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2023-11-30-accounts

BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Registered Charity Number 1180903

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended

30 November 2023

4 March 2024

BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended

30 November 2023

CONTENTS

Annual Report Pages 2 to 7
1. Name Page 2
2. Charity Registered Number Page 2
3. Address Page 2
4. Trustees Page 2
5. Structure, Governance and Management Pages 2 to 4
6. Objectives Page 4
7. Geographical Area of Operation Page 5
8. Summary of Main Activities During the Year Page 5
9. Summary of Financial Performance Pages 5 and 6
10. Reserves Policy and Practice Page 6
11. General Page 7
12. Declaration and Signatures Page 7
Financial Statements Pages 8 to 12
SECTION A: RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Page 8
SECTION B: ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Page 9
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Pages 10 to 13
Note 1: Accounting Policies and Practice Page 10
Note 2: Note Regarding Restricted and Unrestricted Funds Page 10
Note 3: Grants Received Page 10
Note 4: Membership Statistics Page 10
Note 5: Stock of Un-sold Books and Envelopes Page 10
Note 6: Trustee Remuneration and Expenses Page 10
Note 7: Employees Page 10
Note 8: Plant and Machinery Page 11
Note 9: Guarantees Page 11
Note 10: Debtors Page 11
Note 11: Related Party Information and Transactions Page 11
Note 12: Assets Retained for the Charity’s Use Pages 12 and 13

Declaration and Signatures

Page 13

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2023

1. Name: BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

2. Charity Registered Number: 1180903

3. Address: 74 Sandringham Avenue, Leicester LE4 7NR

4. Trustees:

Jayne Caroline Cordiner (to 22 April 2023)

Stephen John Dixey

Nicholas John Fathers

Carolyn Joyce Hindocha

Sandra Eileen Moore

Richard Charles Norburn

Andrew Warren

Christine Warren (from 22 April 2023)

5. Structure, Governance and Management

5.1 General

The charity is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity Registration Number 1180903) (Company Number CE 015740).

The charity came into being on 29 November 2018. The financial period under review is the third period of operation.

The governing instrument is the constitution dated 31 August 2018. The Constitution closely follows the Charity Commission’s model or template constitution for charitable incorporated organisations (‘association’ model).

Those having an interest in the work and aims of the charity have opportunity (subject to the provisions of the constitution, and to payment of any applicable membership subscription) to become members of the charity and to attend and participate in the AGM.

The trustees look for opportunities to increase the membership.

The charity is managed by its board of trustees.

The charity does not act as custodian trustee for any other organisation.

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

5.2 Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

New trustees are appointed at the AGM. However, the trustees have power to co-opt additional trustees at any time. Co-opted trustees serve only until the next AGM, at which time they are then eligible (subject to the provisions of the constitution) to be elected by the AGM as elected trustees.

All trustees of the charity give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.

In order to bring a range of skills and experience to cater for the broad reach of the charity, the aim is that new trustees will be from backgrounds that reflect the charity’s needs. Suitable candidates are those who are sympathetic to the needs and aims of the organisation and who have relevant skills and experience. The trustees are developing guidelines for identifying and selecting suitable individuals.

5.3 Trustee Induction and Training

New trustees are briefed by the existing trustees on the charity’s objects and operations and the new trustees are referred to the guidance for new trustees published by the Charity Commission. In addition, each new trustees is provided with a copy of the constitution (plus any bye-laws or similar adopted by the charity), and is encouraged to study the document(s) and to discuss with the existing trustees any queries that he or she may have.

All trustees are expected to be familiar with the work of the charity.

5.4 Public Benefit

The trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular to the Commission’s supplementary guidance on advancing education when reviewing the charity’s activities and planning future activities and setting policies, and that they have had due regard to such guidance.

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

5.6 Additional Governance Issues

The charity is funded mainly through membership subscriptions, donations, grants, admission charges at some of the charity’s events, and sales of books relating to the history and heritage of Belgrave.

