CHARITY NUMBER 1195990 COMPANY NUMBER CE026797 

The Blatchington Court Trust REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 



The Blatchington Court Trust INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024 

|Page||
|---|---|
|1|Legal and Administrative Information|
|2 - 5|Report of the Trustees|
|6|Statement of Trustees Responsibilities|
|7 - 9|Report of the Independent Auditors|
|10|Statement of Financial Activities|
|11|Balance Sheet|
|12|Statement of Cash Flows|
|13 – 23|Notes to the Financial Statements|





The Blatchington Court Trust LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 

CHARITY REGISTERED NUMBER 1195990 

COMPANY NUMBER CE026797 

TRUSTEES 

Alison Acason Shelley Boden Andy Dalby-Welsh Alan Harris Georgina V James ( Retired 6 September 2023 ) Richard J Martin, F.R.I.C.S. Steve Pavey Jonathan Wilson Funke Bayo-Awonaike (Appointed 6 December 2023) 

EXECUTIVE MANAGER 

Alison Evans PRINCIPAL OFFICE 6a Hove Park Villas Hove East Sussex BN3 6HW 

AUDITORS 

Clark Brownscombe Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 2 St Andrews Place Southover Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1UP 

SOLICITORS 

Dean Wilson Ridgeland House 165 Dyke Road Brighton BN3 1TL 

## INVESTMENT MANAGERS 

Charles Stanley and Co Limited 14 Hyde Gardens Eastbourne East Sussex BN21 4PR 

BANKERS 

HSBC Bank Plc CAF Bank Ltd 125 Church Road 25 Kings Hill Avenue Hove Kings Hill East Sussex West Malling BN3 2AN Kent    ME19 4JQ 

_Page 1_ 



## The Blatchington Court Trust TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 March 2024 

The trustees present their report together with the audited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland 2019. 

## SCHEME 

The Blatchington Court Trust is registered as a charity (Charity registration number 1195990) and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Company number CE026797). It is the successor charity to Blatchington Court Trust which  was re-established by a Scheme sealed by the Charity Commissioners on 14 April 1993.  Its registered number was 306350. 

## OBJECTS AND PUBLIC BENEFIT 

The object of the charity is the promotion of education (including social and physical training) of blind and partially sighted persons under the age of 30 years. 

The trustees have had due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Commission in accordance with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011. Providing aid to the education and development of hundreds of the young visually impaired clearly evidences the public benefit of the trust and its work. Moreover, as parents regularly state, the benefit extends to the families in terms of the reduced stress arising from access to the advice and services of the trust. 

Further, the schools in Sussex benefit from both the trust’s work with their pupils, and their professional interaction with the trust. 

## TRUSTEES 

Details of the trustees who served during the year and are still serving are given on page 1. 

The charity’s constitution states that the body of trustees shall consist of not less than five or more than eleven competent persons. The constitution also states that every future trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. 

The composition of the board is kept under regular review to ensure balances of expertise and interest. When the board identifies a need for a new trustee they are recruited through personal searches by individual trustees and staff, normally from amongst people who have demonstrated interest in work relevant to the objects of the trust. New trustees are appointed by the full board and are inducted by the chairman. 

All trustees are trained in their areas of expertise prior to appointment either as professionals (legal, financial, property etc) or as teachers or others specialising in the field of visual impairment. 

They are inducted into the structure and role of the trust by the chairman and the executive manager, or through the receipt of appropriate documentation. 

## ORGANISATION 

The trustees conduct their business in the board, normally at quarterly meetings, without the need for any subcommittees as several individual trustees have specialist portfolios. The day-to-day management of the trust is the responsibility of the executive manager, in consultation with the chairman, and within staff job descriptions agreed by the board. Formal delegation of board responsibility is governed by financial regulations agreed by the board. 

_Page 2_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## STRATEGY 

The charity focuses continuously on increasing its support from endowment income (both directly and through partner bodies) to the approximately 700 vision impaired young people in Sussex who constitute its primary client base – as well as providing support outside Sussex in special individual cases. 

Trustees also utilise funds to facilitate the development of projects, in partnership with statutory and/or voluntary bodies with a proven track record in the charity’s field, to benefit vision impaired young people across the country. 

