Charity number: 1198439
The Four Barrows Foundation
Report and Financial Statements
for the year to 5 April 2025
The Four Barrows Foundation Contents
| Report of the Trustees | 1-3 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Four Barrows Foundation | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7-10 |
| Reference and Administrative Information | 11 |
The Four Barrows Foundation Report of the Trustees
The Trustees present their report and the financial statements for the year to 5 April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s trust deed, the Charities Act 2011, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The Foundation was formed to apply its income and capital in whole or in part towards the furtherance of such charitable purposes as the Trustees shall from time to time think fit. The Foundation carries out these objects by making grants to registered charities, whose activities are carried out for the public benefit.
Grant-making policy
The Trustees meet annually to discuss the applications for grants and decide whom the grants would most benefit. The range of charities to benefit shall be at the Trustees’ discretion, and will be smaller charities and organisations which help children and young people up to the age of 12 in any of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Lothian, Fife who have a need for such support by reason of their disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances, with a view to improving their conditions of life through literacy, numeracy, cultural awareness, sporting and outdoor activity, and social skills.
The Trustees feel that the smaller charities with a lower public profile will often benefit from grants of £1,000 to £3,000 more than the larger well-known and well-supported charities. The Trustees will divide the annual income between a small number of charities, sometimes committing funds over a period of years. The Trustees make grants to be used at the discretion of the selected charity, either for special projects or for core funding. Need for support by reason of disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances are the primary determinants of the awards and other factors such as nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and religion will not be taken into account.
Achievements and performance
During the year, the Foundation has been able to support of a number of organisations. The grants made are summarised in the following table:
| Beneficiary Project Area Served Assisting Berkshire Children to Read Training Volunteers for Berkshire Children Berkshire Benarty Primary School Care-Experienced Children at Benarty Fife CHIPS Guilford Be Inspired @ CHIPS Guildford Surrey Education Business Partnership Wellbeing Warriors Berkshire, Wiltshire Escapeline Prevent Primary Children from Criminal Exploitation Wiltshire Friends of Woolhampton School Musical Instruments Berkshire Home-Start Reading Nursery Readiness Programme Berkshire Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley Equipment for Educator in Berkshire Berkshire Linlithgow Young People's Project (operating as YOUTHSPACE) Bridgend Drop-in / Youth Clubs – West Lothian Lothian Me2 Club Inclusion for All Berkshire Space @ The Broomhouse Hub Bookbug Lothian Stepping Stones DS School Outreach for Children with Down Syndrome Berkshire, Surrey Super Power Agency Transition Workshops Lothian Wiltshire Rural Music School Limited Music Lesson Bursaries Wiltshire |
Award (£) 3,000 4,751 2,475 2,600 1,660 1,000 2,860 1,000 5,000 2,000 2,640 3,003 1,000 1,000 |
|---|---|
| 33,989 |
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The Four Barrows Foundation Report of the Trustees continued
Financial review
The Foundation’s grant-making is anticipated to be reliant on income and investment returns from its investments.
Our investment advisors are instructed to invest to create sufficient income and capital growth to enable the Foundation to carry out its purposes consistently year by year with due and proper consideration for future needs and the maintenance of, and if possible, enhancement of the value of the invested funds while they are retained.
The high level of stock market volatility and the continuing uncertainty regarding world economic prospects continue to make the management of investments difficult. The Foundation is a long-term investor and the Trustees, on professional advice, continue to hold a mixed portfolio of equities, bonds, cash, and other investments designed to provide a level of stable income and the possibility of investment gains. The equity component of the investment portfolio is weighted with medium appetite for investment risk with the main exposure to investments in the leading advanced industrial economies with a history of paying dividends.
The value of the Foundation’s investments decreased by £17,651 in the year as a result of capital losses of £27,926 plus associated costs of £4,555, partially offset by income generated of £14,830. The Foundation funded grants of £33,989. The basis on which the Trustees paid out grants during February 2025 was the increase in value of the Foundation’s holdings between February 2024 and January 2025. Subsequently, a fall in value across world stock markets took place during March 2025; the Trustees will take these market movements into consideration when determining the 2025/2026 grants.
