## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From: 1 January 2024 To: 31 December 2024** **Charity name: Viscountess Barrington’s Homes for Disabled ex Servicemen and Women** ## **Charity registration number: 205219** ## **Objectives and Activities** |**Objectives and Activities**||| |---|---|---| ||SORP reference|| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**To provide housing for beneficiaries,**
**defined as former members of the armed**
**forces or dependents thereof, who are in**
**need by virtue of disability, financial**
**hardship, sickness or old age, and are**
**capable of independent living. Applicants**
**should ordinarily be resident within 100**
**miles of Shrivenham, Oxon or have family**
**ties to the Shrivenham area.**| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**To maintain, and upgrade where**
**appropriate, the properties owned by the**
**Trust, to ensure that active and**
**independent residents can enjoy**
**accommodation in line with 21st century**
**living, at contribution rates that are**
**affordable to those in need.**| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**Trustees have had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity Commission on**
**public benefit**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||
SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |---|---|---| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**The main accomplishment for 2024 was**
**the refurbishment of 1 and 3 Recreation**
**Ground Lane. This included creating**
**open plan kitchen-diners, updated**
**kitchens and downstairs shower rooms,**
**and (for one of the properties) an upstairs**
**bathroom. The heating systems were also**
**replaced. External work included removal**
**of the original (1920’s) chimneys and very**
**old render, replacing with a modern**
**breathable render system. These**
**improvements have enabled the**
**residents to enjoy much better insulated,**
**damp proofed and therefore warmer**
**homes.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: **Refurbishing two properties continued the theme of modernising the property portfolio.** Achievements against **A major driver for this project and the** objectives set Para 1.41 **wider improvement program is to improve the energy performance of our homes, both to protect the environment and to ease the running costs for our residents** |||| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**Besides using maintenance**
**contributions, funds have been secured**
**via two loans in order to continue the**
**policy of bringing the property portfolio**
**in line with modern living conditions**| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The charity remains in a sound position**
**financially.**| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**Current reserves were decimated by the**
**work but steps are afoot to replenish**| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£0 with the objective of building to £50K**
**within 3 years.**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**Recent heavy expenditure on**
**refurbishment projects, utilising reserves**
**as well as borrowing**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**The charity owes c£200K**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**Despite recent heavy expenditure, the**
**charity remains in a strong position**
**financially with (property and land)**
**assets in excess of £6 million**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
**The prime source of regular income**
**remains the maintenance contributions;**
**this was supplemented in 2024 by a loan**
**from the Almshouse Association which**
**helped fund the major refurbishments**
**discussed above**| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**N/A**| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**Our principal risks are; loss of key staff,**
**and the potential for slips, trips and falls.**| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Charity Commission Scheme**| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated charitable trust**| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Trustees are recruited locally. This topic**
**is discussed regularly at trustee**
**meetings and all trustees are encouraged**
**to identify potential candidates in**
**addition to local advertising. Due**
**consideration is given to appropriate skill**
**sets and many Trustees have a military**
**background.**| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|
Para 1.51|
**Trustees are required to review all**
**policies and procedures ahead of**
**accepting the position. Attendance at**
**training courses such as those run by the**
**Almshouse Association is encouraged**| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**Day to day management of the Trust and**
**its properties is handled by the Clerk.**
**Minor maintenance issues are resolved**
**without consultation. However, a close**
**relationship is maintained between the**
**Clerk and Chair, especially with regard to**
**more major issues. Regular reporting to**
**all Trustees occurs periodically, but**
**always more frequently than at the bi-**
**annual trustee meetings**| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|**Another Viscountess Barrington Trust**
**manages the Memorial Hall and**
**Recreation Ground in the village; our**
**properties surround their space.**
**We are working with them in preparation**| **for our joint Centenary, due to be celebrated in 2025 The Charity is in the process of becoming a CIO, and should be operating as such** Other **by the end of 1Q 2025** ## **Reference and Administrative details** > Charity name **Viscountess Barrington’s Homes for Disabled ex Servicemen and Women** > Other name the charity uses **VB Homes** > Registered charity number **205219** > Charity’s principal address **19 Stainswick Lane Shrivenham Swindon SN6 8DU** **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** ||1
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0|**Trustee name**|**Office (if**
**any)**|**Dates acted if not**
**for whole year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to appoint**
**trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Andrew Sudlow|Chair||N/A| |||David Ahern|||N/A| |||Martin Chaston|||N/A| |||Peter Harrison|||N/A| |||Paul Armitage|||N/A| |||Christopher
Mackarness|||N/A| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name N/A** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |**N/A**||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** ||**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**| |---|---|---|---| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||||| ||**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional**
**information)**||| ||||| ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **N/A** ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s)** Andrew Sudlow **Position (eg** Chair **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 1 March 2025 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Barclays Active Saver 1 Jan 2024 31 Dec 2024
Opening Credit Closing Credit
£50,047.10 £2,312.54
Transfers out -£48,000.00
Transfers in £0.00
Interest £265.44
£2,312.54
Barclays Current A/C 1 Jan 2024 31 Dec 2024
Opening Credit Closing Credit
£48,442.70 £16,889.59
Transfers in net 43,000.00
Contributions 96,582.70
AA Loan 100000.00
INCOME £288,025.40
Property Expense -234568.14
Repay CB Loan -18204.19
Management Costs -18363.48
EXPENSE -£271,135.81
OPERATING INCOME OVER EXPENSE (within Barclays) £16,889.59
Charity Bank 1 Jan 2024 31 Dec 2024
Opening Credit Closing Credit
£18,096.14 £24,286.00
Transfers out -35000.00
Transfers in 40000.00
Interest £1,189.86
£24,286.00
1 Jan 2024 31 Dec 2024
TOTAL BANK BALANCE £116,585.94 £43,488.13
Net Loss £73,097.81
Total interest £1,455.30
**----- End of picture text -----**
CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees C%- SL£W Prt4b On accounts for the year ended EC Charity no (if anyl Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the charity {'the Trust.) for the year ended311 I As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"Ihe Act"). ccounts of the above Responsibilities and basis of report I report in respect of my examinalion 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 Chaflty Commission under section 145151{b) of the Act. Independent examiner's ststement apPhe8U￿YFl. Delete I l ifnot applicable. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below ') which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charrties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter onsidered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in ¢onnection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reaGhed. Please delet tho rds in the brackets if they do not apply. 4 0 ¥viawth2014 Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualificationls) or body IER Oct 2018 lif any): Address: S-nl i fxl? ts 5 A-KI Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to hi9hlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners}. Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER Oct 2018