The above two principal objectives summarise the charity’s strategy, which is subject to annual review on a five year rolling basis. 

Under the strategy, the charity is committed to pursuing the following goals: 

- developing its primary role as an independent facilitator to vision impaired young people and their families and carers; 

- listening to the expressed needs and interests of its clients; 

- providing professional specialist services in support of the needs expressed; 

- focusing resources on the clearly defined needs of vision impaired young people and avoiding duplication of services; and 

- making grants, both to individuals and to organisations, which are in support of the charity’s objects. 

The trustees regard the above strategy as appropriate to ensure the proper utilisation of the charity’s income both present and accumulated. 

## REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES 

During the year, the Trust provided a range of services as follows : 

- Advocacy- supporting parents with various matters & processes relating to their children’s school educational requirements 

- Counselling – providing confidential counselling to parents & clients 

- Technology – provide advice on suitable technology & support, training and assistance as required. Provide Braille & visual awareness training. 

- Grants – provide financial grants for technology, sensory equipment & sporting hobbies ( see Note 4 for further details) 

- Benefits – provide advice & support with claiming statutory benefits & any subsequent appeals 

- Blatchington Friends – provide 1:1 support for clients to promote independence & have a social life independent of their parents 

- Leisure – organise & run social events & activities for clients and their families. Maintain a local allotment to provide an activity space & allow clients to how to grow produce and flowers. 

## STAFF AND KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL 

The Chairman and the Executive manager oversee the administration of the trust. The executive manager has a professional team specialising in the needs of the clients (technical services officer, advocacy officer, and counselling officer). 

## SUMMARY 

In pursuance of a sound strategy and under the control of a stable and experienced board, the Trust’s expert professional team continued to develop much needed services to young vision impaired people in an economical manner. 

_Page 3_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## FINANCE AND INVESTMENT POLICY AND PERFORMANCE 

The charity’s investment powers with regard to the endowment fund were governed by the Trustee Investment Act 1961 with which the trustees in their best endeavours complied.  The Trustee Act 2000 confers upon trustees the general power of investment enabling them to invest in such stock, shares, investments and property in the UK as they see fit. The trustees have engaged Charles Stanley and Company Limited as discretionary fund managers within an investment policy agreed by the board (which makes no reference to ethical investments). The policy is to adopt a medium risk investment strategy based on maximising income. Performance against this policy was satisfactory. 

The income generated by the endowment fund during the year was sufficient to maintain professional services, and a number of grants from the income fund were made. 

The trustees consider that the results of the past year are satisfactory and that the resources are adequate to maintain the charity’s existing services and to meet any reasonable demand upon it during the ensuing year. 

## CUSTODIAN TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENTS 

During the year the charity’s custodian trustees were: 

- Blatchington Court Nominee Limited – freehold and leasehold interests; and 

- Rock Nominees Limited – securities. 

## GRANT MAKING POLICY 

Details of the grants made are provided to the Charity Commission in the details set out in these financial statements. 

Sussex Programme 

The primary and largest is the Sussex Programme, which provides services to individual clients including advocacy, counselling, education, training and assistance in finding employment and family support. 

In pursuance of its objectives, and in accordance with the criteria outlined, the charity will: 

- (i) award grants or allowances to vision impaired young people at any school, university, college of education or other institution of further education (including those providing professional or technical skills) which are approved by the charity’s trustees; and 

- (ii) give grants for, or towards the cost of, equipment, mobility aids, books and other study aids (including those for the study of music and the arts) which will assist in the pursuit of the education, training and employment or business development of young vision impaired people. 

The charity’s scheme does not permit the charity to apply income directly in relief of rates, taxes or other public funds but does permit the charity to apply income in supplementing relief or assistance provided out of public funds. 

## RESERVES POLICY 

At 31 March 2024 the charity had total unrestricted reserves of £2,724,478 of which £869,177 represents the balance on the designated fund which was originally set up to offset the future known shortfall in income in the long term.  The unrestricted reserves of the charity are represented by the balance of £1,855,301 (see Note 14). The endowment funds are all represented by fixed assets in the form of investments. The trustees are satisfied that the reserves are at the minimum level necessary to cover unexpected fluctuations in results. 

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## The Blatchington Court Trust TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## RISK MANAGEMENT 

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks. A risk register is considered and approved by the board on an annual basis. 

