Rotherfield St Martin ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2024 - 2025
“Volunteers are an essential backbone of our society.” King Charles III, 2023
ROTHERFIELD ST MARTIN
STRATEGY SNAPSHOT 2024 - 2027
Improving lives through friendship
Our Vision: A community where every person enjoys a secure and enjoyable third age Our Mission: Prevent isolation and loneliness by building a strong and supportive community
Our Strategic Goals
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Optimise the effectiveness of Build a sustainable, diverse and Expand our volunteer engagement, Be environmentally conscious and
the staff team as we grow our financially resilient, community welfare and support aware in our delivery of services
membership led charity
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Strategic Objectives
Provide a volunteer led space for daily visitors Create a break out work station for all staff
Ensure staff have suitable work stations to optimise efficiency
Recruit volunteer leads in key roles to support staff
Seek an additional patron to be an ambassador of our work Ring fence time for grant applications
Identify a range of fundraisers Seek sponsorship for projects Seek corporate donors
Produce a quarterly Implement a workable volunteer newsletter for Environmental Policy engagement Celebrate Kings Award for Work with all building users Voluntary Service to to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, demonstrate value of Repose volunteering Promote right volunteer - Optimise resources to support right role our environmental practice
Explore core funding to support additional staff hours
Create opportunities for Keep abreast of young volunteers environmental practice and legislation
Our initiatives
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Dementia Friend
AR
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ROTHERFIELD ST MARTIN
The Trustees of Rotherfield St Martin have pleasure in presenting this Annual Report and independently examined financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31st August 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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2 Strategy Snapshot
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4 Structure Governance & Management
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6 Summary of The Year 2024/2025
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13 Our Impact - Performance Against Objectives
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19 Our Impact - A Year In Numbers
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20 Our Impact - Achievements
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24 What We Have Learnt This Year
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26 Our Values In Action
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27 Our Volunteers In Action
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30 Case Study - The Power of Giving
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33 Volunteer of The Year
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34 Fundraising
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37 Financial Accounts for the Year Ended August 2025
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49 Looking To The Future
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51 Trustees Declaration
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
TRUSTEES
Rotherfield St Martin must have a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 charity trustees. The following people served as charity trustees during the year:
Leon Steer Chair (reappointed 10 Mar 2025) Sue Taylor Trustee (reappointed 3 Apr 2023) Mark Howard Trustee (reappointed 10 Mar 2025) Ruth Helliwell Trustee (reappointed 10 Mar 2025) Sue Barnett Trustee (reappointed 10 Mar 2025) Melanie den Brinker-Darby Trustee (reappointed 10 Mar 2025) Matthew Pancaldi Trustee (appointed 3 Apr 2023)
CHARITY MANAGER: Mrs Victoria Cheeseman (appointed 1 Feb 2018) CHARITY NUMBER: 1168555
CHARITY NUMBER:
REGISTERED ADDRESS:
RSM Centre Memorial Institute North Street Rotherfield East Sussex TN6 3LX
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: Mr M Martin The Old Dairy Steep Road Crowborough East Sussex TN6 3RX
BANKERS: National Westminster Bank Plc Virgin Money CAF Bank
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The Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Rotherfield St Martin, was established on 2 August 2016 and has the registered number 1168555.
It assumed the responsibilities and obligations previously carried out by the Charity also known as Rotherfield St Martin (registered number 1119458). The CIO has adopted the "association" model, having voting members other than charity trustees.
An AGM must be held at intervals of not more than 15 months and be open to all members of the CIO.
At each AGM trustees will stand for election/reelection to be appointed by the members of the CIO. These will be trustees that have served three years since their last appointment at an AGM, or trustees that have been appointed mid year by trustees.
New trustees are provided with a copy of the Deed (Constitution dated 2/08/2016) together with any amendments made to it, and a copy of the charity’s latest Annual Report and accounts. They must also acknowledge their acceptance of the office of trustee.
In addition to the AGM, staff and trustees attend 4 Board Meetings and a planning day each year to review progress against objectives.
All staff and trustees are fully vetted before they are appointed.
Our Charitable Objectives:
The charitable objectives of the CIO are to promote for the benefit for the inhabitants of Rotherfield, East Sussex and the surrounding area, the provision of facilities for welfare, recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
Our Vision:
A community where every person in Rotherfield and the surrounding areas, enjoys a secure and enjoyable third age.
Our Mission:
To prevent isolation and loneliness by building a strong and supportive community.
Our Values:
- Community Led Person Centred Inclusive Kind & Respectful Responsive Innovative & Flexible Collaborative
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
The year ending August 2025 was one in which we truly celebrated the gift of giving.
Our regular donors were incredibly generous, we enjoyed a record year for one-off donations, received both legacy and inmemoriam gifts, and our volunteers gave more time than ever before.
Our aim has always been to create a community that cares for and looks after one another, and this year that vision was clearly realised.
Royal Garden Party 2025
The beneficiaries of this support are, of course, our members, who enjoy ongoing and timely assistance, friendship and advice from Rotherfield St Martin.
Visitors from East Sussex County Council and Wealden Council frequently remark that there should be a Rotherfield St Martin in every community, and we are grateful that, with continued community support, we are able to thrive.
People often ask whether we intend to scale up our work into other communities; however, we believe we are best placed to focus on our own TN6 community, providing targeted help and support where and when it is needed most.
We are very fortunate to have the ongoing support of our members whose unbound wisdom help us to consider new initiatives to take our work forward.
During the year we teamed up with another village group, REACT, which will respond in the event of any community crisis.
The government regularly reminds us of the need to be prepared, and we are proud to be part of this important project.
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
We describe ourselves as being part of a community family. Sadly, that family was rocked to its core in early summer when we suddenly lost one of our staff members, Lou Powell, to illness.
Lou was an integral part of the team, bringing a wealth of experience, common sense and humour. She is missed every day.
We were fortunate that so many people supported us through this difficult time, and it is important to acknowledge their kindness as their support enabled us to continue doing what we love.
Our lovely Lou, enjoying her 99 at our Holiday At Home trip to Eastbourne
Following Lou’s passing, we had to reshape the team very quickly and we were delighted to recruit two new staff members, Kate and Liz.
They have brought different skills to the table and we are now finding our way as a new team.
One of the first events they attended was our Summer Volunteers’ Thank You Party; they couldn’t believe how many volunteers we have and, through talking with them, very quickly learnt the true nature and power of giving.
