2025-12-31-accounts

The Anchor Society CIO

Trustees’ report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025

Charity registration number 1167933

The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Contents

	Page
Report of the Trustees	1
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities	7
Report of the Independent Auditors	8
Statement of financial activities	11
Balance Sheet	13
Notes	14

The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The Anchor Society CIO (‘The Society’) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered with the Charity Commission on 29[th] June 2016.

The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Reference and administrative details

The Anchor Society CIO is registered with the Charity Commission, number 1167933.

Registered address	Bennetts Solicitors
	Barley Wood Stables,
	Long Lane
	Wrington
	Bristol BS40 5SA
Office address	Unit 1, Eco Studios
	Clanage Road
	Bristol BS3 2JX
Independent auditors	Lawes & Co UK Limited
	Boyce’s Building
	40-42 Regent Street
	Clifton
	Bristol BS8 4HU
Solicitors	Bennetts Solicitors
	Barley Wood Stables,
	Long Lane
	Wrington
	Bristol BS40 5SA
Bankers	HSBC UK Bank Plc
	62 George White Street
	Cabot Circus
	Bristol BS1 3BA
Investment advisers	RBC Brewin Dolphin
	40 Queen Square
	Bristol BS1 4QP
	Evelyn Partners Investment Management LLP
	EQ Bristol
	111 Victoria Street
	Bristol BS1 6AX
Chief Executive	EG Collier
Website	www.anchorsociety.org.uk

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Trustees

The following served as Trustees during the year:

SB Mills President 2024-25 B Hardy President 2025-26 (appointed 6 January 2025) CP Nicholls President 2026-27 (appointed 13 November 2025) HL Wallington Hon Secretary RE Evans Hon Treasurer BJ Hanson RP Kennedy JC Oakland RB Pitter

Structure and Governance

The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Constitution, and is managed by the Trustees, who comprise the current President of the Society, the immediate past President and the President designate, the Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, together with additional trustees. The Trustees are empowered by its constitution to appoint additional trustees. All new trustees are given the Essential Trustee and receive an induction from the team.

Training is assured by the succession process involved in the President's appointment. All Executive members, whether Trustees or Secondees, are appointed from the Society's membership and are assessed by the Executive as having the required skills and experience to fulfil their responsibilities. The Chief Executive holds a manual of procedure of the Society which is available to all Trustees. Decisions are made by the Trustees who meet on a quarterly basis.

Objectives and activities for the public benefit

The Anchor Society was formed as an unincorporated charity in 1769 and was registered with the Charity Commission (No 208756). The Anchor Society CIO (The Society) was entered on the Register of Charities on 29th June 2016 (No 1167933). On 31 December 2016, The Anchor Society CIO acquired the assets and liabilities of The Anchor Society.

The Society assists people over 55 in need within Bristol and the surrounding area in a number of ways:

We provide financial assistance through the payment of regular and single payment grants to assist with urgent personal needs. The Society also provides grants to organisations who work directly with the over 55s, furthering our reach into communities During 2025 the Society developed a new open application process, enhancing our transparency and reach. Grant applications are considered by a committee of Trustees and are made on their merit.

The Society has been involved in the development of sheltered housing and day care provision for older people in the city. New Anchor House in Knowle provides 21 flats and was developed by the Society in conjunction with the Guinness Trust. The freehold reversion remains with the Society and the Guinness Trust have a long lease. The Society was also involved with Guinness in the development of Southlands residential care home in Knowle and Lincolns Gardens in Redfield. Both properties are owned and managed by the Guinness Trust, and the construction of the Day Care Centres at both Southlands and Lincolns Gardens was financed by long-term loans from the Society.

The development of affordable housing at Coopers Close in Lawrence Weston was completed in 2013. It is a development of eight chalet bungalows providing sheltered accommodation for the elderly on a long-leasehold tenure; the bungalows are owned either outright or on a shared-equity basis with the Society.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

The charity’s trustees have complied with the duty in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Review of developments, activities and achievements

The principal fundraising event in the year is the President's collection. These donations are used to directly support older people in need, either by way of regular grants or specific, small emergency grants towards urgently needed improvements or repairs to their homes. During the 2025 the trustees and team worked hard to implement a new open grant programme to facilitate transparency, widen our impact and improve accessibility.