Apart from global economic collapse, the trust faces no major strategic risks, it has a secure endowment fund, providing sufficient income to meet client needs, and a growing demand for its services. 

The principal operational risk is the loss of key staff, which has not happened in its history but which is kept under close review. 

Approved by the trustees on  4 September 2024  and signed on their behalf by 


A Dalby-Welsh Trustee 

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## The Blatchington Court Trust STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES for the year ended 31 March 2024 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales 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 charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity 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 judgments 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 charity 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 charity 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 trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

In so far as the trustees are aware, at the time of approving our trustees annual report: 

- there is no relevant information needed by the auditors in connection with preparing their report, of which the auditors are unaware; 

- the trustees have taken all the actions they ought to have taken as trustees, in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information 

_Page 6_ 



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BLATCHINGTON COURT TRUST 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of The Blatchington Court Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Cash Flow Statement 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, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

- In our opinion the financial statements: 

- give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended; 

- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and 

- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. 

## **Basis for opinion** 

We have been appointed as auditors under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act. 

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 Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the [group and parent charity/charity] 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 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 Report and Financial Statements other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information.  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. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- the information given in the trustees’ report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or 

- sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or 

- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

_Page 7_ 



INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BLATCHINGTON COURT TRUST 

## **Responsibilities of trustees** 

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities set out on page 5, the trustees 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 charity’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 charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

## **Auditor’s 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 an auditor’s report 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. 

Details of the extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations are set out below. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.  This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

## **Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud** 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We identified and assessed the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements from irregularities, whether due to fraud or error, and discussed these between our audit team members. We then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework within which  the charity operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102). We assessed the required compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items. 

In addition we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which might be fundamental to the charity’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. We also considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the charity for fraud. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were General Data Protection Regulation and Health and Safety legislation. 

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence if any. 

We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities, including fraud, to be within the timing of recognition of income and the override of controls by management. Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included enquiries of management and the board about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, sample testing on the posting of journals, reviewing accounting estimates for biases, reviewing regulatory correspondence and reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. 

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities. as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BLATCHINGTON COURT TRUST 

omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing noncompliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations. 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.  Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s 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 charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 


Clark Brownscombe Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 2 St Andrews Place Southover Road Lewes East Sussex BN7 1UP 

Date:    12 September 2024 

Clark Brownscombe Limited is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006. 

_Page 9_ 



## The Blatchington Court Trust STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 March 2024 

||Notes|Unrestricted|Designated|Endowment|Total|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|2024|2023|
|||£|£|£|£|£|
|INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM|||||||
|Donations||2,666|-|-|2,666|2,131|
|Grants||12,911|-|-|12,911|-|
|Investment income|2|633,650|-|-|633,650|555,630|
|||──────|──────|──────|──────|─────|
|TOTAL||649,227|-|-|649,227|557,761|
|||──────|──────|──────|─────|─────|
|EXPENDITURE ON|||||||
|_Costs of Raising funds_|||||||
|Investment management costs|3|-|-|40,963|40,963|41,446|
|_Expenditure on charitable_|4||||||
|_activities_||522,268|-|-|522,268|484,532|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|──────|
|TOTAL||522,268|-|40,963|563,231|525,978|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|─────|
|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)|||||||
|BEFORE GAINS AND LOSSES||126,959|-|(40,963)|85,996|31,783|
|Net gains/(losses) on investments|10|-|62,054|138,026|200,080|(536,764)|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|──────|
|NET INCOME /(EXPENDITURE)|||||||
|BEFORE TRANSFERS||126,959|62,054|97,063|286,076|(504,981)|
|Gross transfer between funds||-|-|-|-|-|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|──────|
|NET MOVEMENT IN|||||||
|FUNDS||126,959|62,054|97,063|286,076|(504,981)|
|RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS|||||||
|Balance brought forward at|||||||
|1 April 2023||1,728,342|807,123|11,810,637|14,346,102|14,851,083|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|──────|
|Balance carried forward at||1,855,301|869,177|11,907,700|14,632,178|14,346,102|
|31 March 2024||═══════|══════|══════|══════|══════|



