REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1173240
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
for
The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust)
The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust)
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 2 | to | 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 6 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 | to | 11 |
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell
(The Birdwood House Trust) Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) for the year ended 5 November 2024. 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
Birdwood House is a Listed Building located in the centre of Totnes and the trustees aim to ensure its long-term care and maintenance, to enable it to continue to provide satisfactory facilities and space for exhibitions and other educational purposes along with community benefits.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
The charity has continued to provide public benefit through the facilities at Birdwood House, the Gallery has successfully promoted the visual arts in the area and the rooms have been used for education and training purposes. The building functions well as a community focus and contributes to social cohesion in Totnes. The charity has commenced major refurbishment work to the south wall of Birdwood House during summer 2023 using reserves set aside for this purpose. The work will include replacement of the sliding windows, installation of insulation into the timber frame wall, new lead work and re-hanging of the slate exterior to conservation standards.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves Policy
The trustees are always striving to increase the income from the use of Birdwood House, in order to accumulate reserves for the longterm maintenance and improvement of the premises. At the same time retaining a level of charges that allows the Gallery to be available for use by new un-established artists and craftspeople. The trustees transfer any operating surplus to the reserves for major repair and maintenance of Birdwood House; the aim is to achieve reserves to the value of 20% of the reinstatement cost of the building.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing Document
The CIO (Foundation) was formed by constitution signed on 30 May 2017 and registered with the Charity Commission 1 June 2017.
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell
(The Birdwood House Trust)
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New trustees are appointed at the discretion of the existing trustees. The CIO uses the established links to consult and inform the Town Council as and when required.
Organisational Structure
Four formal meetings were held during the period to conduct the business of the CIO. The CIO employs a secretary to administer the CIO and a manager to handle the meeting rooms, rest room and Gallery space at Birdwood House.
Related parties
The CIO works closely with the Mitchell Trust and the Wakefield Trust, with one trustee and the secretary, being common to the Mitchell Trust and one trustee and the secretary being common to the Wakefield Trust.
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risk to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
1173240 (England and Wales)
Principal address
C/o Dr J Severn The Coach House Station Road South Brent Devon TQ10 9BB
Trustees
M C Mitchell Chair Mrs J Mitchell Miss J A Westacott MBE (died 21 May 2024)
D Horsburgh Miss S Lawrence (resigned 23 September 2024) Mr C Killock (appointed 23 September 2024) Ms K Hancock (appointed 23 September 2024)
Miss Judy Westacott MBE - Deceased
The trustees record the sad death of Judith Westacott MBE who died suddenly at home in Totnes on 21 May 2024, aged 84, they acknowledge her contribution to the CIO and to Totnes over many years; she was a colourful character who really cared for the town and will be truly missed.
Independent Examiner
R J Lewis ACA Frost Chartered Accountants Riversdale Ashburton Road TOTNES Devon TQ9 5JU
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 21 May 2025 And signed on its behalf by:
................
M C Mitchell - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (the CIO) year ended 5 November 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the I report in respect of my examination of the CIO'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 CIO as required by Section 130 of the Act, or
-
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.
R J Lewis ACA
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Frost
Chartered Accountants Riversdale Ashburton Road TOTNES Devon TQ9 5JU
Date: 4 June 2025
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust) Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Charitable Activities Property Letting Investment income Other Income EXPENDITURE ON Charitable Activities Property Letting Net gains/(losses) on investments 6 NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD Total |
2024 2023 Unrestricted Total funds funds £ £ - - 38,794 32,915 6,109 6,395 - 250 44,903 39,560 64,663 62,850 5,495 (2,177) (14,265) (25,467) 195,039 220,506 180,774 195,039 |
|---|---|
5
The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust) Balance Sheet 5 November 2024
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 5 Investments 6 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 7 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 8 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 9 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
2024 2023 Unrestricted Total funds funds £ £ 27,981 33,416 79,803 74,308 107,784 107,724 4,179 4,057 69,866 84,263 74,045 88,320 (1,055) (1,005) 72,990 87,315 180,774 195,039 180,774 195,039 180,774 195,039 180,774 195,039 |
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 21 May 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
.............................................