Liz & Kate, front, joined the staff team
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
RESPONDING TO NEEDS
“Unpaid carers are not unsung heroes. We are forgotten, neglected and burnt out.” (Carers Trust, 2023)
Demand for our work continues to grow at a rapid pace. Due to a lack of local GPs, it has become increasingly difficult to book GP appointments and, consequently, we find ourselves supporting, in particular, people living with dementia and those experiencing isolation and loneliness.
Many families are now dispersed due to relocation for work and other commitments, and we are therefore often the first point of contact to offer friendship, help and support. Many of the unpaid carers we work with are aged over 70, and we are increasingly finding that a household with one vulnerable person quickly becomes a household with two vulnerable people. Unpaid carers are struggling to access enough support for their own physical and mental wellbeing.
Our Time to Talk Group is an invaluable resource for unpaid carers, providing a safe space to come together and speak honestly and openly about their situation without fear of judgement.
Our Dementia Champion, Iona, finds different ways to support unpaid carers, whether face-toface, via WhatsApp or through a simple phone call to check in with them.
Iona, our Dementia Champion
We know this approach works, as people often tell us they no longer feel they are facing their situation alone.
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
RESOURCES
Our biggest resource, of course, is our fabulous team of volunteers, who collectively contribute over 170 hours per week for 50 weeks of the year.
In recognition of their commitment to reducing isolation and loneliness in our community, we were awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024.
To put it simply, we would not be able to offer the wealth of activities and services without them. They are key to everything we do. They are decision makers, fundraisers, cheerleaders, ambassadors for our work and most importantly kind, generous and compassionate.
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Vicky, the Trustees and Founder, Jo Evans receiving the Kings Award on behalf of RSM from the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
RESOURCES CONTINUED
As our office team has grown, so has our skillset. Each team member brings a network of people which have greatly benefited our charity.
Our trustees continue to be a tower of strength with a real “can do” attitude. They are in tune with the staff team and are immensely supportive both in our day to day operational work to reach our objectives, and for our general well being.
Trustee Ruth at our weekly Luncheon Club with a representative from the John Armitage Trust, our biggest donor
The Parish Clerk, located in our building sees firsthand how integral RSM is to the community. He continues to be a great ambassador for our work.
s Additionally, parish councillors often F¥ stop by to chat about local issues and see the diverse range of support and . ‘ * . services we offer.
Many of our councillors are incredibly supportive of our work and view RSM as a community asset they are committed to supporting and protecting.
Parish Clerk, Adam attends our Christmas Lunch party
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
RAISING AWARENESS
The King’s Award for Voluntary Service has given us opportunities to publicise our work to a much wider audience. Consequently we have been involved in conversations regarding services, funding and new initiatives to benefit older people. We continue to network to learn from others and form positive partnerships.
Cllr Christina Coleman, Cllr Jessika Hulbert with RSM Patron, the Marquess of Abergavenny at our AGM 2025
FINDING SOLUTIONS
We always keep in mind that, whilst someone may appear happy and enjoying their time with us, they may be returning to an empty house spending many hours or days alone.
To address this we developed our weekly “radar” system to check in, by phone or in person, with members who may need extra support. A dedicated member of our team undertakes this vital work to ensure no one falls through the net.
We are currently able to offer this support thanks to a grant from the Chalk Cliffe Trust, and it is hoped that it will become a permanent role in the future.
Lindsay checking in on members and arranging visits
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SUMMARY OF THE YEAR 2024/2025
FUNDING
We ended this year in a financially sound position, largely due to previous legacies, the generous support of our donors, fundraising, and strategic planning. It was satisfying to return a small surplus, which demonstrates that our model works.
Grants remain our key source of income; however, this year—like the last—we applied for fewer grants. Many grants are project-based, and our focus has been on funding our core services. With healthy reserves in place, securing grants has become more challenging, and we recognise this as a fragile position, as legacies cannot be relied upon.
We received several small grants from Wealden District Council for projects, as well as £1,500 from our Parish Council.
We are extremely grateful for the continued support of our long-term partner, the John Armitage Charitable Trust, whose annual grant supports our core costs.
SUMMARY
We are incredibly proud to be recognised nationally with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to all our volunteers, members and the community for the support they have given my team this year, and to the charity as a whole.
Lastly I would like to thank our patron, the Marquess of Abergavenny for his unwavering support over the past eighteen years. I am grateful for his continued commitment to our charity.
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
OPTIMISE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE STAFF TEAM AS WE GROW OUR MEMBERSHIP
With an open door policy, where visitors are actively encouraged to drop in, our office can at times become a very noisy space. This year we took time to review our office layout to ensure staff have comfortable work stations whilst maintaining a warm and welcoming place for visitors.
We have also created a separate area away from the hustle and bustle of the office for tea and a chat with our new volunteer led initiative, Hug In A Mug.
Dropping in for a cuppa at Hug in a Mug
We secured short term funding to increase staff hours one day per week to ensure that we can fully meet the needs of our members. Lead volunteers ensure all activities run smoothly, giving feedback, and acting as a critical friend. These measures have eased pressure in our busy office and have freed some time for new projects.
Staff have a wide range of skills, experiences and expertise which makes for a well rounded team. One of us usually knows or knows how to find the answer! Uniquely all our staff live within the community they serve and therefore may know many of our members and their families outside of RSM. This promotes genuine understanding and empathy and has helped build trusted relationships.
This year we have provided just under 4,000 hours of direct companionship through our various clubs and activities. In the year we made and received 12,500 phone calls and had upwards of 5,000 visitors to our office.
Sarah answers another call
Our open door policy ensures that support and friendship is never far away and is fully accessible.
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships” Michael Jordan
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
BUILD A SUSTAINABLE DIVERSE AND FINANCIALLY RESILIENT COMMUNITY LED CHARITY
Leading sources of forecast income remain grants and regular donations. This year we received a record amount in donations of £34,989. The donations ranged in value and came from many difference sources in recognition of our work in the community and we can honestly say that every single pound makes a difference.
During the year we have been financially supported by local organisations, trusts, residents and members.
We generate 37% of our income through our membership and activities but remain reliant on grants which account for 25% of our annual income.
We greatly value our relationship with grant givers and in particular the John Armitage Charitable Trust who are our largest donor. Their annual grant ensures that our core servicecs are protected and that we can actively plan and roll out new projects whilst ensuring that daily tasks are carried out.
Legacies are becoming increasingly important for the charity. It is unplanned income but can have the greatest of impact.
Tony enjoys a joke with Den at Toastie Club.
Triple Crunch: Many charities face a triple crunch of rising costs, increasing demands for services and pressure on income
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
BUILD A SUSTAINABLE DIVERSE AND FINANCIALLY RESILIENT COMMUNITY LED CHARITY
We continue to take part in the Wealden Community Lottery and hold at least one large fundraising event each year.