To facilitate good applications, we have developed guidance which is publicly available on our website (www.anchorsociety.org.uk). Additionally, we provide information on eligibility, exclusions, reporting and examples of previous grants awarded. The staff team is available to respond to questions of eligibility and other enquiries. The team additionally offer nonfinancial support such as signposting to other suitable funding organisations.

During 2024 the Trustees agreed the following themes for our organisational grant making to focus on:

• Reducing isolation/social exclusion, improving wellbeing,

• Focusing on the root cause/prevention, keeping people active,

• Financial planning and employability support for over 55s.

The Society will achieve these aims by:

• Working in partnership with others,

• Supporting innovation,

• Supporting intergenerational work,

• Engaging with more diverse beneficiaries,

• Connecting with the community better to identify what they need,

During the 2025 year there were two rounds of grant making undertaken in July and October. In 2026 this will expand to four rounds in the year. During the year we award £119,827 worth of grants to 19 different organisations. Together with our funding awarded at the end of 2024 for activity in 2025, our grants support over 6000 older people, improving their wellbeing, health and improving financial knowledge and employability.

Some of our Funded Organisations

• LifeCycle – We provided funding to support their bike mechanic volunteering programme for isolated and out of work over 55s. The grant will be used to support 12 volunteers who are either retirees or older ex-offenders. Many people struggle with isolation and mental health post-retirement, feeling lost or without purpose. Prisoners often come from extremely adverse backgrounds. 60% grew up in circumstances meaning they didn't regularly attend school, while 50% have no qualifications, this funding will holistically support these individuals.

• Carers Support – The funding is being used to expand the Befriending and Connection service which provides 6 consecutive weeks of goal focused befriending support to carers aged 55+ over the phone with a trained volunteer. The calls provide: Opportunity for emotional support and befriending, reducing isolation and increasing wellbeing, the chance to speak to a nonjudgmental listening ear, enabling carers to navigate new and challenging situations, Information about support and activities which are running in their local communities, to build longer term connections, opportunity to be matched with another carer for ongoing peer support and friendship once the calls have ended.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

• Age UK South Gloucestershire – Our funding supported their Digital Inclusion Programme, which tackles digital and social exclusion with a focus on wellbeing and aging well. The programme helps participants build digital skills through home visits and three digital cafes across South Gloucestershire. The sessions are tailored to user need and interests, delivered by trained staff and volunteers. By improving digital literacy, participants maintain independence, can access services and stay socially connected. It helps reduce loneliness and keeps minds active, encouraging resilience and lifelong learning. Guidance is given on banking, financial tools, employability resources. They place particular emphasis on reaching those most vulnerable or marginalised.

• Golden-Oldies Charity – Our funding supported the Goldies to start 5 new monthly Sing&Smile groups in Bristol, BANES, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Activities are open to everyone, most participants being older adults aged 70+ often living in social isolation, in deprived communities with little access to other supportive services. Groups are also attended by adults with learning difficulties and disabilities and their carers and people with mental health difficulties, stroke survivors, Alzheimer's and Dementia. Funding will also support the costs of 3 Goldies BIG CHRISTMAS SINGs in December 2025, one for BANES groups, one for Bristol and South Glos groups and one for North Somerset groups. The activities bring the following benefits: lifting mood, stimulating immune response, releasing endorphins, improving sleep, improve lung capacity, posture, tone facial and stomach muscles. Singing known to improve stress, mental and physical health and wellbeing. The groups can help people feel less lonely and isolated.

• St George’s – We provided funding to St George's to provide free tickets to older people for their lunchtime concerts, followed by a cup of tea and an opportunity to socialise. Our funding made 500 tickets available supporting attendees with increasing wellbeing and happiness.

