ALEXANDRA HOUSE
(Royal United Services Short Stay Residence for Service Children)
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT
Charity Registration number 202922 Covering the Accounting Year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Address 20 Crownhill Fort Road Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5BX
Governing Document Administered by a Charitable Trust (the “green book” – revised 2001). Object To relieve and assist children of Service personnel who are temporarily unable to care for them due, for example, to sudden illness, matrimonial problems or other domestic emergency, and to reduce the likelihood of such emergencies in the future for families who may be vulnerable due, for example to illness, social isolation or disability. In recent times this object has been broadened to include full time and sessional day care provision for children aged up to five years of age.
Trustees Mr A Older Mr A Jones Mrs V Bennett (from 6 November 2024) Mr T Sheaff (from 20 November 2024) Mr R Davey (until 31 December 2024) Miss H Bruty (until 30 August 2024) Miss H Burns (until 2 July 2024)
Appointment of Trustees The Objects, Rules, Government and General Information of the Charity (last reprinted 2012) state that there shall not be more than six trustees. The trustees shall initially be invited, by the President, to serve for a period of five years. They may be invited to serve for a further period of five years. The appointment shall be ratified at the next Annual General Meeting.
Trustee Induction and Training New trustees undergo an orientation day to brief them on their legal obligations under charity law, the trustee decision-making processes, the business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. During induction day they meet key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.
AlexTAR 2025
Bankers CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling Kent ME19 4TA Independent Examiner Peter Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG
The Activities of the Charity
The charity provided flexible childcare for approximately 150 children up to the age of 5 during 24/25. The charity continued to offer Ofsted registered childcare to Service and civilian families and offered ongoing support for parents and carers. The charity continued to work alongside other agencies ensuring that a child’s needs are primary and individual to each child.
Alexandra House continued to raise the awareness of its support available to families within the local community and to a wider audience across the city.
The charity continued to liaise with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Welfare to maintain the Service Level Agreement and worked in close partnership with the LEA and Ofsted.
Staff members were encouraged to maintain high levels of training to continue to improve practice.
The Ofsted report of Mar 25 awarded Alexandra House good assessments in all areas.
A new Childcare Manager took up her appointment in Sep 24.
The conversion to CIO was still ongoing as the process had been held up by the necessary OFSTED checks required after the significant changes to the Board of Trustees.
Financial Review
The value of the fund increased by £59.3K to £182K. The movements in the fund can be summarised as follows:
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Operating gain - £57.9K - mainly as a result of the increase in Local Authority Funding which more than covered the increased wage bill.
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Unrealised gain in the market value of the investment - £1.5K.
The fund currently has £183.5K in bank and investment assets, with just £8.6K required to meet liabilities.
Investment Selection Policy
Reserves are held in an M&G charity fund primarily for generation of income rather than for growth. The trustees are aware of the vagaries of the stock market but seek to get the benefits of dividend rates which, until recently, far exceeded the amount paid by deposit accounts.
AlexTAR 2025
Reserves Policy
The Trustees have considered the level of reserves they aspire to hold for the charity’s needs. This is held in the investment which was valued at £31.3K. The trustees aim to ensure that the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even when there is a temporary shortfall in income e.g., adverse demographics in the area, or unexpected expenditure. Reserves are generated by parental paid fees, as opposed to Government funding, which may only be utilised in accordance with Ofsted regulations.
Risk Assessment
The Trustees actively review the major risks that the charity faces on a regular basis. In particular those relating to safety and security of staff and children and the financial status of the fund and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate any exposure to the major risks. Other risks centre on the change in numbers of children in the area and competition from other preschool facilities, some government funded, in the area. Low level welfare statistics are recorded and procedures are in place to record health and safety, safeguarding and risk factors.
Public Benefit Statement
This fund provides public benefit by advancement of the education of pre-school children. The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission of England and Wales’s guidance on public benefit in exercising their powers or duties.
Declaration
I declare in my capacity of charity trustee, that
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The trustees have approved the report above; and
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Have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.
