REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 08871318 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1183799
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
FOR
RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Statutory Auditors Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 | |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 to | 3 |
| Report of the Independent Auditors | 4 to | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 | |
| Balance Sheet | 8 | |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 to | 12 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 13 |
RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
TRUSTEES Mrs I Burdich Mr I K Clements Dr J A Dyson Mr A C H Gordon OBE Mrs H M Kippax Mr M M Rang Mr S Reakes Mr A W Taylor REGISTERED OFFICE Ruskin Mill Old Bristol Road Nailsworth Gloucestershire GL6 0LA REGISTERED COMPANY 08871318 (England and Wales) NUMBER REGISTERED CHARITY 1183799 NUMBER INDEPENDENT AUDITORS Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Statutory Auditors Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025. 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
The objects of the charity are, for the public benefit, to:
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Advance the education of the public in and to promote research into the teaching, practice and development of Goethean Science (holistic science) and of Rudolf Steiner Spiritual Science and to publish the results;
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Advance the education of people with additional educational needs of any kind by providing or assisting in the provision of an experiential and practical skills orientated education in the areas of arts, crafts, agriculture and environmental sciences, a method known as Practical Skills Therapeutic Education and in doing so to provide health and care support, with particular reference being given to the indications and insights of Rudolf Steiner and to promote research for the public benefit in all aspects of that subject and to publish the results;
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Promote Rudolf Steiner establishments which advance education, health and care.
Public benefit
Ensuring we meet our aims
The Trustees review the aims, objectives and activities each year. We look at what we have achieved in terms of the success of each key activity and the benefits we have brought to those groups we are set up to help. This review also helps us to ensure our aims, objectives and activities remain focussed on our stated purposes. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives we have set.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
During the year the charity was donated freehold property by a related charity, Ruskin Mill Trust. It is intended that this will be a base for future activities in pursuit of the charity's objectives.
The Centre continued its research effort across four established and developing centres based on sites owned by the charity, using Goethean enquiry and spiritual scientific research to underpin Ruskin Mill Trust's method of Practical Skills Therapeutic Education.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Total incoming resources for the year amounted to £40,787 (2024: £36,300). Total expenditure for the year was £51,919 (2024: £36,300) giving a deficit for the year of £11,312 (2024: £nil).
At 31 August 2025, total charity funds stood at £546,168 (2024: £557,480).
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is governed by its Memorandum and Articles dated 31 January 2014 as amended by Special Resolutions dated 3 February 2014 and 15 March 2023 and Certificates of Incorporation on change of name dated 26 July 2017 and 3 January 2023.
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees (who are also the directors of Ruskin Mill Centre For Research for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES - continued
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).
Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware:
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there is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company's auditors are unaware; and
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the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information.
AUDITORS
The auditors, Bronsens, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 29 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
................................................................. Mr A C H Gordon OBE - Trustee
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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Ruskin Mill Centre For Research (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31 August 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 August 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.
Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the Report of the Trustees for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the Report of the Trustees has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the trustees were not entitled to take advantage of the small companies exemption from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report or in preparing the Report of the Trustees.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the company and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the company that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
We focused on laws and regulations which could give rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements, including, but not limited to, the Companies Act 2006 and UK tax legislation. Our tests included agreeing the financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation, enquiries with management and enquiries of legal counsel. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. We did not identify any key audit matters relating to irregularities, including fraud. As in all our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors.
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REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS TO THE MEMBERS OF RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Philip Burton BSc FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Statutory Auditors Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
Date: 29 April 2026
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| 31.8.25 Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Investment income 2 40,787 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 3 - Charitable activities Charitable Activities 40,004 Other 11,915 Total 51,919 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (11,132) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 557,480 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 546,348 CONTINUING OPERATIONS |
31.8.24 Total funds £ 36,300 |
|---|---|
| 8,692 27,608 - |
|
| 36,300 | |
| - 557,480 |
|
| 557,480 | |
All income and expenditure has arisen from continuing activities.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
BALANCE SHEET 31 AUGUST 2025
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 7 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 9 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 10 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
31.8.25 Unrestricted fund £ 535,198 7,887 16,736 24,623 (13,473) 11,150 546,348 546,348 546,348 546,348 |
31.8.24 Total funds £ 546,330 18,402 - 18,402 (7,252) 11,150 557,480 557,480 557,480 557,480 |
|---|---|---|
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 29 April 2026. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Mr A C H Gordon OBE - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, 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.
Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions
The charitable company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland':
- the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows.
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.
Freehold property - Nil on Land, 2% on cost or revalued amount and 4% on cost or revalued amount
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation 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.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
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continued...
RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| 2. INVESTMENT INCOME |
||
|---|---|---|
| Rents received 3. RAISING FUNDS Raising donations and legacies Support costs 4. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): Auditors' remuneration Depreciation - owned assets |
31.8.25 £ 40,787 31.8.25 £ - 31.8.25 £ 2,860 11,132 |
31.8.24 £ 36,300 |
| 31.8.24 £ 8,692 31.8.24 £ 2,940 11,150 |
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 August 2025 nor for the year ended 31 August 2024.
6. STAFF COSTS
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| 31.8.25 | 31.8.24 | |
|---|---|---|
| Administration | 1 | - |
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| COST At 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025 DEPRECIATION At 1 September 2024 Charge for year At 31 August 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors Amounts owed by group undertakings 9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade creditors Amounts owed to group undertakings Social security and other taxes Other creditors Accrued expenses 10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 1.9.24 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 557,480 TOTAL FUNDS 557,480 |
31.8.25 £ 3,399 4,488 7,887 31.8.25 £ 4,296 - 6,817 160 2,200 13,473 Net movement in funds £ (11,132) (11,132) |
Freehold property £ 557,480 11,150 11,132 22,282 535,198 546,330 31.8.24 £ - 18,402 18,402 31.8.24 £ 1,852 3,900 - - 1,500 7,252 At 31.8.25 £ 546,348 546,348 |
|---|---|---|
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 40,787 | (51,919) | (11,132) |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 40,787 | (51,919) | (11,132) |
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
The charity is a subsidiary of Ruskin Mill Land Trust, an unincorporated registered charity, registered in England and Wales, charity number 1053705. Consolidated accounts are available from the parent charity's offices at Ruskin Mill, Old Bristol Road, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire GL6 0LA.
During the year, the company received rental income of £40,787 from Seol Trust, a company of which Mr ACH Gordon and Mrs HM Kippax are directors.
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RUSKIN MILL CENTRE FOR RESEARCH
| DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 | ||
| 31.8.25 | 31.8.24 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Investment income | ||
| Rents received | 40,787 | 36,300 |
| Total incoming resources | 40,787 | 36,300 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Wages | 25,791 | - |
| Social security | 2,643 | - |
| Pensions | 391 | - |
| Sundries | 47 | - |
| Freehold property | 11,132 | 11,150 |
| 40,004 | 11,150 | |
| Support costs | ||
| Governance costs | ||
| Auditors' remuneration | 2,860 | 2,940 |
| Accountancy and legal fees | 4,296 | 5,752 |
| Donations to parent charity | 4,759 | 16,458 |
| 11,915 | 25,150 | |
| Total resources expended | 51,919 | 36,300 |
| Net (expenditure)/income | (11,132) | - |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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