• Bristol Beacon – There are a range of projects within this support, one being Group Dementia Sessions called 'Our music club'. The club is facilitated by three professional musicians who encourage and enable music playing and listening to improve wellbeing. 62 sessions of the club were able to run as a result of our funding. 100% of the participants said that the sessions have improved their health and wellbeing and gave them confidence to meet new people. Over 700 participants attended our funded events.

Grants to individuals

The continuing cost of living crisis means that we are finding a higher demand for our grants for older people facing severe poverty. We are supporting increasing numbers of people needing furniture, white goods and carpets, particularly when moving into sheltered accommodation. We work closely with our referrers to ensure those in real need are supported.

During the year we made over 100 emergency grants to individuals in need. These grants were predominantly given for flooring and heating, to those in need experiencing financial hardship. Our oldest beneficiary was 91 and our youngest 55. 42% of our grants were given to those aged 55-64, 32% to those aged 65-74 and the final 26% to those aged over 75.

This work was supported by a number of other Trusts and Foundations including valuable support from the John James Foundation. Our work with St Monica Trust allowed us to fund boilers and heating to 32 vulnerable people in need, double the number of people from 2024, where no other scheme was appropriate.

This year we gave £117,713 in grants to individuals, an increase of £5,728 from last year and an increase of £57,000 from 3 years ago. The average grant increased to over £1,000 predominantly due to rises in the cost of goods and services.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Improving the lives of older people through partnerships

Bristol Older People’s Funders Alliance partnership

We are pleased to be working with a number of different grant-giving charities in Bristol through the Bristol Older People’s Funders Alliance (BOPFA).

This year, along with our partners, we supported the following projects:

The Greenway Hub for Older People based in Southmead in Bristol

The Hub brings together a wide variety of community led services and activities to support wellbeing and independence into older age. Examples of the activities on offer include knit and natter, fitness classes, bingo, a wellbeing choir, coffee mornings, a walking group, and creative writing. The great advantage of these activities is that they are in groups, so provide an antidote to loneliness and isolation. We have committed to supporting the Co-ordinator's post for three years.

Alive – BME Elders Project

This project offers a diverse range of activities, including group social meetings, day outings to places of interest, open-door events hosting other groups, opportunities for participants to lead community events, and information and advice sessions.

Beneficiaries of the project report significant improvements in their health and well-being. Many feel less lonely, more connected to their communities, and better able to access services. Participants also report reduced digital exclusion, greater financial resilience, and improved coping skills. These outcomes have contributed to reduced reliance on health and social care services, enabling older individuals to maintain their independence, remain in their own homes longer, and enjoy a better quality of life. Over the past six months, 140 individuals have benefitted from this funding.

St Pauls Advice Centre, North Bristol Advice Centre, South Bristol Advice Services

The three advice centres are providing essential financial advice to older people in need. Many of the centres' clients don't have enough income to meet their living costs. This leads to debt (eg rent arrears, council tax arrears, fuel debt) and the threat of legal action, including eviction.

These organisations help older people negotiate the benefits system, providing benefits checks to ensure they are receiving the correct benefits; support to fill in application forms (eg for Attendance Allowance or Pension Credit); Support to challenge benefits decisions (eg Mandatory Reconsiderations when Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not allowed); and signposting to additional support and services (eg adaptations, cold homes). Further support is given through debt advice and support with grants from other charities. Over 1,400 people have been supported through this work.

Age UK Bristol

Age UK Bristol Information & Advice (I&A) Service offers a comprehensive financial Information and Advice service for anyone aged 55 and over in Bristol. Funding through BOPFA supported the general manager of the service. The I&A service deals with all presenting issues, such as low income, homelessness or risk of eviction, poor quality housing conditions, and need for social care services. The economic climate and recent changes to the benefits system have made casework more complex and funding through BOPFA allows this essential and complicated work to be supported.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Financial review

On 31[st] December 2025, the unrestricted reserves of the Society, which stand at £5,054,889 are mostly invested in long term, designated schemes (£4,206,378). Its general reserves amounted to £848,511 In addition, there were restricted funds of £20,000. The level of reserves held by the Society is reviewed at each meeting of the Trustees. They aim to ensure that there are sufficient reserves to meet any shortfall in future income, which, due to its voluntary nature, is uncertain and to meet any unforeseen circumstances.