The detailed 2023 comparative statement of financial activities is reported in note 1. 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

_Page 10_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust BALANCE SHEET as at 31 March 2024 

|||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|---|
||Note|£|£|
|FIXED ASSETS||||
|Tangible assets|9|1,458,710|1,434,251|
|Investments|10|12,516,507|12,315,480|
|||──────|────────|
|||13,975,217|13,749,731|
|||──────|────────|
|CURRENT ASSETS||||
|Debtors|11|41,928|34,184|
|Monies held on deposit||94,622|114,900|
|Cash at bank and in hand||566,450|496,020|
|||──────|────────|
|||703,000|645,104|
|CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR|12|(46,039)|(48,733)|
|Net current assets||656,961|596,371|
|||──────|────────|
|TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES||14,632,178|14,346,102|
|||──────|────────|
|NET ASSETS||14,632,178|14,346,102|
|||══════|════════|
|THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY:||||
|Endowment funds|14|11,907,700|11,810,637|
|UNRESTRICTED FUNDS||||
|Designated fund for maintaining income|14|869,177|807,123|
|General funds|14|1,855,301|1,728,342|
|||──────|────────|
|TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS||14,632,178|14,346,102|
|||══════|════════|



These financial statements were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 4 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by: 


A Dalby-Welsh – Trustee 

The notes form part of these financial statements 

_Page 11_ 



## The Blatchington Court Trust STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 31 March 2024 

|2024<br>Note<br>£<br>**Cashflows from operating activities:**<br>**_Net cash used in operating activities_**<br>**a**<br>(527,075)<br>**Cashflows from investing activities:**<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>633,650<br>Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment<br>2,896<br>Purchase of property, plant and equipment<br>(58,372)<br>Proceeds from the sale of investments<br>1,540,919<br>Purchase of investments<br>(1,541,866)<br>Decrease in cash held by investment managers<br>20,334<br>**_Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities_**<br>597,561<br>Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period<br>70,486<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period<br>**b**<br>499,286<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period<br>**b**<br>**569,772**<br>**a Reconciliation of net income /(expenditure) to net cashflow from operating activities**<br>**_Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as_**<br>**_per the statement of financial activities)_**<br>286,076<br>**Adjustments for:**<br>Depreciation charges<br>31,017<br>Loss on disposal of fixed assets<br>-<br>(Gains)/losses on investments<br>(200,080)<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>(633,650)<br>(Increase)/decrease in debtors<br>(7,744)<br>(Decrease) in creditors<br>(2,694)<br>**_Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities_**<br>**(527,075)**<br>**b Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**<br>Cash in hand<br>21,933<br>Notice deposits (less than 3 months)<br>547,839<br>**_Total cash and cash equivalents_**<br>**569,772**||2023<br>£<br>(529,548)<br>555,630<br>403<br>(9,086)<br>2,298,275<br>(2,524,444)<br>267,617|
|---|---|---|
|||588,395|
|||58,847<br>440,439|
|||**499,286**|
|||(504,981)<br>30,161<br>1,526<br>536,764<br>(555,630)<br>(2,231)<br>(35,157)|
|||**(529,548)**|
|||14,212<br>485,074|
|||**499,286**|



The notes form part of these financial statements 

_Page 12_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust ACCOUNTING POLICIES for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## BASIS OF ACCOUNTING 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities SORP (FRS 10) and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2019. 

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

The Trustees have reviewed the charity’s forecasts and projections covering a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements, and based upon the level of existing cash and estimated levels of income & expenditure, the Trustees are satisfied that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future. 

## FUND ACCOUNTING 

The charity’s funds consist of permanent endowment funds, designated income funds and unrestricted income funds. 

## Funds held by the charity are: 

_Permanent endowment funds_ - these funds must be held on trust permanently as capital funds and cannot normally be spent as if they were income. Expenses incurred in the administration or protection of the funds, such as investment management charges are charged to the funds. 

The endowment funds arose from the sale of land at Seaford, East Sussex and are invested for the purposes of the charity.  Income on the endowment funds has been allocated to unrestricted funds in accordance with the scheme deed. 

_Designated funds_ – Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been put aside at the discretion of the trustees for a particular purpose. At the year end it comprises a fund for maintaining income in the future to offset a known significant fall in income in the long term. 

