Charity registration number 1195105
The Debney Endowment Trust
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
The Debney Endowment Trust
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
| Trustees' Report | 2 to 4 |
| Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities | 5 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 to 14 |
The Debney Endowment Trust
Reference and Administrative Details
Chairman Richard Hubble Trustees Rebecca Crean, ex-officio as Head Teacher of Tonbridge Grammar School Richard Hubble Geraldine Hughes Michael Joyner Nigel Stratton (resigned 9 July 2025) Ed Walker (appointed 9 July 2025) Claire Lindridge (appointed 5 March 2025) Charity Registration Number 1195105 Principal Office Tonbridge Grammar School Deakin Leas Tonbridge Kent TN9 2JR Independent Examiner Steve Hale Perrys Audit Limited Churchdown Chambers Bordyke Tonbridge Kent TN9 1NR Investment Manager Brewin Dolphin 12 Smithfield Street London EC1A 9LA Bankers Unity Trust Bank plc Four Brindleyplace Birmingham B1 2JB
Page 1
The Debney Endowment Trust
Trustees report
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the Trust for the period ended 31 August 2025.
Objectives and activities
Objects and aims
The advancement of education by support of Tonbridge Grammar School, (the School), or students, former students and potential students of the School, in particular, but not exclusively by:
a. Promotion of social inclusion;
- b. Provision of bursaries and prizes;
c. Provision of items, services and facilities.
Objectives, strategies and activities
In the period under review support has been given as follows:
-
A small number of bursaries have been given to current students.
-
Counselling sessions for current students.
-
Tuition support.
-
Horizons Programme - 11+ summer holiday revision course for primary school pupils.
Public benefit
The Trust carried out its object by funding bursaries, tuition and counselling, thereby advancing social mobility and inclusion and widening access to a grammar school education. In addition the Trust supported initiatives which engage primary school students to encourage them to consider applying to Tonbridge Grammar School. The Trust will support initiatives to support social inclusion and the wellbeing of students. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Grant making policies
All applications for funding either from the School or individual students are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
Use of volunteers
All trustees give their time freely and no trustee remuneration was paid in the period. Apart from the trustees, the Trust has no other volunteers.
Achievements and performance
Grants awarded were modest in value and in the next 12 months the trustees anticipate that grant requests will grow as information about the Trust becomes more widely known in the School community. The Trust has not taken part in any fundraising during the period.
Total returns on the capital funds of the Trust were sufficient to fund the required bursaries awarded from the Trust.
Financial review
During the year the funds were held in interest and non-interest bearing bank accounts. There was no material change in the financial position of the Trust during the period.
Policy on reserves
The objective is to maintain the real capital value of the fund while at the same time using the income generated for student bursaries and other objects of the Trust.
Principal funding sources
The Trust was established with two initial payments from Tonbridge Grammar School. One payment was as a lasting tribute to the Coen family who gave a substantial gift to help support the School's work to widen access to a Tonbridge Grammar School education. The other payment was as a lasting tribute to Miss Joy Debney, teacher of history and school archivist, who was associated with Tonbridge Grammar School for many years and who named the School as the sole beneficiary of her estate when she died in 2017.
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The Debney Endowment Trust
Trustees report
Investment policy and objectives
The majority of the Trust's funds are placed with an Investment Manager. The policy is to maintain the capital value of the fund in real terms and to use the income to support the objects of the Trust. If the demand for bursaries exceeds the income consideration will be given to topping up from capital. The Trust follows as far as possible the ethical investment policy, supported by the School.
Plans for future periods
Aims and key objectives for future periods
The trustees of The Debney Endowment Trust seek to support Tonbridge Grammar School in advancing the School's commitment to widening access and social mobility by promoting admissions to the School for financially disadvantaged children, and through the provision of bursary and other grants to ensure that no child already at the School is excluded from any aspect of the education and activities due to personal financial constraints.
The trustees are keen to accept donations to the Trust to grow the capital base and generate income to meet expected growth in demand for bursary support.
Going concern
The trustees do not believe there are any uncertainties about the continuation of the Trust as a going concern.
Trustees and officers
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees: Rebecca Crean, ex-officio as Head Teacher of Tonbridge Grammar School. Richard Hubble Geraldine Hughes Michael Joyner Nigel Stratton (resigned 9 July 2025) Ed Walker (appointed 9 July 2025) Claire Lindridge (appointed 5 March 2025) Chairman: Richard Hubble
Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document
The Trust is constituted as a CIO. The governing document is the Constitution dated 8 July 2021.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The majority of the trustees are to be appointed by the trustees. There is to be at least one, and no more than two, trustees nominated by Tonbridge Grammar School. The Head Teacher is to be an ex-officio trustee, provided that they are happy to accept the office.
