## **St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
**(Charity number 215990)**
**Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements**
**for the year ended**
**31 December 2025**
## **St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**CONTENTS**|**_Page_**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' Annual Report|_1 - 3_|
|Independent Examiner's Report|_4_|
|Receipts and Payments Account|_5_|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|_6_|
|Notes to the Accounts|_7_|
**St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Objectives & activities**
The Hospitals’ Charity has three objectives:
- 1) (a) The provision of housing accommodation for persons aged 50 and over who are in conditions of need, hardship and distress who have lived in Ripon and the surrounding districts for 5 years immediately prior to their appointment. When selecting residents, the trustees should give preference to women.
- (b) Such charitable purposes for the benefit of the residents as the trustees decide.
- 2) The relief of persons resident in Ripon and the surrounding districts who are in need, hardship or distress. The trustees may relieve persons in need by:
- (a) Making grants of money to them; or
- (b) Providing or paying for goods, services or facilities for them; or
- (c) Making grants of money to other persons or bodies who provide goods, services or facilities to those in need.
- 3) The relief of persons suffering from leprosy by supporting the work of organisations overseas established for that purpose.
The first of these is the main work of the Trust and is carried out through the maintenance of sixteen almshouse properties, one of which is a double, on three separate sites.
The second objective is only occasionally fulfilled, and not at all this year, though any requests for help are considered sympathetically. There was no work done on the third objective in the year.
The Hospitals’ Charity is in membership of The Almshouse Association.
## **Achievements & performance**
All properties continue to be well maintained following the major refurbishment project which finished in 2024. During the year at least 15 out of the 16 properties were occupied at all times, with all 16 being occupied for most of the year.
In the summer there was the annual trustees party for the residents of the almshouses which was well attended.
## **Charity financial review**
The charity is in good financial order.
There was less activity on repairs etc after the major programme of refurbishment of the almshouse properties which finished in 2024. As a consequence of the reduced activity, the cash funds and investments having started the year at £315,799 increased to £346,199 at the end of 2025. Of this total £307,052 was invested, primarily with CCLA, who specialize in investing in this charitable sector.
Investments produced an income of £10,744 in 2025. In addition to investment income, income to this Trust is mostly from the Weekly Maintenance Contributions of almshouse residents and these totalled £97,617 in 2025. These contributions are now maintained at a realistic and steady level, increasing annually in relation to relevant inflation indices and budgetary needs. The element calculated for heating and other utilities is reviewed annually. It is hoped that this element of the Weekly Maintenance Contribution will not increase quickly in future. Funds will need to increase over coming years to build up the resources for the next renovation programme in some years’ time.
The accounts are produced on a natural receipts and payments basis .
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**St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Reserves policy**
The reserves policy is to hold a minimum of £200,000 within cash funds and investments which is at least 2 years annual running costs and for the reserves to be built up to at least £500,000 to cover major refurbishment projects. This is achieved by setting the weekly maintenance contribution that residents pay at a level that achieves this but without the charge being excessive.
Total unrestricted cash funds and investments held at 31 December 2025 were £223,651 which is in line with the reserves policy.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Trustees continue to review the various policies of the trust as and when necessary and keep abreast of changes to legislation. As required by the Charity Commission and Government. Written policies are in place for but not limited to:
- Complaints procedure
- Conflict of interest
- Financial controls
- Investments
- Risk Management
- Volunteers’ Management
- Vulnerable adults
- Privacy Policy
- Data Protection Policy
A Disaster Recovery Plan is in place. All Trustees have signed the relevant declarations relating to but not limited to the Charity Commission’s disqualification rules. No expenditure is incurred outside England and Wales.
Trustees have continued the lengthy process of changing the status of their governance from unincorporated to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIOs). This has involved drafting fresh constitutions based on Charity Commission guidelines. The trust is complex and we are consulting specialist lawyers to support this process, which is expected to be completed by 2027.
During 2025, the Trustees and their Standing Committee have held frequent meetings with good attendance from trustees at all times. New governance arrangements to streamline the meetings of the full trustees by clarifying the decisions to be taken by the standing committee have been put in place. These arrangements are bedding down well and have led to more effective decision taking.
In all their decisions, the Trustees have been aware of and had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising their powers and fulfilling their duties. Public benefit in relation to the Charity arises from the housing of up to seventeen older and needy residents and the maintenance of three sets of attractive buildings, two of which are Grade II listed, and which have a significant place in the community.
There is no trustee remuneration or payment of expenses.
The Trust continues to be well served by the Clerk/Administrator, whose notional monthly hours remain at 32, though the demands of the role vary considerably from month to month as well as year to year. The annual review covering all aspects of their role and conditions of service was again very satisfactory. The Trust and residents in particular benefit from their attention to detail and supportive care.
There have been no serious incidents during the past year.
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**St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025**
## **Reference and administrative details**
The registered charity number is 215990.
Address: C/O Ripon Cathedral Office Liberty Courthouse Minster Road RIPON HG4 1QS
The Trust is governed by a Charity Commission Scheme dated 11 September 2006. It is run in conjunction with the St Mary Magdalen and St John the Baptist Chapels trust, and managed by up to twelve trustees, who are common to both trusts. The Dean of Ripon is an ex-officio trustee and chairs the trust. Nominated trustees are appointed on the following basis: two appointed by the Cathedral Chapter, two by the Council of the City of Ripon, and two by the most local body of the Justices of the Peace. A further five trustees have been co-opted, one of whom is the Honorary Treasurer. Dean John Dobson is an active chair, working closely with the Vice-Chair, Chief Executive and other trustees on a regular basis.