_Unrestricted income funds_ – these funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. 

## INCOME 

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period. 

Income derived from investments in the form of dividends is credited to the SOFA when receivable by the charity. 

Gross rental income is included in the financial statements on an accruals basis. 

Interest income is accrued on a time apportioned basis by reference to the principal outstanding at the effective interest rate. 

Activities for generating funds relate to contributions to office costs for the use of office space by external parties. This income is included in the financial statements on an accruals basis. 

_Page 13_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust ACCOUNTING POLICIES ( _continued)_ For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## EXPENDITURE 

Expenditure is included on an accruals basis. 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 settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. 

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings (see below). 

## _Costs of raising funds_ 

Costs of raising funds comprise those costs directly attributable to managing the investment portfolio and raising investment income. 

## _Grants_ 

Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year-end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. 

Where grants are given by way of computer equipment the full cost is charged in the year of the expense although the charity retains ownership of the equipment and may recall and reissue it. The reissue of this equipment is not reflected in the financial statements. 

The exemption of disclosing the names of grant recipients has been taken under Charity Law. 

## _Support costs_ 

Support costs relate to the general running of the charity and include rent and services costs. Costs are allocated specifically where appropriate and practical, and proportionate to use where resources are shared. 

## _Governance Costs_ 

Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charity and compliance with regulation and good practice.  These costs include costs related to statutory audit and legal fees. 

## TAXATION 

The charity is a registered charity, and therefore is not liable for income tax or corporation tax on income derived from its charitable activities, as it falls within the various exemptions available to registered charities. 

## INVESTMENT PROPERTIES 

Investment properties are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at fair value whilst a reliable measure of fair value is available without undue costs or effort. 

The trustees consider that, because investment properties are not held for consumption, but for their investment potential, to depreciate them would not give a true and fair view. 

## INVESTMENTS 

Investments are included at closing mid-market value at the balance sheet date with revaluation surpluses or deficits being credited or charged as unrealised gains or losses to the appropriate fund. 

## TANGIBLE ASSETS 

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised and included at cost including any incidental expenses of acquisition. 

Tangible assets other than freehold land are stated at cost less depreciation.  Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less the estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: 

- 25% of cost per annum 

Office equipment Freehold property 

50 years straight line basis 

_Page 14_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust ACCOUNTING POLICIES ( _continued)_ For the year ended 31 March 2024 

## PENSIONS 

The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes whereby the assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds.  Contributions are charged against income as they are incurred. 

## LEASED ASSETS 

The trust’s principal leased asset is a property held under an operating lease.  The annual rentals for all operating leases are charged wholly to the statement of financial activities as they arise. 

## DEBTORS 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due. 

## CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND 

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

## CREDITORS AND PROVISIONS 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.  Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method . 

_Page 15_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 1. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 

|||Unrestricted|Designated|Endowment|Total|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Funds|Funds|Funds|2023|
|||£|£|£|£|
|INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS|FROM|||||
|Donations||2,131|-|-|2,131|
|Investment income|2|555,630|-|-|555,630|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|
|TOTAL||557,761|-|-|557,761|
|||───────|──────|──────|─────|
|EXPENDITURE ON||||||
|_Costs of Raising funds_||||||
|Investment management costs|3|-|-|41,446|41,446|
|_Expenditure on charitable_|4|||||
|_activities_||484,532|-|-|484,532|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|
|TOTAL||484,532|-|41,446|525,978|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|
|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)||||||
|BEFORE GAINS AND LOSSES||73,229|-|(41,446)|31,783|
|Net gains on investments|10|-|(23,657)|(513,107)|(536,764)|
|||──────|──────|──────|──────|
|NET INCOME BEFORE||||||
|TRANSFERS||73,229|(23,657)|(554,553)|(504,981)|
|Gross transfer between funds||-|-|-|-|
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|
|NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS||73,229|(23,657)|(554,553)|(504,981)|
|RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS||||||
|Balance brought forward at||1,655,113|830,780|12,365,190|14,851,083|
|1 April 2021||||||
|||───────|──────|──────|──────|
|Balance carried forward at||||||
|31 March 2023||1,728,342|807,123|11,810,637|14,346,102|
|||═══════|══════|══════|══════|