The Society’s principal funding sources are the President’s collection, which is held annually during November, and income from investments.

During 2025, the global financial position continued to be influenced by conflicts across the world, the energy crisis and the aftermath of the pandemic. During the year, the value of charity’s listed investments increased by £167,418, which the trustees consider satisfactory. The investment strategy is reviewed regularly, at least every three years.

The Society reviews the level of cash and investments held at each meeting of the Trustees to ensure there are sufficient liquid funds to meet its commitments over the coming 12 months.

Further details of reserves are included in note 16 to the financial statements.

Risk management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure proper controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Risks and their management are formally reviewed every year.

Within the charity the Trustees manage and act on the strategic risks while the CEO manages the operational risks. High scoring risks, those with a high likelihood and impact are actively managed. The key risks to the charity identified are:

• Failure to achieve charitable impact: The Trustees monitor charitable impact at all board meetings. A sub-committee of the Board, the Grants Committee ensure due diligence around individual grants, monitoring applications, process, outcomes and outputs.

• Loss of key personnel:

• The Trustees have acknowledged this as a key risk to the organisation. The chief executive and a committee of trustees review pay and conditions, organisational culture and training opportunities ensuring that employees feel valued and respected.

• Economic Risk

The Society takes a long-term view of its investments and receives advice from professional investment managers. A committee of Trustees monitors the investments’ performance, reporting to the Board as necessary. They also monitor the property portfolio ensuring values are appropriate. The Trustees are also aware that as inflation rises, the buying power of the President’s appeal is significantly reduced and new fundraising activity will need to be undertaken.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Trustees’ Report (continued)

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Constitution requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

• § select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• § observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;

• § make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• § state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

• § prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements.

Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on 23[rd] April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

B Hardy President and Trustee

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of The Anchor Society CIO

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of The Anchor Society CIO (the 'charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of The Anchor Society CIO (continued)

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or

• sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditors under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks. This includes assessing the risk of non-compliance of laws and regulations, evaluating incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements and management bias in accounting estimates.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of The Anchor Society CIO (continued)

Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included, but were not limited to:

• enquiries with Trustees, including consideration of known or suspected instances of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations

• reviewing transactions that may appear outside the normal course of business

• obtaining an understanding of the Charity's internal control environment

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.

In conducting the work above we apply due care and professional scepticism throughout. However, there are limitations within the procedures outlined above and the risk from detecting material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Mr PA Freeman BA FCA FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Lawes & Co UK Limited

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditors

Boyce’s Building 40-42 Regent Street Clifton Bristol BS8 4HU

Dated: 30[th] April 2026

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Statement of financial activities

for the year ended 31 December 2025

(including income and expenditure account)

			2025
		Restricted	Designated	General	Total
		Funds	Funds	Funds
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income from:
Donations, grants and legacies	2	35,415	105,200	281,309	421,924
Other trading activities	3	-	-	12,709	12,709
Investments	4	-	-	47,908	47,908
		35,415	105,200	341,926	482,541
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities	6	51,693	105,492	203,868	361,053
Raising funds	7	-	-	16,718	16,718
		51,693	105,492	220,586	377,771
Net income/(expenditure)		(16,278)	(292)	121,340	104,770
Other recognised gains/losses:
Gains/(losses) on investment assets:
Listed investments	12	-	-	167,418	167,418
Unlisted investments	12	-	50,605	-	50,605
Transfers between funds	16	(9,011)	140,000	(130,989)	-
Net movement in funds		(25,289)	190,313	157,769	322,793
Reconciliation of funds:
Funds brought forward		45,289	4,016,065	690,742	4,752,096
Funds carried forward		20,000	4,206,378	848,511	5,074,889

