ASHTON ALMSHOUSE CHARITY Charity Reg. No. 200349
Trustees Annual Report for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
Charity Address:
Association of Dunstable Charities Grove House, 76 High Street North, Dunstable, Bedfordshire. LU6 1NF
Trustees for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025
Ex Officio:
Rector of Dunstable - Revd. Rachel Phillips
Representative Governors Dunstable Town
Council:
Cllr Mr Greg Alderman
Cllr Mr Louise O’Riordan
Co-optative Governors:
Mrs Cynthia Gresham Mr Peter Hollick
Mrs Elizabeth Bentley Mrs Jana Veyres
Chairman:
Mrs Cynthia Gresham
Clerk to the Governors:
Mrs Julie Tipler
Charity Structure, Governance and Management:
Governing document: Trust Foundation under scheme framed by will dated 30[th] March 1885, and Charities Act 1960. Amended and updated by Trustees in 2012.
Trustee Selection Methods:
One ex officio – Incumbent of the benefice of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Dunstable
Two Nominative Trustees – Appointed by Dunstable Town Council
Four Co-optative Trustees – Appointed by resolution of the Trustees.
Objectives and Activities
Maintenance and upkeep of the Frances Ashton Almshouses and the gardens and help towards energy and other costs for residents. Concern for the welfare of the six residents.
Achievements and Performance in the past year
Trustees inspect all the flats in the Almshouse and grounds annually. The Chairman/Clerk make regular visits throughout the year. The gardens continue to be well maintained, and all residents are very happy and have been enjoying socialising together in the garden. This has been helped with the addition of a new seating area with new garden furniture.
Maintenance of the gardens and building is all up to date. The vacant flat is now occupied and current resident is happy and has integrated with existing residents extremely well.
The RCD fuse boxes were all updated to be in line with current safety standards
Finances
Buildings and grounds are the main asset. Money is invested and helps with the maintenance and upkeep of the building, day to day running costs, administration, and refurbishments. Other income is obtained from the maintenance charges from residents .
Mrs Julie Tipler Clerk to the Charity 9[th] July 2025
ASHTON ALMSHOUSE CHARITY
Statement of Accounts as at 31st March 2025
| RECEIPTS Maintenance Charges Council Tax Rebate Affinity Water Other (Jane Cart Grant -£8157.20/ £167.24 CBC Council Tax Flat 5 rebate) & £142.91 Affinity Water Income from Investments: C.O.I.F Higher Interest a/c £47.63& £51.33 National Savings |
Apr 2024 - March 2025 £ £ |
Apr 2024 - March 2025 £ £ |
Apr - £ |
March £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,973.94 204.40 0.00 |
43,819.70 8,324.44 3,178.34 |
3,035.61 163.89 0.00 |
33,937.59 | |
| 3,185.01 | ||||
| 3,199.50 | ||||
| INCOME EXC LOANS £47155.31 | 5,212.00 661.09 547.20 1,204.19 2,490.27 22.50 404.00 379.11 |
£ 55,322.48 |
Income ex Grant 6,216.84 936.00 508.80 1,249.80 2,040.65 15.00 1,647.03 66.84 |
£ 40,322.10 |
| Total receipts EXPENDITURE Administration of Almshouse Gas Water Careline Insurance Electricity T.V. Licence Council Tax/ J Bradley Fire Protection Service Council Tax |
37137.09 | |||
| Building Survey Maintenance of Almshouse Window/internal cleaning Garden Maintenance Decorating/Main Surveys White goods Electrics Heating Keys/locks Sundries Voile/blocked drain) Carpet Administration of Charity: Rent & Admin Payroll Rent & Admin COIF goes out then returned Almshouse Assoc |
||||
| 1,643.00 6,395.45 378.25 0.00 984.98 11,434.41 1,827.60 363.12 47.31 690.00 |
10,920.36 23,764.12 6,693.50 |
1,029.00 1,768.05 273.95 2,880.00 744.97 460.10 2,335.20 34.56 709.03 120.00 |
12,680.96 10,354.86 9,699.00 |
|