_Page 16_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 2. INVESTMENT INCOME 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted funds|£|£|
|Dividends and interest|443,614|390,574|
|Bank interest|13,885|3,344|
|Income from property|176,151|161,712|
||───────|────────|
||633,650|555,630|
||═══════|════════|



£74 ,146 (2023: £66,293) of dividend income arose on overseas investments. 

|3.|COST OF RAISING FUNDS||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||2024|2023|
||||£|£|
||Endowment fund:||||
||Investment management fees||40,963|41,446|
||||───────|────────|
||Total cost of raising funds||40,963|41,446|
||||═══════|════════|
|4.|ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE||||
||||2024|2023|
||||£|£|
||Grant making|5|29,817|16,372|
||Staff costs|7|296,809|284,353|
||Rent & services||128,233|121,129|
||Social Activities Programme||19,377|17,308|
||Governance costs|6|48,032|45,370|
||||───────|───────|
||||522,268|484,532|
||||═══════|═══════|



All charitable expenditure in both the current and the prior year relates to unrestricted funds. 

|.|NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR|
|---|---|
||This is stated after charging|



|Depreciation<br>9<br>Loss on disposal of fixed assets<br>Auditor’s remuneration|2024<br>£<br>31,017<br>-<br>10,985|2023<br>£<br>30,161<br>1,526<br>10,010|
|---|---|---|



_Page 17_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(Continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

|5.|GRANTS|||
|---|---|---|---|
||Grants were payable as follows:|||
|||2024|2023|
|||£|£|
||_GRANTS TO INDIVIDUALS_|||
||Computer grants 13 (2023: 17)|21,691|15,281|
||Other grants 35  (2023: 11)|8,126|1,091|
|||───────|───────|
|||29,817|16,372|
|||───────|───────|
|6.|GOVERNANCE COSTS|||
|||2024|2023|
|||£|£|
||Auditor’s remuneration - Audit fee (inc. of VAT)|<br>10,985|10,010|
||Other costs|37,047|35,360|
|||─────|────────|
|||48,032|45,370|
|||═════|════════|



_Page 18_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 7. STAFF COSTS AND TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION 

An analysis of staff costs is as follows: 

|n analysis of staff costs is as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
||2024|2023|
||£|£|
|Salaries|262,846|250,884|
|Social security|18,603|19,464|
|Pension contributions|15,360|14,005|
||───────|────────|
|Total|296,809|284,353|
||═══════|════════|



The average number of employees for 2024 was 9 (2023: 10), with 1 (2023: 1) employee providing support to the governance of the Charity and the remainder providing support services to the charity. 

No employees received emoluments of more than £60,000 during either year. None of the trustees received any emoluments or other payments for their services during either year. No trustee was reimbursed expenses (2023: no trustee). There have been no other related party transactions. 

## **Key management personnel** 

The trust considers its key management comprise the executive manager supported by a professional team including Technical Services, Advocacy, Counselling & Finance Officers. The total employee benefit including employer pension contributions of the key management personnel were £ 200,571 (2023: £198,021). 

## 8. PENSIONS 

The trust operates defined contribution pension schemes. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds. The pension charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the funds and amounted to £ 15,360  (2023: £14,005). 

## 9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS 

|ANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Cost or valuation<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Depreciation<br>At 1 April 2023<br>Charge for the year<br>Eliminated re disposals<br>At 31 March 2024<br>Net book value or valuation<br>As at 31 March 2024<br>As at 31 March 2023|Freehold<br>Property<br>£<br>1,624,938<br>49,800<br>-<br>1,674,738<br>201,600<br>27,400<br>-<br>229,000<br>1,445,738<br>1,423,338|Office<br>equipment<br>£<br>53,983<br>8,572<br>(5,423)<br>57,132<br>43,070<br>3,617<br>(2,527)<br>44,160<br>12,972<br>10,913|Total<br>£<br>1,678,921<br>58,372<br>(5,423)|
||||1,731,870|
||||244,670<br>31,017<br>(2,527)|
||||273,160|
||||1,458,710|
||||1,434,251|



_Page 19_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 9. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS (continued) 

Included within Freehold Property is Barclay House, St Peters Road, Seaford, East Sussex, which forms part of the endowment funds that have been developed by SeeAbility to provide sheltered accommodation and a day centre. The trustees have granted a 99-year lease of the land at a nominal rent to SeeAbility. Similarly, with regard to the SeeAbility Wellington project the charity has retained a long leasehold interest in the property for which funds have been used. 

