## **UK-St Helena Heritage Trust** 

## **Trustee’s Report and Financial Statements** 

## **1 April 2023** 

**to** 

## **31 March 2024** 

Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Number: 1185952 



## **Contents** 

|Charity Information|3|
|---|---|
|Trustee’s Report|4|
|Statement of Receipts and Payments|7|
|Statement of Fund Movements|8|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|9|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|10|



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## **Charity Information** 

Trustees Sir Brian Unwin KCB (Chair) Michael Binyon OBE (Vice Chair) Oni Oviri (Treasurer) Thomas Peregrine Stansfeld Bryant Dr Rebecca Cairns-Wicks MBE Penelope, Viscountess Cobham CBE Dan Cruickshank Philip Davies Professor Alan Forrest Peter Hicks Philip John Sharman Kedell Worboys MBE Patron Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte Executive Director Martyn Weeds Address c/o St Helena Government UK Office Alliance House 12 Caxton Street London SW1H 0QS Website www.uk-sthelenaheritagetrust.org 

Charity Number 1185952 Bankers The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT 

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## **Trustee’s Report 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024** 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

The UK-St Helena Heritage Trust (the ‘Charity’) – formerly the British Napoleonic Bicentenary Trust – is constituted under the terms of its governing document (‘Constitution’), revised and adopted by special resolution of the Board of Trustees on 5[th] July 2023. The Constitution is that of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).  The members of the CIO are its Trustees.  Trustees are appointed for a term of two years by resolution at a properly convened meeting of the Charity Trustees. There were five meetings of the Trustees during the reporting period. 

The objects of the Charity are to advance education for the public benefit by the restoration and preservation of historic sites of cultural, historical and/or architectural significance in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena (the ‘Sites’), in particular but not exclusively by: 

- a) promoting public knowledge and appreciation of the history of the Sites; 

- b) advancing education of the public in the historical significance of the Georgian era (1714-1837) in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, with a particular emphasis on the Napoleonic era (1799-1815) and Napoleon Bonaparte’s internment on the island (1815-1821); and 

- c) promoting and supporting the renovation, preservation and enhancement of the Sites for the public benefit. 

On a day-to-day basis, the Charity is run by a part time Executive Director, supported by the Trustees.  The position of Executive Director is renumerated by the St Helena Government as part of their support of the Charity. 

## **Main Activities Undertaken for the Public Benefit in Relation to the Objects of the Charity** 

The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when setting and reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning the Charity’s future activities. In particular, the Trustees have considered how planned activities contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. The Trustees are satisfied that the Charity continues to meet the Charity Commission’s guidelines with regard to carrying out its purposes for the public benefit. 

After a period of reflection and strategic review of the Charity’s priorities and future activities following the passing of the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death, the Trustees resolved to formally change the name of the Charity from the British Napoleonic Bicentenary Trust to the UK-St Helena Heritage Trust.  This resolution was passed on 5[th] July 2023, and publicly announced on 30[th] January 2024 along with the launch of a new logo, website and visual identity. 

In furtherance of its objective to advance education for the public benefit by the restoration and preservation of historic sites of cultural, historical and/or architectural significance in the British Overseas Territory of St Helena, the Charity continued its support of the restoration of Jacob’s Ladder, a Grade I listed monument adjacent to St Helena’s capital, Jamestown.  Onsite activity commenced in August 2022 and involved repair works being undertaken on the steps, metal structure and inclined plane, lime pointing of the adjoining ‘halfway’ wall, and repairs to a small ‘tunnel’ section of the inclined plane which adjoins the historic footpath across the hillside approximately a quarter of the way up the Ladder. Restoration work was completed and the Ladder re-opened to the public on 20[th] April 2023. The Trustees would 

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like to express their thanks to Lord Ashcroft whose generous donation funded the restoration works. 

Also in furtherance of its objects, the UK-St Helena Heritage Trust is working in partnership with the St Helena National Trust and Liberated African Advisory Committee to record and restore ‘No. 1 Building’, constructed in 1865 as an accommodation block to house up to 80 former slaves in the Liberated African Establishment in Rupert’s Valley, St Helena.  The site of the Liberated African Establishment and the nearby burial grounds is of global significance and of vital importance for understanding St Helena’s role in the ending of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.  It has been described by the International Slavery Museum in Liverpool as ‘one of the most important archaeological finds of recent times in one of the most remote places on earth’. 