This has been our third year of operation. We are not yet fully funded; however, we wish to evaluate demand and reach before further funds are transferred into the Foundation in the coming years. In this interim period, Trustees will balance spending solely from income and growth against being responsive to needs they see and consider spending down capital at the cost of providing support in the far future.
Structure, governance, and management
The Foundation is a registered charity, number 1198439, and was set up as a CIO with initial funds donated by Tony and Janet Spath on 30 March 2022. The Foundation does not actively fundraise and seeks to continue the charitable work desired by the donors through the careful stewardship of its existing resources.
The Trustees meet at suitable intervals during the year to consider grant-making and the performance of the investments.
The appointment of new Trustees will be made by the existing/remaining Trustees.
Key management personnel remuneration
The Trustees comprise the key management personnel of the Foundation. The Foundation has no employees. As the Foundation’s external activities are restricted to making cash grants, administrative costs are minimal.
The Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the current or prior year, nor did the Trustees claim any expenses. The Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests.
Trustees
The Trustees who held office during the year and to the date of approval of this report were:
Tony Spath (Chair of Trustees) Janet Spath Chris Spath Nick Spath Freya Lewis
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The Four Barrows Foundation
Report of the Trustees continued
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees’ report and 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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles of the applicable Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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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 accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Tony Spath Chair of Trustees 24 October 2025
3
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Four Barrows Foundation
I report on the accounts of the Foundation for the year to 5 April 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 10.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Charities Act’) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act, have not been met.
Ruth Pennington FCCA
PBA Accountants and Business Advisers Ltd Ramsbury House 1B Charnham Lane Hungerford Berkshire RG17 0EY 23 October 2025
4
The Four Barrows Foundation Statement of Financial Activities for the year to 5 April 2025
| Note | 2025 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ £ |
|
| Donation income 3 |
– 202,075 |
| Investment income 3 |
14,830 10,669 |
| Total income | 14,830 212,744 |
| Expenditure on charitable activities 4 |
33,989 13,170 |
| Costs of generating funds 5 |
4,555 3,074 |
| Administration costs | 384 365 |
| Total expenditure | 38,928 16,609 |
| Net (expenditure)/income before gains and | |
| losses on investments | (24,098) 196,135 |
| Net (losses)/gains on investments 7 |
(27,926) 19,831 |
| Net movement in funds | (52,024) 215,966 |
| Total funds brought forward | 497,118 281,152 |
| Total funds carried forward | 445,094 497,118 |
Results are derived entirely from unrestricted funds.
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form an integral part of these financial statements.
5
The Four Barrows Foundation Balance Sheet as at 5 April 2025 (Charity number: 1198439)
| Note | 2025 2024 |
|---|---|
| £ £ |
|
| Fixed assets | |
| Investments 7 |
444,368 496,019 |
| Current assets | |
| Cash at bank | 1,026 1,399 |
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 8 |
(300) (300) |
| Net current assets | 726 1,099 |
| Net assets | 445,094 497,118 |
| Represented by | |
| The funds of the Foundation 9 |
445,094 497,118 |
Approved and authorised by the Trustees on 24 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Tony Spath Chair of Trustees
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form an integral part of these financial statements.
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The Four Barrows Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements
1 Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: 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) (‘the Charities SORP’) and the Charities Act 2011. The Foundation constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Statement of cash flows
The Foundation has taken advantage of the exemption, under the Charities SORP, from preparing a statement of cash flows, on the basis that it is not a larger charity as defined by the Charities SORP.
Going concern
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Foundation’s ability to continue as a going concern, and thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of accounts. The most significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the Foundation are the level of investment return and the performance of investment markets (see the financial review section of the Report of the Trustees for more information).
The charitable funds
The Foundation’s funds arise from donations. The Trustees have the power to use these funds in accordance with the charitable objects of the Foundation.
Significant accounting policies
Income recognition
Donation and investment income is recognised in the period in which the Foundation is entitled to receipt.
Expenditure recognition
Expenditure on grants is recorded once the Foundation has made an unconditional commitment to pay the grant and this is communicated to the beneficiary or the grant has been paid, whichever is earlier. Other expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Fixed asset investments
Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently remeasured at their fair value as at the balance sheet data using the closing quoted market price. Gains and losses arising from remeasurement or disposals of investments are recorded in the statement of financial activities in the period in which they arise.
