**Registered Charity number: 209100 Registered Housing Association number: A2079**
## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **CONTENTS PAGE**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Charity Information|1|
|Trustees’ Report|2-3|
|Independent Examiner’s Report|4|
|Statement of Financial Activities|5|
|Balance Sheet|6|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|7-9|
## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **CHARITY INFORMATION**
**Trustees** Mrs D. M. Huntingford Ms V. M. C. Branson Mr N. V. Charlesworth Dr I.G.C. Jutting (Appointed: 24/05/2025) **Charity manager and clerk** Mrs S. Grigor (Appointed: 10/04/2024) **to the Trustees Registered Charity number** 209100 **Registered Housing Association number** A2079 **Address** 24 Haydens Mews Tonbridge Kent TN9 1PZ **Independent Examiner** J. R. Mathieson FCA Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited North House 198 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE
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**TRUSTEES’ REPORT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
The Trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The Trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).
Charity information set out on page 1 forms part of this report.
## **Structure and governance**
The charity is constituted by a Charity Commission Scheme dated 8 October 1971, and amended on 22 June 2021. The charity is registered with the Charity Commission and with the Homes and Communities Agency as a Registered Social Landlord. It is governed by the Board of Trustees who appoint a Charity Manager to carry out the day-to-day administration of the charity.
## **Trustees**
The Trustees who served during the year were:
Mrs D. M. Huntingford Ms V. M. C. Branson Mr N. V. Charlesworth
The body of Trustees shall consist of not less than three and not more than six persons being two Nominative Trustees (appointed by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council) and one to four Co-optative Trustees residing or carrying on business in or near the Ancient Parish of Tonbridge.
The Board currently consists of one Co-optative Trustee and two Nominative Trustees.
Potential new Trustees are identified by the Trustees as being suitable candidates to approach, they would normally be persons who have an interest in local matters. The charity's Trustee Induction Policy for new Trustees is followed (as has been the case for a recently appointed new Trustee).
## **The objectives and activities of the charity**
The objectives of the charity are the provision of accommodation for people “who from age, ill health, accident or infirmity are wholly or in part unable to maintain themselves by their own exertions” – this being in accordance with the Charity Commission Scheme.
The charity’s main activity is the management of the six Gabled cottages at Church Street, Tonbridge for the benefit of persons in the Ancient Parish of Tonbridge who are in condition of need, hardship or distress.
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit in reviewing the charity’s objectives and activities. The Trustees are following ‘The Charity Governance Code’ and continually review to implement key recommended practices.
## **Achievements for the public benefit and financial review**
The charity’s work provides beneficiaries with comfortable, affordable accommodation in a secure and friendly environment. The cottages are continually updated and enhanced throughout the year.
The result for the year was a surplus of £11,556 (2024: £35,224). Unrealised losses on investments were £1,109 (2024: unrealised gains of: £22,260).
Total funds held at year end were £460,002 (2024: £448,446).
The charity’s free reserves, excluding those represented by tangible fixed assets, were £313,565 (2024: £296,494) at the balance sheet date. The trustees’ policy is to accumulate free reserves of £400,000 in order to (a) cover unexpected maintenance or repair costs, (b) provide sufficient operating working capital and (c) enable the charity, in the longer term, to acquire an additional unit for the provision of affordable accommodation in line with its charitable objects.
## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the detection and prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 28 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
**Mrs. D. M. Huntingford** Trustee
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Tonbridge United Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity Trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 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.
## **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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than 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.
**J. R. Mathieson FCA** Dated: 11 August 2025
Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited North House 198 High Street, Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Note**
**Income from:**
Charitable activities
Almshouse maintenance contributions
Investments
Bank interest received
Dividend income
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**2**
**Total expenditure**
Net gains / (losses) on investments
**5**
**Net income / (expenditure)**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**|**2025**
**£**
34,719
491
1,260
36,470
23,805
23,805
( 1,109)
**11,556**
448,446
**460,002**|**2024**
**£**
34,092
371
1,096|
|---|---|---|
|||35,559|
|||22,595|
|||22,595|
|||22,260
**35,224**
413,222|
|||**448,446**|
There were no restricted funds during the current and preceding period.