The results for the year derive from continuing activities and there are no gains or losses other than those shown above.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Statement of financial activities

for the year ended 31 December 2025

(including income and expenditure account)

Prior year comparatives

2024 Restricted Funds Designated Funds Note £ £ Income from: Donations, grants and legacies 2 32,000 90,000 Other trading activities 3 - - Investments 4 - - 32,000 90,000 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 6 35,687 89,700 Raising funds 7 - - 35,687 89,700 Net income/(expenditure) (3,687) 300 Other recognised gains/losses: Gains/(losses) on investment assets: Tangible fixed assets - (20,100) Listed investments - - Unlisted investments - 40,422 Transfers between funds - 344,090 Net movement in funds (3,687) 364,712 Reconciliation of funds: Funds brought forward 48,976 3,651,353 Funds carried forward 45,289 4,016,065

General Funds Total £ £ 108,583 230,583 13,229 13,229 50,859 50,859 172,671 294,671 136,798 262,185 21,812 21,812 158,610 283,997 14,061 10,674 - (20,100) 87,032 87,032 - 40,422 (344,090) - (242,997) 118,028 933,739 4,634,068 690,742 4,752,096

The results for the year derive from continuing activities and there are no gains or losses other than those shown above.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Balance sheet

at 31 December 2025

alance sheet t 31 December 2025
		2025		2024
	Note	£	£	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets	11	1,211,778		1,211,778
Investments	12	3,596,441		3,032,016
		4,808,219		4,243,794
Current assets
Debtors	13	21,022		7,025
Cash at bank and in hand		257,478		509,827
		278,500		516,852
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year	14	(11,830)		(8,550)
Net current assets			266,670		508,302
Net assets		5,074,889		4,752,096
Represented by:
Restricted funds	16		20,000		45,289
Unrestricted funds	16
Designated Funds		4,206,378		4,016,065
General Funds		848,511		690,742
		5,054,889		4,706,807
		5,074,889		4,752,096

These financial statements were approved by the trustees on 23[rd] April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

B Hardy President and Trustee

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes

(forming part of the financial statements)

1 Accounting policies

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the company’s financial statements.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) “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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)”, Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• Donation income (and associated tax credits) is recognised in the period in which it is receivable.

• Donated services and facilities and gifts in kind are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.

• Rental income is included when receivable.

• Investment income is included when receivable.

Expenditure

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates:

• § Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

• § Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked with the strategic management of the charity. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

Allocation and apportionment of costs

All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly; others are apportioned.

Tangible fixed assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer Equipment: Straight line over 3 years.

Depreciation is not provided on freehold buildings as their estimated useful economic life exceeds 50 years, they are well maintained by a programme of continual repairs and improvements and their expected residual value exceeds cost. Having adopted this policy, the Society will carry out annual impairment reviews to ensure that any diminution in value is written off in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Assets with a value of less than £1,000 are not capitalised.

Listed investments

Listed and unlisted investments, and investment properties are included at market value at the balance sheet date.

Leased assets

Rentals in respect of operating leases are charged directly to the statement of financial activities in the period in which they fall due.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Revaluation gains

The revaluation gains shown in the Statement of Financial Activities include both realised and unrealised gains and losses.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. In addition to the elderly and needy of the Bristol area, such funds may be held in order to finance capital investment and working capital.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Designated funds are those which the charity may, at its discretion, set aside for a specific purpose which would otherwise form part of the general reserves of the organisation.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

2 Donations and legacies

		2025	2024
		£	£
Donations and grants
	Restricted funds	35,415	32,000
	Designated funds	105,200	90,000
	Unrestricted funds	79,845	108,583
Legacies - unrestricted		201,464	-
		421,924	230,583
	Other trading activities
		2025	2024
		£	£
Anchor Dinner		3,560	4,080
Rents		9,149	9,149
		12,709	13,229
	Income from investments
		2025	2024
		£	£
Listed investments		40,484	41,972
Cash investment income		7,424	8,887
		47,908	50,859

