THE FRIENDS OF
ABINGDON
CIVIC SOCIETY
5T
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
st
The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the period from l January
2025 to 31, December 2025.
l. The Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the United
Kingdom Charity Commission under registration number 1183397. Its
th
governing document is a constitution dated 8 May 2019
2. The Socievs registered address is 18 Thames Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3HZ
3. The Society was registered as a charity on May 14 2019
4. The objects of the Society are:
For the benefit of the people of Abingdon-on-Thames
To promote high standards of planning and architecture
To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history, culture and
architecture of the area
To secure the preservation. protection, development and improvement of
features or areas of historic or public interest
Examples of the ways we seek to achieve these objects are:
Organising events and contributing to public discussions to foster civic pride
and promote the civic life, heritage and environment of the town
Monitoring and commenting on planning applications and lobbying the relevant
authorities to encourage high standards of historic conservation, planning and
development worthy of the town's civic tradition and character
Managing a town centre community space which other groups and not-for-
profit organisations can use at little or no cost for activities, exhibitions etc
Contributing in whatever other ways we can to help make Abingdon a great
place to live, work and visit.
5. The Trustees who served during the period were:
Keith Butler
Bobbie Nichols
Andrew Coker
Olga Senior (to 31 March 20251
Hester Hand
The Trustees are supported by a wider Committee with members working on our
various activities and projects.

6. Governance
Meetings- The Committee (including Trustees) met on six occasion5 during the
year: the Trustees held one additional meeting to discuss governance matters.
Finance- During the year the majority of our funds were transferred into two
savings accounts which generated £217 of additional income for the Society.
The bank balance at the end of the period was £12,535- full details are in the
accounts.
Membership- the Society has 239 members, with over half being life
members. The Committee has continued to try to engage and inform the
membership of the Sociews activities via regular e-newsletter5
Public Benefit- The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard
to the guidance on public benefit issued by the UK Charity Commission in
exercising their powers and duties.
7. Summary of the yearfs activities
Planning- the Society has monitored planning applications in the area and
made submissions and comments where appropriate, with the aim of
preventing developments which we believe would be detrimental to the town's
character or vibrancy or to the wellbeing of residents in general.
Consultations- the Trustees publicised consultations on local projects such as
the White Horse Reservoir and the Town Centre traffic schemes and
encouraged members to respond.
Heritage Open Days- as part of the national scheme, the society led the
organisation of the town's Heritage Weekend. The theme was "Exploring
Architerture" and we worked in collaboration with the Museum. the Historical
Society, the Flower Club and Abingdon Artists. During the weekend, the
Museum's re-enactment day had over a thousand visitors in six hours, other
venues had over 700 in the two days, despite the heavy rain. As well as the
stories and pictures in our 'Lost Buildings, and 'Evolving Abingdon" exhibitions,
visitors were able to enjoy no fewer than 13 other "Open Doors" ranging from
medieval houses and churches to the ultra-modern Sophos building together
with activities for children.
Unit 24125 Community Space- early in the year we were required to move
from Unit 24 to Unit 25. We also started to having to pay for our electricity. The
new premises were very popular and were very well used during the year, by a
wide range of groups for meetings, exhibitions, training courses, repair
workshops etc. We are also able to help other groups with storage of
equipment. Groups who can afford it are encouraged to make donations and
these were suff icient to cover all of the running and maintenance costs during
the year. We have also been grateful for practical assistance from some of the
regular user groups.

Archive - work is in hand to digitise the extensive collection of historic
photographs in our archive~ and others which have been lent to us to share -
and the first IO0+ are now available to the public on our website. It is hoped to
expand this to include a wide range of interesting photographs held by other
groups and individuals.
Banking review- following the closure of several bank branches, the Society
investigated the options for alternative provision, then produced an
information sheet on the ser¥ices available for those wishing to do in-person
banking.
Hester Hand
On behalf of the Trustees of The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society
June 2026
FTrands t)fAbvyh7 Crrfr Sc¥xty Rwsler8d CharityNo 1183397
Joint H￿￿Pr&S[dents.. Felk)tyDK* DL 8ndL8yla lknran MP

Frlends of Ablngdon Clvlc Soclety
Incomeand Expendltyrefortheyear ended 31st December 2025
Note
2024
Membership Subscrtptions
1.018
Unit 24 then Untt 25
Income
Expen(Jiture 13,0061
2.073
15161
1,557
HeTltage Open Days
Ir￿orne
Expenditure
1.907
11,5211
12,7251
18571
Other income
320
590
Bank interest received
217
Toial Income
2A16
1308
AGM
75
Annual iTrSUTance
243
Archive boxes
334
Other
36
Walks leaflets
510
Web site
115
115
Total Expendlture
1.352
Surplus for year
956
Funds boughttorward
11.396
iOA40
Surplusforyear
Funds carrledforward
IL396
rJtAlb
K E Butler BA FCA
Treasurer and Trustee
14th June 2026

Frlends ofAblngdon Clvlc Society
Income and Expendltureforthe yeafended31stDecember2025
Note5tothe accounts
Note
Incomeforthe community spaces IUnit24then Unit 251 includes Council grants of Nil12024- £1.0001.
Incomefor Heritage Open Days includes Council grants of £1.80012024: £1.71￿1.
Reserves Policy
The Society holds rese￿esof £12,535 as at3tst December2025 in orderto fund its acbwties forthe foreseeable
future.
These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and PayTnents basis.