Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] April 2024. To 31[st] March 2025
Charity name: Bexhill Heritage
Charity registration number: 1196525
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The conservation, protection and improvement of the Bexhill-on-Sea built environment |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The main activities of the Charity during this period included: - Ongoing restoration of Shelter 4 on Bexhill’s seafront. Most of the cost of materials was met by Rother District Council. There was additional expenditure of £2055 to cover expenditure on additional tools and some specialist items as well as graphics for the new heritage gallery and the purchase twelve commemorative plaques. This was in addition to the £557 expended in 2023/4 by Bexhill Heritage for personal protective equipment. A special contribution from members in exchange for a commemorative plaque raised £1,200 which offset a proportion of these costs. - Completing the restoration of the Collins and Pallott mural on Town Hall Square. Expenditure on this project was £3443 which was met solely from membership fees and donations. Included in the cost was a working platform (£403) and transport trolley (£65) both of which will be used in the charity’s future projects. The charity also paid a consultancy fee of £912 to Orbis Conservation who provided invaluable advice for the successful completion of this specialistproject. |
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| - Completing a full restoration of Bexhill’s only remaining K6 phone box on public land. The cost of replacement parts, materials, equipment and the hire of a professional sandblaster was £4000. £2000 was contributed by Rother District Council’s community fund and received in financial year 2025/26. The Council’s grant matched a £2,000 contribution from Bexhill Heritage. - Work began on one of two bus shelters for which we received a restoration grant from the Town Council. Vegetation was cleared in order for the building to dry out and for restoration to begin. No cost in the 2024/25 reporting year. - A project group surveyed the town with a view to making an application to extend Bexhill’s current conservation area to include an ‘Eastern Conservation Area’. No cost. - Work began to produce a Listing Candidates Report of local buildings that could be considered for either Local Listing or National Heritage listing. This list currently contains approximately 80 structures. No cost. - Comments made on planning applications or development proposals with heritage implications No cost. - Hosting guest speakers at our members meetings (5 in the period + 1 AGM) on a variety of topics designed to increase public knowledge and understanding of the town’s history and heritage. Also, attending and organising town events to reach a wider public, and giving talks to local groups. We also organised two educational trips for our members. The cost of members’ meetings including guest speakers and trips was £1006 over the accounting period. This was largely offset by income from catering, raffles, and trip income. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have taken full account of the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and are |
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issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
confident that all the Charity’s activities are consistent with this guidance.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant-making | Para 1.38 | The Charity does not currently award grants. |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | Through this accounting period the Charity operated a business current account and an instant-access, interest-bearing account with the Nat West Bank. There were no additional investments. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | All the Charity’s officers are volunteers as are those members engaged on restoration and research work. A core group of fourteen volunteers was responsible for the planning, management, and implementation of work on Shelter 4, the Collins and Pallott mural and the K6 phone box. Volunteers have been supported from time to time by professional tradespeople and local authority officers. Our volunteer historian and support officer continued to make a very significant contribution to the development of our website and to the maintenance of the Bandstand booking system. Our volunteer planning officers continued to assess all planning applications with heritage implications. Our intervention led to planning control intervention on one listed building. |
| Other |
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Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | 1. Completing three restoration projects and starting a fourth. Volunteers completed a full repaint of a listed sea-front shelter (Shelter 4), restored the Collins and Pallott mural on the Sainsburys building in Town Hall Square, completed the restoration of Bexhill’s last remaining K6 phone box on public land and began work on the restoration of a ‘heritage’ bus shelter. 2. Continuing to promote the importance of heritage and highlight the town’s heritage assets. Presentations to local groups and organisations, and to groups of elected members brought Bexhill’s rich heritage to a wider and often influential audience. This helped to influence local authority decision-making. Extensive work undertaken and discussion with members on an application to extend Bexhill’s current conservation area to include an ‘Eastern Conservation Area’ and the production of a list of local buildings to be considered for either Local Listing or National Heritage listing. A heritage gallery installed in Shelter 4 and permanent interpretation boards and temporary seafront displays brought the Charity’s message to a wider public. This helped in the recruitment of active members and meant that local fundraising was effective. 3. Ongoing community use of the town’s Victorian Bandstand restored by Bexhill heritage The Bandstand (formerly restored by Bexhill Heritage) continues to be used by the wider local community (local organisations, clubs, faith groups and charities) to entertain, inform and engage. This use ensures that it remains a valued local building and helps prevent damage and disrepair. |
