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2024-11-30-accounts

BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Registered Charity Number 1180903

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended

30 November 2024

17 February 2025

BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended

30 November 2024

CONTENTS

Annual Report Pages 2 to 6 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 6 10. Reserves Policy and Practice Page 6 11. General Page 6 12. Declaration and Signatures Page 6 Financial Statements Pages 7 to 10 SECTION A: RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS Page 7 SECTION B: ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Page 8 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Pages 9 and 10 Note 1: Accounting Policies and Practice Page 9 Note 2: Note Regarding Restricted and Unrestricted Funds Page 9 Note 3: Grants Received Page 9 Note 4: Membership Statistics Page 9 Note 5: Stock of Un-sold Books Page 9 Note 6: Trustee Remuneration and Expenses Page 9 Note 7: Employees Page 9 Note 8: Plant and Machinery Page 10 Note 9: Guarantees Page 10 Note 10: Debtors Page 10 Note 11: Related Party Information and Transactions Page 10 Note 12: Assets Retained for the Charity’s Use Page 10

Declaration and Signatures Page 10

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2024

1. Name: BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

2. Charity Registered Number: 1180903

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

4. Trustees:

Stephen John Dixey

Nicholas John Fathers

Carolyn Joyce Hindocha

Sandra Eileen Moore

Richard Charles Norburn

Andrew Warren

Christine Warren

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 sixth 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 2024, 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 2024, 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 and 2024. 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 2024, 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 and 2024. 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. During the year under review, the Heritage Display Room was open in total on 42 days, and received approximately 1278 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 2024 to place a wreath at the War Memorial and to observe a brief Act of Remembrance.

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Annual Report for the Year Ended 30 November 2024, 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

Receipts exceeded payments by £ 862, whereas in the previous year payments had exceeded receipts by £ 1037.

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 £ 3453, 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.

11. General

This Report should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements for the same period (given as pages 7 to 10).

12. Declaration and Signatures

This annual report is signed this 17th day of February 2025 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 2024

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

TOTAL GENERAL RESTRICTED PREV 2022-23

A1. Receipts
Grants received (seeNote 3) - - - -
Membership subscriptions received (seeNote 4) 420 420 - 282
Events (admission charges etc) 390 390 - 468
Donations 1255 1255 - 846
Sales of ‘Story of Belgrave’ Book 285 285 - 310
Postage and packaging 18 18 - -
Tax Reclaimed From HMRC (Gift Aid Scheme) 409 409 - -
Total Receipts 2777 2777 - 1906
A2. Asset and Investment Sales - - - -
A3. Payments
Insurance 191 191 - 398
Printing of ‘Story of Belgrave’ Book - - - -
Postage and packaging 18 18 - 4
Cost of hiring hall 275 275 - 248
Website Domain Name 20 20 19
Website Development & Maintenance 580 81 499 1492
Wreath (Armistice Day) 30 30 - 35
Donations to Guest Speakers 158 158 - 270
Subscription (L&R Heritage Forum) - - 30
Items Purchased 579 579 - 258
Catering 59 59 - 4
Admin/Secretarial expenses 5 5 - 134
Bank Charges - - - 51
Governance costs - - -
Total payments 1915 1416 499 2943
A4. Asset and Investment Purchases - - - -
Net RECEIPTS (PAYMENTS) 862 1361 (499) (1037)

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2024, Continued

SECTION B STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES as at 30 November 2024

TOTAL GENERAL RESTRICTED 30 Nov 2023
B1. Cash Funds 3453 3453 - 2591
B2. Other monetary assets - - - -
B3. Investment assets - - - -
B4. Un-sold stock(seeNote 5) - - - 1945
B5. Assets retained for the
charity’s own use(seeNote 12) - - - -
B6. Liabilities(seeNote 3) - - - 499

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BELGRAVE HERITAGE TRUST

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 November 2024, 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 several years ago for use in connection with the promotion of Belgrave’s heritage by means of an envisaged Belgrave History Fair planned for July 2020. The Fair was postponed owing to the coronavirus emergency. The money had therefore been carried forward in the Accounts. The £ 499 has now been applied towards meeting the website development and maintenance costs as the trustees considered that the promotion of Belgrave’s heritage by means of the website improvements to be within the intended and permitted use for which this Grant was awarded. The Restricted Fund is therefore now fully expended.

Note 4: Membership Statistics

The number of members on the Roll of Members as at 30 November 2024 stood at 42 (46 as at 30 November 2023).

Note 5: Stock of Unsold Books

The Trust holds a stock of un-sold copies of the ‘ Story of Belgrave ’ book by Michael Smith. Any potential sales value can only be realised as and when someone wants to buy a copy. The potential future sale value of these books is therefore treated for book-keeping purposes as nil. Income from sales (£ 2245) has already greatly exceeded the printing costs (£ 1046).

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 2024, 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

None.

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

The charity owns a number of items 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.

There are also some items on loan to the Charity and available for its use.

An Inventory of the Items owned and of those on loan is retained in the records of the Charity.

Declaration and Signatures

These financial statements (including the statement of assets and liabilities presented as SECTION B , and the NOTES thereto) are signed this 17th day of February 2025 on behalf of the board of trustees by

Richard Norburn, Chairman Carolyn Hindocha, Secretary

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