This year we had more fundraising events than ever before to raise valuable funds.
We are also grateful to both The Catts Inn and The Kings Arms pubs who host regular events to support RSM.
We were thrilled to receive corporate sponsorship. Local electrician Mr P Dobson sponsored our dementia training experience. He had heard about our work and wanted to offer his support.
- The Virtual Dementia Bus Tour provides invaluable training - sponsored by Mr P Dobson, local businessman
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
Trustees and staff continue to be aware of rising costs and look for solutions. We also look for ways to save money.
We have been brilliantly supported by local food suppliers including Horsegrove Farm and Fullers Farm Shop who have helped us to reduce overheads.
Additionally our kitchen garden produced fresh produce which helped us to keep lunch club costs down, and provided additional income via our Feed It Back table.
RSM home grown onions drying ready for Toastie & Lunch Clubs
We were delighted to recruit a number of new volunteers this year. Collectively our volunteer work equates to 8,700 hours per year, which if paid at the minimum wage would cost the charity £106,227.
Staff, trustees and volunteers serving refreshments and raising funds as part of the National Open Garden Scheme 2025
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
EXPAND OUR VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, WELFARE AND SUPPORT "Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless." - Sherry Anderson
We are extremely fortunate to have a wealth of volunteers from cake bakers to volunteer drivers. To keep our volunteer team robust, we offer a wide variety of volunteering roles to people of all ages including placements for students enrolled for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
DofE Student, Jack, being thanked by the Lord Lieutenant of Sussex for his service
To keep our volunteers connected we produce a quarterly volunteer newsletter. However the best way to foster connection for a collective cause is our Summer and Christmas Volunteer parties which are always great fun.
Volunteers are the eyes and ears of the charity so we actively encourage open communication and hold quarterly meetings for this purpose.
The skillset and kindness of our volunteers is phenomenal receiving the Kings Award for Voluntary Service recognises the highest quality of volunteering with the highest impact. Our volunteers wear their RSM lanyards and KAVS badges with great pride.
Our volunteers are our greatest ambassadors.
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OUR IMPACT - PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
BE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AND AWARE IN OUR DELIVERY OF SERVICES
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living”. David Attenborough
As an organisation we had not previously considered our environmental impact. We have started this journey with our Environmental policy to set expectations. In fortunate timing the redevelopment plans for our building are being drafted and we have been able to ensure that environmental factors are considered.
Our biggest step to date is our own kitchen garden. Our head gardener has set the precedent for a no plastic garden. Companion planting keeps on top of insects and bugs and composting is in place.
The garden has no access to water so we have experimented with ways to harvest rainwater with limited success. So to reduce the need for water we have grown plants that do not need regular watering. Nothing in our garden goes to waste as it is either included on the luncheon club menus or offered on our community feedback table for donations .
Primary school children learning about biodiversity from our garden team
We regularly collect food from supermarkets that is destined for landfill. This food is sorted carefully by our team and offered on our community feedback table. Food available ranges from fresh to frozen and any surplus that we have at the end of the day is sent to our local farm to feed the chickens, so nothing goes to waste.
We have an ethos of make do and mend and to that end we have the Rotherfield Repair team who mend and fix items in our home to reduce landfill. For example mending bird feeder tables, loose fence panels and fixing leaking water butts.
We are of course aware that there is much more that we can be doing but we are very much learning as we go along. It is our aim next year to find an environmental ambassador within our staff team or volunteer team.
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OUR IMPACT - A YEAR IN NUMBERS
180
Exercise Classes
5,524
Newsletters Posted
5,020 Visits to our Office
1,341 Volunteer Drives Arranged
2,525 Hot Meals Served
12,500 Phone Calls
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OUR IMPACT - ACHIEVEMENTS
FIT FOR A KING - It’s now official we have been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service
The Team with Founder, Jo Evans, celebrating at the RSM 20th Anniversary party that RSM is to receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Services
The award ceremony was a special occasion with staff present and past, members, volunteers and special guests.
Our charity manager Vicky made the surprise announcement at our 20 Year Celebration, coincidently on the King’s Birthday. Our Founder Jo Evans was present and was absolutely thrilled.
The King’s Award & Certificate
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OUR IMPACT - ACHIEVEMENTS
A VISIT TO THE PALACE
Vicky & Iona outside Buckingham Palace
Following the excitement of the presentation of the King’s Award, we were then invited to attend a royal garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Vicky and Volunteer Coordinator, Iona, attended on behalf of everyone who has ever given a moment of their time to RSM. They met many other wonderful charities on the day and particularly enjoyed looking around the Royal Gardens.
This lifetime award really cements all the work that has been undertaken over the last 20 years and we are all looking forward to many more years of supporting our community.
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OUR IMPACT - ACHIEVEMENTS
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MEAN THE MOST
During the year we were delighted to be able to celebrate things that matter most to our members.
We held 80th and 90th birthday parties for members reaching those ages, celebrated diamond wedding anniversaries, and the birth of grandchildren. Our Knitters and Natterers love a new baby and they quickly get to work knitting one of their infamous RSM blankets.
It’s an honour to be able to celebrate these moments with our members many of whom view us as their extended family.
Special moments! The birthday girls celerbate their 90th birthdays, whilst Chair, Leon’s grandchild enjoys his RSM blanket
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OUR IMPACT - ACHIEVEMENTS
VE DAY COMMEMORATION
It’s important for us to respectfully commemorate events that have happened in our members’ lives. We were therefore honoured to mark the 80th anniversary of D Day.
We encouraged our members to share memories from their childhoods and to provide memorabilia for our exhibition.
Our Parish Council worked with us to support these special events. It’s extremely important to champion our older residents and it was wonderful to see them take the lead on this week-long event.
A week of commemorative events included a Fish & Chip lunch at the Village Hall, with landgirls and GIs in attendance
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WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT THIS YEAR
VOLUNTEERS ARE INVALUABLE
We have always appreciated our volunteers however as our membership grows and we expand our services, our volunteers have become absolutely vital to our work.
Demand for our services has outgrown the capacity of the team of staff alone and therefore our volunteers are more important than ever. Volunteers are involved in 90% of all activities that we offer, and we have identified lead volunteers. We are now bringing volunteers into our office for specific admin tasks.
We have seen an increase in the number of young volunteers who bring a different energy. Our members really appreciate that they have chosen to spend their time with older people.
Our volunteer coordinator plays a key role in keeping regular contact with our volunteers and face-to-face, telephone and various WhatsApp groups have helped us to have daily contact.