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| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set. |
Para 1.41 | The restoration of Shelter 4 took longer than anticipated due to inclement weather, volunteer sickness absence and pressure on resources due to a concurrent project (the mural). |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set. |
Para 1.41 | The Charity was successful in raising funds to meet our maintenance obligations for the Bandstand. Bandstand users contributed £353 during the accounting period. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Not applicable |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity made a loss on the year of £3915 in this accounting year. However, £2000 was owed to the charity by Rother District Council for the restoration of the Normans Bay K6 phone kiosk. This was paid in early April 2025. The charity completed three major restorations in 2024/25 resulting in higher project and equipment expenditure than last year at £9959 compared to £4641 in 2023/24. Over 70% of the charity’s expenditure was devoted to restoration and maintenance activities in 2024/25 compared to 52% in 2023/24. £26,320 was carried forward into 2025/26 which includes a £15,000 restricted grant from Bexhill Town Council to restore two ‘heritage’ bus shelters on Hastings Road and De La Warr Road. The charity therefore has access to an unrestricted carry-forward of £11,320 as at 1stApril 2025, to be used on future projects including the maintenance of previously restored buildings. This places the charity |
|---|---|---|
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| in a robust financial position for the year ahead. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Charity’s policy on reserves is to retain the equivalent of six months average expenditure, not including spending on projects. This is to enable the Charity to meet its regular commitments and running costs should there be an unexpected collapse in membership subscriptions and donations. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £2000 was available as a reserve at the end of the accounting period – March 31st, 2025.This is based on the equivalent of six months of average expenditure, not including spending on projects or equipment. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | The Charity’s principal source of funds is grant income from local authorities, followed by membership subscriptions and donations. The Charity sold cards, badges and souvenirs, organised raffles and ran an annual tombola. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | During this accounting period, the Charity ran a current account and an interest- bearing account with the same bank (Nat West). The savings account provided £610 of interest. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | During this accounting period, the Charity faced the following risks: - over-commitment of some committee members and trustees especially the Chairman who also acted as treasurer. - Imbalance in membership which is comprised predominantly of older people. The Charity has gone some way to mitigate these risks through the recruitment of additional trustee and committee members, including a Membership Secretary, a Secretary and a Planning Officer. Trustees |
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have carried out a full risk-assessment to identify further mitigation measures and are keen to recruit a treasurer. The ongoing music and event programme for the bandstand and this year’s restoration projects have gone a long way to consolidate the Charity’s good reputation and promote the work we do to a wider audience. Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Charity Commission scheme. Our constitution specifies how the Charity is governed. |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | The charity is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are elected for one, two, or three- year terms at the Charity’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June. Each member of the charity has one vote. They may vote in person, by proxy or by post / email. Trustees may co-opt additional trustees between AGMs, but any co-opted trustee serves only until the next AGM at which point they must be elected by members should they wish to continue. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees. |
Para 1.51 | All trustees are made aware of their legal responsibilities. Induction is through conversation with the Chairman. Formal policies and procedures have yet to be adopted but the trustee board intends to do this prior to any further expansion of the trustee board. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works. |
Para 1.51 | The Charity’s trustee board is responsible for strategy, oversight, and evaluation. They are elected by members and report to members. The elected committee acts as the Charity’s executive, making operational |
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| decisions consistent with the policies and plans set by the trustees. The committee is elected by members, and report to trustees and members. |
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|---|---|---|
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Bexhill Heritage cooperates with Rother District Council and Bexhill Town Council in pursuit of its charitable objectives. We enjoy cordial links with Rother Voluntary Action, Bexhill 100 Motoring Club, the local Men’s Shed, the Neighbourhood Board, Bexhill Old Town Preservation Society, Bexhill in Bloom, the Footbridge Project and St Barnabas Church and other local churches. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Bexhill Heritage |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | None |
| Registered charity number | 1196525 |
| Charity’s principal address | c/o St Barnabas Church, Cantelupe Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1JG |
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Johnson | Chairman and Treasurer |
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| Simon Allen | Projects’ Officer | |||
| Alexis Markwick | Support Officer Vice Chairman |
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| Samantha Barber | Ex-officio | |||
