Foxton Willage Hall {Registered charity, number 2054341 Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 Contents Page l Trustees, Annual Report Page 7 Independent Examinerfs Report Page 9 Receipts & Payments Account Page 10 Statement of Assets & abilItieS Page 11 Notes to the Accounts
Foxton Willage Hall Trustees, Annual Report for the Year ended 31 December 2025 Full name Foxton Willage Hall (wtr) Other narnes by which the Charfty Is known Foxton Village Hall & Sports Pavilion, Re8lStered Charity Number 205434 Principal address Hardman Road, Foxton. Cambridge. CB22 6RN Tntstees The Trustees of the Charity for the year 2025 were: Timothy Dyke (Chairl Robert Mccomb Cecilia Sleigh Sheryl Williamson Independent Examiner Howard Sargent, 2 Church View, Foxton. Cambridge, C822 6AA Governance and Management The Charity is operated under the rules of rts constTtution adopted on 21 March 2CK)O. Foxton Parish Council is the Custodian Trustee of the charity. The charity is managed by a Committee of Management, all of whom are Trustees of the charity. The Committee consists of up to 16 members as follows: six Elerted Members. two Representative Members appointed by Foxton Parish Council, eight Representative Members appointed from the following local orBanisations.' Foxton Gardens Association Foxton Women's Institute Foxton Preschool St Lauren Church Foxton Sports Association Badminton Club As at 31 December 2025 all members were Elected Members. All the Members retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be revelected or reappointed. Objertives and Actlvities The object of the Charity is the provision and maintenance of a Nillage hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Foxton without distinrtion of political. religious, or other opinions, including use for meetings, lettures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure time. Under an Agreement dated 28 March 21x13 between VHT. Foxton Parish Council {FPCI, Foxton Recreation Ground Trust IRGn. Cambridgeshire County Counol ICCCI and The Millennium Commission, Foxton Primary School ha5 a licence to have sole use of the Main Hall during the School term.
The Charity works closely with the Charity RGTwho is the buildin8 owner and landlord to VHT. This relationship is governed by a Lease dated 28 March 2W3. The Maintenance Agreement between the parties specifying the responsibilities for FVH and RGf which had been in force from July 2023 is currently disputed by RGf and negotiations are underway to reach a resolution. Publi¢ Beneflt ststement The Trustees confirm that theyhave complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit.. Summary of the Main Activltles Undertaken for the Public Benefft The main activities at Foxton Village Hall fall into four groups. Firstly, the hall is used by Foxton Primary School and Foxton Preschool during the day in term time, whilst other groups use the other rooms. In 2025 the sd)ool accounts for of the buildin¢s usage. The Pavilion is used by the Foxton football and cricket teams for fixtures and prattice sessions in season. The third group of users run regular events held in various rooms from fitness and health to community groups and dance. The events are aimed at all age groups. Events include Camera Club. Foxton Singers. Puppy Play. Wl, U3& Craft Group. Over 605 groups, and band prattice. The final group comprises all other social events. This indudes children's and adults. Parties. soaal evenings. funerals. and business meetings. In addition, village hall rooms are used as a Polling Station and for medical purpose5 such as blood donation and vaccination dinics. Summary of the Main Achievements During the Period Hlrlng Levels In 2025 our hiring level increased by 13% from 2024. Over the year there were 94 hirers of the Village Hall, of which over a third were regular recurring hirers. There were 31 private parties held in the Willage Hall, reflecting its increased popularity and usage as a venue. Buildln8 lrnprovement Programrne In 2024 the Trustees established the objective that the Willage Hall & Sports Pavilion should be a venue of choice for the inhabitants of Foxton. In 2025 we completed our comprehensive building improvement programme. The building now meets both hirer satisfaction standards and health and safety requirements. Work done in 2025 induded: Refurbishing the Lounge. In 2024 we replaced the chairs. in 2025 we replaced the tsble tops with wood, refurbished the remaining furniture and refitted the bar area: Replacing the AV Screen cupboard in the Main Hall with a more prartical and robust version. Repairing the armchairs in the entrance hall which were stained and unattrattive. They are now recovered in bright and functional colours; Redecorating the Pavilion.
