## Annual Report & **Financial Statements**
for the year ended 31 December 2025
www.sog.org.uk
**CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 233701**
**COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER 00115703 (ENGLAND AND WALES)**
## **SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
|Trustees|Ann Radmore, CBE|
|---|---|
||Heather Nowlan (Vice- Chair)|
||Hayley Hall (Interim Treasurer, February – July 2026)|
||David Gill|
||Kevin Laurence|
||Alan Pursell|
||Judy Webb|
||Darris Williams|
||John Wray|
|Secretary|Philip Spedding|
|Charity number|233701|
|Company number|00115703|
|Registered office|Unit 2|
||40 Wharf Road|
||London|
||N1 7GS|
|Auditor|Affinia (Crawley)|
||Ground Floor 1 - 7 Station Road|
||Crawley|
||West Sussex|
||RH10 1HT|
|Bankers|HSBC Bank plc|
||1-3 Bishopsgate|
||London|
||EC2N 3AQ|
|Solicitors|Withers LLP|
||20 Old Bailey|
||London|
||EC4M 7AN|
**SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
## **CONTENTS**
||**PAGE**|
|---|---|
|CHAIR'S STATEMENT|1 - 2|
|TRUSTEES'REPORT|3 – 13|
|STATEMENT OFTRUSTEES'RESPONSIBILITIES|14|
|INDEPENDENTAUDITOR'S REPORT|15 – 18|
|STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES|19 – 20|
|BALANCE SHEET|21|
|STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS|22|
|NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS|23 - 36|
**CHAIR’S STATEMENT**
_**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **Overview of the Society’s financial position and the progress over the last few years.**
Reviewing the Society’s financial performance for 2025 creates an obvious moment to reflect on the progress the Society has been making and the challenges it currently faces.
The last 20 years has been very difficult for the Society, possibly more so than at any time since its creation in 1911. Twenty years ago, saw the arrival of both Find My Past and Ancestry (the latter being the biggest commercial genealogical site in the world), a significant uptick in interest in genealogy and a much higher profile on TV with _Who Do You Think You Are_ first airing in 2004.
Since then, the Trustees of the Society have continually sought to keep in view our purpose to spread an understanding of genealogy and offer resources and education to the public whilst responding to the shifting sands of technology, the levels and nature of interest and the commercialisation of the family history world. At the same time the Society has witnessed a continual reduction in the number of long-standing members and has struggled to establish a similar base amongst newer members. In short, despite some very generous donations and legacies, its long-term financial health remains a central issue.
The last 6 years, therefore, have been a period of facing the changes, developing new approaches and implementing the plans whilst keeping a close eye on our drive to expand and support genealogical study and understanding. In 2019 our then chair Ed Percival, explained that the Society was an organisation with an existing business model under pressure, coming to the end of its financial tether. He described another year of diminishing membership numbers and revenue. He highlighted that in turn the dedicated team of employees and volunteers were working harder and harder to stretch the meagre resources to keep the Society running. Ed spelt out that the stark reality was that:
- It was not sustainable.
- The windfall finance of the Charterhouse sale was a once-only event leading to investment in our organisation.
- One-off injections could not replace a reliance on membership income and the generosity of our donors.
- As the Society moved into the Covid period these challenges brought more pressures and also moved us all online, as we developed more flexible approaches to delivering services.
In 2020/1, the Trustees initiated a number of steps, as part of the Transformation Programme, to respond to these challenges:
- Develop a stronger focus on membership – a Head of Member Services was appointed in February 2021.
- Invest in the provision of Online Education - successfully completed in 2022 and we now offer around 30 courses per month.
- A completely revitalized and fresh approach to the Membership package – successful new membership categories were launched in 2024 but further work is needed.
- Move to new physical space – Wharf Road opened in late 2024.
- Systems renewal – again real progress with new Customer Relationship Management software installed in 2025, and a new web site was operational in March 2026.
- Development of volunteer services – where we have seen real progress and today, under the supervision of the Volunteer Coordinator, we are now supporting 260 volunteers focusing on particular initiatives around the Collections and Library.
PAGE 1
**CHAIR’S STATEMENT**
_**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**_
- Renewed focus on Fundraising and Grants – this has already started with the creation of the Collection Fund and further work is planned.
- Complete the cataloguing of the key unique assets in the shortest possible timescale - through the invaluable work of the team of volunteers the collection continues to be explored and better catalogued.
In short, good progress has been made in many areas. We also have key planks in place as of the beginning of 2026 – but the agenda remains relentlessly demanding. Inflation increases our costs and cost of living pressures reduce discretionary spend. Membership keeps falling and we have a lack of newer and younger members.