Though all trustees give their time voluntarily, the charity recognises that trustees may incur expense such as travel to meetings, conferences and other events. Trustees may from time to time, finances allowing, be reimbursed for expenses directly incurred in fulfilling their duties.

The charity’s income at this stage in its life is quite modest. The charity has substantial aspirations for the future. The coronavirus epidemic meant that many plans had to be deferred. However, activities were re-commenced during 2022 and continued through 2023. It is anticipated that more funding will need to be generated in the future. The trustees are acutely alert to such issues and are always looking for suitable and prudent ways of developing the charity and increasing its resources.

6. Objectives

The six aims for which the charity exists are summarised below, and may be read in full in the constitution:-

  1. to advance education relating to the history and heritage of the Old Belgrave Village, with particular regard to the history and heritage of the places of worship and former places of worship

  2. to preserve, repair, maintain and enhance the land and structures of historic, architectural, archaeological or environmental value within the Old Belgrave Village (“the Heritage Land and Structures”)

  3. to provide (on or near the Heritage Land and Structures) facilities for the advancement of the aims stated in 1 above

  4. to provide (on or near the Heritage Land and Structures) social welfare, recreation and/or leisure facilities

  5. generally to further the use of the Heritage Land and Structures for charitable purposes

  6. other charitable aims incident or ancillary to the above.

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

7. Geographical Area of Operation

The constitution states that the focus of the charity is primarily or mainly upon the following areas:

  1. the land within the circumference of a circle having 400 metres radius, the centre of the circle being the crossroads and the junction of Checketts Road, Loughborough Road and Vicarage Lane (The Grid Reference of this crossroads is SK 59431 07138)

  2. Belgrave Cemetery (Grid Reference SK 58803 07969)

  3. the “Iron Church” on Abbey Lane (Grid Reference SK 58720 07227)

  4. any outlying pre-nineteenth century buildings and sites of historical, architectural, archaeological or environmental value.

The constitution also states that for the purposes of the constitution the expression ‘Old Belgrave Village’ is to be interpreted having regard to the above explanation as general guidance as to its meaning.

8. Summary of Main Activities During the Year

Some members of the charity continued to undertake some limited gardening care and maintenance tasks in the St Peter’s churchyard.

A programme of events and activities was carried-on during the year.

In April 2022, the Trust had gained permission to use a room at Belgrave Hall as an exhibition room, and this arrangement continued through the summer period of 2023. This room was used for displays of photographs, maps and other information. The volunteers serving as stewards also collected stories from visitors of their memories of Old Belgrave. Through the summer period from April to September, the Trust had the use of the room when the Belgrave Hall was open to the public on every Wednesday (five hours each Wednesday) and on one weekend each month, plus several special event days. The display room was open in total on 33 days, and received approximately 1400 visitors.

During the year under review, the Trust bought a number of items to assist with the care and display of information regarding Belgrave’s history and heritage.

Tours were given of the Churchyard at St Peter’s, and these proved to be popular.

Several talks / lectures were held during the year.

Several newsletters were issued during the year, in addition to a number of News Updates.

Permission was obtained for representatives of the Trust to enter the St Peter’s Church on Armistice Day 11 November 2023 to place a wreath at the War Memorial and to observe a brief Act of Remembrance. The Trust’s chairman led an Act of Remembrance in the Belgrave Cemetery on the morning of Remembrance Sunday 12 November 2023 for the Friends of Belgrave Cemetery .

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

8 continued. Summary of Main Activities During the Year

Owing to the fact that a suitable and appropriate financially-sustainable new use for the historic redundant St Peter’s church building has not at this time been identified, the Trust is not at present in a position to pursue in any effective way its interest in securing the future of this important building. The Trust is aware that the Authorities of the Church of England have once again put the building on the market for sale.

Owing to the current impasse regarding the future of the St Peter’s Church building, the focus of the Trust’s attention and activities now falls increasingly upon other aspects of the history and heritage of Old Belgrave.

