**Charity Registration Number - 227716**
## **HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
# **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|**ADDRESS**|Field Head Farm|
|---|---|
||Outgate|
||Ambleside|
||LA22 0PY|
|**GOVERNING DOCUMENT**|Founded in 1875; governed by its rules|
||Registered Charity 227716|
|**TRUSTEES**|Mandy Mitten|
||Shaun Taylforth|
||Rebecca Wolf|
|**BANKERS**|Barclays Bank Plc|
||9 Highgate|
||Kendal|
||Cumbria|
||LA9 4DA|
|**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER**|S Oram FCCA|
||Melville & Co., Chartered Accountants|
||Unit 17-18, Trinity Enterprise Centre|
||Furness Business Park|
||Ironworks Road|
||Barrow-in-Furness|
||LA14 2PN|
## **INDEX**
Page 1 Legal & Administrative Details Page 2 - 3 Trustees Report Page 4 Independent Examiner’s Report Page 5 Receipts and Payments Account Page 6 Statement of Assets & Liabilities Page 7 - 8 Notes to the Accounts
1
## **HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **OBJECTS**
The Society is established for the purpose of encouraging improvements in livestock by the distribution of premiums, for arranging such other competitions and exhibitions that the Committee may from time to time resolve, and generally for encouraging agricultural improvements of every description.
The Society arranges an annual show for the exhibition of stock and for other exhibitions and competitions, including home produce, handicrafts and horticulture, and awards premiums and other prizes in respect of such exhibitions and competitions. The annual show is held two weeks before the first Tuesday in September at Hawkshead.
## **REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES**
This year’s show was a resounding success, due to both excellent weather and the organisational skills of the committee. In addition to record gate entries, sponsorship and trade stand revenue increased substantially, with the creation of a new food hall and craft marquee further boosting income.
To celebrate the Society’s 150th year, an after-show Hoedown dance and raffle was organised. The surplus on the night was donated to the Hawkshead Recreation Ground after the year end, to contribute towards new play equipment.
The Society successfully applied for a National Lottery Grant to purchase heavy-duty track mats, in addition to making substantial improvements to the show field’s drainage during the year.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
Income for the year increased by 93% to £77,588 which includes a £20,000 grant, compared with £40,264 in the previous year. Show expenditure increased by 99% to £63,162, which includes the purchase of track mats costing £19,989.
The Society made an overall surplus on its activities of £14,426 compared to £8,467 last year, resulting in funds carried forward of £47,862.
## **PUBLIC BENEFIT**
In planning and carrying out the charity’s activities the Trustees are always aware that such activities must be for the public benefit. As such the Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the ‘public benefit’ motive.
## **TRUSTEES**
The trustees in office during the year are as follows:
Mandy Mitten Rebecca Wolf Andrew Wilson Shaun Taylforth
- resigned 29 October 2024
- - appointed 29 October 2024
2
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE**
President Mr J Mallett Vice-President Mr E Taylforth Chairman Mr S Taylforth Vice-Chairman Mr A Brown Treasurer Mrs M Mitten Secretary Miss R Wolf
Committee: Mr E Barrow, Mr G Belcher, Mr C Briggs, Mr A Brown, Mr J Brown, Mrs J Brown, Mrs L Brown, Mrs H Clough, Mrs N Collyer, Mr R Collyer, Mr G Dixon, Mrs K Harvey, Mr D Hodgson, Mr P Irvine, Mr B Lamb, Miss A Loring, Mr D Mallett, Mr J Mallett, Mrs A Mckinley, Mrs S Miles, Mrs M Mitten, Miss H Monkman, Mrs J Muir, Mr P Spedding, Mr E Taylforth, Mr S Taylforth, Mr I Thompson, Mr A Wilson, Miss B Wolf, Miss Ellie Wolf, Miss Emma Wolf, Mr S Wood, Mrs S Woodburn
## **RESERVES**
It is the Society’s policy to retain sufficient reserves to:
- ensure the continuity of the charity, should the Hawkshead Agricultural Show be cancelled at short notice due to poor weather or unforeseen circumstances.
- fulfil the Society’s objectives of encouraging young people and the advancement of agriculture generally.
- improve the show through continuous investment.
The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually by the Committee.
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year.