| Yvonne Menzies | Secretary | January 2025 to March 2025 |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name Not applicable
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable | ||
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Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity. |
Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects. |
Not applicable |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets. |
Not applicable |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
Type of adviser Name Address |
|---|---|---|
| None | ||
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Not applicable
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable
Other optional information
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
| Signatures | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Names | Simon Allen | Samantha Barber |
Steve Johnson |
Alexis Markwick |
Yvonne Menzies |
| Position | Projects officer |
Ex-officio | Chairman | Vice-chairman | Secretary |
Date:
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| Bexhill Heritage Charity Name |
Bexhill Heritage Charity Name |
Bexhill Heritage Charity Name |
1196525 No (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||
| For the period from |
4/1/2024 Period start date |
To | 3/31/2025 Period end date |
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations and legacies | 6,460 | 15,000 | - | 21,460 | 8,435 | ||||
| Charitable activities | 1,007 | - | - | 1,007 | 1,174 | ||||
| Other tradingactivities | 1,486 | - | - | 1,486 | 1,945 | ||||
| Investmants | 610 | - | - | 610 | 130 | ||||
| Other | 666 | - | - | 666 | 148 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
10,229 | 15,000 | - | 25,229 | 11,832 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||||
| 11,832 | |||||||||
| Projects | 9,178 | 4,931 | |||||||
| Equipment | 781 | 443 | |||||||
| Bankingand accountancyfees | 84 | 89 | |||||||
| Statioery, printing,etc | 714 | 436 | |||||||
| Marketing | 409 | 468 | |||||||
| Venue hire and event costs | 1,490 | 1,340 | |||||||
| Communications | 232 | 189 | |||||||
| Insurance | 253 | 253 | |||||||
| Other | 1,004 | 765 | |||||||
| **Sub total ** | 14,145 | 8,914 | |||||||
| 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 |
|||||||||
| 8,914 | |||||||||
| - 3,916 | 2,918 | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 15,191 | 5,060 | ||||||||
| 11,275 | 7,978 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1/27/2026
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| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Nat West current account Nat West Liquidity account Pay Pal account owng on 31.03.24 Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Pay Pal account Cash in hand Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 3,489 7,741 45 11,275 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 29 60 - - - - Fund to which asset belongs |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - 15,000 - 15,000 OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| OK | |||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Current value (optional) |
|||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
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| Gazebo | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Platform | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Step ladders | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Publicity boards | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Projectors and screen | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Amplifiier and associated equipment | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Tools | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| Chairs and tables | Unrestricted | - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
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| None | - | ||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Signature Steve Johnson |
Print Name Stephen J. L. Johnson |
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| Date of approval |
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| Steve Johnson | Stephen J. L. Johnson | 07/072025 | |||||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
1/27/2026
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to tho trustees Bexhill Heritage On accounts for the yMr ended 31 March 2025 Charlty no (If any) 1196525 set out on page8 NIA I report to the tru8tee8 on my examlnatlon of the account8 of the above charlty he Trusf) for the year ended 31 March 2025 . Re$pon8lblllUg• and ba818 of roport As the charlty'8 trustees, you are re8pon8ible for tha preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requlrements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhe Acr). I report in respect of my examlnation of the Bexhill Heritage 8ccount8 carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carylng out my examinatlon, I have followed all the applicable Dlrectlons given by the Charity Comm1881on under 88ctlon 145(5){b) of the Act. Independent I'have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no materlal matter8 have •xamlnorf8 8tatsment Gome to my attentlon in connection wlth the examlnatlon (other than that d18c108ed below ') whlch glves me cau88 to belSeve that In, any materlal re8pect.' the accounting record8 wore not kept In accordance with section 130 of tho Charltl88 Act; or the accounts dld not accord wlth the accounting records; or the accounts did.not comply wlth the applicable requlrements concerning the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charitb8 (Accounts and.Reports).Regulation8 2008 olher than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and falrf vlew which Is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matter8 In connectlon th the examinatlon to whlch attention should b8 drawn in thls report in order to ¢nablo a proper understanding of th¢ g¢wunts to be rea¢hed. Slgned: Date: 16 January 2026 Name: Kevln Bennett Relevant profe8slonal quallflcatlon($) or body Wan. MMT Addre88: Olive Plne Accountancy Ltd 13 Napier House, Elva Way, Bexhill on Sea, TN39 5BF IER Oct 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charlty accounts.. directions and guidance for eXamir8>. Give here brief details of any Items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018