REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1172355
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
for Lochnagar Crater Foundation
A.J. Bennewith & Co. Upper Ground Floor 18 Farnham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4XA
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 2 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 to 9 |
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objects of the CIO are to promote public benefit by the advancement of education about the history of the Great War and the commemoration of those who have died whilst on active service.
Public benefit
To educate young people about aspects of the Great War and to commemorate the fallen by the creation and implementation of three specialist education projects.
The trustees maintain regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
We are pleased to report a steady rise in the number of visitors to the Lochnagar Crater over this past year. British school educational trips appear to be returning to pre-COVID levels, and we have also seen a rise in the number of French school and college educational visits.
Numbers of individuals and family and other groups are rising too with many visiting from the UK and mainland European countries as well as from farther afield, particularly from Australia and New Zealand.
We were very pleased with the number of visitors and attendees for our memorial ceremonies on July 1st and November 11th and many more people who could not attend in person were able to see them on our Facebook Livestream broadcasts for which we received very positive feedback.
We updated and refitted our 20 Lochnagar Labyrinth Panels which feature stories about the history of the Crater, about veterans of the conflict and about the consequences of war. These are printed with English and French text and attract many viewings. School groups use them as resources for learning and set projects linked with the content on the panels. We receive positive feedback from teachers and from students who appreciate the many different perspectives and stories we have included.
Our main fundraising effort continues to focus on the replacement walkway around the lip of the Crater. We are hoping to finish the work towards the end of the summer 2025 but despite being behind schedule we are pleased that we have made considerable progress towards making the whole lip and walkway accessible to people with reduced mobility and thus allowing them and their families or peers to experience the emotional 'power' of the Crater more fully together.
Our 'schools' webpage is regularly used as an aid to educational trips. By using our narrated video sequences of the different aspects of the attack made on the area surrounding the Crater on July 1st, 1916, students can gain a broader understanding of the experience of the combatants of both sides at the start of the Battle of the Somme.
One of our prime fundraising tools, The Lochnagar Commemorative Plaque scheme, is undergoing a change of administrative team members at the end of the 2024-2025 reporting period and going into the coming year, and with the change we hope to be able to expand our scope for that fundraising vehicle. We continue to have steady interest from the public for these personalised engraved commemorative plaques.
During the final months of the 2024-2025 reporting period, we have made plans for a major overhaul of our website, and this is due to commence in June or July 2025.
Our social media presence remains strong with followers of our Facebook page and group approaching 4,000.
Page 1
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
The Lochnagar Crater Foundation has no requirement for a reserves policy as it has no on-going dependencies. The Foundation has only undertaken projects as funding became available.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1172355
Principal address
Little Down Hog's Back Seale, Farnham Surrey GU10 1HD
Trustees
R Dunning MBE -Chair L Felstead J Wright -Secretary D Disbrey -Treasurer J Thomson D Thomson I Fry R Prissett (appointed 7.8.24)
Independent Examiner
A.J. Bennewith & Co. Upper Ground Floor 18 Farnham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4XA
14th October 2025
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ R Dunning MBE - Trustee
Page 2
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Lochnagar Crater Foundation
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Lochnagar Crater Foundation (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A J Bennewith FCA, FCPA, FFA, FFTA, FIPA, CChA, FRSA
A.J. Bennewith & Co.
Upper Ground Floor 18 Farnham Road Guildford Surrey GU1 4XA
Date: .............................................
Page 3
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| fund | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | |||
| Donations and legacies | 14,961 | 21,546 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON | |||
| Charitable activities | |||
| Charitable expenditure | 21,396 | 23,102 | |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | (6,435) | (1,556) | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 10,311 | 11,867 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 3,876 | 10,311 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 4
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Balance Sheet
31 March 2025
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Total | ||
| fund | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Tangible assets | 4 | 282 | 375 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at bank | 4,314 | 10,596 | |
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 5 | (720) | (660) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 3,594 | 9,936 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 3,876 | 10,311 | |
| NET ASSETS | 3,876 | 10,311 | |
| FUNDS | 6 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 3,876 | 10,311 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 3,876 | 10,311 |
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 14th October 2025 ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. R Dunning MBE - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
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 income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 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.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Computer equipment: 25% reducing balance
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
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.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
continued...
Page 6
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS - continued
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees expenses during the year.
| 3. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES | |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||
| fund | ||
| £ | ||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | ||
| Donations and legacies | 21,546 | |
| EXPENDITURE ON | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Charitable expenditure | 23,102 | |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | (1,556) | |
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | ||
| Total funds brought forward | 11,867 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 10,311 | |
| 4. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |
| Computer | ||
| equipment | ||
| £ | ||
| COST | ||
| At 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 | 1,650 | |
| DEPRECIATION | ||
| At 1 April 2024 | 1,275 | |
| Charge for year | 93 | |
| At 31 March 2025 | 1,368 | |
| NET BOOK VALUE | ||
| At 31 March 2025 | 282 | |
| At 31 March 2024 | 375 |
continued...
Page 7
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| 5. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.3.25 | 31.3.24 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Other creditors | 720 | 660 | ||
| 6. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 1.4.24 | in funds | 31.3.25 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 10,311 | (6,435) | 3,876 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 10,311 | (6,435) | 3,876 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 14,961 | (21,396) | (6,435) | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 14,961 | (21,396) | (6,435) |
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Net | ||
|---|---|---|
| movement | At | |
| At 1.4.23 | in funds | 31.3.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General fund 11,867 |
(1,556) | 10,311 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 11,867 |
(1,556) | 10,311 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General fund 21,546 |
(23,102) | (1,556) |
| TOTAL FUNDS 21,546 |
(23,102) | (1,556) |
continued...
Page 8
Lochnagar Crater Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
7. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Lochnagar Crater (France) is a French Association, registered number W804007072. Its council members are the same persons as the trustees of Lochnagar Crater (UK). In this financial year being reported, the Lochnagar Crater Foundation has transferred out a total of £10,000 to Lochnagar Crater (France). The French charitable association has the same objects as the U.K charity and the monies provided are spent on projects approved by both entities. The above monies were spent on the replacement of the walkway around the perimeter of the crater.
In the year ended 31 March 2025, the UK charity has received a total of £5000 in transfers in from the French Association.
8. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REMUNERATION
| Independent Examiner's remuneration | 2025 £ 720 |
2024 £ 660 |
|---|---|---|
Page 9