Signed on Original
Andrew Jones Trustee
27 June 2025
AlexTAR 2025
ALEXANDRA HOUSE
Royal United Service Short Stay Residence for Service Children
Registered Charity No: 202922
BALANCE SHEET
31-Mar-25
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31-Mar-24
Notes
Fixed Assets
Investment 3 £ 31,334 £ 29,858
Current Assets
Debtors 8 £ 7,150 £ 4,901
Bank Account £ 152,171 £ 100,420
Total Current Assets £ 159,321 £ 105,321
Less Liabilities
Creditors (due within one year) 9 £ (8,647) £ (12,518)
Net Current Assets £ 150,674 £ 92,803
Total Assets £ 182,007 £ 122,661
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Approved on behalf of all of the Trustees
Signed on Original
Andrew Jones Trustee 27 June 2025
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Alex House Mar25BSNDBALANCE SHEET
ALEXANDRA HOUSE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For 12 months ended 31 March 2025
| Income Notes Donations Charitable Activities Other Activities Investment Income Total Income 4 Expenditure Charitable Activities Other Costs 2 Total Expenditure 5 Net Income Gain or (Loss) on Investments Leasehold Property to CIO Total Funds Brought Forward Total Funds Carried Forward |
Previous Year 1,020 £ 6,949 £ 481,465 £ 392,728 £ 1,033 £ 719 £ 5,750 £ 4,352 £ 489,268 £ 404,748 £ 431,397 £ 380,852 £ - £ 7,294 £ 431,397 £ 388,146 £ 57,871 £ 16,601 £ 1,476 £ (556) £ - £ (357,383) £ 122,661 £ 463,998 £ 182,007 £ 122,661 £ |
|---|---|
Notes to the Accounts
Note 1 - Accounting policies
The financial statements are prepared under the historic cost convention (as modified by the revaluation of fixed asset investments) and in accordance with applicable accounting standards: Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2019 and the provisions of the Charities Acts. Significant policies adopted are:
Income:
a. Donations are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the fund becomes entitled to the donation or grant and it is reasonably certain that it will be received.
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b. Income from fund raising is reported gross in the SOFA.
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c. Intangible income is not included in the accounts.
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d. The fund receives no unpaid volunteer help, other than work experience students. Staff members may occasionally work without pay when trialling new schemes.
Expenditure and Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the fund to the expenditure.
Assets -Tangible assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £500. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on receipt. The fund does not have a policy of revaluation. Depreciation is annual at 50% in the first year then 25% over the next two years. The fund does not currently own any property assets worth more than £500.
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Note 2 - Tangible Fixed Assets - Permanent Endowment Fund
The permanent endowment fund represented the receipt of monies from the Nuffield Trust (£442,674) and specific donations from other sources. This fund was established in 1999 and was for the singular purpose of relocating Alexandra House to purpose built premises. Depreciation had been charged on the property and it has been written off over the remaining years of its lease. However, in 2024 the lease was transfered to Alexandra House Childcare Centre CIO.