Rate Increase In October 2025 hiring rates were reviewed. The rates were increased by an average of 3.6% in line with CPI inflation. The increases were strurtured to protect. as far as possible. the local and regular hirers, taking note of the primary focus of our charitable objective5. Staff We also continued to benefit from the support of our Cleaning and Maintenance Team stsff, Natalie Howard. Eddie Done and Tony New who worked hard in 2025 to keep the faalitie5 in good condition for hirer5 and rectify any issues whith may arise. At the end of the year Eddie Done and Tony New left the Ifillage Hall. and lan Butcher was appointed as Maintenance Manager. Legal Strurture During the year, the Trustees reviewed the legal strurture of Foxton Village Hall Trust {VHT). VHT is an "old-style" unincorporated Charity, meaning it does not have a separate legal personality and operates through its trustees. As a consequence, Trustees may, in certain circumstances. be personally liable for the Charitrfs debts and obligations if the Charity is unable to meet them. In the eventthat the charity were to dose. Trustees would remain responsible for settling any outstsnding liabilities. This legal position places a degree of risk on Trustees and may have contributed to difficulties in attracting new Trustees. More recently established tharities are often Structured as Charitable Incorporated Organisations {CIOsl. In thi5 model. the Charity itself is a separate legal entity and is responsible for its debts and obligations. Trustees. personal liability is generally limited, provided they act properly and in accordance with Charity law. The Trustees sou8ht professional advice on the most appropriate legal structure for VHT and were advised that incorporation as a CIO would be in the Charitvs best interests. Steps were taken to begin this process: however, it had to be paused in September 2025 for legal reasons followin8 the withdrawal of finanaal support by the RGr. It remains the Trustees, intention to resume the incorporation process once the issues with RGT have been satisfactorily resolved. Dispute wlth RGT For over 20 years. major maintenance of the Willage Hall has been fijnded through a dedicated long- term maintenance I"sinkin¥'l fund held on trust by RGTto support VHT in meeting the terms of the Lease. On 9 September 2025, the Trustees were informed that access to this funding would be withdrawn. In the absence of this fundin& VHT does not have sufficient resources to meet long-term maintenance obligations and cannot operate on a finanoally sustainable basi5. The Trustees obtsined legal advice and sou8ht to resolve the matter throu8h dialogue. A meeting between VFrr and the Recreation Ground Trust {RGT) was held on 7 Dernber 2025: however. no progress was made towards reathing an agreement A further meeting was held on 15 December 2025, attended by major hirers of the Village Hall. atwhich the situation was explained, including the risk that VHT may be unable to continue operating as a result of the loss of financial support. If VHT
was forced into closure. or by the abseno of new Trustees being eletted or appointed, the Village Hall could not continue operations. Due to the material financial impatt arisingfrom the withdrawal of fijnding from RGT. and the resulting risk to the Charit¢5 ability to continue to operate and meet its obligations. VHT submitted a Serious Incident Report to the Charity Commission on 12 December 2025 in accordance with regulatory 8uidance. Post Accounting Date Events The funding issue was raised with hirers at a meeting held on 8 January 2026, and was discussed In public at Foxton Parish Council's monthly meeting on 12 January 2026. At that meetin& the Parish Council stated that RGT continues to allocate funds for major works on an annual basis and stated that £1(,(*)0 had been ring-fenced for Village Hall maintenance for 2026 and that such funds remain available for genuine, evidenced. critical repairs. 