M C Mitchell - Trustee
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust) Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
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 Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
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.
Long leasehold - 4% on cost Plant and machinery - 33% on cost
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.
Fixed asset investments
Investments are included at closing mid-market value at the balance sheet date.
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Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust0
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| Dividends received Deposit account interest |
2024 2023 £ £ 4,724 4,615 1,385 1,780 6,109 6,395 |
|---|---|
3. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 5 November 2024 nor for year ended 5 November 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 5 November 2024 nor for the year ended 5 November 2023.
4. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Charitable activities Property Letting Investment income Total EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Property Letting Net gains on investments NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
Unrestricted funds £ - 33,165 6,395 39,560 62,850 (2,177) (25,467) 220,506 195,039 |
|---|---|
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Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust)
5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
6.
| TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Long | Fixtures | ||
| leasehold | and fittings | Totals | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| COST | |||
| At 6 November 2023 and 5 November 2024 | 135,868 | 1,030 | 136,898 |
| DEPRECIATION | |||
| At 6 November 2023 | 102,452 | 1,030 | 103,482 |
| Charge for year | 5,435 | 5,435 | |
| At 5 November 2024 | 107,887 | 1,030 | 108,917 |
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||
| At 5 November 2024 | 27,981 | - | 27,981 |
| At 5 November 2023 | 33,416 | - | 33,416 |
| FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS | Listed | ||
| MARKET VALUE | Investments £ |
||
| At 6 November 2023 | 74,308 | ||
| Revaluations | 5,495 | ||
| At 5 November 2024 | 79,803 | ||
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||
| at 5 November 2024 | 79,803 | ||
| At 5 November 2023 | 74,308 | ||
| There were no investment assets outside the UK. | |||
| The investment is 5,462 units in M & G Charifund Income Units. | (Cost £29,356) | ||
| Cost or valuation at 5 November 2024 is represented by: | |||
| Valuation in 2024 | Listed investments £ 79,803 |
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust)
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
7. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 7. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 2023 |
|||
| £ £ |
|||
| Prepayments | 4,179 4,057 |
||
| 8. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals |
2024 2023 £ £ 1,055 1,005 |
|
| 9. | Unrestricted funds General fund Designated - Provision for Maintenance MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
Net At movement 6.11.23 in funds £ £ 131,039 (14,265) 64,000 - |
Transfer between At funds 5.11.24 £ £ 15,000 131,774 (15,000) 49,000 |
| 195,039 (14,265) |
- 180,774 |
||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 195,039 (14,265) |
- 180,774 |
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming Resources Gains and Movement resources expended losses in funds £ £ £ £ 44,903 64,663 5,495 (14,265) 44,903 64,663 5,495 (14,265) |
|---|---|
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund Designated - Provision for Maintenance TOTAL FUNDS |
Net Transfers At movement between At 6.11.22 in funds funds 5.11.2023 £ £ £ £ 136,506 (25,467) 20,000 131,039 84,000 - (20,000) 64,000 220,506 (25,467) - 195,039 220,506 (25,467) - 195,039 |
|---|---|
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The Charity of Douglas William Mitchell (The Birdwood House Trust) Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 5 November 2024
9. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:-
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming Resources Gains and Movement resources expended losses in funds £ £ £ £ 39,560 62,850 (2,177) (25,467) 39,560 62,850 (2,177) (25,467) |
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Designated - Provision for Maintenance TOTAL FUNDS |
Net Transfers At movement between At 6.11.22 in funds funds 5.11.24 £ £ £ £ 136,506 (39,732) 35,000 131,774 84,000 (35,000) 49,000 220,506 (39,732) - 180,774 220,506 (39,732) - 180,774 |
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming Resources Gains and Movement resources expended losses in funds £ £ £ £ 84,463 127,513 3,318 (39,732) 84,463 127,513 3,318 (39,732) |
|---|---|
Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use in accordance with the charitable objects.
Transfer between funds
The transfer of funds represents the transfer of the unrestricted accumulated funds of the predecessor charity.
10. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There are no related party transactions for the year ended 5 November 2024.
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