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **BALANCE SHEET** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**4**
Investments
**5**
**Current assets**
Debtors:
Prepayments and accrued income
Cash and cash equivalents
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Accruals and deferred income
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Total net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total reserves**|**£**
**£**
146,437
232,136
378,573
1,589
82,369
83,958
( 2,529)
81,429
460,002
**460,002**
460,002
**460,002**
**2025**|**£**
**£**
151,952
231,985
383,937
1,544
66,131
67,675
( 3,166)
64,509
448,446
**448,446**
448,446
**448,446**
**2024**|**£**
**£**
151,952
231,985
383,937
1,544
66,131
67,675
( 3,166)
64,509
448,446
**448,446**
448,446
**448,446**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
||||448,446|
||||**448,446**|
||||448,446|
||||**448,446**|
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on 28 July 2025.
**Ms V. M. C. Branson** Trustee
**Mrs D. M. Huntingford**
Trustee
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
## **1.1 Status**
Tonbridge United Charity is a registered charity (no. 209100) incorporated in England and Wales and is a private registered provider of social housing in the United Kingdom. Its principal activities are providing affordable rented accommodation to people in housing need locally. The principle office is given on page 1.
## **1.2 Basis of preparation of the financial statements**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
Tonbridge United Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue, and so the going concern basis of accounting has been adopted.
The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.
## **1.3 Income**
Income from donations and grants, including social housing grants, is recognised when the charity is entitled to the funds, the receipt is probable and the amount can be measured reliably. For donations, this is usually on receipt. For grants, this is usually when a formal offer is made in writing, unless the grant contains terms and conditions outside of the charity's control which must be met before the charity is entitled to the funds.
Maintenance contributions are recognised in the period to which they relate. Where maintenance contributions are due but have not been received, accrued income is recognised.
Interest income is recognised when receivable, dividend income is recognised when received.
## **1.4 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised when a present legal or constructive obligation exists at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and the amount can be estimated reliably.
Expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
The charity has established a regular programme of cyclical repairs and maintenance. Costs are charged to the revenue account in the year in which they are incurred.
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1.5 VAT and taxation**
The charity is not registered for VAT and expenditure shown is inclusive of VAT suffered. As a registered charity, the charity is exempt from liability to taxation on its income and gains.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Housing properties are stated at cost less depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Expenditure on existing properties is written off as incurred unless the replacement of a major component is identified. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated realisable value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Housing properties - buildings 50 years on cost Housing properties - roofs and windows 30 years on cost Computer equipment 3 year on cost
## **1.7 Investments**
Investments are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value at the reporting date. One of the charity's investments is held in accumulation units, where dividends are reinvested automatically into the fund.
## **1.8 Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial instruments of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments due within one year are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
|**2**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
_Activity: providing affordable accommodation_
Services
Property insurance and council tax
Light and heat
Maintenance
Major repairs and cyclical maintenance
Day-to-day maintenance
Support costs
Honorarium received by charity manager
Subscriptions
Christmas gifts and donations
Other office costs
Independent examination
Examiner's fee for accountancy services
Depreciation|**2025**
**£**
1,054
529
4,603
1,010
5,900
1,146
396
532
3,120
-
5,515
23,805|**2024**
**£**
1,276
457
5,059
2,836
3,650
567
1,682
-
1,350
300
5,418|
|---|---|---|
|||22,595|
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## **TONBRIDGE UNITED CHARITY**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **3 Trustees' emoluments and expenses**
There are no key management personnel apart from the Trustees. No Trustee received any remuneration during the year. Any expenses reimbursed to Trustees were in their capacity as agents of the charity and not in their capacity as Trustees.
## **4 Tangible assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2025
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**Housing**
**property**
**£**
259,364
259,364
107,842
5,349
113,191
146,173
151,522|**Computer**
**equipment**
**£**
499
499
69
166
235
264
430|**Total**
**£**
259,863|
|---|---|---|---|
||||259,863|
||||107,911
5,515|
||||113,426|
||||146,437|
||||151,952|
The almshouses were constructed in the 17th century and rebuilt in the 19th century. There is no record of the original cost. The value of the almshouses at the balance sheet date is considered to be approximately £700,000 based on their investment value.
## **5 Investments**
|Fair value at 1 April
Change in fair value
Additions
Fair value at 31 March|**2025**
**£**
231,985
(1,109)
1,260
232,136|**2024**
**£**
208,629
22,260
1,096|
|---|---|---|
|||231,985|
## **6 Related party transactions and balances**
There have been no related party transactions in the reporting period that require disclosure.
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