REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1172699
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2025
for
Milling 4 Life CIO
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Milling 4 Life CIO
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 January 2025
31 January 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) (eRective 1 January 2019).
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: 1172699
Principal address:
7 St Georges Terrace, St James’ Square, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 3PT
| TRUSTEES | ORice | Appointed |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee Name | 7 St Georges Terrace, Cheltenham, UK | |
| Roger D Gilbert | (Chair of Trustees) | 24 April 2017 |
| Tuti Tan | 24 April 2017 | |
| Simon Birks | 19 February 2021 | |
| Sven Olof Malmqvist | 24 April 2017 | |
| Christopher R Jackson | 27 January 2021 |
Summary of the Main Activities of the Charity - 2024-25
In keeping with our underlying policy, and stated at the outset of our Annual Report each year, it is necessary to remind our supporters that the Trustees of Milling 4 Life (M4L) have undertaken to ensure that all donations - no matter how big or small - go to the ‘good causes’ adopted by the Charity, as outlined in our Constitution and in accordance with the Object of the Charity.
Therefore, the Trustees cover all costs associated with their own involvement and participation in the work of the Charity. The day-to-day administration costs of the Charity (which include oRice costs associated with running of the Charity itself) are met by the Trustees.
connection with the Charity’s work, as it relates to destinations outside the UK (where our CIO is based), is not at the expense of the Charity. However, it is important that the Charity is seen to be participating in local and regional events, such as conferences and expositions, to build its reputation and commitment to helping those who are trying to improve skills, learn more about the milling process and create opportunities for communities and individuals to improve their situations.
Throughout 2024 the Charity’s Trustees met bi-monthly to discuss ways to assist milling operations in traditional countries.
After several years of operation it is clear that education is a foundational activity of the M4L Charity which is addressed through bringing visitors to exhibitions, which they would not otherwise have the capacity or opportunity to attend and to introduce them to the technologies and developments that will assist them in their work within the milling sector in future and encourage their advancement as well as open up opportunities for them that might not otherwise exist.
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It is disappointing therefore to report that during 2024-25 the M4L Charity was unable to provide educational opportunities through ever events or the re-establishment of the Online Milling School (OMS) as it had done so in previous years, due to the OMS’s cessation following a continuation of an industry ‘returning to business as usual’ following the final lifting of Covid and other restrictions that had seen the OMS attract suRicient paying students in the past, despite our attempt to rekindle interest in the OMS.
However, the M4L Charity was promoted at multiple events throughout the year and has established a regular published page within the industry’s global milling magazine (Milling and Grain) to promote itself and all charities working in the field of milling. The goal is to widen the awareness of what charities do in the feed and food milling sectors and to encourage support through charities for those less able in countries where the industry is less supportive and where education and training of young people in particular is needed. The ‘directory’ of milling-associated charities was introduced at the beginning of 2024 to run for the full 12 issues in 2024.
Charity can assist with funding or other support to help new entrants into the industry.
Two Trustees again visited the World Flour Museum in Germany to discuss how our two organisations could work more closely together particularly in Africa. The discussions had explored ways to make the museum more accessible to those wanting to learn more about the development of flour milling and the historical importance of milling grains. It was agreed that the M4L Charity could assist in promoting the museum’s activities as part of its work. Although M4L was invited by the museum curator to support its flour-for-bread programme - that provides poorer families in several locations in Africa with free flour – we could not raise the necessary funds to assist.
While 2024 has not been a successful fund-raising year for M4L, we have - as mentioned above - raised our profile across both the floor and feed milling sectors globally. One association that has been particularly encouraging is that with the ‘Milling Hall of Fame’ which recognises individuals who have made a significant contribution to their respective industries in their lifetime. This association has given the Charity more exposure among those who in future might assist in funding projects that help those most needy in the industry, particularly workers joining the industry.
Encouraging new entrants to come into milling is a challenge that all milling companies face globally given the views young people have towards work and careers today. With aspirations away from traditional jobs and manual work and more towards modern-day career opportunities it is a challenge to interest young people into working in a noisy job with unscalable hours.
However, there are many young people looking for work and encouraging them to consider the milling industry will involve organisations such as M4L to provide guidance, educational and training opportunities and support. The Trustees consider this is part of the Charity’s remit.
The Charity continues to work with event organiser and conferences sponsors to raise funds for projects. The Trustees would like to thank all those who have contributed during 2024-25 and those who have voluntarily helped to support the goals of the M4L CIO.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Charity received no donations in the year, (2024-25). There have been no expenses and no bank charges. All funds received have been banked.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the Charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
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Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
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presume that the Charity will continue in business
The Trustees are responsible for keeping 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 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees wish to retain suRicient reserves to continue the level of grant making made in recent years. The Trustees consider this can be achieved by maintaining the existing level of investments.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document:
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
Risk management:
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Approved by order of the Board of Trustees on November 20, 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
………………………………………………………
R D Gilbert - Chair of the Trustees
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EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF Milling 4 Life CIO
The examiner's report to the Trustees of Milling 4 Life:
I report to the Charity’s Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Milling 4 Life CIO for the year ended 31 January 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report:
(As the Charity’s 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 have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records; or
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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.
Chris Jackson 6 Smallcross Close Uttoxeter StaRs St14 8XU
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Milling 4 Life Statement of financial activities For year ended January 2025
| 01-Jan-25 | 01-Jan-24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||
| fund | Total Funds | |
| Incoming recourses from | ||
| generated funds | ||
| Voluntary income | 0 | 18.17 |
| Total Income | 0 | 18.17 |
| Resources expanded: | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Charitable giving | 0 | 0 |
| Charitable Activities | 0 | |
| Governance costs | 60.00 | |
| Total resources expanded | £9675.29 | £9675.29 |
| Net Income | 0 | 18.17 |
| Net Movement of funds | 0 | 51.83 |
| Reconciliation of funds | 0 | 51.83 |
| Total funds brought forward | 9675.29 | 9675.29 |
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED | ||
| FORWARD | £9675.29 | £9675.29 |
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| Milling for Life | ||
|---|---|---|
| Balance Sheet | ||
| As at 01 January 2025 | ||
| 01-Jan-24 | ||
| Unrestricted | ||
| fund | Total Funds | |
| CURRRENT ASSETS | ||
| Cash at Bank | 9675.29 | 9675.29 |
| Creditors | ||
| Amounts due within 1 year | ||
| Nett Current Assets | 9675.29 | 9675.29 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | ||
| less Current Liabilities | 9675.29 | 9675.29 |
| FUNDS | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | 9675.29 | 9675.29 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | £9675.29 | £9675.29 |
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