The Trust has an interest in Mary House in Hastings, a property owned by the Martha Trust whereby the Trust made a donation of £350,000 to help construct residential accommodation for visually impaired young people. The Trust has a legal charge over the property and the agreement lasts for 99 years from 2004. Under certain conditions and circumstances, Martha Trust has an obligation to repay the donation to the Trust. The Trustees consider the likelihood of the Martha Trust triggering a repayment obligation to be negligible. Consequently Mary House is held at nil value in Freehold Property. 

Included within Freehold Property, at a total cost of £1,674,738 (2023: £1,624,938), is 6a Hove Park Villas, Hove, East Sussex which is the trust’s principal place of operations. 

10. INVESTMENTS 

|INVESTMENTS|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Designated|Endowment|2024|2023|
||funds|funds|Total|Total|
||£|£|£|£|
|Market value at 1 April 2023|716,394|11,599,086|12,315,480|12,626,075|
|Additions at cost|130,715|1,411,151|1,541,866|2,524,444|
|Disposal proceeds|(140,657)|(1,400,262)|(1,540,919)|(2,298,275)|
|Net realised and unrealised investment|||||
|gains/(losses)|62,054|138,026|200,080|(536,764)|
||──────|──────|──────|──────|
|Market value at 31 March 2024|768,506|11,748,001|12,516,507|12,315,480|
||══════|══════|══════|══════|
|An analysis of the investments is as follows:|||||
|||2024||2023|
|||£||£|
|UK investments listed on a recognised stock|||||
|exchange or valued by reference to such|||||
|investments||4,995,126||4,905,675|
|Fixed interest securities||2,572,423||2,232,912|
|Overseas investments||3,948,958||4,176,893|
|||──────||──────|
|||11,516,507||11,315,480|
|UK investment property|||||
|Long leasehold||1,000,000||1,000,000|
|||──────||──────|
|||12,516,507||12,315,480|
|||══════||══════|



An analysis of the investments is as follows: 

In accordance with the trustees’ valuation policy rent reviews on the property portfolio lead to valuations being instigated to monitor the performance of the portfolio. The valuations are the trustees' (named in the trustees’ report on page 1) best estimate of market value following a review of parameters of value provided to them. 

Investments representing more than 5% of the total valuation at the year-end were: 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Leasehold of Jury’s Inn, Brighton|1,000,000|1,000,000|
||══════|══════|



_Page 20_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 10.        INVESTMENTS (continued) 

The cost of the investments including investment properties was as follows: 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Designated funds|702,820|716,234|
|Endowment funds|8,971,472|8,883,656|
||──────|──────|
||9,674,292|9,599,890|
||══════|══════|



On 1 April 2023 the board made a resolution under section 104A(2) of the Charities Act 2011 to adopt a total return on investment approach to the permanent endowment fund. On 1 April 2023 the board identified the value of the gifts of permanent endowment received since the fund was established to that date. This set the baseline value of the gift component of the endowment to which any subsequent gifts of endowment are added. The difference between the total of endowment funds as at 1 April 2023 and the value of the gift component represented the opening balance of unapplied total return. 

The power of total return permits the trustees to invest permanently endowed funds to maximise total return and to apply an appropriate portion of the unapplied total return to income each year. Until the power is exercised to transfer a portion of unapplied total return to income the unapplied total return remains invested as part of the permanent endowment. The trustees have decided not to make a transfer from unapplied total return to unrestricted income funds in the year to 31 March 2024. 

