Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust Registration No.: 1196206 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
The Trustees present their report together with financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024. The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Constitution, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1[st] January 2019.
Overview
The Corner House is a historic listed building at the very heart of Charlbury and was gifted to the town many years ago for recreational and educational purposes. The adjacent Memorial Hall, opened in 1956, has a main hall capable of accommodating 130 people seated in rows, theatre style and a smaller Green Room and Garden Room. It has a fully equipped kitchen, a stage and disabled access. The two buildings are administered by the Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust. The charity is responsible for the running and maintenance of these two community assets.
There are many rooms and facilities available within the Corner House and Memorial Hall. The Corner House provides space for meetings and group activities. It is home to Cornerstone and a Community second hand Bookshop. The Cornerstone project started at the Corner House in August 2020. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 1pm and staffed by volunteers, Cornerstone enables Charlbury residents to have a year round place to share excess local produce, available daily, and it continues to support a number of local vulnerable families with food boxes each week, supported by donations of food and money. Advisory support is provided for pupils from the local primary school and other individuals and households in Charlbury.
The in-house second-hand bookshop, selling fiction and non-fiction books, provides the charity with a significant source of donations. It was decided in 2023 to devote further space within The Corner House to book sales, which has been successful. There are further plans to consolidate the bookshop into a larger space on the first floor. The Memorial Hall is used on a daily basis for all manner of activities and events, including weekly Meals on Wheels, Charlbury Day Centre, baby and toddler group and keep fit groups. It is in regular use by local societies for various events.
Achievements and Performance
Maintenance is an on-going issue, especially for The Corner House, given that parts of the building date back to the 17[th] Century. In 2024 the charity continued to maintain its financial viability through a number of income streams, including the short-term hire of individual rooms, and longer-term agreements with a social welfare support hub; a small international charity (office space); the local Art Society (a studio); and Charlbury Museum, which has occupied a significant portion of The Corner House for some 60 years. Other income was derived from Town Council support, donations, and the major contribution made through the fund-raising efforts of Charlbury Street Fair, which was established in the 1950s to raise money for the upkeep of the Corner House and Memorial Hall. It takes place in September each year, with stalls and activities for children and adults, complete with a fairground on the Playing Close.
A large project to improve the insulation value of windows began in the year, and other large costs included the maintenance of heating systems.
Occupants of both the Corner House and the Memorial Hall continue to fulfil the trust’s charitable objectives by providing food and welfare support to residents facing financial hardship, through the office of an international health information charity, the provision of
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Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust Registration No.: 1196206 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
space for arts and crafts, and the local museum. The large hall is used for community concerts, exhibitions, and a variety of health and welfare activities plus community educational and information meetings of benefit to the community.
Reference and Administrative Details
The Trustees at 31[st] December 2024 were:
| Name | Office | Appointing body |
|---|---|---|
| Roy Scott | Chairman | Initial Trustee |
| Paddy Gallagher | OCC and WODC | |
| Brian Ford | Treasurer | PCC |
| Simon Walker | Secretary | Initial Trustee |
| John Partington | The Trustees | |
| Timothy Crisp | Charlbury Town Council |
Charlbury Town Council acts as the charity's custodian trustee in respect of the freehold of the properties under our management. Our bankers are Unity Trust Bank.
Objects
The objects are: The provision and maintenance of The Corner House and the War Memorial Hall for the use of the inhabitants of Charlbury and the surrounding area without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for:
(a) meetings, lectures and classes; (b) other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants; and
(c) any other charitable activity for community benefit as the trustees shall think appropriate.
Governing document
The Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission with number 1196206.
The Constitution adopted on 11[th] October 2021 sets out the way in which The Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Trust is to be governed.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
The charity may have up to nine trustees, who are appointed for initial three-year terms and may stand for reappointment. Charlbury Town Council may appoint up to three charity trustees, and a committee comprising the Oxfordshire County Council councilor representing Charlbury and the two West Oxfordshire District Council councilors representing Charlbury may appoint up to two charity trustees, and the
Parochial Church Council for Charlbury may appoint one charity trustee. The trustees themselves may also appoint or reappoint members to the trustee board. New
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Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust Registration No.: 1196206
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2024
trustees are appointed in cognizance of the skills and experience that they can offer to the charity. Several board members are also trustees of other charities. New trustees are also provided with appropriate support and guidance to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities to the charity.