Working with volunteers effectively involves clear expectations, proper training, consistent communication, and showing appreciation for their valuable time, focusing on creating a positive, supportive environment where they feel valued, have purpose, and see the impact of their contributions, much like managing paid staff but with an emphasis on relationship building and recognition.
Our volunteers feedback that they feel part of decisionmaking which we believe is key to success in our relationship.
Volunteers can overcome some of society’s most complex issues, building stronger communities enabling everyone to thrive (Volunteering Matters 2025).
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WHAT WE HAVE LEARNT THIS YEAR
COMMUNITY AWARE
Being situated in the heart of our village we are very visible however we also recognise the importance of being out and about in our community. Our office is always busy with visitors, but we recognise that some people prefer to have ‘friendly chats’ in venues such as local village pubs and cafes, recreation spaces, the pharmacy etc.
Our local landlord at The Catts Inn allows us to hold monthly quizzes and this has helped us to raise awareness of our work and to recruit new volunteers and members that we would not otherwise have been able to reach.
The office team and many of our volunteers live in the village and are therefore very visible throughout the week across the community. Collectively we are all ambassadors for the charity and are able to talk about our aims and scope of our work.
Community Police Support Officer Amy drops in at the RSM Toastie Club for a catch up
RIGHT INFORMATION AT THE RIGHT TIME
Being a relatively small charity we do not have the need for a large Client Relationship Management system. In fact we use a free database, albeit with limited capability. Through our membership scheme we collect information on our members and we have realised the importance of doing so, particularly in emergency situations or in a crisis.
Not wishing to be overly intrusive, we explain our need to collect information. Correct information is key, for example it ensures that we send the right vehicle, not too high for someone with poor mobility. Next-of-kin details means we can speak to appropriate adults in a safeguarding situation and in an emergency, we can direct the emergency services to the correct address. We have learnt that the better the information, the better we can provide targeted responses and services. We of course ensure that GDPR is adhered to at all times.
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OUR VALUES IN ACTION - FROM OUR MEMBERS
Thank you so much for all the good work you all do
What a remarkable community you are, makes all the difference to our father’s life
Thank you all for your care and help over the year, we love being members of RSM
I want to tell you how pleased I am with your volunteer for his laptop tuition. He covered all the aspects of using a computer of which I was ignorant. He was very kind and didn’t get exasperated with me.
We greatly value you and all you have done for mum, your regular activities and visits and level of care and generosity have been an essential part of supporting mum to stay living independently for as long as she did.
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As I have no family near, I am so relieved that you wonderful people at Rotherfield St Martin are there to help and advise me
Thank you for everything you all have done for me this year
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OUR VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
The local voluntary sector is vibrant, contributing millions of hours annually, with benefits like improved wellbeing and skills, but faces challenges in reaching isolated older adults and understanding specific local barriers, while Age UK East Sussex highlights significant positive impacts on beneficiaries' health and social connection. (Age UK, 2025)
RSM volunteers are bucking the trend by volunteering to support older isolated adults. It’s been another fantastic year for our volunteers who have supported all our activities throughout the year. They have worked in all weathers, weekdays and weekends and when required at unsociable times, to support the older residents in our community.
A new group of volunteers are the fantastic garden crew who have appointed a head gardener and arranged a planting plan for the next four years. The first year in the garden was one of trial and error and looking forward they are now growing fruit and vegetables that they know will flourish in the soil and be useful on our lunch club menus. The team were nominated for a Wealden Green award and were delighted to be runners-up.
From Farm to Fork! The brilliant RSM garden crew are now supplying fresh vegetables for Luncheon Club
Our lunch club volunteers have been very enthusiastic this year and have been creative with the menus being mindful to use produce from our garden and surplus food from our feedback tables. Consequently, we have been able to keep costs down and provide some delicious nutritious meals.
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OUR VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
Our friendship volunteers have been the eyes and ears of our charity particularly with our housebound and vulnerable members. Collectively they have provided many hours of friendship and have ensured that our members’ needs are being met both by RSM and the statutory services.
Our Rotherfield Repairs team have helped many people across the community with a real make do and mend attitude which has delighted our members.
Our IT volunteers helped many older people with various devices to get them digitally connected and confident using IT. This is particularly important going forward as our local GP surgery will be shortly introducing an on line triage appointment system.
We couldn’t do it without our volunteers
Our cake bakers have ensured that we have a wide range of delicious treats at all our clubs, they have also produced baked goods for fundraising events, helping us to raise over £600.
So many volunteers have supported our fundraising efforts this year, volunteering long hours to raise valuable funds.
Valerie enjoying her Holiday At Home trip to Eastbourne with her volunteer buddy, Katie
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OUR VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION
Our Toastie Team not only provide a warm friendly welcome at every club, they now also support the club financially and raised valuable funds for the charity of £1,178 this year. For members that can’t attend they even do home deliveries!
We are immensely grateful to the volunteers that supported the team in the office during a difficult time, when our colleague Lou suddenly passed away, to ensure that services for our members could be maintained.
Volunteers enjoyed a summer paella party - our way to say thank you for all their contributions in combatting isolation and loneliness
We have recruited new drivers as demand for our volunteer driver scheme has increased. Several of our drivers are always happy to do long distance drives to ensure that our members receive the medical care that they require.
How to Volunteer for RSM
It starts with an informal ‘get to know each other’ chat with Iona, our Volunteer Coordinator, who explains all the volunteering roles that we can offer. There are some forms to complete, a DBS check, a training video to watch and an ID badge - you are then a RSM volunteer. To support our volunteers, we have held volunteer information sessions throughout the year and Iona is always on hand to offer support and advice.
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CASE STUDY - THE POWER OF GIVING
Recently retired in 2023, Michael joined our weekly Thursday Lunch Club group as a way to meet new people. In those early days, Michael was quiet and somewhat withdrawn.
Over time, he started helping his fellow diners by serving their teas and coffees, as many are less physically able. He began to help our lunch club volunteers by putting away the chairs and tables before heading home.
Michael walks Renee to the Village Hall for lunch club
Then came a brainwave! Might Michael be willing to become our “volunteer tables man”?
We were delighted when he accepted, and for the past two years, Michael has turned up every Monday and Thursday like clockwork to set out tables and chairs for our Monday Brew and Luncheon Club.
Thats up to 80 chairs a week or more.
Michael on duty putting the chairs away
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But it didn’t stop there. Michael began collecting surplus food from the supermarket each week for our community “Feed It Back” table, taking the crates back to the shop along the way.
