## **The Magna Carta Trust** **Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2025** ## **THE MAGNA CARTA TRUST** **Annual report for the Year ended 31 March 2025** ## **Reference and Administrative information** ## **Registered charity number** 1197070 ## **Registered office** Guildhall Aldermanbury EC2V 7HH ## **Trustees** The Constitution of the Trust specifies how Trustees are appointed. An up-to-date list of trustees can be found on the Charity Commission website. The Chairman of the Trustees for this period was was Paul Double CVO. ## **Officers** Mr Mark Gill (Executive Director) ## **Bankers** N/A ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Magna Carta Trust (CIO) was established in December 2021 as an intended successor for the Magna Carta Trust (registered number 207789). It was agreed by the Trustees of the ‘old’ Magna Carta Trust (207789) that a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) be formed to allow the Trust to become more pro-active. At the meeting of the Trustees of the ‘old’ MCT (207789), held on 16 February 2022, it was agreed to begin the process of winding down the “old” Trust and transferring the assets to the newly created replacement Trust (1197070). This process was ongoing as at 31 March 2025. The delay in transferring the assets is primarily due to clarifications being sought about the status of a lease held by the ‘old’ Trust for the maintenance of the American Bar Association Magna Carta Memorial at the Runnymede Meadows. All Trustees of the “old” Trust were invited to become Trustees of the new Trust. Seven Trustees agreed to do so. These were: Sir Robert Worcester Paul Double Diane Simpson Edward C Horton Paula Redway Margaret Charlesworth Lewis L Neilsen Jr The CIO’s constitution allows for association status and those current Trustees of the ‘old’ Trust will be invited to maintain engagement through this route or by membership referred to below. Sir Robert Worcester and Diane Simpson are no longer Trustees. Kweilen Hatleskog (who is currently chair of the Pilgrims Society) was appointed a Trustee in November 2024. ## **Financial review** This Trust has not received any funding or committed any expenditure during the reporting period. Use of office and meeting room facilities have been provided pro bono and the small amount of external costs, for example to run the monthly e- newsletter and for travel, have been paid by the ‘old’ MCT. This arrangement will last until the formal transfer of assets and responsibilities are complete. ## **Plans for the future** Trustees have approved a strategic plan for the Trust whereby it will seek to increase the number of Trustees (in addition to those who may assume an associate status) and offer membership to interested individuals and organisations. It is anticipated that further changes to include an advisory board and the establishment of a president of the Trust will be considered by the trustees this year. This should allow the Trust to become more sustainable and to meet its objectives of educating the public, especially young people, about the history and contemporary relevance of Magna Carta. 2025 is the 800[th] anniversary of the sealing of the 1225 version of Magna Carta, which is considered the definitive edition of the Charter. The Trust has, and will continue to, work with stakeholders to promote this important anniversary and the anniversary of declaration of independence by the United States, whose constitution is so closely associated with the Magna Carta, in 2026. ## **Risk Management** The Trustees are responsible for the overseeing of the risks which may arise in the operation of the Trust. The purpose of the Trust is to perpetuate the memory of Magna Carta which involves spreading the word about the importance of Magna Carta. In line with previous practice, when the transition to the CIO is complete, risks will be managed via the transference of risk to external insurers and the acceptance of such risks as are inherent in the Trust’s operation.