Risk Management
The charity aims to provide a safe environment for the individuals and organisations that make use of its facilities to do so without coming to harm. In this context, one of the trustees has responsibility for all aspects of health and safety as it relates to the property. The trustees require safety and safeguarding during the use of our facilities by others to be the responsibility of those individuals and organisations. The charity maintains sufficient reserves to cover its immediate requirements, with surplus funds being held in secure current and savings bank accounts.
There are no serious incidents that have occurred during 2024 which have not been reported to the Charity Commission.
Organisational Structure
Trustees meet monthly to make appropriate decisions regarding The Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Trust. In this they are supported by a book-keeper, who also has responsibility for managing the booking system used by hirers of our facilities.
Public Benefit
In providing the charity's facilities for use by others in the community, the trustees are mindful of the Charities Act 2011 'public benefit requirement' in all of their activities. Our objective is to provide The Corner House and the Memorial Hall for the use of the r es i d e n t s of Charlbury and the surrounding area.
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In our view, our activities help towards achieving the following public benefits: • The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage;
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Helping to counteract loneliness and isolation;
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Providing facilities for education, entertainment and other social activities; and
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Supporting other local organisations such as the Charlbury Museum and Heritage Centre.
Membership
Our trustees are our sole members. Once a trustee leaves office they cease to be a member.
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Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust Registration No.: 1196206 Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Financial Review
Principal funding sources
On a day-to-day basis, the charity receives most of its income from hiring spaces within its facilities to other users within the community. In addition to regular and occasional short-term users, the charity has three longer-term users who have office or studio space with The Corner House. Since the 1960s it has also provided premises for the Charlbury Museum and Heritage Centre, albeit at a peppercorn annual fee.
The charity also benefits from the contributions donated specifically for the maintenance of The Corner House by the organisers of Charlbury's annual Street Fair. In this context, we wish to acknowledge with full gratitude the input that the charity receives from local volunteers, both individuals and the organisers of Street Fair. It would not be able to function without them. Donations have also been received from Charlbury Green Hub and Charlbury Museum.
The charity has a policy of pursuing applications for grants from local government when these are available, and of seeking support from other donor organisations particularly for funding our longer- term renovation projects for The Corner House. Grant aid has been received from Charlbury Town Council, Charlbury Beer Festival and the Headley Trust, together with fundraising by Sustainable Charlbury and others.
Results for the year
The charity recorded total income of £56,536 for the full year, against total expenditure of £39,495, resulting in a surplus of £17,042. Of the income, just over £26,000 was achieved from space hire charges, with Street Fair contributing £8,000 from its fundraising activities on our behalf. Various small development projects at The Corner House incurred costs totalling just over £4,600.
Major expenditure items included utilities, insurance, cleaning and regular maintenance, together with the fees charged for book-keeping services.
Reserves policy
The charity has instituted a system of ring-fencing a proportion of its cash assets for use in a major renovation project that is being planned for The Corner House. These funds are kept in a separate bank account, and are augmented whenever possible from donations received from various sources, including the Street Fair. In addition to these, the charity holds sufficient reserves to cover its immediate requirements.
Plans for Future Periods
Building on work that was started by its predecessor organization, the charity has been developing plans for the renovation of The Corner House, with the aim of improving its facilities as a community hub. This will require substantial investment to make the building more sustainable and energy- efficient, and to provide it with better accessibility. I n pa rticu lar, t he t ru st ee s r e cog n ize t h at m ajo r im pr o vem ent s are ne e de d t o t he kit ch en in t he Cor ne r Ho u se a n d t hat in t h e f ut ur e it will b e n ece ssar y t o u p grad e t h e e xit in g t o ilet s. The trustees believe that there are good opportunities for securing funding to cover a major part of this work from a range of heritage-focused donor bodies.