A much improved website has been developed and is operational, and it is envisaged that further material will be added in the future. The new website provides a platform from which the Trust can promote the Trust and its Objects to a wide audience and provides useful information about Belgrave’s history and heritage.

9. Summary of Financial Performance

Payments exceeded Receipts by £ 1037, whereas in the previous year receipts had exceeded payments by £ 338.

There is a contingent liability (carried forward from pre-coronavirus days) amounting to £ 499, as stated in Section B6 of the Financial Statements and as explained in Note 3 of the Notes to the Financial Statements.

10. Reserves Policy and Practice

At this stage in the life of the charity, the trustees have not formally designated any funds as reserves nor has a formal Reserves Policy been adopted.

However, the trustees aspire to build-up the charity’s unexpended income as much as reasonably possible at the same time as seeking to strike a fair balance between spending on current events, activities and promotions and building financial resilience for the future.

One of the reasons for wanting to try and build financial resilience for the future is that with the arrangements for the future care, maintenance and use of the St Peter’s building still totally unresolved, the trustees would wish to be in the best possible financial position in case the opportunity arises for the Trust to influence or be involved in this matter.

Even if it turns out that it is not practically possible to build up the unexpended income above the year-end level of £ 2591, the trustees consider that every possible means should be used to ensure that the balance in hand does not fall below the level one full year’s anticipated routine expenditure.

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11. General

This Report should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements for the same period (given as pages 7 to 11).

12. Declaration and Signatures

This annual report is signed this 4th day of March 2024 on behalf of the board of trustees by

Richard Norburn, Chairman Carolyn Hindocha, Secretary

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2023

SECTION A RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS (see Notes 1 and 2)

TOTAL GENERAL RESTRICTED PREV 2021-22

A1. Receipts
Grants received (seeNote 3) - - - -
Membership subscriptions received (seeNote 4) 282 282 - 476
Events (admission charges etc) 468 468 - 229
Donations 846 846 - 755
Sales of ‘Story of Belgrave’ Book 310 310 - 300
Postage and packaging for book - - - 4
Total Receipts 1906 1906 - 1764
A2. Asset and Investment Sales- - - -
A3. Payments
Insurance 398 398 - 365
Printing of ‘Story of Belgrave’ Book - - - -
Postage and packaging for book 4 4 - 4
Cost of hiring hall 248 248 - 194
Website domain name 19 19 - -
Website Development & Maintenance 1492 1492 - 288
Wreath (Armistice Day) 35 35 - -
Donations to Guest Speakers 270 270 - 40
Subscription (L&R Heritage Forum) 30 30 -
Items Purchased 258 258 - 332
Catering 4 4 - 49
Admin/Secretarial expenses 134 134 - 68
Bank Charges 51 51 - 67
Governance costs - - -
Total payments 2943 2943 - 1426
A4. Asset and Investment Purchases - - - -
Net RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS) (1037) (1037) - 338

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

SECTION B STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as at 30 November 2023

TOTAL GENERAL RESTRICTED 30 Nov 2022
B1. Cash Funds 2591 2092 499 3628
These Cash Funds are held as follows –
Cash at bank 2278
Cash in hand 313
B2. Other monetary assets - - - -
B3. Investment assets - - - -
B4. Un-sold stock(seeNote 5) 1045 1045 - 1359
B5. Assets retained for the
charity’s own use(seeNote 12) - - - -
B6. Liabilities(seeNote 3) 499 - 499 499

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1: Accounting Policies and Practices

SECTION A of the Financial Statements is prepared on the ‘Receipts and Payments’ basis, and is accompanied by SECTION B , a Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at the end-date of the period under review.

Note 2: Note Regarding Restricted and Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted funds are funds that can be used in any way within the charity’s objectives, at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds are funds held by the charity where there is a contractual requirement for the funds to be spent on a particular purpose.

Note 3: Grants Received

A Ward Grant of £ 499 was received for use in connection with the Belgrave History Fair planned for July 2020. The Fair was postponed owing to the coronavirus emergency and the money remains unspent. There is a contingent liability (shown in Section B6 ) in that the Ward Grant may have to be repaid if it proves to be not possible eventually to use it for a delayed Belgrave History Fair.