Note 3 - Investments
| M & G Securities Charifund Income Increase in Market Value |
29,857.65 £ at 31 Mar 24 1,475.85 £ 31,333.50 £ at 31 Mar 25 |
|---|---|
Note 4 - Income
| Donations and Grants Donations PTFA Events Apprentice Grant Charitable Activities Local Authority Funding Additional Local Authority Funding Parental Contributions Other Trading Activities Fundraising Training Provided Dividends Bank Interest Total Income |
£ £ £ |
12 mths to | 5,991 £ 457 £ 500 £ 1,020 £ 6,949 £ 263,352 £ 8,072 £ 121,304 £ 481,465 £ 392,728 £ 719 £ - £ 1,033 £ 719 £ 1,763 £ 2,588.05 £ 5,750 £ 4,352 £ 489,268 £ 404,748 £ Previous Year 31 Mar 25 |
|---|---|---|---|
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Note 5 - Expenditure
| Note 5 - Expenditure | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charitable Activities Operating Costs Wages & National Insurance Pension Contributions Agency Cover Cleaning Maintenance Gas & Electricity Rent - Ground Rates Water Refuse Food Nursery Resources Uniform First Aid Supplies PTFA Miscellaneous Expenses Insurance (incl Trustees) Governance Costs Independent Examination Professional Fees Support Costs Salaries & Wages Support Staff Pensions Staff Training Staff Wellbeing Computing Telephone Office Consumables Advertising Recruitment Licences & Subscriptions Registration Fees Equipment/Furniture Meetings Travel Expenses Gifts Bank & Card Charges Other Costs Leasehold Property Total Expenditure |
282,912 £ 11,235 £ - £ 1,853 £ 5,623 £ 6,750 £ 350 £ 4,790 £ 1,267 £ 2,018 £ 3,148 £ 3,210 £ 583 £ 193 £ - £ - £ 5,077 £ 685 £ 4,812 £ 74,484 £ 1,477 £ 1,593 £ 1,249 £ 3,046 £ 3,096 £ 2,734 £ 65 £ 506 £ 170 £ 4,516 £ 3,734 £ 12 £ - £ 148 £ 60.00 £ 12 mths to |
12 mths to | 254,626 £ 12,368 £ 522 £ 2,367 £ 6,410 £ 3,583 £ 350 £ 4,915 £ 1,150 £ 2,056 £ 3,562 £ 3,358 £ 488 £ 64 £ 27 £ 150 £ 5,029 £ 675 £ 5,575 £ 57,407 £ 882 £ 581 £ 879 £ 1,207 £ 3,095 £ 2,565 £ 42 £ 383 £ 159 £ 3,156 £ 2,338 £ 34 £ 569 £ 224 £ 60 £ 431,397 £ 380,852 £ - £ 7,294 £ 431,397 £ 388,146 £ 31 Mar 25 Previous Year |
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| 388,146 £ |
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Note 6 - Paid Employees
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a. The Charity has paid employees, average numbers were 22. All are employed directly on the charity's objectives. None was paid in excess of £60,000 in this year or last.
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b. Staff wage costs were £356,322 (Previous year £312032)
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c. Employer's National Insurance Costs were £21,577 (Previous year - £13,592)
Note 7 - Trustee and Other Related Parties
a No expenses or emoluments have been paid to the Trustees.
b. An established employee was invited to join the board as a Trustee as this strengthened the Board. This Trustee takes no part in decision making where there are conflicts of interest, actual or perceived.
- c. There were no amounts due to or from the Trustees.
Note 8 - Debtors and Prepayments
| Outstanding Parental Fees Plymouth City Council - Child Funding Insurance Prepaid Nursery Management System |
1,254 £ 3,150 £ 1,552 £ 1,194 £ |
|---|---|
| 7,150 £ |
Note 9 - Creditors and Accruals
| HMRC - PAYE & NICs Pensions Peake GB (Nappies) Clarity Copiers Electricity Gas Water Tamar Safety Nursery Items Equipment PNIE Best Accountants |
4,556 £ 1,187 £ 120 £ 94 £ 384 £ 574 £ 335 £ 350 £ 116 £ 58 £ 685 £ 187 £ |
|---|---|
| 8,647 £ |
Note 10 - Declarations
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a. The Trustees have not changed the year end date nor the length of the fund's financial year. b. All the fund's operations are continuing operations and no operations were discontinued. c. The fund has no marketable intangible assets.
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d. There were no interfund loans outstanding at the balance sheet date. e. None of the fund's functional assets has been revalued during the year and the fund does not have a policy of revaluation of these assets.
f. The fund has no material fixed assets which have not been capitalised and included in the Balance Sheet.
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Alexandra House (Royal United Service Short Stay Residence for Service Children) (Registered Charity No 202922)
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity’s trustees, 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 Trust’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. The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a licensed member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination; I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than in any requirement that the accounts give a “true and fair” view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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 accounts to be reached.
P A Nicholls MBE MAAT 5 Nursery Road Havant Hants PO9 3BG
27 June 2025
Independent Examiner's Report.doc