Michael is now an invaluable part of the RSM volunteer team. Our members all know and like him. Volunteers rely on him to set out the dining room, and the office staff look forward to his visits.
He always stops in for a coffee break at the RSM office and happily helps out with other odd jobs when asked - and there have been some very odd jobs!
In the summer, Michael volunteers to push a wheelchair user on our Holiday At Home trips. Last year he accompanied Doreen to Newhaven Fort, and Gisella along Eastbourne promenade and in and out of Fairlight Church on our days out.
Most importantly, on Thursdays, he sits with his friend Stan and enjoys his lunch.
Michael says:
“I love RSM. I don’t know what I would do all week without it.”
Right back at you, Michael. You are our Superman!
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MICHAEL
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Pat named Volunteer of The Year 2025, for her unwavering support of our team and members
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OUR VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - PAT RIDDLES
Our Volunteer of the Year 2025 has been supporting RSM for many years, baking countless cakes for us even whilst looking after her lovely husband who she cared for until he sadly passed of Lewy Body Dementia in September 2021.
She started attending our ‘Time To Talk’ sessions, becoming a huge support and friend to those in the group, sharing her first-hand knowledge and lived experience of being an unpaid carer.
Her calm, committed support has been unwavering through her own ill health, overflowing from the ‘Time to Talk’ group to other members who need a bit more time and person specific care. Her genuine love and practical nature has been a solid presence in many of our members’ lives through many really difficult times.
Cutting the cake at the AGM
Our fabulous Post Box toppers are also a creation of hers, leading the Knitters and Natterers with themed designs relevant to the community and local events.
When she is not in the kitchen as part of a Thursday Lunch Club team, she is front of house, guiding members in and making sure they feel welcome and settled.
We often use the term ‘above and beyond’, and this lady is another of our fabulous volunteers that does exactly that, time and time again, with her sidekick Betty often seen out and about where-ever they are needed most.
The postbox topper celebrating The Kings Award
----- Start of picture text -----
Thank you!
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33
FUNDRAISING
TRUSTS
We received grants from a number of trusts and organisations both local and further afield. We are immensely grateful to:
3VA Brian Mitchell Trust Chalk Cliff Trust Crowborough Town Council John Armitage Charitable Trust
N+P in East Sussex Rotherfield Parish Council Share Gift - BIG GIVE Champion Wealden District Council
Grants received from these organisations have enabled us to grow our work, expand experiences for our members and embark on new projects. This includes the running of our weekly Luncheon Club and Feed it Back scheme, our new garden project, to keep older people physically active, dementia training and to support transport costs so that older people can attend our clubs.
Grants from John Armitage Charitable Trust and Brian Mitchell Trust have supported our core work. Consequently, our members are better connected to their community and are enjoying living in a well supported community.
LEGACIES and MEMORIAUM DONATIONS - LIST
We have been immensely grateful to receive memoriam donations and a legacy in the year:
Legacy:
Mr Dennis Fishenden £1,000
In Memorium Donations:
Mrs Louise Powell Mrs Brenda Rutherford Mr Peter Hopkins Mr Bill Booth Mrs Grace Ritchie
These are immensely gratifying to receive as they demonstrate the love and respect that our members, their families and community have for us. There is no doubt that Legacies help to secure the future of RSM. The total received was £7,094.
34
FUNDRAISING
DONATIONS LIST
We received both regular and one-off donations throughout the year. We were overwhelmed to receive £28,447 , which in the current economic climate, we are extremely grateful for. Donations support our core services and enable us to explore new ideas that support our members and literally change lives.
An example of this is our Bereavement Café which we are ready to launch next year.
We must give particular mention to the Bunt family who donated on a monthly basis throughout the year, financed our monthly Toastie Club and supported our Christmas activities which were enjoyed by so many of our members.
EVENTS and FUNDRAISING
In a difficult climate we have reached out to our immediate community to support us in our fundraising this year. We have held monthly pub quizzes which raised £1,611 . We also held one-off events; including a music and prose comedy evening and an Open Garden event.
We were also supported for a sixth year by a fabulous home-grown initiative from Rotherfield born Morag Hockin’s ‘Pop-Up Plant Stall’ whose donation enabled us to take part in the annual online Christmas Big Give, which raised £4,167 . We continue to take part in The Wealden Lottery and have raised funds via ticket sales of £1,621 . In total our team of volunteers and staff raised £6,985 through various fundraising events.
Pat Bryer’s one woman show raised funds to buy items for the RSM garden
35
FUNDRAISING
DONATIONS IN KIND
We are also extremely grateful for surplus food donated by Marks and Spencer, Lidl and Sainsburys and to our local farms; Fullers and
Horsegrove for their donations of fresh local meat for our Luncheon Club, and to Queen Alfred Cakes for their regular donations of freshly baked cakes.
Fullers of Eridge donated chipolatas through the year for the Lunch Club menu
We would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support from our parish council clerk for his IT support to the team, wealth of information to support our services and willingness to work in tandem with us to support our members.
He even bought us a new wheelbarrow for our garden!
Adam and the wheelbarrow he bought
We would like to thank everyone who has helped with fundraising this year and to everyone who supported us. With no guaranteed income stream, fundraising is vital to the success of our charity.
36
Financial Statements
2024 - 2025
Rotherfield St Martin Charity No: 1168555
37
TRUSTEES REPORT
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
Rotherfield St Martin returned a surplus of £6,102 in the financial year compared to a surplus of £37,689 in the previous year. This year the result was principally achieved thanks to increases in donations and grants received, as set out in notes 5, 6, 21 and 23 rather than legacies received as in previous years. We are very grateful for the generosity of individuals and organisations who provide legacies, grants and donations such that the charity can fulfil its objectives and continue on its path to financial sustainability. We hope that more people will consider benefitting the charity in this way so that our long-term future can be secured.
Income for the year before legacies was £140,973 which was £21,901 higher than in the previous year. After taking legacies into account our total income for the year was £141,973 compared to £173,071 in 2024.
Attendance at clubs and activities organised for the benefit of members increased during the year, in spite of the loss of the hydrotherapy pool, and we generated total income from these events of £43,156 compared to £42,961 in the previous year. This is another great achievement and reflects the increasing involvement of members with the charity and the efforts put in by our excellent team of staff and volunteers.
We are also very grateful to have received donations of £34,989 (2024: £25,301) and grants of £35,902 (2024: £28,105). It is through the generosity of individuals who leave legacies and make donations and organisations who make grants to the charity that enable us to keep membership subscriptions so low and help to subsidise the costs of services to members. Without this ongoing assistance it is clear that subscriptions would have to rise if we are to balance our books.