Note 4: Membership Statistics

The number of members on the Roll of Members as at 30 November 2023 stood at 47 (46 as at 30 November 2022).

Note 5: Stock of Unsold Books and Envelopes

At 30 November 2023, the charity held a stock of 104 un-sold copies of the re-print of the ‘ Story of Belgrave ’ book by Michael Smith and ten padded envelopes. The books have a potential future sale value of £ 1040. The ten padded envelopes have a potential future sale value of £ 5.

Note 6: Trustee Remuneration and Expenses

No trustee was remunerated. No trustee claimed expenses.

Note 7: Employees

The charity had no employees.

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued

Note 8: Plant and Machinery

The charity had no plant or machinery, other than that declared in Note 12 of these Notes.

Note 9: Guarantees

The trustees declare that the charity has given no guarantee where potential liability is outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.

Note 10: Debtors

The trustees declare that the charity has no outstanding debts which are secured by an express charge on any of the assets of the charity at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.

Note 11: Related Party Information and Related Party Transactions

Several years ago, a ‘ Belgrave Hall Conservation Area Society’ was formed, as an un-incorporated association. One of the matters that had the attention of the Society was the uncertain future of the historic St Peter’s church building which had been declared redundant by the Church of England.

The Society came to the view that the future of the St Peter’s building was a major project that would best be carried forward by a dedicated separate organisation. As a result, some of the members of the Society formed a group of ‘ Friends of Belgrave St Peters ’ as an un-incorporated association separate from the ‘ Belgrave Hall Conservation Area Society ’.

The committee of the ‘ Friends of Belgrave St Peters’ then came to the view that the project would best be carried forward by a body having formal charitable status and incorporated with limited liability. Plans were made to create such a body as a successor to the un-incorporated ‘ Friends ’ group.

While considering the wording for the charitable objects clause for the envisaged new body, the individuals who were the members of the committee of the ‘ Friends ’ concluded that it was appropriate and opportune to declare wider charitable objects that were not restricted to the St Peter’s building, and to form a ‘ Belgrave Heritage Trust’ relating to old Belgrave more generally. This plan was put to the members of the ‘ Friends ’ group at its AGM held on 30 June 2018 and received their endorsement. A constitution for the new body was drawn-up, the individuals who were the committee of the ‘ Friends ’ group standing as the first members and the first trustees of the new body. The new ‘Belgrave Heritage Trust’ was incorporated by the Charity Commission as a ‘charitable incorporated organisation’ on 29 November 2018 and received registered charity status at that same time.

The ‘ Friends ’ group decided to wind-up its operations. All members of the group were invited to transfer their membership to become members of the new charity, and the ‘ Friends ’ group decided to transfer its assets to the new charity. The final or closing balance on the books of the ‘ Friends ’ group was £ 3401 which was transferred in its entirety to the charity. In addition, some of the items identified in Note 12 of these Notes were donated by the ‘ Friends ’ group.

11

BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2023, Continued

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, Continued

Note 12: Assets Retained for the Charity’s Own Use

The charity owns a number of items as identified below, which are retained for the charity’s own use. Although useful to the charity, these items are regarded by the trustees as having minimal commercial or re-sale value. Also, such commercial or re-sale value (if any) may be difficult to quantify with any degree of accuracy. The trustees have decided to treat these items as fully depreciated.

Items donated to the charity (Some of these items listed were donated by the ‘ Friends of Belgrave St Peters ’ group):

Items purchased by the charity (The items identified in italic print were bought during the year ended 30 November 2023):

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Note 12: Assets Retained for the Charity’s Own Use, Continued

In addition, the following items are on loan to the charity and are available for its use:

Declaration and Signatures

These financial statements (including the statement of assets and liabilities presented as SECTION B , and the NOTES thereto) are signed this 4th day of March 2024 on behalf of the board of trustees by

Richard Norburn, Chairman Carolyn Hindocha, Secretary

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