| 2,635.00 3,689.00 0.00 369.50 |
0.00 9,216.00 120.00 363.00 |
|||
| Total Expenditure NET RECEIPTS / (EXPENDITURE) Balances as at 31st March 2024 Total of Investments National Savings Account Total of bank balances Total assets brought forward Add Net Receipts/(Expenditure) Add movement in investments Balances as at 31st March 2025 Total of Investments National Savings Account Total of bank balances Total assets carried forward Check |
41,377.98 | 32,734.82 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 204,381.33 25,444.18 56,352.12 |
13,944.50 | 185,052.83 25,444.18 48,764.84 |
7,587.28 | |
| 286,177.63 13,944.50 (6,667.44) |
259,261.85 7,587.28 19,650.11 |
|||
| 197,713.89 25,444.18 70,296.62 |
204,381.33 25,444.18 56,352.12 |
|||
| 293,454.69 | 286,177.63 | |||
| 0.00 | 0.00 |
0
43 Summer Street Slip End Luion LUI 4BL 18° October, 2025 Towh mItMa NALM E CHARrrY- I have been asked by the Clerk to The Th]stees of the alx)ve chlty, Julie Ilplei, to carry out an independent irkspection of the counts for the peri(rfl from I. April 2024 to 31" March 2025. I have been Blven full access to all relevant d(llMents ]lUdI The list of Lwrent TteeS & their appointhient dates The Thlstees Annual Report for the peTfi( I" April 2024 to 31. March 2025 Minutes of the Trustees Meain8 2&512024 Minutes of the Trustees Meding fd1112024 Minutes of the Th]stees Meetlng 5r312025 Cash book spreadsheei 2024-2025 Ststement of Accounts for 202 and 2024-5 Assets & Llabi]iues Surnmary at 3113r2025 BACS confirmations for all tTansactions, supported by Supplie trAVoiS. Bank Statements for IK)th bank accounts & COIF staMents. I have fully cross-checked all the Bank Statements, BACS paent confinnauons, and the relevant invoices for the period against the cash Lwk spreadsheet and have found no inConsRsnaeS or errors. Thete are no cash transactions. VAT Is paid where it is due and is conECtly managed. The Clerk has conflrmed that all Lix and Nl due on her salary and that of her assistant is paid and in order - this is managed via the Association of Dunstable ChaTities to which the Ashton Almshouse Charity pays a monthly contrlbutlon. The queries I ralsed with the Clerk We all anSWed to my satlsfacuon. There is no separaie budget meeting, but finanaal matteTS are addressed as part of every trustee meeting. The aims of this historlc dll are being well meL There is clear evidence from bcrth the minu5 and the financial transactions, thai the 6 dwellings aN1 assoclated gardens are well maintained and are meeiing the prdciical and social of the residents in line with the spirit of the chariiy. Invesunent in the garden palio area undertaken this year. has len much welcomed by the resl(knts. A signilicani amount of electrical work was also urfftdertaken, for which a grant was soughi and successfully obtsined. Gardenin& property repai. cleaning and nlAtenanCe are caTried out In a tlmely. efficient and cost-effective manner, by rellable ade5people known to the Association of Dunstable Charities. While 8oods and caTpets are renewed when needed. Tradespeople and other suppliers are pald promptly. Day to day flnancial accoundng and recotd-keeping ts accurate. efficient and timely. Paperwork is well managed and there is deat eviderKe that irjcome alld payment5 are regularly scruunised. I raised a query on what appeared to be a dormant National sayin account and before the audit was complete there had been agreement to transfer these funds to the COIF account which is definitely in the inQtests of the Charity. Sucb a swift restK•n5e is just one ernple of the dynamic approach of the both the Clerk and the Ttees.
Thank you for asking me to carry oui this inspection. Should you have any further questions. please do noi hesiL3ie to conL4ct tlle. Yours West