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The Four Barrows Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements continued
2 Related party transactions and Trustees’ expenses and remuneration
Donation income for the prior year consisted wholly of donations from Tony and Janet Spath.
The Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the current or prior year, nor were any expenses paid to Trustees.
3 Income
| Income | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Donation income | |
| Donations received without conditions | – 202,075 |
| – 202,075 |
|
| Investment income | |
| Dividends | 6,812 4,756 |
| Interest on securities | 8,018 5,913 |
| 14,830 10,669 |
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The Four Barrows Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements continued
4 Expenditure on charitable activities
The Foundation made the following grants during the year:
| The Foundation made the following grants during the year: | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Assisting Berkshire Children to Read (charity number 1184968) | 3,000 – |
| Benarty Primary School | 4,751 3,308 |
| CHIPS Guilford (charity number 1189799) | 2,475 2,462 |
| Delight (charity number 1159567) | – 2,500 |
| Education Business Partnership (charity number 1030564) | 2,600 – |
| Escapeline (charity number 1184475) | 1,660 1,000 |
| Friends of Woolhampton School (charity number 1191683) | 1,000 – |
| Home-Start Reading (charity number 1110638) | 2,860 – |
| Life Education Wessex & Thames Valley (charity number | |
| 1071094) | 1,000 – |
| Linlithgow Young People's Project (charity number SC019826) | 5,000 2,700 |
| Me2 Club (charity number 1140812) | 2,000 – |
| Space @ The Broomhouse Hub (charity number SC003706) | 2,640 – |
| St John Vianney Primary School | – 1,200 |
| Stepping Stones DS (charity number 1182787) | 3,003 – |
| Super Power Agency (charity number SC046550) | 1,000 – |
| Wiltshire Rural Music School Limited (charity number 309496) | 1,000 – |
| 33,989 13,170 |
5 Costs of generating funds
| Costs of generating funds | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Investment management fees | 3,733 2,554 |
| Overseas taxation | 822 520 |
| 4,555 3,074 |
6 Independent examiner remuneration
| Independent examiner remuneration | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Independent examination fees | 300 300 |
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The Four Barrows Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements continued
7 Investments
| Investments | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Market value at the start of the year | 496,019 282,285 |
| Acquisitions | 14,008 210,150 |
| Disposals | (37,733) (16,247) |
| Net (losses)/gains on investments | (27,926) 19,831 |
| Market value as at 5 April | 444,368 496,019 |
| Investments at market value comprised: | |
| Equities Fixed interest securities |
258,361 266,099 |
| 186,007 229,920 |
|
| 444,368 496,019 |
All investments are carried at their fair value. Investments in equities and fixed interest securities are all traded in quoted public markets. Holdings in common investment funds, unit trusts and open-ended investment companies are at the bid price. The basis of fair value for quoted investments is equivalent to the market value, using the bid price. Asset sales and purchases are recognised at the date of trade at cost (that is their transaction value).
The significance of financial instruments to the ongoing financial sustainability of the Foundation is considered in the financial review section of the Report of the Trustees.
8 Creditors
| Creditors | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Accruals | 300 300 |
| 300 300 |
9 The charitable funds
| The charitable funds | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| £ £ |
|
| Unrestricted funds | 445,094 497,118 |
| 445,094 497,118 |
The Trustees have the power to spend these funds in accordance with the charitable objects of the Foundation.
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The Four Barrows Foundation Reference and Administrative Information
| Trustees | Tony Spath (Chair of Trustees) |
|---|---|
| Janet Spath | |
| Chris Spath | |
| Nick Spath | |
| Freya Lewis | |
| Principal office | 4 The Knoll |
| Aldbourne | |
| Marlborough | |
| Wiltshire | |
| SN8 2EA | |
| Charity number | 1198439 |
| Investment manager | LGT Wealth Management Limited |
| Capital Square | |
| 58 Morrison Street | |
| Edinburgh | |
| EH3 8BP | |
| Banker | Metro Bank PLC |
| One Southampton Row | |
| London | |
| WC1B 5HA | |
| Independent examiner | PBA Accountants and Business Advisers Ltd |
| Ramsbury House | |
| 1B Charnham Lane | |
| Hungerford | |
| Berkshire | |
| RG17 0EY |
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