Expenditure was very similar to the previous year at £135,871 compared to £135,382.
Salary & Consultants costs have increased to £90,308 from £82,695 mostly due to increasing the number of hours worked in order to meet the demand for our services and support to members. The Trustees are grateful for the service and dedication of the whole team which often extends beyond their contractual commitments.
Our volunteers also play a significant role in the successful operation of the charity and whilst there is no cost in our accounts associated with their work, we would not be able to function without their willing assistance. In recognition of their dedication Rotherfield St Martin was awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024 and this really is a tremendous achievement and due recognition to all the voluntary work put in by our amazing team of volunteers.
Bank balances continue in a strong position showing a total of £353,469 compared to £350,288 in the previous year. This healthy position has been arrived at due to a pattern of legacies having been received over the years and the success in attracting grants and donations to help support the annual running costs.
The Trustees regularly discuss the best way to hold funds not required for immediate use but are conscious of the risks inherent in other forms of investment and the current economic uncertainty due to external factors. For the time being the decision has been taken to retain our reserves in bank deposits and professional advice will be required as and when this policy changes.
38
We have monitored the interest rates available on our deposit accounts and are ever mindful of the risks associated with concentrating too much money in any one bank. Through careful management and in spite of a small reduction in interest rates over the year we have been able to increase our interest income to £10,275 from £6,437 in 2024. It is interesting to note that, thanks to the value of legacies received in prior years, this year and for the first time, the amount of interest received exceeded the amount received from membership subscriptions and this demonstrates the benefits that members receive from these legacies.
Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between spending and receiving of resources and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and future planned expenditure. At 31 August 2025 our total reserves amounted to £349,325 (2024: £343,223) which is, once more, the strongest position the charity has ever been in. This satisfactory state of affairs is due entirely to the value of legacies received in recent years and for which we are very grateful.
In view of these legacies, we have resolved to designate funds to various projects that will meet the aims of the charity and strengthen our position for the future. These projects and the related designated funds are set out at Note 22.
Our reserves, which are detailed on the Balance Sheet, now comprise:
Restricted Funds of £2,800 which represent funding received for specific projects not yet completed by 31 August 2025 as shown at Note 21.
Designated Funds of £228,602 which are more fully described at Note 22.
Unrestricted Funds now amount to £117,923 and the Trustees are considering how best to utilise these funds for the long-term benefit of the Charity. The movements in these funds is shown at Note 23.
The Charity Commission recommends that, in order to ensure ongoing viability, a charity should hold between 9 and 15 months of total running costs. Rotherfield St Martin’s monthly running costs, excluding oneoff project costs, are now approximately £10,700 and, on this basis, we should be holding between £96,300 and £160,500. We have therefore decided to maintain within Designated Funds a Safety Reserve of £150,000 in accordance with the Charity Commission recommendation.
39
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ £ |
£ £ |
|
| Income | |||
| Membership Subscriptions | 9,666 | 9,620 | |
| 1 Combating Isolation | 1 Combating Isolation | 20,634 | 20,235 |
| 2 Health & Wellbeing | 2 Health & Wellbeing | 8,386 | 10,184 |
| 3 Member Services | 3 Member Services | 12,362 | 11,057 |
| 4 Office Services | 4 Office Services | 1,774 | 1,485 |
| Total | 43,156 | 42,961 | |
| 5 Donations | 5 Donations | 34,989 | 25,301 |
| 6 Grants | 6 Grants | 35,902 | 28,105 |
| 7 Bank Interest | 7 Bank Interest | 10,275 | 6,437 |
| 8 Other Fundraising | 8 Other Fundraising | 6,985 | 6,648 |
| Total | 88,151 | 66,491 | |
| Total Before Legacies | 140,973 | 119,072 | |
| 9 Legacies | 9 Legacies | 1,000 | 53,999 |
| Total Income | 141,973 | 173,071 | |
| Expenditure | |||
| 10 Combating Isolation | 10 Combating Isolation | 11,846 | 11,214 |
| 11 Health & Wellbeing | 11 Health & Wellbeing | 3,302 | 5,221 |
| 12 Member Services | 12 Member Services | 3,753 | 3,735 |
| 18,901 | 20,170 | ||
| 13 Office Running Expenditure | 13 Office Running Expenditure | 7,763 | 8,964 |
| 14 Professional And Insurance Fees | 14 Professional And Insurance Fees | 4,020 | 4,665 |
| 15 Rent, Rates And Services | 15 Rent, Rates And Services | 6,775 | 5,800 |
| 16 Salaries And Consultants | 16 Salaries And Consultants | 90,308 | 82,695 |
| 17 Staff And Trustee Costs | 17 Staff And Trustee Costs | 1,506 | 1,710 |
| 110,372 | 103,834 | ||
| 18 Other Expenditure | 18 Other Expenditure | 6,598 | 11,378 |
| Total Costs | 135,871 | 135,382 | |
| Surplus for the Year | 6,102 | 37,689 |
40
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025
| Note | 2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Combating Isolation | ||
| Art Club | 1,027 | 831 | |
| Bosom Buddies | 835 | 732 | |
| Canasta | 738 | 465 | |
| Games & Social | 111 | 0 | |
| Holiday at Home | 2,511 | 2,954 | |
| Hug in a Mug | 10 | 0 | |
| Knitting and Nattering | 827 | 770 | |
| Lunch Club | 9,864 | 9,468 | |
