**Charity Registration No. 1176749**
## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
# **TRUSTEES' REPORT AND UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**Trustees** Mr S Willis Mrs S A Willis Mrs N J Willis **Charity number** 1176749 **Principal address** Stewkley House High Street North Stewkley Leighton Buzzard Beds LU7 0EW **Independent examiner** Mr P Fenn Mercer & Hole LLP The Pinnacle 170 Midsummer Boulevard Central Milton Keynes Bucks MK9 1BP
## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 2|
|Independent examiner's report|3|
|Statement of financial activities|4|
|Balance sheet|5|
|Notes to the accounts|6-7|
## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Trust’s Deed and 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 of the Charity**
The charity was established by a charitable trust deed on 19 January 2018.
The Trustees have a wide power to utilise the income and / or capital of the Trust for any charitable purpose or institution in and around the geographic area of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.
## **Review of the Development, Activities and Achievements of the Charity**
In the year ended 31 March 2025 the charity issued grants and bursaries of £75,000 compared to £20,000 in 2024. A deficit for the year of £75,804 was generated, compared to a deficit for the year of £20,804 in 2024. The Trustees generally intend to award grants and bursaries each year which approximate to the forecast amount of Net Income for that year but take into consideration the charity’s reserves when assessing awards.
Donations were made during the year to:
- The Lewy Body Society £50,000 (2024: £nil)
- Leighton Buzzard Fruit & Veg Scheme £15,000 (2024: £10,000)
- • The Leighton Buzzard Society £10,000 (2024: £nil)
- Autism Early Support £nil (2024: £10,000)
## **Public Benefit**
The Trustees consider that the main activities of the Charity detailed in the objects above are for the public benefit and have given due regard to the Charities Commission guidance on public benefit.
## **Trustees**
The trustees who served during the year were:
Mr S Willis Mrs S A Willis Mrs N J Willis
## **Trustees Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustee’s Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102);
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Risk Assessment**
In accordance with the guidelines in the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) the trustees have considered the major risks affecting the trust and have taken steps to mitigate these as far as possible.
## **New Trustee Appointments and Training**
New trustees receive information on the Charity in respect of its mission, objectives, business and management structure. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events that will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
The trustees have regard to the need for any specialist skills which individuals bring to the Trust.
## **Reserves Policy**
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to at least three to six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant reduction in funding that they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be generated. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
## **Investment Policy**
The Trustees have full investment powers and authority for the charity and investment decisions have been made in accordance with the Trustees wishes during the year. The trustees consider the return on investments for the period to be satisfactory.
## **Going Concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and for at least the next 12 months. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Signed on behalf of the trustees of The Willis Hart Charitable Trust
## **S Willis**
## **S Willis**
Trustee 22 January 2026
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## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 3 to 7.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
## **P Fenn**
……………………………………….
22 January 2026
## **Philip Fenn FCA FCCA**
Mercer & Hole LLP The Pinnacle 170 Midsummer Boulevard Central Milton Keynes Bucks MK9 1BP
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## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Incoming resources from generated funds**
**Notes**
Donations and legacies
**2**
**Resources expended**
**3**
**Charitable activities**
Donations
Governance costs
**Total resources expended**
**Net income for the year/**
**Net movement in funds**
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
**Fund balances at 31 March 2025**|**2025**
**£**
-
75,000
804
75,804
(75,804)
426,293
350,489|**2024**
**£**
-|
|---|---|---|
|||20,000|
|||804|
|||20,804|
|||(20,804)
447,097|
|||426,293|
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## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Current assets**
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors:**
**amounts**
**falling**
**due**
**within one year**
**4**
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds|**2025**
**£**
**£**
10,000
343,093
353,093
(2,604)
350,489
350,489
350,489
350,489|**2024**
**£**
**£**
10,000
418,897
428,897
(2,604)
426,293
426,293
426,293
426,293|**2024**
**£**
**£**
10,000
418,897
428,897
(2,604)
426,293
426,293
426,293
426,293|
|---|---|---|---|
||||426,293|
||||426,293|
||||426,293|
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 22 January 2026.
## **S Willis**
S Willis **Trustee**
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**THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## a. Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with “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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102) 2019).
The Willis Hart Charitable Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in FRS102 from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the organisation is small.
## b. Going Concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and for at least the next 12 months. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## c. Income
All grants and voluntary income are accounted for gross when receivable, provided they are capable of financial measurement.
## d. Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for gross when incurred.
## e. Funds
All funds are held as general funds.
## f. Investments
Investments are recognised at their open market value as at the balance sheet date. Unrealised and realised gains and losses are shown net in the statement of financial activities.
## g. Debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered and prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
## h. Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the company has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount.
## i. Financial Instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
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## **THE WILLIS HART CHARITABLE TRUST**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **2 Donations and legacies**
|Donations and gifts
**3**
**Total resources expended**
**Charitable activities**
Grants and bursaries
Governance costs
**4**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Accruals|**2025**
**£**
-
**2025**
**£**
75,000
804
75,804
**2025**
**£**
804
1,800
2,604|||**2024**
**£**
-
**2024**
**£**
20,000
804
20,804
**2024**
**£**
804
1,800
2,604|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
||||||
## **5 Employee and Trustee Remuneration**
No staff were employed by the Charity during the year ended 31 March 2025. No Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or payment for expenses during the year ended 31 March 2025 (2024: £nil).
## **6 Control**
The ultimate controlling party is the trustees.
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