The Society’s Trustees are therefore thinking long and hard about the next steps. We believe that we need to:
- Articulate the importance of our curated archive and repository emphasising its uniqueness, national importance and means of access. This means we need to explain better how it can make a significant difference for both experienced and novice researchers. We also need to seek out new ideas on how to fund it and develop a funding stream to support it.
- Extend further the education work of the Society in building a better understanding of person and place in this country. This work is firmly founded in discovering individual and local narratives and can deliver a significant public benefit across the country.
- Reshape the membership offer to be clearer on what we offer as a Society beyond access to the collection and events – recognising the importance to the Society of building vibrant communities woven around shared interests; a place to meet providing peer support, social activities, knowledge building, and community. This offer must appeal to those who have long been part of the Society as well as those who are new to it.
- Consider how we can attract more volunteers and use them further – building on the real progress and the clear mutual benefit to the Society and to individuals. We are exploring how they can support and enable the Society and help complete the archive and curation work.
- Benchmark our current pricing structure to reflect a broader offer and cover costs more fully.
- Increase donations to sustain the funded safe repository and archive through targeted appeals.
- Seek grants to support the curated collection.
In order to keep delivering our ambitions to extend genealogical knowledge and understanding and sustain a vibrant Society we need to move the Society to a position where year on year we can cover our costs and not rely upon one off funds to balance each year. We need to find ways to generate funds from a variety of sources, to make planned investments to keep the Society relevant and to better meet the requirements of those who engage with it.
Ann Radmore, CBE Chair July 2026
PAGE 2
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Society's memorandum and articles of association, the Companies Act 2006 and _Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)_ applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 10 September 2024)"
## **Objectives & Aims of the Society**
The Society’s objective is to promote, encourage and foster the study, science, and knowledge of genealogy.
Its principal activities in pursuit of this aim are:
- Maintaining the foremost specialist genealogical library in the country.
- Providing educational activities, including a comprehensive programme of lectures, tutorials, and courses.
- Publishing textbooks and indexes of genealogical material.
- Maintaining cooperative relationships with allied organisations.
- Representing the genealogical community through engagement with government and other relevant bodies.
## **Strategic Overview**
During 2025, the Society settled into its second year at the Wharf Road premises. With the move and refurbishment largely complete, this provided an opportunity to review services and consider the Society’s future direction within the genealogical community, focusing on the key principles of _Information, Community, and Education_ .
This included a review of the provision of information and activities, both online and within the library. The aim is to better understand what information users may want to see, both today and in five to ten years’ time, and how they will wish to access it. This will inform the Society’s future direction in delivering services to a diverse audience.
## **In 2025 the Society has:**
- Implemented a new membership Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, improving customer service, operational efficiency, and data insight.
- Enhanced the Gold membership programme.
- Improved the user experience of SoG Explore, including the introduction of an A–Z records search.
- Continued development of the Collections+ archive catalogue.
- Managed offsite collections, reducing storage requirements.
PAGE 3
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
- Established a dedicated Collections Fund.
- Progressed the redesign of the Society’s website (launched Spring 2026).
- Improved the online management of events and learning through a new learning hub and members’ area.
- Delivered a successful online events programme.
- Hosted in-person meetings and group activities at Wharf Road.
- Expanded external partnerships and outreach activity.
## **Public Benefit**
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
The Society’s purpose is reflected in its objective to promote genealogy. This report outlines how its services are delivered for public benefit. Membership fees are kept as low as possible, and the Society actively engages with genealogical and historical communities through talks, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives.
The Society continues to support education by offering free online events, including county research sessions in partnership with local family history societies, archives, record offices, the Victoria County History, Vision of Britain, and the Historic Towns Trust.
Free genealogical advice is also provided via the Society’s enquiry service.
## **Research Hub (Library and Archives)**
The Society maintains an extensive working genealogical library and archive, comprising over 700 Special Collections, including original records, research papers, and family archives, along with miscellaneous notes in the Document Collections and Roll pedigrees. These are stored offsite in a controlled heritage environment.
The former paper lists and card index of the archives are accessible online, alongside the Library Catalogue and digitised materials available through SoG Explore.
Key developments in 2025 included:
- Processing and cataloguing eight new archive collections, including major donor acquisitions from professional genealogists Michael J. Wood and Beryl Crawley.
- Retrospective review and catalogue enhancement of ten existing archive collections.
- Completion of the back-cataloguing of a proportion of previously unprocessed library material.
- Continued digitisation and uploading of materials to SoG Explore.
A formal application process for depositing new collections has been introduced, with oversight from the Collections Panel to ensure relevance and sustainability.