| Men at Ten | 491 | 466 | |
| Monday Meetings | 2,698 | 3,365 | |
| Outings | 20 | 85 | |
| Scrabble | 324 | 0 | |
| Toastie Club | 1,178 | 1,099 | |
| Total | 20,634 | 20,235 | |
| 2 | Health & Wellbeing | ||
| Counselling | 8 | 0 | |
| Exercise | 2,497 | 2,632 | |
| Hydrotherapy | 1,464 | 3,541 | |
| Pilates | 1,360 | 1,095 | |
| Table Tennis | 1,202 | 1,397 | |
| Therapies | 1,834 | 1,476 | |
| Time to Talk | 21 | 45 | |
| Total | 8,386 | 10,184 | |
| 3 | Member Services | ||
| Rotherfield Repairs Donations | 265 | 537 | |
| Rotherfield Rides | 6,242 | 6,287 | |
| Club Rides | 971 | 1,065 | |
| Surplus Food Donations | 4,884 | 3,168 | |
| Total | 12,362 | 11,057 |
41
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 4 | Office Services | ||
| Printing and Copying | 388 | 1,021 | |
| Rotherfield Parish Council Newsletter | 1,326 | 3,278 | |
| Dementia Training | 60 | 480 | |
| Church Newsletter | 0 | 295 | |
| Total | 1,774 | 5,074 | |
| Less Expenditure re Office Services | 0 | (3,589) | |
| Total | 1,774 | 1,485 | |
| 5 | ~~Donations~~ | ||
| Regular Donations | 8,539 | 8,529 | |
| Donations one off | 13,175 | 7,495 | |
| Online Campaigns | 4,167 | 4,566 | |
| Corporate Donations | 1,916 | 1,188 | |
| Donations In Memoriam | 6,094 | 1,235 | |
| Sponsorship | 650 | 680 | |
| Gift Aid Refund HMRC | 448 | 1,607 | |
| Total | 34,989 | 25,300 | |
| 6 | Grants | ||
| Grants Received - Restricted | 14,402 | 10,105 | |
| Grants Received -Unrestricted | 21,500 | 18,000 | |
| Total | 35,902 | 28,105 | |
| 7 | Bank Interest | ||
| Interest Received | 10,275 | 6,337 | |
| Compensation Received | 0 | 100 | |
| Total | 10,275 | 6,437 | |
| 8 | Other Fundraising | ||
| Events | 3,025 | 204 | |
| Monday Meetings Raffle | 157 | 163 | |
| Catts Quiz | 1,454 | 881 | |
| Other Fundraising | 728 | 1,426 | |
| Wealden Lottery | 1,621 | 1,518 | |
| A Cheeseman Marathon (incl matched funding from Zurich) | 0 | 2,456 | |
| Total | 6,985 | 6,648 | |
| 9 | Legacies | ||
| Mr Den Fishenden | 1,000 | 0 | |
| Mrs Ann Sparrow | 0 | 29,472 | |
| Mrs Diana Standish | 0 | 23,527 | |
| Mrs Sylvia Hoath | 0 | 1,000 | |
| Total | 1,000 | 53,999 |
42
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 10 | Combating Isolation | ||
| Art Club | 0 | 13 | |
| Canasta | 28 | 0 | |
| Games Club | 146 | 0 | |
| Holiday at Home Monday Meetings - Speakers & other |
1,652 872 |
2,831 741 |
|
| Monday Meetings - Village Hall Hire Outings |
1,304 0 |
1,235 131 |
|
| Knitting and Nattering Club | 817 | 758 | |
| Lunch Club | 7,027 | 5,505 | |
| Total | 11,846 | 11,214 | |
| 11 | Health & Wellbeing | ||
| Dementia | 0 | 185 | |
| Exercise | 2,205 | 2,120 | |
| Hydrotherapy | 422 | 2,188 | |
| Pilates | 675 | 690 | |
| Table Tennis | 0 | 38 | |
| Total | 3,302 | 5,221 | |
| 12 | Member Services | ||
| Surplus Food collection costs | 410 | 489 | |
| Rotherfeld Rides | 3,026 | 3,246 | |
| Member Costs | 317 | 0 | |
| Total | 3,753 | 3,735 | |
| 13 | ~~Office Running Costs~~ | ||
| Advertising | 38 | 503 | |
| Promotional | 773 | 749 | |
| Cleaning | 570 | 1,067 | |
| IT Consumables Office | 242 | 411 | |
| General Administrative | 175 | 409 | |
| Phone | 1,017 | 1,182 | |
| Postage | 3,354 | 1,656 | |
| Printing | 1,280 | 1,967 | |
| Stationery | 314 | 1,020 | |
| Total | 7,763 | 8,964 |
43
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 14 | Professional & Insurance Fees | ||
| Accountancy | 658 | 1,723 | |
| Bank Charges | 114 | 311 | |
| Cost of Sales (Square & CAF Bank) | 377 | 349 | |
| Insurances | 1,129 | 1,019 | |
| Payroll Bureau | 1,015 | 926 | |
| Other Professional Services | 727 | 337 | |
| Total | 4,020 | 4,665 | |
| 15 | Rent, Rates & Services | ||
| Rent, Rates and Services | 6,775 | 5,800 | |
| 16 | Salaries And Consultants | ||
| Salaries Gross Pay | 85,247 | 78,210 | |
| Employer's Pension Contributions | 3,481 | 3,065 | |
| Consultancy Costs - Bookkeeping | 1,580 | 1,420 | |
| Employer's National Insurance | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 90,308 | 82,695 | |
| 17 | Staff And Trustee Costs | ||
| Training Courses and Planning | 174 | 400 | |
| Trustees | 0 | 28 | |
| Volunteers | 1,332 | 1,282 | |
| Total | 1,506 | 1,710 | |
| 18 | Other Expenditure | ||
| Fundraising & Events | 434 | 0 | |
| Grant Projects Expenditure | 693 | 0 | |
| Corporate Sponsorship - Dementia Bus | 1,010 | 1,188 | |
| Designated Fund Expenditure | 148 | 0 | |
| - Garden Project | 0 | 10,190 | |
| - Training | 180 | 0 | |
| - 20th Anniversary Celebrations | 2,430 | 0 | |
| - IT Projects | 1,703 | 0 | |
| Total | 6,598 | 11,378 |
44
BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |||
| Fixed Assets | |||||
| Office Equipment | - | - | |||
| Total Fixed Assets | - | - | |||
| Current Assets Cash at bank | |||||
| Bank Current Accounts Bank | 19 | 107,532 | 124,909 | ||
| Deposit Accounts | 20 | 245,937 | 225,379 | ||
| Total Cash at bank | 353,469 | 350,288 | |||
| Debtors | |||||
| Amounts Receivable | 459 | 215 | |||
| Bank Interest Receivable On Term Deposit | 1,318 | ||||
| Prepayments | 1,035 | ||||
| Total Current Assets | 356,281 | 350,503 | |||
| Current Liabilities | |||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |||||
| Membership payments in advance | 4,165 | 3,011 | |||
| Accruals | 1,639 | 3,304 | |||
| PAYE & NIC payable | 621 | 457 | |||
| Pension contributions payable | 531 | 509 | |||
| Total Current Liabilities | 6,956 | 7,280 | |||
| Net Current Assets | 349,325 | 343,223 | |||
| Total Net Assets | 349,325 | 343,223 | |||
| Charity Funds | |||||
| Restricted Funds | 21 | 2,800 | 300 | ||
| Designated Funds | 22 | 228,602 | 220,916 | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | 23 | 117,923 | 122,007 | ||
| Total Charity Funds | 349,325 | 343,223 |
45
NOTES TO THE BALANCE SHEET FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2025
