NEWCOMBE AND SPIER ALMSHOUSES
REPORT OF THE CLERK TO THE CHARITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
NOT FOR PUBLICATION
7 January 2026
Name of Charity: Newcombe and Spier Almshouse Charity Charity number: 217336 Charity Address: 18 Barnards Close Malvern WR14 3NJ Trustees: Mr Robin Aird [Chairperson] Mr Stuart Boulton Mrs Kathryn Fowler Mrs Anne Gilbert Reverend Ian Sweeney [ex officio] Mrs Joan Wade
Governance:
The charity is totally independent; it has a maximum of 7 trustees, chosen as follows:
The vicar for the time being of the ecclesiastical parish of Dunchurch [St Peter’s with St Edmund’s, Thurlaston]
One each nominated by the parochial councils of Dunchurch and Thurlaston One nominated by the parish of St Peter’s, Dunchurch
Three appointed by the existing body of trustees
Trustees normally meet three to four times per year, at which meetings all decisions are made, or ratified if they have been agreed electronically prior to the meeting. Minutes of each meeting are recorded, signed and filed.
The purpose of the charity is to administer the set of six almshouses located on The Square, Dunchurch.
1. Residents
All tenants have now been in residence for a number of years (Mrs Jeanne Townend over 10 years) and none has given any indication that she intends to move out of their accommodation.
2. Maintenance
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1.1 A number of doors (both front and back) were discovered to be fitted with 3-lever locks. These were replaced with 5-lever locks.
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1.2 A rodent infestation in No 2 was dealt with. Considerable damage to furniture was occasioned by these pests.
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1.3 After a considerable amount of discussion and investigation, it was decided to deal with the lack of ceiling insulation in house No 3 by enlarging the trapdoor to allow access to the loft space. This work is about to proceed.
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1.4 Mr Aird and Mrs Wade undertook two inspections of the property, and produced comprehensive reports and various issues requiring attention. These matters have been put in hand and, at the time of writing, are either complete or are about to be addressed. At this point it is worth noting that our standby contractor for remedial works, Messrs Robothams of Rugby, are apparently no longer operating; no doubt as a result of a heart attack suffered by Martyn Robotham earlier in the year. We are now using the services of Mr Rob McDermott.
3. Finance
The balance sheet and income/expenditure account for 2025 are attached and have been sent to our Honorary Examiner of Accounts, Mr Ken Wells.
4. Trustees:
The Ecclesial Parish of St Peters with St Edmund has appointed Reverend Ian Sweeney as Vicar of the parish. Rev Sweeney accordingly joins the board as trustee ex officio.
During the year a long-standing trustee, Mr Walter Harvey, retired and was replaced by Thurlaston Parish Council nominee Mr Stuart Bolton. Sadly, Mr Harvey died soon after relocating to Pinewood Village near Cawston. Another trustee, Mr Garth Murphy, chose to stand down after his appointment to the chair a major local charity.
5. Banking and Investments
Early in the year Scottish Widows announced their intention to close our investment account and transfer the funds to our current account at CAF Bank. The investment was only a matter of £694, which has now been transferred.
In view of changes to trustees, it was agreed that Mrs J Wade and Mrs K Fowler should both be signatories on the CAF account, while Mrs Wade joins the panel of signatories on the M & G Investment accounts. These changes we effected during the year.
In about June 2025, CAF Bank installed a new online system, with which we had numerous problems. Only after weeks of frustration did they finally iron out the problems caused by this change. One of those problems was the breaking of the link to QuickBooks, and expert assistance was needed to reinstate several weeks of transactions.
6. Insurance
The revised property evaluation was submitted to our insurers (Grout Insurance) and our premium has been adjusted in line with this evaluation.
D G Townshend
Clerk to the Newcombe and Spier Almshouse Charity
Statement of Activity
Newcombe & Spier Almshouses Charity
January 1-December 31, 2025
| DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT | TOTAL | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| JAN 1 - DEC 31 2025 | JAN 1 - DEC 31 2024 (PY) | ||
| Income | |||
| Sales | |||
| Maintenance contribution | 28,644.00 | 26,120.00 | |
| TV license share | 15.00 | ||
| Water levycontribution | 2,148.00 | 1,734.00 | |
| Total for Sales | £30,807.00 | £27,854.00 | |
| Total for Income | £30,807.00 | £27,854.00 | |
| Cost of Sales | |||
| Cost of sales | |||
| TV Licences | 30.00 | ||
| Total for Cost of sales | £30.00 | ||
| Total for Cost of Sales | £30.00 | ||
| Gross Profit | £30,777.00 | £27,854.00 | |
| Expenses | |||
| Bank charges | 60.00 | 60.00 | |
| Clerk Honorarium | 5,128.50 | 4,644.25 | |
| Computer Costs | 524.00 | 360.00 | |
| Fuel Grant | 900.00 | 900.00 | |
| Insurances | 1,194.55 | 996.04 | |
| Office/General Administrative Expenses | 8.20 | 50.00 | |
| Other Professional Services | 463.00 | 1,842.00 | |
| Printing, Postage and Stationery | 46.64 | 48.83 | |
| Repair and maintenance | 13,970.54 | 18,137.52 | |
| Travel and Accommodation | 207.90 | 122.90 | |
| Water Rates | 2,268.00 | 1,439.68 | |
| Dues and Subscriptions | 353.00 | ||
| Total for Expenses | £24,771.33 | £28,954.22 | |
| Net Operating Income | £6,005.67 | -£1,100.22 | |
| Other Income | |||
| Interest earned | 223.67 | 203.50 | |
| Investment revaluation account | 37,275.01 | 17,670.64 | |
| Total for Other Income | £37,498.68 | £17,874.14 | |
| Net Other Income | £37,498.68 | £17,874.14 | |
| Net Income | £43,504.35 | £16,773.92 |
1/1
Accrual Basis Thursday, January 15, 2026 10:59 AM GMTZ
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| TRUST FUND | ||||
| Balanceas at31*December2024 | 251,427.53 | 234,653.61 | ||
| LessIncrease/Deficit Operating Income for the year | 6,005.67 | -1,100.22 | ||
| Add Interest | 223.67 | 203.50 | ||
| Add Increase in valuation of Investments | 37,275.01 | 17,670.64 | ||
| 294,931.88 | 251,427.53 | |||
| FIXED ASSETS | ||||
| Market | Market | |||
| INVESTMENTS | Value | Value | ||
| 31.12.25 | 31.12.2024 | |||
| M&G | ||||
| Permanent Capital Endowment | 4,422.24 | 3,969.41 | ||
| Extraordinary Repair Fund | 275,233.21 | 279,655.45 | 223,419.11 | 227,388-52 |
| Scottish Widows | 0.00 | 685.81 | ||
| 279,655.45 | 228,074.33 | |||
| CURRENT ASSETS | ||||
| Debtors | 29.50 | 363.00 | ||
| CAF CurrentAccount | 15,496.93 | 15,526.43 | 23,343.20 | 23,706.20 |
| Less:Trade Creditors | 250.00 | 353.00 | ||
| 294,931.88 | 251,427.53 |