|Gift component of the permanent endowment<br>at 1 April 2023<br>Unapplied total return at 1 April 2023<br>**Total**<br>**Movements in reporting period:**<br>Investment return: realised and unrealised<br>gains and (losses)<br>Less: Investment management costs<br>**Net movements in reporting period**<br>Gift component of the permanent endowment<br>at 31 March 2024<br>Unapplied total return at 31 March 2024<br>**Total**<br>11.<br>DEBTORS<br>Prepayments and accrued income|2024<br>Trust for<br>investment<br>Unapplied<br>total return<br>Total<br>Endowment<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>12,365,190<br>-<br>12,365,190<br>-<br>(554,553)<br>(554,553)<br>──────<br>──────<br>──────<br>12,365,190<br>(554,553)<br>11,810,637<br>-<br>138,312<br>138,312<br>-<br>(40,963)<br>(40,963)<br>──────<br>──────<br>──────<br> -<br>97,349<br>97,349<br>12,365,190<br>-<br>12,365,190<br>-<br>(457,204)<br>(457,204)<br>──────<br>──────<br>──────<br>12,365,190<br>(457,204)<br>11,907,986<br>══════<br>══════<br>══════<br>2024<br>£<br>2023<br>£<br>41,928<br>34,184<br>──────<br>───────<br>41,928<br>34,184<br>══════<br>═══════|
|---|---|



_Page 21_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 

||2024|2023|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Other tax and social security|5,124|5,262|
|Accruals and deferred income|40,915|43,471|
||──────|──────|
||46,039|48,733|
||══════|══════|



## 13. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS 

At the balance sheet date the charity held financial assets at amortised cost comprising cash and short term deposits, other debtors and accrued income of £703,000 (2023 £645,104) and financial liabilities at amortised cost comprising accruals and deferred income of £40,915 (2023: £43,471). 

Total income received in respect of financial assets held at amortised cost totalled £13,885 (2023:£3,344). 

The charity held assets at fair value of £12,516,507 (2023: £12,315,480). Movements in the year through the statement of financial activities comprised gains of  £200,080(2023: losses of £536,764) and income from the investment portfolio of £443,614 (2023: £390,574). 

## 14. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS 

|**2024**|Unrestricted|<br>Designated|<br>Designated||Endowment|2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||funds||funds||funds|Total|
||£||£||£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|1,458,710||-||-|1,458,710|
|Investments|-||768,504||11,748,003|12,516,507|
|Net current|||||||
|assets/(liabilities)|396,591||100,673||159,697|656,961|
||───────|──────||───────||───────|
|Total funds|1,855,301||869,177||11,907,700|14,632,178|
||═══════|══════||═══════||═══════|
|**2024**|Balance||||Gains/|Balance|
||b/fwd|Income|<br>Expenses||<br>losses|c/fwd|
||£|£||£|<br>£|£|
|Unrestricted funds|1,728,342|649,227|(522,268)||<br>-|1,855,301|
|Designated funds|807,123|-||-|<br>62,054|869,177|
|Endowment funds|11,810,637|-|(40,963)||<br>138,026|11,907,700|
||──────|─────|──────||<br>──────|──────|
|Total|14,346,102|649,227|(563,231)||<br>200,080|14,632,178|
||══════|═════|══════||<br>═══════|══════|



_Page 22_ 



The Blatchington Court Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS _(continued)_ for the year ended 31 March 2024 

## 14. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS (continued) 

|**2023**|Unrestricted|<br>Designated|<br>Designated||Endowment|2023|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||funds||funds||funds|Total|
||£||£||£|£|
|Tangible fixed assets|1,434,251||-||-|1,434,251|
|Investments|-||716,394||11,599,086|12,315,480|
|Net current|||||||
|assets/(liabilities)|294,091||90,729||211,551|596,371|
||───────|──────||───────||───────|
|Total funds|1,728,342||807,123||11,810,637|14,346,102|
||═══════|══════||═══════||═══════|
|**2023**|Balance||||Gains/|Balance|
||b/fwd|Income|<br>Expenses||<br>losses|c/fwd|
||£|£||£|<br>£|£|
|Unrestricted funds|1,655,113|557,761|(484,532)||<br>-|1,728,342|
|Designated funds|830,780|-||-|<br>(23,657)|807,123|
|Endowment funds|12,365,190|-|(41,446)||<br>(513,107)|11,810,637|
||──────|─────|──────||<br>──────|──────|
|Total|14,851,083|557,761|(525,978)||<br>(536,764)|14,346,102|
||══════|═════|══════||<br>═══════|══════|



## 15. TRUSTEES’ INDEMNITY INSURANCE 

The premium paid for trustees’ indemnity insurance during the year was £475 (2023: £435). 

_Page 23_