Alan Mather and Sheila who have supported the stand for many years, including the supply of bacon butties from their caravan. They are, unfortunately for us, unable to continue this work.
Our Waterwitch trip boat continues to be an attraction both at the shows and the regular weekend sessions during the season. We must thank Ian and his enthusiastic crew for the efforts they put in, regardless of the (possibly few) number of passengers they have. After a review of our capacity to distribute leaflets, which concluded it was poor, the distribution has been contracted out to a commercial organisation in the hope that it will attract more potential passengers.
So what of the future?
Although we can ‘muddle through’ and continue with the activities just covered there is a shortage of effort to fulfil the statutory responsibilities of a charity as would be provided by a chair and a secretary, e.g. the formal retention of records etc. We need to pursue internal or external recruitment although the latter has not proved successful in the past.
I will continue as acting chair on a caretaker basis and, hopefully, progress the design and implementation of the f2an3 work. Jim Mayes is taking up the essential aspects of secretary for which we are very thankful. This is not the cheeriest of reviews but we must not forget the efforts of our active members without whom we could not do anything at all, many thanks to them.
Membership Report
| Individuals Concessions Joint/Family Life Members Hon Members Affiliated Total |
31/03/2024 31/03/2025 119 96 10 7 100 86 82 88 18 15 3 3 332 300 |
|---|---|