PAGE 4
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
Improved collections management has reduced off-site storage costs. For example, the extensive Great Western Railway Probate Stock Registers collection is now stored for the Society at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre. In response to user demand, the library has been able to bring more items into the building, thus creating a 5% reduction of heritage storage requirement. Approximately 33,000 items are now accessible on-site, with additional materials rotated through featured collections.
The staff prepare regular talks and articles focusing on the archives' special collections and research resources for counties and specialist subjects, and these are supplemented by published guides on the website, along with exhibitions of documents and library holdings at Wharf Road.
The Collections Fund (see Fundraising, page 7), which was created in 2025, is a new restricted fund design to support all aspects of the care, maintenance, and growth of the Society’s special collections. The Society is actively seeking donations to the fund. Further information may be had from the CEO.
Opening hours for the Research hub are now:-
Wednesday: 10:30am – 4:00pm
Thursday: 10:30am – 4:00 / 7:00pm* Friday: 10:30am – 4:00pm
1st Saturday* of the month: 10:30am – 4:00pm
* Late Opening Thursdays and Open Saturdays usually take place in the second week of the month. Please check ahead when booking.
## **SoG Explore**
SoG Explore continues to expand, offering increased access to digitised collections. The A–Z records listing was launched in early 2025. Data migration from legacy systems has been completed, alongside the addition of new datasets, resulting in the following available through SoG Explore:
- Images – 1.67 million
- Documents – 6,342
- Other (this includes gedcom files; the family trees behind the pedigrees) – 5,303
- Indexes – 18.8 million
- Records (the records all the above images and indexes are connected to and available on A-Z) – 3,304
## **Volunteer Projects**
Volunteers provide tremendous support to the Society, working primarily in Events, in the Library and on the Archives and Collections. The Society encourages members and non-members to help with its projects, working at the library and remotely at home on digitisation and indexing. Many recruits come from the local Hackney community, are students on work experience or are from other volunteer organisations, and we also participate in National Volunteers Week. Volunteers are supported and offered training.
Events volunteers continue to support the hosting of the education programme and at the library inquiry counter volunteers provide frontline help and support.
PAGE 5
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
The Society has also devised a virtual three-month student volunteering programme, which will serve as an introduction to genealogy beyond a hobby and provide an opportunity to engage with collections.
A summer afternoon tea party was held for our on-site volunteers, as well as Christmas gettogethers, allowing us to share our messages of thanks and provide an opportunity to reflect on our achievements and share updates on upcoming opportunities.
The volunteer’s online forum, along with wikis relating to several aspects of their work, continues to be very active.
## **Membership**
The implementation of the new membership Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform has enhanced membership services and supports the rollout of a new Membership and Events Strategy. It allows the Society to track interactions, personalize marketing, and gain actionable insights to nurture relationships with our members and supporters.
Gold and Standard memberships remain popular. The Gold tier includes access to a substantial video library, specialist sessions, and additional member benefits.
Total members as of Dec 2025: Member Gold 949 (691 in 2024) Member Standard 511 (483 in 2024) Member UK & Overseas 3,773 (4,241 in 2024) Member Associate 375 (529 in 2024) Member 50 Years 222 (205 in 2024) Honorary/life inc. staff 57 (55 in 2024) TOTAL 5,887 (6204 IN 2024) Membership Fees in 2025 Gold Membership £150 annual / £15 monthly Standard Membership £85 annual
## **Communications and Marketing**
Work continued on the preparation and integration of the new CRM platform and Website (the latter launched in Spring 2026 with a much-improved Learning Hub, site navigation and information about the Society and its collections).
The Society’s e-newsletter _Genealogy Gazette_ remains popular with members and non-members. Take-up stands firm with just under 14,000 subscribers at the end of the year. The Society continues various social media interactions. Additionally, the Society sends out regular emails including event listings, information about the Society’s Book Club and ad hoc announcements. Subscribers can specify their preferences in their members’ portal.
Engagement with members continues with well-attended online quarterly socials, lunchtime chats, and virtual café coffee mornings remaining popular. The Society celebrated the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Genealogists’ Magazine with a series of talks featuring articles and past “gems”. Michael Gandy has served as editor for 25 years.
Regular advertising continues in the genealogy press.
PAGE 6
**TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Fundraising**
At the heart of the Society is an astonishing collection of material that is probably this country’s greatest resource of diverse and original genealogical material. The Society started this collection at its founding and it has since grown through the generosity of individuals who have entrusted to the collection the results of their research. They trust the Society to take the utmost care of what is precious to them – material that may have taken them a lifetime to compile – and they know that the Society will continue to make their research available to others, both now and into the future, ensuring their work inspires and informs family historians for generations to come.