5ubjett to RGT approval processes. The Parish Council reiterated RGfs fundin8 policy. namely that it will fund justified major capital works but will not provide unlimited fundin& release funds without scrutiny, or assume VHT'S responsibilities unless VHT ceases to operate. Additionally. RGTststed that the annual maintenance charge paid by Cambridgeshire County Council would be transferred to VHT from January 2026. During the discussion, a Parish Councillor proposed that a small working group comprisin8 representstives from each trust should meet with an independent mediator to develop and evaluate future Options for the Village Hall. Distritt Councillorjames Hobro was proposed and agreed to att as an independent chair. an approach supported by the many residents presenL Trustees of both VHT and RGT subsequently agreed to participate in such a meetin8 to develop firstly a short term plan for 2026 and secondlv conduct a longer term review of the best governance model to protects the interests of the community. At the subsequent FPC meeting of 2 February it was suggested that the fijture of VHTwould be more secure if RGT issues a Letter of Comfort in favour of VHT outlining the financial support RGT is providing. RGT informed VHT on 9 March 2026 that they have declined to provide a Letter of Comfort stating that the commitments they had already given in their statement on 12 January 2026 provided sufficient evidence of reassurance. Outlook for the Future Having secured assurances from FPC and RGT re8arding future funding, a very strong future for Foxton Village Hall is emerging. As experted for a building over 20 year5 old. much of the infrastrurture has required renewal and significant investment over the last three years. These improvements have been funded in part by RGr from the sinking fund and in part by VHTfrom the Charity's operating income. and the programme of works has produced community facilities which are the en of many surrounding vrllages. Additionallv, Upgraded back office systems including online booking and invoicing and secure acce55 control have been introduced and all major service contracts have been reviewed and renewed. Hiring levels have risen significantly, not only from Foxton residents but also from further afield helped by word of mouth and recommendations. Bookings for 2026 are on course to rise again. and a healthy surplus for the year end is forecast. This, together with the strong levels of reserves already held,
provides the foundation for ensuring that the quality and range of faalities can be sustained in the years ahead. The Charity relles on volunteers to att in running the Willage Hall and work is underway to strengthen the VHT Committee of Management by restoring the indusive community-based oversight whidi was the ori8inal intention for runnin8 Foxton Villa8e Hall and for protecting the facilities. It is hoped that representatives of important village groups will become Trustees in 2026 to take the charity forward. Going Concern The Trustees have assessed the Charitys financial position and its ability to continue in operational exlstence for the foreseeable future. being a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements. The as5es5ment induded a review of the CharlS reseries. current cash resources, projected income from hall hire, and experted operatin8 expenditure. Cashflow forecasts have been prepared which indicate that the Charity is able to meet its routine daY-tOaY liabilities as they fall due. During the year the Trustees were informed that access to the long-stsnding fLJnding arrangement for major structural and capital maintenance of the Village Hall would be withdrawn. creating significant uncertainty regarding the Charl$ ability to fund major capital works. Subsequently, RGT confirmed that £ICK),(J)O had been ring-fenced for Village Hall maintenance and also agreed to establish a CAPEX Scheme to support other emergency events. In addition RGT agreed that from January 2026 the funds paid by Cambridgeshire County Counal towards the lon8 term maintenance of the building would be paid dirertly to VHT. These developments improve the CharlS short-term financial posltion. but the availability of fijnding for future major capitsl works remains uncertain and subjettto approval processes outside the Trustees, control. Trustees have taken legal advice and have sought to manage and mitigate this risk through dose financial monitorin& prudent control of tommitments and continued engagement with stakeholders regarding sustainable long-term funding arrangements. The Trustees have reviewed the Charitrfs financial position and forecasts and consider that VHT has sufficient resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future,. accordingly, the financial ststements have been prepared on a going concern basis. However, the arcumstances referred to above represent a material uncertainty which may cast doubt on the ChariVs ability to continue as a going concern in the long term. The CharlWs Policy on Reserves The Charity's policy on reserves is to hold a minimum level of reserves of £60,¢XIO. The feserves policy is reviewed annuallv. Si8ned on behalf of harlS trustees: Signed Date 21-l-26 rimothy Dyke. Trustee