3 Other trading activities

4 Income from investments

5 Analysis of expenditure by activity

		Grants made
		to assist older	Support
	Note	people	costs	Total
		£	£	£
Grants to institutions	6	137,848	-	137,848
Grants to individuals	6	117,713	-	117,713
Expenditure on raising funds	7	-	16,718	16,718
Governance costs	8	-	105,492	105,492
		255,561	122,210	377,771

16

The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

6 Expenditure on charitable activities

Notes(continued) Expenditure on charitable activities
2025 Note Restricted Funds Designated Funds General Funds £ £ £ Grants to institutions: ACTA Community Theatre - - 4,950 Age UK Bristol - - 9,126 Age UK South Glos - - 5,000 Alive Activities - - 7,500 All Saints Lands Charity 6,007 - - Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust - - 4,913 Avon Indian Community Association - - 2,282 Bristol Music Trust - - 15,000 Carers’ Support - - 5,000 Centre for Sustainable Energy Somali Project - - 5,000 Goldies Charity - - 3,000 Impermanence - - 5,000 Improving Lives for Older People - - 2,630 Life Cycle - - 9,426 Quartet – Advice Centres - - 10,000 Redcatch Community Garden - - 5,000 Southmead Development Trust - - 25,000 St Werburgh’s Community Association - - 1,000 Return of funds: Wallscourt Foundation 12,014 - - 18,021 - 119,827 Grants to individuals 33,672 - 84,041 51,693 - 203,868 Governance costs 8 - 105,492 - Totals 51,693 105,492 203,868	Total £ 4,950 9,126 5,000 7,500 6,007 4,913 2,282 15,000 5,000 5,000 3,000 5,000 2,630 9,426 10,000 5,000 25,000 1,000 12,014
	137,848 117,713
	255,561 105,492
	361,053

Prior year comparatives

2024 Note Restricted Funds Designated Funds £ £ Grants to institutions - - Grants to individuals 35,687 - 35,687 - Governance costs - 89,700 35,687 89,700	General Funds £ 60,500 76,298 136,798 - 136,798	Total £ 60,500 111,985
		172,485 89,700
		262,185

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes(continued) 7 Expenditure on raising funds 2025 £ Investment property costs - Investment management 13,031 Anchor dinner costs 3,687 16,718 8 Governance costs Note 2025 £ Staff costs 9 67,178 Premises 15,202 Printing, postage and office expenses 10,788 General insurances 1,643 Auditors’ remuneration 8,280 Legal and professional costs 1,410 Other costs 991 105,492 9 Staff costs 2025 £ Wages and salaries 63,259 Social security costs - Pensions costs 1,873 Sundry 2,046 67,178 Average monthly number of employees during the year 3

2024 £ 215 17,787 3,810 21,812 2024 £ 61,371 9,341 9,969 1,767 2,640 4,209 404 89,700 2024 £ 59,918 - 1,453 - 61,371 3

No employee received emoluments totalling more than £60,000 during the year.

10 Trustees’ remuneration and benefits

There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2025 (2024: £Nil) and no trustees’ expenses were paid for either year.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

Notes(continued)
11 Tangible fixed assets
Land and buildings
	£
Net book value
At 1 January 2025	1.211.778
Depreciation	-
Net book value at 31 December 2025	1,211,778
The net book value of land and buildings comprise:
	£
Freehold property
New Anchor House, Wells Road, Knowle, Bristol	929,778
Leasehold Property
Shared ownership – Coopers Close	282,000
	1,211,778

New Anchor House is managed by the Guinness Trust.

The leasehold property at Coopers Close represents sheltered accommodation for the elderly. The current market value is based on the disposal value of a unit which was sold in January 2025.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

12 Fixed asset investments

2 Fixed asset investments
	Land and	Listed	Unlisted
	buildings	investments	investments	Total
	£	£	£	£
Net Book value at 1 January 2025	50,000	1,772,119	1,209,897	3,032,016
Additions	-	528,060	-	528,060
Disposals	-	(181,658)	-	(181,658)
Revaluations	-	167,418	50,605	218,023
Net book value at 31 December 2025	50,000	2,285,939	1,260,502	3,596,441

Land and buildings

The net book value of land and buildings comprise:

Freehold property Land at Home Farm, Yate	£ 50,000

The buildings at Home Farm were previously sold and the Trustees consider the net book value reflects the current market value of the remaining land.