In connection with the above, the Trust organised its first public webinar as the UK-St Helena Heritage Trust, entitled ‘Breaking the Chain: St Helena and the Ending of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade’.  This event was attended by 66 individuals online via Teams, joined by in-person attendees at St Helena Museum. Presenters included UK-St Helena Heritage Trust Chair Sir Brian Unwin, St Helena National Trust Director Helena Bennett, and archaeologist Dr Andrew Pearson.  A recording of this event can be found on the Trust’s YouTube channel. 

## **Financial Review** 

The Trust commenced fundraising activities in connection with the Liberated African Establishment project, and as a result of the webinar (see above) and other activities had raised £296 at the end of the reporting period. 

The Charity’s total receipts were £705, of which £296 is restricted to heritage projects on the island of St Helena.  Unrestricted income was £409.  As the Charity has no debts, liabilities, or recurring costs beyond those associated with maintenance of the website, the current unrestricted £5,581 cash at bank is considered sufficient reserves for the time being. 

The Charity’s expenditure in the same period was £7,444, of which £6,867 related to the Jacob’s Ladder Restoration Project.  This sum was taken from the £90,000 generously donated by Lord Ashcroft KCMG, PC towards the restoration of the Ladder and other built heritage-related projects on St Helena.  Of the remainder, £300 was paid in connection with the design of the new logo and visual identity, using funds donated by retiring Chair Sir Brian Unwin KCB, and £277 related to maintenance of the Charity’s website. 

## **Future Plans** 

The main focus of activity in 2024-25 is expected to be supporting the restoration of ‘No. 1 Building’, the single surviving structure from the Liberated African Establishment in Rupert’s Valley, and the development of an interpretation centre focusing on St Helena’s role in the ending of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Charity will continue to work with St Helena National Trust and the Liberated African Advisory Committee on this important initiative. A new programme of activities – including public education webinars and fundraising events – is envisaged to promote the widening of focus and raise awareness of specific projects.  Subject to the receipt of funds, the Charity also intends to support the replacement of the lighting on Jacob’s Ladder, in order to increase safety and sustainability, comply with Dark Sky criteria, and better illuminate and present this important monument. 

## **Financial Statements** 

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The financial statements have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with all revenue and expenses shown on a cash basis. 

The financial statements have been drawn up in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity’s Constitution. 

Approved by the Trustees on 6 November 2024 and signed on their behalf by: 


Michael Binyon OBE Chair 

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## **Statement of Receipts and Payments** 

For the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 

||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total Funds|Previous|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds (£)|Funds (£)|(£)|Year (£)|
|**Receipts**|||||
|Donations|409|296|705|28|
|Grants|-|-|-|-|
|Income from Events|-|-|-|-|
|Sales|-|-|-|-|
|Bank Interest|-|-|-|-|
|**Total Receipts**|409|296|705|28|
|**Payments**|||||
|Fundraising Costs|-|-|-|-|
|Event Costs|-|-|-|-|
|Website Costs|277|-|277|12|
|Rebranding Costs|300|-|300|-|
|Restoration Projects|-|6,867|6,867|83,108|
|**Total Payments**|577|6,867|7,444|83,120|
||||||
|**Net Receipts**|(168)|(6,571)|(6,739)|(83,092)|
|**(Payments)**|||||



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## **Statement of Fund Movements** 

For the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 

||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total Funds|Previous|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds (£)|Funds (£)|(£)|Year (£)|
|**Balance brought**<br>**forward**|5,749|6,809|12,558|95,650|
|Receipts|409|296|705|28|
|Payments|577|6,867|7,444|83,120|
|**Balance carried**<br>**forward**|5,581|238|5,819|12,558|



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## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities** 

As at 31 March 2024 

||Unrestricted|Restricted Funds|Total Funds|Previous|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Funds (£)|(£)|(£)|Year (£)|
|**Assets**|||||
|Cash at Bank|5,581|238|5,819|12,558|
|Non-monetary|Nil|Nil|Nil|Nil|
|Assets|||||
|**Total Assets**|5,581|238|5,819|12,558|
||||||
|**Liabilities**|Nil|Nil|Nil|Nil|



The notes on page 9 form part of these financial statements. 

Approved by the Trustees on 6 November 2024 and signed on their behalf by: 


Michael Binyon OBE Chair 

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## **Notes to the Financial Statements** 

Period Ending 31 March 2024 

1. These financial statements are prepared on a receipts and payments basis, with all revenue and expenses shown on a cash basis. 

2. No remuneration or expenses were paid to any Trustee. 

3. Since total revenues in the year were below £25,000 the Trustees are exempted from the requirement to request an independent examination of the financial statements. 

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