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CHARITY COMMISSION, FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES | Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Report to the trusteesl | members of Foxton Village Hall Trust On accounts for the year | 31" Dernber 2025 ended I Charity no (if any) 205434 Set out on pages19-11 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {llhe Trusf) for the year ended 3111212025. Responsibilities and As the tharity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparats'on basis of report of the accounts in accordance Vth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the A¢f). I report in respect of my examinats'on of the Trust's accounts carried OLrt under sethon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515}(b) of the Act I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounts'ng records were nol kept in accordan wlh section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord vth the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: Name: i Howard Sargent Relevant professional j FCMA {Retired) qualificationls) or body j (if any): I Address: 2 Church View. Foxton, Cambridge C822 6AA Section B Disclosu IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. The Accounts at 31112125 show the Foxton Hall Village Hall Trust tharrty was solvent, wth adequate funds to meet its liabilities at the year-end. A budget has been prepared and agreed by the trustees for 2026 which shows a positive cash flow. The ongoing viabiltty of this charity is however dependent on adequate funds being made available by Foxton Parish Council and RGT. Post the financial year-end the availability of a sum up to £100,CIJO has been agreed by the revant part5. IER October 2018
Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 December 2025 2025 INCOME Hirer5 Grénts school ICCCI 2024 £37,283 £544 £20,456 £33.207 £3,339 £14.997 £58.283 Interest Income £51.543 £1.673 El.992 EXPENDITURE Utilities £59.956 £53.534 Gas Electrfcity Internet Phone Watsr Waste Water R•fuse Disposal -£5.265 -£4,865 -£856 -£57 £172 -£230 -£1,436 13.251 44,950 -£832 -£59 £214 -£48 41.099 -12,538 Maintenan¢• Boiler Premises Electric Plumbing Fire Alann Sundry MaintenCe Windgws Redecoration 420,023 £0 -£458 £0 -£557 -£162 £0 £0 4250 -£3.293 £0 4591 4396 £0 -£321 -£363 -£1.331 190 -£1,330 44.719 Other Insurnnce Cleanlng Legal Fee5 Lrcenc•s & Membership IT & Software costs Adrnrn Bank Char¥es Large Equipment Small Equipment Sundry Su5penst 4,522 667 1,868 -£18,326 524 1,024 Éo -£237 -£6,582 4470 £0 £0 1,369 516 -£606 £0 4198 -£12,014 4885 117 £0 429.698 Payroll Staff Payroll cost5 416.*7 ,190 -£558 -17,953 -£483 -£18,748 418436 -E65,704 -£5,748 INCOME/IDEFicin -£59.288 -£5,754
ststement of assets and liabilities at 31 December 2025 General Fund Reserve Fund Total Opening Balance as at Transfers Surplus/lDeficitl for year Closing Balance as at Oljan 2025 £18.804 £0 5,748 £13,056 £60.L £78,804 £0 -£5,748 E73,056 £0 31 Dec 2025 £60,CK)) Uabllltles Assets are represented bw. Cash and Bank Balances Opening 8alonce as at Movement in year Closing 8alance as at CAF CAF Gold Redwood £20,273 £584 Total 01 Jan 2025 £5,047 £3,096 £8.143 £53,484 -£9.428 £44,056 £78.804 -£5,748 £73,056 31 Dec 2025 £20,857 Repres•ntèd by: Cash CAF CAF Gold £53.484 £44,056 -£9.428 Redwood £20,273 £20.857 £584 Total Opening Balante as at Closiryd Balance as at Movement year to date 01 Jan 2025 31 D*c 2025 £5.047 £8.143 £3,096 £78.804 £73,056 -£5.748 These financial statements are accepted on behalf ofthe Charity by: Signed Dated 33 3 2£. Robert MCC mb, Treasurer 10
Notes to the Accounts for the Year ended 31 December 2025 1. Receipts & Payrnents Accounts The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis under sertion 1.3 of the Charities Commission guidelines on Charity Reportin8 and Accounting as the revenue falls below £250,(KiO. The Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and moneyspent duringthe period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. 2. Premises & Staff The premises are currently owned by the registered Charity, Recreation Ground, Foxton. Foxton Parish Council is the Trustee of the Charity. As at 31 December 2025 Foxton Village Hall employed 4 stsff12023- 3). 3. Trustee< Remuneration Trustees received no remuneration or benefits in this period.