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Charlbury Corner House and Memorial Hall Trust Registration No.: 1196206 Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2023
Trustees' Responsibility for the Financial Statements
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with general applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom General Accepted Accounting Practice).
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. They are also responsible for safekeeping the assets of the charity 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 charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Signed on behalf of the trustees:
Roy Scott, Chairman
John England, Trustee
21[st] October 2025
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Charlbury Corner House & Memorial Hall Trust No. 1196206 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01-Jan-24 31-Dec-24
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | Last year to the nearest £ 340 1,077 10,000 3,104 3,267 10,859 - 21,511 50,158 - - 50,158 - 15,279 22,329 9,443 - - - - - 47,051 - 47,051 3,107 - 24,928 28,035 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts see Notes 1 to 5 |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 8,707 6,303 4,700 3,000 8,221 - 17797 48,728 - - - 48,728 13,900 20,966 4,629 - - - - 39,495 - - - 39,495 9,234 - 11,000 7,821 6,055 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 808 7,000 - - - - - 7,808 - - - 7,808 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,808 11,000 20,214 39,022 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 808 15,707 6,303 4,700 3,000 8,221 - 17,797 56,536 - - - 56,536 - 13,900 20,966 4,629 - - - - 39,495 - - - 39,495 17,042 |
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| Interest | ||||||
| Donations | 8,707 | |||||
| Fund Raising | 6,303 | |||||
| Grant | 4,700 | |||||
| Book sales | 3,000 | |||||
| Corner House Fixed term lettings | 8,221 | |||||
| Corner House Short term lettings | - | |||||
| Memorial Hall cash income | 17797 | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
48,728 |
|||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | |||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
see Note 6 |
||||||
| Cost of sales | 13,900 | |||||
| Runningexpenditure | 20,966 | |||||
| Corner House development | 4,629 | |||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 39,495 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | |||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 9,234 | 7,808 | - | 17,042 |
3,107 | ||
| - 11,000 | 11,000 | - | - | - | ||
| 7,821 | 20,214 | - | 28,035 | 24,928 | ||
| 6,055 | 39,022 | - | 45,077 | 28,035 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds CCXX R1 accounts (SS) |
Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) 1 |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 6,055 - - 6,055 OK Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds to nearest £ 39,022 - - 39,022 OK Restricted funds |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Endowment funds 21/10/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
| Signed on behalf of all the trustees B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Details Details See Note 7 Details Details |
Signature Details Details See Note 7 Details Details |
Signature Details Details See Note 7 Details Details |
to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | Print Name | |||
| Dr John England |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
21/10/2025
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Ind•p•nd•nt examln•rf¥ r•port to th• trust••s of Ch•rlbury Corn•r and
IA•morfal Trust
I rewyt to the trustees my examlnatlc ol the acc(xmts of Charttrttry Ccxrw House
and MemLYlal Trust for the year 31 Decwnbw 2(r24.
A8 the trusleeg ol Chafft)ury Comer Mlse and Merrthal Trust you are TrpSIble
for the preparation d the aC%Jn In 8ccordanc8 With Ihe requirements of the
Charftles Act 2011 cthe Art).