In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; _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 accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993, the Charity (Accounts Reports) Regulations 2008 and Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## **APPROVAL**
The accounts were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on ___________ 2025 by: 17/11/2025
Mandy Mitten Mandy Mitten (Nov 17, 2025 22:35:59 GMT)
.....................................................
**Mandy Mitten - Treasurer**
3
## **HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HAWKSHEAD AGRCULTURAL SOCIETY**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025 which are set out on pages 1 to 7.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- 1 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## S Oram
..................................................... S Oram (Nov 18, 2025 08:33:49 GMT) ______________ 18/11/2025 **S Oram FCCA Date**
Melville & Co Chartered Accountants Unit 17-18, Trinity Enterprise Centre Furness Business Park Ironworks Road Barrow-in-Furness LA14 2PN
4
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **Unrestricted General Purposes Fund**
|**Notes**
**Incoming Resources**
Donations
Operating activities to further the Society's objectives
2
Operating activities to generate funds
3
Grant income received
_Investment income:_
Bank interest
Total Incoming Resources
**Resources Expended**
Charitable payments - Charitable activities
4
- Management and Administration
5
Track mats purchased
Total Resources Expended
**Net Movements in Funds**
**Balances 1 October 2024**
**Balances 30 September 2025**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
290
450
46,758
39,715
10,164
25
20,000
-
376
74|
|---|---|
||77,588
40,264|
||38,191
27,634
4,982
4,163
19,989
-|
||63,162
31,797|
||14,426
8,467
33,436
24,969|
||47,862
33,436|
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on ________________ 2025 and signed on their 17/11/2025 behalf by:
## Mandy Mitten
Mandy Mitten (Nov 17, 2025 22:35:59 GMT) ..................................................... **Mandy Mitten -- Treasurer**
_The notes on pages 7-8 form part of these accounts_
5
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
## **Assets retained for the Charity’s own use – General Purpose Fund**
||**Current value**|
|---|---|
||**£**|
|Track Mats|20,000|
|Trophies|8,000|
|Show Jumps|3,000|
|Sheep runs|1,300|
|Sundry items|1,000|
||33,300|
## **MONETARY ASSETS General Purpose Fund**
|_Bank and Cash balances:_
Current account
Deposit account
Cash|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
3,211
2,899
44,187
30,031
464
506|
|---|---|
||47,862
33,436|
## **NON-MONETARY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **Assets**
There are no non-monetary assets.
## **Liabilities**
Independent Examination (unbilled) - £384
6
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
## **1. Accounting Policy**
## Basis of Preparation
The accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis accompanied by a statement of assets and liabilities.
|**2.**
**Operating activities to further the Society's objectives**
Entry fees
Trade stands
Advertising
Gate and catalogue receipts
Sponsors
Bar takings
T shirt sales
**3.**
**Operating activities to generate funds**
Prize money
Mat hire
Hoedown income - raffle, ticket and bar sales
**4.**
**Charitable activities**
Hoedown expenses
Prizes
Tickets and printing
Event hire
Mats - sheep and track
Show field costs
Main ring attraction
Radio and PA hire
Catering
Bar
Equipment purchased
New trophies purchased
Signs and flags
Gate keeping costs
Advertising
Photography
First Aid attendance
Merchandised purchased|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
2,526
2,001
7,809
5,374
60
50
25,180
23,625
7,268
5,199
3,810
3,466
105|
|---|---|
||46,758
39,715|
||35
25
900
-
9,229
-|
||10,164
25|
||7,079
-
5,503
4,186
1,713
2,213
7,855
5,225
-
2,887
5,707
2,394
2,915
830
2,034
1,500
2,149
2,162
1,145
1,260
140
700
181
786
80
2,048
500
400
-
318
210
125
560
600
420
-|
||38,191
27,634|
7
**HAWKSHEAD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025**
|**5.**
**Management and administrative expenses**
Insurance
Compensation
Gifts
Administration expenses
Independent Examiner's Fees
Website and IT costs
Commission payments and scanners
Travel expenses - judges
Volunteers clothing
Honorarium payments|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
1,182
898
-
1,500
399
232
357
272
384
439
429
181
355
611
284
30
842
-
750
-|
|---|---|
||4,982
4,163|
8