Listed investments

The book cost of investments is £1,925,867. There are no investment assets outside the UK.

Unlisted investments

These comprise two loans of £300,000 each made to The Guinness Trust for the purpose of providing very sheltered housing.

The loans are repayable in 80 years from payment in May 2084 and February 2087 respectively. They will be repayable earlier in the following circumstances:

• i) where the borrower disposes of its freehold or leasehold interest or

• ii) where the property ceases to be used for the agreed use.

The value of the loans has been adjusted in line with the retail price index to recognise the change in value during the year in accordance with the loan agreement. The revaluation is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

13 Debtors falling due within one year

Prepayments Gift Aid tax repayment Sundry debtors 14 Creditors falling due within one year Creditors Accruals Social security and other tax	2025 £ 13,559 173 7,290 21,022 2025 £ 1,500 9,000 1,330 11,830	2024 £ 1,180 5,545 300 7,025 2024 £ - 7,290 1,260 8,550

15 Operating leases

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases expected to be paid by the Society will fall due as follows:

With one year Between one and five years 16 Movement in funds Restricted Funds Designated Funds £ £ At 1 January 2025 45,289 4,016,065 Net movement in funds (25,289) 190,313 At 31 December 2025 20,000 4,206,378	2025 2024 £ £ 16,728 - 53,784 - 70,512 - General Funds Total £ £ 690,742 4,752,096 157,769 322,793 848,511 5,074,889

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The Anchor Society CIO Trustees’ report and financial statements 31 December 2025

Notes (continued)

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Restricted Funds Designated Funds £ £ Income 35,415 105,200 Expenditure (51,693) (105,492) Gains and losses - 50,605 Transfers (9,011) 140,000 Net movement in funds (25,289) 190,313	General Funds £ 341,926 (220,586) 167,418 (130,989) 157,769	Total £ 482,541 (377,771) 218,023 - 322,793

Designated funds are those which the charity may, at its discretion, set aside for a specific purpose which would otherwise form part of the general reserves of the organisation. Specifically, the charity sets aside funds which represent the investment made in freehold and leasehold property, fixed assets for use by the charity and long-term loans to other charities for the provision of services to older persons in Bristol and the surrounding area. In addition, specific substantial legacies are designated funds.

The trustees have transferred £100,000 to designated reserves from general funds this year. This recognises commitments to existing projects and includes amounts to ensure the continuation of the emergency grants and organisational grants programme.

Restricted funds are donations that have been received by the Society for specific purposes:

	Inter-	Small	Boiler	Total
	generational	grants	replacement
	£	£	£	£
Brought forward	27,032	14,612	3,645	45,289
Income	-	415	35,000	35,415
Expenditure	(6,007)	(15,027)	(18,645)	(39,679)
Returned funds	(12,014)	-	-	(12,014)
Transfer to general funds	(9,011)	-	-	(9,011)
Carried forward	-	-	20,000	20,000

Restricted funds are held in a separate bank account.

16 Related party transactions

During the year, the following relevant transactions occurred:

• Grants totalling £105,200 and a donation of £15,000 were received from The Anchor Society Limited. RE Evans, HL Wallington and BJ Hanson, trustees, were also trustees of The Anchor Society Limited.

• Restricted funds of £12,014 that had previously been received from the Wallscourt Foundation were returned during the year. SB Mills, trustee, is also a trustee of the Wallscourt Foundation.

• A grant was made the Bristol Music Trust of £15,000. SB Mills, trustee, is also a trustee of the Bristol Music Trust.

• During the year, the Society paid £1,410 to Bennetts Solicitors for professional advice. HL Wallington, a trustee, is a partner at Bennetts Solicitors.

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