OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity no 1206001

Report and Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Registered name: The Beaulieu Common Good Foundation
Registration number: 1206001
Trustees: The Hon. Ralph Douglas-Scott Montagu (Chairman)1,4&5
Mrs Sally Brearley2
Mr Nicholas Hubbard, FCA (Hon Treasurer)2&5
Mr Brett Johnson, Solicitor (ret’d)3
Mrs Katherine Jones, BA(Hons) Q.T.S4
Mrs Sara Steele, BA ASIP3
All trustees were appointed upon the Foundation’s
registration on 1 December 2023.
Principal Office: John Montagu Building
Beaulieu
Hampshire
SO42 7ZN
Website: https://beaulieu-cgf.org.uk
Bank: CAF Bank Ltd.
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
Kent ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner: Mrs Christine Dare
Beaulieu

1 Ex-Officio Trustee (see Trustees’ Report)

2 Appointed to 30 November 2027

3 Appointed to 30 November 2025

4 Appointed to 30 November 2026

5 Fete Committee member

2

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Chairman’s Report

It gives me great pleasure to present the first Chairman’s Report for The Beaulieu Common Good Foundation (“the Foundation”), which was formally registered as a charity with the Charity Commission on 1 December 2023.

The Foundation’s purpose is to support our local community by making donations and grants, typically of up to £500, to advance the Arts, Heritage, Education, Religion, Amateur Sport, Citizenship and to provide assistance in cases of Hardship.

Our first year has been an excellent one. Total income reached £36,468 and we paid grants amounting to £17,650 to a variety of local good causes. This achievement reflects both the generosity of our private donors and the dedication of our fundraising volunteers.

The highlight of our fundraising calendar was the annual Beaulieu Village Fete, which raised a record-breaking total of £20,599. Our thanks go to the Fete Committee and all the volunteers whose enthusiasm, dedication and hard work made this success possible.

The Foundation has now assumed responsibility for the charitable work previously carried out by the Beaulieu Common Good Trust and the Beaulieu Fete. This has been a vital source of local support for many years. Since 1999, the Foundation and its predecessors have made grants of nearly £300,000 to local good causes—a legacy the Foundation’s trustees aim to continue.

Finally, I wish to thank my fellow trustees and everyone who has generously contributed financially, as well as those who have kindly offered their time and expertise to support the Foundation’s work. None of our achievements would be possible without your dedication, energy and community spirit.

I look forward to the Foundation continuing its important work in supporting our community over the coming years.

Montagu of Beaulieu [signature held on file]

Lord Montagu Chairman

27 November 2025

3

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ Report

The trustees present their Report and unaudited Financial Statements for the Foundation’s initial 16-month period of operation from the date of registration to 31 March 2025. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and comply with the Foundation’s Constitution dated 1 December 2023.

Structure, governance and management

The Foundation became a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 1 December 2023 and is overseen by the Charity Commission. Its activities are governed by its Constitution, which is available on the Foundation’s website.

The trustees are individuals appointed based on their knowledge and experience to ensure that the charity fulfils its purpose and objectives in line with its governing document and the law. They serve an initial term of one to three years, after which they may be reappointed for further three-year periods.

There must be at least three charity trustees, with a maximum of eight. The current trustees, listed on page 2, manage the Foundation without pay or expenses, meeting as required. There is no formal trustee training programme. All trustees received internal briefings of their responsibilities during the CIO registration process and will be updated on any new requirements as appropriate. Future trustees will follow the same process.

The Fete Committee (‘the Committee’) usually meets four times a year to organise and manage the Beaulieu Village Fete. It is also permitted to award grants from the fete’s surplus funds in accordance with its authority as delegated by the trustees. Committee members are drawn from the local community, and there are at least six members, two of whom shall be trustees.

The Owner of the Beaulieu Estate for the time being shall automatically be a charity trustee (“the Ex-Officio Trustee”), for as long as he or she holds that office. This is currently Lord Montagu.

Trustee meetings are held at the John Montagu Building, and the Beaulieu Village Fete occurs at Palace House—both owned by Lord Montagu and leased to Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd, where he is a shareholder and director. The Foundation uses these venues free of charge without formal agreements. For the period ending 31 March 2025, Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd also provided £600 in site and administration services to the Committee; this fee was approved by the Committee, with Lord Montagu abstaining.

