Heckington Almshouse Charity
Contents for the Financial Statements for the year ending 31 January 2024
Legal and Administrative Information Trustees’ Report Receipts and Payments Account Statement of Assets and Liabilities Independent Examiner’s Report
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Heckington Almshouse Charity
Legal and Administrative Details
for the year ending 31 January 2024
Charity Number 229574
Address 12 St Andrews Street Heckington Sleaford Lincs NG34 9RE Trustees Mrs M Thomas Chairman – Co-optative Mr M Hardy Co-optative Mrs B Ward Co-optative Mr M Sardeson Co-optative Mrs S Pinchbeck Co-optative Mrs C Leaviss Co-optative Rev Chris Harrington Ex Officio
Note: 1 Nominative Trustees appointed by the Parish Council (currently one vacancy)
5 Co-optative Trustees and 1 Ex Officio appointed for a period of 5 years by resolution.
Governed
The charity is governed by the Constitution and Trust Deed
.
Object of the Charity
Bank
The objective of the charity is to provide housing for poor people of at least sixty years of age resident in Heckington and certain defined villages.
Lloyds Bank plc, Sleaford
Accountant S A Accounts Ltd 45 Station Road Heckington Sleaford NG34 9JH
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Heckington Almshouse Charity
Trustee’s Report
for the year ending 31 January 2024
Activities
The Almshouses have been fully occupied throughout the year.
After several years with no change, rising costs triggered a below-inflation increase in the weekly maintenance contributions from the residents.
The upgrading of water heaters and fitting of new radiators at Cameron Street was completed, so all the flats there now have modern electric water heaters and electric showers. This, together with the new hydrogenready communal gas boiler installed last year, has resulted in lower gas bills and far fewer maintenance callouts.
Water costs have increased by 20% but are still more than covered by the £4 per week charge to the residents.
The renovation of the gardens at The Green was a large one-off expense. Other spending there relates to improvements to drainage, repointing and roof and chimney work to tackle ongoing damp. Following a professional survey, further remedial work will take place this summer.
The membership fee for the Almshouse Association increased by more than 50%.
We spent less than the previous year and were able to transfer £5,000 to reserves. Investments performed well and our total funds have increased from around £64,000 to c£70,000.
The major expected expenses in 2024 are the further damp-related work at the Green, replacement of gutters, re-roofing of the outbuildings at The Green and replacement of the gates and fencing at both sites.
There have been no changes to Trustees over the year.
Investment Policy
The Charity’s investments are held by the Custodian Trustees. The income is available to the Charity but the capital is not intended to be distributed.
Review of Major risks
The Charity’s income is considered to be secure as it arises from investments and is not dependent on donors.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf
Name
Position
Date
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Heckington Almshouse Charity
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ending 31 January 2024
| Receipts: Maintenance, water and gas contributions Grant from NFU Fund Interest receivable and other income Payments Water Gas Electricity Window Cleaning Insurance Repairs and maintenance Honorarium – clerk Administration costs Misc exps Professional fees Accountancy fees Quinquennial Inspection Fee Excess of receipts over payments Unrealised loss/gain on investments Cash funds at start of year Cash funds at year end |
2024 £ 25,956 - 2,167 842 1,665 215 535 864 16,076 1,905 20 189 343 300 - |
£ 28,123 22,954 5,169 843 64,178 70,190 |
2023 £ 24,235 6,379 1,599 673 1,867 338 540 977 21,138 1,905 - 180 196 300 720 |
£ 32,213 28,834 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3,379 (1,138) 61,937 |
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64,178 |
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Heckington Almshouse Charity
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the year ending 31 January 2024 2024 £ Investment Shares Portfolio 41,575 Cash Funds COIF Charities Deposit Fund 18,255 Lloyds Account 10,360 70,190 |
2023 £ 39,155 12,675 12,348 64,178 |
|---|---|
The charity also holds some properties.
The current valuation of the properties as carried out on 8 September 2015 is as below:
Properties
| The Green – Heckington Property 1 Property 2 Cameron Street – Heckington Property 1 Property 2 Property 3 Property 4 |
115,000 115,000 70,000 70,000 70,000 70,000 . |
|---|---|
| 510,000 |
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Heckington Almshouse Charity
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2024 which are set out on pages 2 to 5.
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:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sally Woodhead FFA FFTA
Date
……………………………………………
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