I rep(xt in respe of my exanMnatX of the acc(Kmts of Chathry C
Charlbury Com•r Hous• and Momorlal Hall Tru8t R•ghtr•tJon Plo.: 1196206 Flnancial Stat•m•nt for the y•ar •nd•d 31•1 D•c•mb•r 2024 PRINCPAL ACCOUNTrIG POLICIES The financl81 statemenls have been pryred under the hlslorlc41 (wventwjn with items recJ)gnised at cost. The financial ststem8nts have be7 prepared In ac£ordance ilh the Statement ol RecOmrrwed Pradic8: Ac£JJntiThJ and RelIng by Charities preparing t•r acCntS in accordance 7th the Finand81 Repwting Slandard applicabbe in the UK arKI Reput of Ireland (FRS 102) Is6 on 16 2014 Ihe Ch8rt088 Act2011. The Charity cortstlkn a wL4ic t>enefit tity as defined by FRS 1(r2. financlal ststnts FY8Gent a true a1 falr vltr aThJ ts prlndpal aCcn policbes ol Ihe chaiTty. Tlw have b88n wepared usirvJ the going oxcem basis of acthjnting as the trustees beFi8ve the charity has sufficient res1¢08 to cThitlnuo in operatTh and ffEet its liabilities and obligatKs to its members. COMING RESOURCE8 Recx)gnltlon of ncorrn Is huded in the Stalement of FinarKaal Ad83 fsoFA') tn: the Charlty be(xxnes entttled to the resOurs. it Is rrThe likety than nol that tho trustges 411 receive the fesourrs; th8 monetary value can be meagjred with Su•@nI There has been no m8terl offs8tt1ry of assets and IlabHIOes. cff Inwma expenses. Grants and donations are onty induded In the SOFA when the 98neral Income recognltlon criteria (as sel (1 above) aro The value of any VOntary h re1$ indud•d In the a(xnts txrt Is de8(xib8d in the I1866. annual r8WL RESOURCES EXPENDED Exp8nditur•18 re¢xNJnisod ¥thor•11 Is ffrt)re likety than nol thal there is a IwJal or constructlve obligation commlttlng the Chanty to pay out resources and the amwnt of the oblSgatlon can be measured with reasonable certalnty. ExpendItU compris88 ttrw costs irKurred by Ihe charity in the dellvery of Its adivitios and servi(w for ils beneficiaries. For taxation PUfFX)ses. the Charity is treated as a wrofit maklThJ (Yganisation and a8 sh thero is no Corporatk lax liability.
Charfbury Corn•r House and Memorlal Hall Tntst R•gkstrgtlon No.: 1196206 Flnanctsl Statement ft>r th• y•ar ond•d 314 DK•rnb•r 2024 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEIAEKTS Grants r8coiv8d by the charfty Cryltaln variou8 (XYKlI ttt have to b6 follo1. In nst8nce that mwt r•$uft in repaymwt requested. NOTE 2 PAYklENTS TOTRUSTEES AND CChYNECTED PERS( No ITUStee or person wlth 8 famty or txJSlrS conneL%ion wlth 8 tni8tee, reIved remuneration in the perKxJ. directy or Indlreclly. whilst servirvJ as a trustee from the thartty. At 3141 December 2024 the charity had no capital c<)mmitmen¢s or Clnt IlaNltbe8. NOTE 4: FUNDRAISING For many years. the tharlty and its wedecew or¢wisatiLTh have been reliant fiJrKls ralsed by Street Falr to help covw the costs of running buiklings for which li 1$ r8SfxMsibl8 to th8 community. More re¢•, the trtea$ hav8 Optad to separate Jt these donations with the aim of buildirvavup 8 ra$e fvlure renovation kyojects In The Corner Hwse, NOTE &. SPACE.HIRE tLOkE Diff8renl Incon ¥treTh are generated by The Corw House arKI tho Memcrflal Hall. Mosl of the Corner Plall in¢xrfre is kterM user5, with lY occ89Aonal short4emi hire. By ccx)trasl, am of the knc4)m8 from the Memorial Hall com8s from st.ternI space hlre. a c£xisiderable amount of whk* Is repoai tsiness, KITE 8: CORNER HIXISE DEVELOPKENT Differ8ntiat8d from regular maintsnance expenditwe. development ¢J)sts are Incuffed for Items such as Installlng Iow-energy lighting. improving insulation and any othor projects almad at maklrKJ th• tlId sustainable and acc8ssibla. NOTE 7: LAND AND PROPERTY The charity, for Ihe bonefft of the residents of Charfbury, marw and maintain two community bulldings: the Comer Hous8. in accordance with a gift to the town in 1946. and the Memorlal Hall whlch Is the prtndpal war memorial of Chartbury. Chartbury Town CoLtncll are Custodian Trustees and hold the title to the propertles 81 the Land Reglsty. The gift6 remaln hi perpetulty for the benefft of the ttr4m 8T Ihus ha no m8fketsble value.