4

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Fundraising activities

The main fundraising event undertaken during the period was the annual Beaulieu Village Fete, which was held on Saturday, 20 July 2024. An estimated 1,600 people attended. The event raised a total of £25,952, including stallholder revenues, donations, and Gift Aid. After expenses, this resulted in a net surplus of £20,583.

The fete is planned and managed by a Foundation committee.

Financial review

The Foundation’s gross income was £36,468. Grants awarded were £17,650. The Foundation incurred administration costs of £ 5,696, resulting in a net surplus in the period of £13,122.

The Foundation faces minimal operational or financial risk, awards grants normally up to £500, and has a reserves policy to keep adequate cash on hand for urgent community needs. The trustees do not invest surplus funds other than holding them on bank deposit. No expenditure commitments have been made more than 12 months from the balance sheet date. The Foundation has no restricted funds, and no funds were held during the year as custodian trustees on behalf of others.

Grant making

The Foundation supports the needs, projects and activities of any charity, organisation or individual for the public benefit directed wholly or mainly to the Parish of Beaulieu and its immediate vicinity, including:

This is not a restrictive list, and the trustees will consider any grant application in accordance with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit. Grants will be awarded based on the merit of each application.

Applicants for grants submit their application online and must explain why they are applying for a grant, what it will fund, the amount requested, how a grant might assist their cause, and the connection between the applicant and the Parish of Beaulieu and its immediate vicinity.

5

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

During the period, the trustees awarded grants to 18 charities or organisations. In doing so, they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on Public Benefit.

Approval

The Report & Financial Statements were approved by the trustees on 27 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

N R Hubbard [signature held on file]

N R Hubbard FCA Treasurer

6

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

16 months ended 31 March 2025

Statement of Financial Activities
Income:
Grants & Donations received
Gift Aid
Income from fundraising activities
Bank Interest received
Expenses:
Grants awarded
Expenditure on raising funds
Insurance
Bank charges
Surplus for the Year
Reserves brought forward
Reserves carried forward
Statement of Assets & Liabilities
Cash at bank		 Note
2		 Total Funds
(All unrestricted)		 Total Funds
(All unrestricted)
£
(17,650)
(5,369)
(261)
(66)
 £
18,825
1,200
20,025
16,274
169
36,468
(23,346)
13,122
0
13,122
13,122

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report and Financial Statements in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Foundation’s Constitution.

The trustees are responsible for maintaining accounting records that reasonably accurately disclose the charity's financial position. They are also responsible for safeguarding the charity's assets and taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the charity and financial information.

7

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation

The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention on a receipts and payments basis.

Going concern

There is no material uncertainty about the Foundation's ability to continue.

Funds accounting

The trustees may allocate any part of the unapplied funds to the Foundation’s general purposes at their discretion.

Expenditure

All expenditure is classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. The Trust is not registered for VAT.

2 Grants awarded

16 months ended
31 March 2025
£
Grants awarded for the advancement of:
Amateur sport 1,000
Citizenship or community development 2,150
Education 1,000
Hardship or disadvantage 1,400
Religion 10,000
The Arts, Culture, Heritage and Science 2,100
17,650

As permitted under its Terms of Reference, the Fete Committee awarded the Beaulieu Abbey Church a £10,000 grant using its surplus funds. This reflects a long-standing informal arrangement that dates back to when the Beaulieu Church and Beaulieu Village fetes were merged into a single event some years ago. All other grants are awarded by the trustees. Some support stories from those benefiting from the Foundation’s grants can be found on our website.

8

Beaulieu Common Good Foundation Report & Financial Statements for the 16 months ended 31 March 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Beaulieu Common Good Foundation

I report to the trustees on my examination of the Financial Statements of The Beaulieu Common Good Foundation (“the Foundation”) for the 16 month period ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Foundation you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Foundation’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Foundation as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the Financial Statements do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the Financial Statements to be reached.

Christine Dare [signature held on file]

Mrs Christine Dare Beaulieu

27 November 2025

9