| Note | £ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Bank Current Account | 19 Bank Current Account | |||||
| Natwest | £17,444 | |||||
| CAF Bank | £11,924 | |||||
| Virgin | £78,164 | |||||
| Total | £107,532 | |||||
| 20 Bank Deposit Account | 20 Bank Deposit Account | |||||
| Natwest | £1,549 | |||||
| CAF Bank | £2,582 | |||||
| Virgin | £156,806 | |||||
| Cambridge & County Bond | £85,000 | |||||
| Total | £245,937 | |||||
| 21 Restricted Funds | 21 Restricted Funds | b/f | Received | Expended | c/f | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Restricted funds at 1 September 2024 | 300 | 0 | (300) | 0 | ||
| Received in Year | Purpose | |||||
| 3VA | Lunch club | 2,250 | (2,250) | 0 | ||
| 3VA | Warm Spaces | 222 | (222) | 0 | ||
| Rotherfield Trust | Community Crisis Work | 300 | (300) | 0 | ||
| Wealden District Council | Physical Exercise | 3,630 | (3,630) | 0 | ||
| The Chalk Cliffe Trust | Vulnerable Members Service | 5,000 | (2,500) | 2,500 | ||
| Crowborough Town Council | Transport | 500 | (200) | 300 | ||
| Wealden District Council | Support for Core Services | 2,500 | (2,500) | 0 | ||
| Total for Year | 14,402 | (11,602) | 2,800 | |||
| Restricted Funds at 31 August 2025 | 300 | 14,402 | (11,902) | 2,800 | ||
| 22 Designated Funds | 22 Designated Funds | b/f | Allocated | Expended | c/f | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Brought forward at 1 September 2024 | ||||||
| Premises Project | £59,416 | 0 | 0 | 59,416 | ||
| IT Projects | £5,000 | 0 | (1,703) | 3,297 | ||
| Training | £1,500 | 0 | (180) | 1,320 | ||
| Community Garden Project - Water Supply | £0 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 | ||
| 20 Year Celebration | £5,000 | 0 | (2,431) | 2,569 | ||
| Relocation Costs | £0 | 2,000 | 0 | 2,000 | ||
| Bereavement Café Project | 1,000 | 0 | 1,000 | |||
| Combating Loneliness Project | 7,000 | 0 | 7,000 | |||
| Charity Commission Recommended Safety Reserve | Charity Commission Recommended Safety Reserve | £150,000 | 0 | 0 | 150,000 | |
| Designated Funds at 31 August 2025 | 220,916 | 12,000 | (4,314) | 228,602 |
| 23 Unrestricted Funds | 23 Unrestricted Funds | b/f | Received | Expended | c/f |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Total Unrestricted Funds at 1 September 2025 | £122,007 | £122,007 | |||
| Grants Received in Year | |||||
| Rotherfield Parish Council | 1,500 | (1,500) | 0 | ||
| Brian Mitchell Trust | 5,000 | (5,000) | 0 | ||
| John Armitage Charitable Trust | 15,000 | (15,000) | 0 | ||
| Total for Year | 21,500 | (21,500) | 0 | ||
| Transfer to Restricted funds in year (see note 21) | 11,902 | (14,402) | (2,500) | ||
| Transfer to Designated Funds in the Year (see Note 22) | 4,314 | (12,000) | (7,686) | ||
| Add: Surplus for year | 6,102 | 0 | 6,102 | ||
| Total Unrestricted Funds at 31 August 2025 | 122,007 | 43,818 | (47,902) | 117,923 |
47
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT Rotherfleld St Martln - Independent Examlners Report For Y•v End•d JI 2025 Report to the Tntstees ol Rotherfkld St M•rtin fof th V••f ended 31 Awist 2025 th•ftty No 1168555 set ofi the Prl0u$ p•ees. As the Charity Trustees you •re respoftlble fof th• pryr•tth of •ccounts In •CCOfd•rtt wlth t requlrernents ol lItIeS A¢< 2011 Ithe kt). I report In respect of nry examlnatton of the Charfvs xcounts carrfed out under sectlon 145 01 the 2011 Act and irn Cafrylni out my ex•min•tlon. I h•ve lollc¥thl the applicable Dlfectlons wen by the Charity Commlsskn under secihon14SISMbl of the kt. Ind*wnd•nt ¢xamln•rfs stsl•m•nt I have compleied my eximinatlon. I conftrffl that no materl•l matters h•ve to my attentlon In connefflb)n wlth exambnation whlth ins me cause to believe that in. any mateflal respect: tntI records were not kept In ac(wdance wfth sect6on 130 01 the kt of I h•ve no concerns and ha come •cross no matters In connectkn wlth the examlnatSon to whkh attentlon should be drawn In order lo enable a propef Underst•ing 01 the a¢(nIS to be fe•¢hed. Indeperbdent Exwnlnv.--.....-,--.-.. ..--.......- Date 14 Mnu•ry 2026 Mi M R Mart5n FCCA The Old Dairy Ste¢p Ro•d Crowth)ro East $st% TN6 3RX 48
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
As well as working towards our Strategic Goals:
-
Optimising the Effectiveness of the Team and planning for growth for Members
-
Build a sustainable, diverse and financially resilient, community led charity
-
Volunteer Engagement, Welfare and Support
-
How to be Environmentally Conscious and Aware
In the coming year we will be getting back to basics talking about loneliness and looking at different ways in which we can offer friendship.
With this in mind we will be launching our Bereavement Café for people whose lives has been affected by grief.
We will also be holding loneliness workshops in our community to raise awareness and to talk about small things we can do to make a difference to someone’s life.
If you are inspired by our work and would like to get involved either as a volunteer, member, financial supporter or by offering your skills, please call us on 01892 853021 or visit our website www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk
49
Ip 131
TRUSTEES DECLARATION DECLARATION The Trusiees¢JecthireIh iheyhrn apwovethho tr¢0$ iepm. Sd8f•g0 on ol Ihe ch8Tity'S Iiusie Signaturels) Full namels) S)osiiion(s) Trusiee Trustee Oaie We would like io sincerety thank all our siaff. volunieers merntjers. dwors ano supporters fcf Iheir C•)niinued support of our Wofk. Their Support makes a real dilfererKe ro people's lives anLI ensures Ihai we caTr coniinue 10 buikl a £ommunty Ihai cale5 for one another. 51
In memory of our dear colleague, Lou Powell,
who always knew how to fix things!
Rotherfield St Martin
RSM Centre, North Street, Rotherfield, East Sussex, TN6 3LX
www.rotherfieldstmartin.org.uk 01892 853021
Registered Charity Number 1168555