The trustees on the date this report was approved were
- The Very Revd John Dobson
- Michael Chambers
- Simon Hewitt
- Stuart Baldwin
- Janina Harrison
- Malcolm Hanson
- Michael Stanley
- Sylvia Hargreaves
- Martyn Miller
- Ron Metcalfe
- Gerry Johnson
Treasurer of many years, Bill Richardson, stepped down as a trustee this year. The trustees record their great gratitude for his many years of dedicated service. He has been replaced by Stuart Baldwin, a fully qualified accountant. Another trustee, Scott Handley has recently resigned after 2 years of valuable service. The trusts are now seeking a replacement nomination from the magistracy.
Signed: …………………………….
for and on behalf of the Trustees by the Chair – the very Revd John Dobson
_Approved by trustees at their meeting on 3 July 2026_
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## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 5 to 7.
This report is made solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examiner’s work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity, the Charity’s members as a body and the Charity’s Trustees as a body for my independent examiner’s work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the Charity 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.
## **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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Emma Collier, ACA
HPH, Chartered Accountants
54 Bootham
YORK
YO30 7XZ
3 July 2026
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## **St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Receipts and Payments Account**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**RECEIPTS**
Chapels Contribution
Investment Income
Maintenance Payments
Miscellaneous Income
**Total Receipts**
**PAYMENTS**
Professional Fees
Electricity
Gas
Dues and Subscriptions
Extraordinary Repairs
Insurance Expense
Miscellaneous Expense
Office/IT/Telephone/Postage
Salaries and Staff Costs
Cyclical Maintenance
Repairs and Maintenance
Water
**Total Payments**
**ASSET AND INVESTMENT PURCHASES**
Purchase of investments
**Excess of receipts over payments**
**Transfers between funds**
**Balances brought forward at**
**1 January 2025**
**Balances carried forward at**
**31 December 2025**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
96
10,744
97,617
500
108,957
1,134
2,184
14,911
433
13,780
4,808
224
1,105
8,546
9,193
14,194
6,056
76,568
15,000
15,000
17,389
-
21,758
**39,147**
**£**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
96
972
10,744
10,389
97,617
98,547
500
567
108,957
110,475
1,134
1,954
2,184
2,207
14,911
14,777
433
419
13,780
28,326
4,808
4,371
224
913
1,105
653
8,546
8,263
9,193
11,141
14,194
12,899
6,056
4,461
76,568
90,384
15,000
-
15,000
-
17,389
20,091
-
-
21,758
1,667
**39,147**
**£**
**21,758**
**£**
**Total**
**Funds**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
96
972
10,744
10,389
97,617
98,547
500
567
108,957
110,475
1,134
1,954
2,184
2,207
14,911
14,777
433
419
13,780
28,326
4,808
4,371
224
913
1,105
653
8,546
8,263
9,193
11,141
14,194
12,899
6,056
4,461
76,568
90,384
15,000
-
15,000
-
17,389
20,091
-
-
21,758
1,667
**39,147**
**£**
**21,758**
**£**
**Total**
**Funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||110,475|
||||1,954
2,207
14,777
419
28,326
4,371
913
653
8,263
11,141
12,899
4,461|
||||90,384|
||||-|
||||-|
||||20,091
-
1,667|
||||**21,758**
**£**|
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## **St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
## **At 31 December 2025**
|**Unrestricted Endowment**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Note**
**£**
**£**
**Cash Funds**
Barclays Current Account
39,097
-
Administrator Float
50
-
39,147
£
-
£
**Other Monetary Assets**
Debtors
4,360
-
4,360
£
-
£
**Investment Assets**
Charities Investment Fund - 876530001T
16,201
-
Charities Investment Fund - 876530001V
45,869
-
COIF Ethical Fund End 2AA
-
56,063
122,434
-
-
66,485
184,504
£
122,548
£
**Assets Retained For Charity's Own Use**
Freehold Property
**4**
-
-
-
£
-
**Liabilities**
Independent Examination Fee
600
-
600
£
-
£
COIF Ethical Fund Non End 1AA
NAACIF - Perm Endowed Investment|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
39,097
21,708
50
50
39,147
£
21,758
£
4,360
-
4,360
£
-
£
16,201
17,015
45,869
44,926
56,063
58,987
122,434
113,436
66,485
59,677
307,052
£
294,041
£
-
-
-
-
600
-
600
£
-
£
**Total Funds**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
39,097
21,708
50
50
39,147
£
21,758
£
4,360
-
4,360
£
-
£
16,201
17,015
45,869
44,926
56,063
58,987
122,434
113,436
66,485
59,677
307,052
£
294,041
£
-
-
-
-
600
-
600
£
-
£
**Total Funds**|
|---|---|---|
|||21,758
£|
|||-|
|||-
£|
|||17,015
44,926
58,987
113,436
59,677|
|||294,041
£|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-|
|||-
£|
Approved by the Board on 3 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
………………………………… Very Revd John Dobson
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## **St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Hospitals Charity**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1. Basis of accounts**
The Trustees have taken advantage of section 144 (2) of the Charites Act 2011 and have prepared accounts on a receipts and payments basis. Cash-based accounts are not prepared on an accruals basis and, therefore, the Charities SORP does not apply to their preparation.
## **2. Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
No Trustees received remuneration for work as an employee of the Charity during the year (2024 - nil). No expenses were reimbursed to Trustees (2024 - nil).
## **3. Related party transactions**
During the year, the Charity received £96 in relation to the reimbursement of expenses from St Mary Magdalen and St John The Baptist Chapels Charity (2024 - £972). There was a debtor at the year end amounting to £4,360.
## **4. Freehold property**
Freehold property is made up of ten Almshouses known as "St Marys" No's 29, 31, 33, 35, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 & 52 Magdalen Road Ripon and six Almhouses known as "St John's" No's 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 & 99 Bondgate Ripon.
These assets are permanently endowed and their values have not been stated in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
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