Page 3
The Debney Endowment Trust
Trustees report
Organisational structure
The trust is managed by the trustees. At quarterly trustees' meetings the trustees agree the broad strategy and areas of activity for the Trust, including consideration of grant making, investment, risk management policies and performance. The administration of grants and the processing and handling of applications prior to consideration by the trustees, is delegated to the strategic lead for bursaries at the School.
The School's bursary committee meets regularly throughout the academic year, to consider new applications fulfilling the relevant criteria and make recommendations for funding. The committee monitors information regarding trends in applications and forecasts for future funding needs and makes recommendations to the trustees.
The financial records are maintained by the School's finance team.
Relationships with related parties - Tonbridge Grammar School
The Trust was created to receive donations and legacies left to Tonbridge Grammar School and to use those funds for the advancement of education by support of the School. The School nominates a trustee and the Head Teacher is an ex-officio trustee.
Major risks and management of those risks
The trustees have considered the major risks to which the Trust is exposed and have reviewed those risks and have established procedures to manage those risks.
The trustees consider variability of investment returns on the permanent endowment to constitute the Trust's major financial risk. The extreme volatility in world stock markets has demonstrated this risk. The trustees take account of the performance and outlook for investment returns and keep the level of awards under careful review.
Financial instruments
Objectives and policies
The Trust's activities expose it to a number of financial risks including credit risk, cash flow risk and liquidity risk. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Trust's policies approved by the board of trustees, which provide written principles on the use of financial derivatives to manage these risks. The Trust does not use derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.
Cash flow risk
Interest bearing assets are held in short notice deposit accounts to ensure certainty of cash flows on changes to variable interest rates.
Credit risk
The Trust's principal financial assets are bank balances and investments. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows.
The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high creditratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. The Trust has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers.
Liquidity risk
In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, the charity uses a mixture of long-term and short-term finance.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the Trust on 4 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Richard Hubble Chairman and trustee
Page 4
The Debney Endowment Trust
Statement of trustees responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Trust for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Trust will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the Trust on 4 June 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Richard Hubble Chairman and Trustee
Page 5
The Debney Endowment Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Debney Endowment Trust
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Debney Endowment Trust for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report.
As the trustees of The Debney Endowment Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the The Debney Endowment Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of The Debney Endowment Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
S Hale
Steve Hale Perrys Audit Limited Churchdown Chambers Bordyke Tonbridge Kent TN9 1NR
Date 16.6.26
Page 6
The Debney Endowment Trust
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
| Note Income and Endowments from: Investment income 2 Donations Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Gains/losses on investment assets Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 13 Note Income and Endowments from: Investment income 2 Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Gains/losses on investment assets Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 13 |
Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ 17,959 1,996 0 500 17,959 2,496 (6,708) (745) (1,223) (21,904) (7,931) (22,649) 24,441 2,716 34,469 (17,437) 656,829 61,657 691,298 44,220 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ 17,132 1,904 (5,684) (631) (1,271) (13,154) (6,955) (13,785) 53,163 5,906 63,340 (5,975) 593,489 67,632 656,829 61,657 |
Total funds 31 August 2025 £ 19,955 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 20,455 (7,453) (23,127) |
||
| (30,580) 27,157 |
||
| 17,032 718,486 |
||
| 735,518 | ||
| Total funds 31 August 2024 £ 19,036 (6,315) (14,425) |
||
| (20,740) 59,069 |
||
| 57,365 661,121 |
||
| 718,486 |
Page 7
The Debney Endowment Trust
Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
| Note Fixed assets Investments 10 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 11 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 12 Net current assets Net assets Funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 13 |
2025 £ 722,905 22,258 (9,645) 12,613 735,518 44,220 691,298 735,518 |
2024 £ 703,015 29,825 (14,354) |
|---|---|---|
| 15,471 | ||
| 718,486 | ||
| 61,657 656,829 |
||
| 718,486 |
The financial statements on pages 7 to 14 were approved by the trustees on:
4 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Richard Hubble
Trustee
Page 8
The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
1. Accounting policies
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
The Debney Endowment Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income and endowments
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the Trust has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Charitable expenditure
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the Trust in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Grant expenditure
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives. Where the Trust gives a grant with conditions for its payment being a specific level of service or output to be provided, such grants are only recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the recipient of the grant has provided the specific service or output. Grants payable without performance conditions are recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made and communicated to the recipient, and there are no conditions to be met relating to the grant which remain in the control of the Trust.
Grant provisions
Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.
Page 9
The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
Support costs
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the Trust’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including independent examination, strategic management and trustees' meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Taxation
The Trust is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the Trust is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Fixed asset investments
Fixed asset investments are included at market value at the balance sheet date. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their market value at the start of the year, or their subsequent cost, and are charged or credited to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period of disposal. Unrealised gains and losses represent the movement in market values during the year and are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities based on the market value at the year end.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the Trust. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Financial instruments
Classification
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Trust becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Trust after deducting all of its liabilities.
Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
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The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
1. Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments
Recognition and measurement (continued)
Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of financial position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the Trust intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the Trust transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the Trust, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.
Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
Fair value measurement
The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price for an identical asset in an active market. When quoted prices are unavailable, the price of a recent transaction for an identical asset provides evidence of fair value as long as there has not been a significant change in economic circumstances or a significant lapse of time since the transaction took place. If the market is not active and recent transactions of an identical asset on their own are not a good estimate of fair value, the fair value is estimated by using a valuation technique.
2. Investment income
| 2. Investment income | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| funds | funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Year ended 31 August 2025 | |||
| Other income from fixed asset investments | 17,959 | 1,996 | 19,955 |
| Year ended 31 August 2024 | |||
| Other income from fixed asset investments | 17,132 | 1,904 | 19,036 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |
| funds | funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| 3. Expenditure on raising funds | |||
| Investment management costs | |||
| Year ended 31 August 2025 | |||
| Portfolio management costs | 6,708 | 745 | 7,453 |
| Year ended 31 August 2024 | |||
| Portfolio management costs | 5,684 | 631 | 6,315 |
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The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
4. Expenditure on charitable activities
| 4. Expenditure on charitable activities | |
|---|---|
| Grant funding of activities Allocated support costs Governance costs Grant funding of activities Allocated support costs Governance costs 5 Analysis of governance and support costs Student support Student support Governance costs Independent examiner fees Independent examiner fees |
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds 2025 £ £ £ - 21,904 21,904 83 - 83 1,140 - 1,140 |
| 1,223 21,904 23,127 |
|
| Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds 2024 £ £ £ - 13,154 13,154 71 - 71 1,200 - 1,200 |
|
| 1,271 13,154 14,425 |
|
| Governance Finance Total costs costs 2025 1,140 83 1,223 Governance Finance Total costs costs 2024 1,200 71 1,271 Unrestricted Total funds 2025 £ £ 1,140 1,140 Unrestricted Total funds 2025 £ £ 1,200 1,200 |
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The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
6. Grant making
| 6. Grant making | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grants to individuals | ||
| Analysis of grants | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | |
| Bursaries to school students | 21,904 | 13,154 |
7. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the Trust during the year (2024 - nil).
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the Trust during the year (2024 - nil).
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| 8. Independent examiner's remuneration | £ | £ |
| Examination of the financial statements | 1,140 | 1,200 |
9. Taxation
The Trust is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
10. Fixed asset investments
| Cost or valuation At 1 September 2024 Additions Disposals Revaluations At 31 August 2025 Net book value At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 11. Cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank 12. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Accruals |
Listed investments Total 703,015 703,015 104,085 104,085 (111,352) (111,352) 27,157 27,157 |
|---|---|
| 722,905 722,905 |
|
| 722,905 722,905 |
|
| 703,015 703,015 |
|
| 2025 2024 £ £ 22,258 29,825 |
|
| 2025 2024 £ £ 9,645 14,354 |
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The Debney Endowment Trust
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025
| 13. Funds Unrestricted funds General funds Restricted funds Bursary fund Total funds Unrestricted funds General funds Restricted funds Bursary fund Total funds |
Balance Income Expenses Gains Balance at 1.9.24 /losses at 31.8.25 656,829 17,959 (7,931) 24,441 691,298 61,657 2,496 (22,649) 2,716 44,220 |
|---|---|
| 718,486 20,455 (30,580) 27,157 735,518 |
|
| Balance Income Expenses Gains Balance at 1.9.23 /losses at 31.8.24 593,489 17,132 (6,955) 53,163 656,829 67,632 1,904 (13,785) 5,906 61,657 |
|
| 661,121 19,036 (20,740) 59,069 718,486 |
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows: Restricted funds can only be used for bursaries to current school students.
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Fixed asset investments Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets Fixed asset investments Current assets Current liabilities Total net assets |
Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds funds 31.8.25 £ £ £ 650,615 72,291 722,905 41,823 (19,566) 22,258 (1,140) (8,505) (9,645) |
|---|---|
| 691,298 44,220 735,518 |
|
| Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds funds 31.8.24 £ £ £ 632,713 70,302 703,015 25,316 4,509 29,825 (1,200) (13,154) (14,354) |
|
| 656,829 61,657 718,486 |
15. Related party transactions
During the year the Trust made the following related party transactions:
Tonbridge Grammar School
The objective of the charity is to support past, present and future students of Tonbridge Grammar School. The Head Teacher of the School is an ex-officio trustee and the School may appoint up to two nominated trustees, subject to the majority of trustees being appointed by the trustees. At the balance sheet date the amount due to Tonbridge Grammar School was £8,505 (£13,154).
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