Managing and safeguarding this priceless collection is not easy. To meet this challenge, the Society has created a new restricted fund called the Collection Fund dedicated solely to the care, preservation, and management of the collection. The vision is to build an endowment large enough to secure the future of these records forever and the Society are asking for those who care about this collection, and its role in preserving it, to consider supporting the Collection Fund.
This fund will be a cornerstone of the Society’s future fundraising and anyone who shares its ambition can contact the CEO for further information.
## **Ways to support the charity**
As well as depositing genealogical research into the Society’s collection, there are a number of important ways that people can help support the work of the charity. They can:
- Make a one off or regular donation to the Society, supporting its core work or the Collection Fund.
- Volunteer time for a variety of actions, joining our growing band of volunteers and playing a vital role in helping the Society support the genealogical research of others.
- Spread the word about the Society to others who might want to join and become a member or support the Society financially.
- Make a bequest to the Society in their will to help ensure the Society is able to support genealogists for generations to come.
The Society gratefully acknowledges all those who have contributed to the Society in 2025, from the small monthly amount right through to the large bequests, including Christopher Wainwright and the estates of the late Duncan Rowland Wyllie Smith and Nicholas Newington-Irving
PAGE 7
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **External Liaison and Media Coverage**
The Society hosted a Canadian TV crew filming episodes on travel, genealogy, and wellbeing for a documentary series, _Health Explored_
Staff attended the FreeUK Genealogy Strategy weekend. Participation provided valuable insight into current sector challenges and opportunities for future collaboration.
The Society welcomed several local genealogy societies and groups visits from the University of the Third Age (U3A) and made outreach visits to the same.
Several senior representatives from FamilySearch visited the Society during the year.
The Society continues to sponsor the annual Family Tree Magazine Handbook.
## **Education, Lectures and Courses**
The Society’s Education programme of talks, courses and visits provided a growing programme of over 524 separate sessions (including 27 visits, 6 walks, 145 talks, 28 courses and 84 member-only events) attracting 10,579 total attendees. Once some initial issues with new systems were overcome, extra attention on direct marketing saw attendance pick up very favourably, with a gratifying interest from non-members. Gold members have appreciated the videos they can access exclusively on demand. The free online events included regular talks about the Society’s Library and collections as well as several very popular county research study sessions adding 700 people to our mailing lists.
Notable longer courses included a 4-week course on maps and a _Genealogy Tech Weekend_ . Our brand new, 10-week, _English and Welsh Court Records for Family History_ was very well received by the attendees, as were the _Art of the Pedigree_ course and the _Huguenot Study Day_ . Intensive courses on DNA remain popular.
The Society’s weeklong _‘Summer Getaway’, Victorian London Ancestors_ , which ran as the first hybrid event was successful despite coinciding with transport strikes.
The Genealogist delivered a course _Researching 17th Century English Ancestors_ for American Ancestors and a course, _Genealogy for Librarians and Archivists_ for the Society.
Guest historians and genealogists who contributed to the programmes included Caroline Knight (Jane Austen's fifth great niece), Alexzandra Hildred, a diving archaeologist from the Mary Rose Museums, along with the founders of Workhouses.org, Cyndi's List, WeAre.xyz, Railway Work, the Life and Death project and ShipIndex.org to explain their websites.
The Society contributed to _Railway200_ with related talks. We worked with Jen Baldwin of FindMyPast and Lucia Fernandes and Lucy Reynoldson from FamilySearch.
The regular _Family History Skills_ courses continue as does the Society’s partnership with Pharos Tutors with the Intermediate and Advanced _Family History Skills and Strategies_ distance learning certificated courses.
PAGE 8
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **FELLOWS:**
The constitution sets a maximum of a hundred Fellows and ten Honorary Fellows, who must have all rendered ‘distinguished services to the Society or to genealogy’. New Fellows are nominated and voted on by current Fellows.
Paul Anthony Blake (Chair) John Vernon Addis-Smith Norma Eunice Allum David Annal Lydia Bierbrier Chris Broomfield Angela Buckley Jeanne Bunting Anthony Camp Colin Richard Chapman Peter Douglas Christian Patric Laurence Dickinson Steven C Ffeary-Smyrl Michael John Gandy Susan Irene Gibbons Paul Aloysius Gorry Stephen Geoffrey Hale John Hanson
Frank Hardy
David Hawgood Mark David Herber Ian Jeffery Hilder Sharon Hintze David Mervyn Horwill Keith Arthur Johnson Debbie Kennett Charles William Kidd Hilary Marshall Michael Peter Desmond O'Donohue Derek Aubrey Palgrave Pamela Pearl Palgrave Brian Randell Richard Ernest Bruce Ratcliffe
Colin Darlington Rogers Malcolm Rex Sainty Beryl Phyllis Schumer Michael Powell Siddons Paul Floyd Smart David Michael Squire Kathleen Monnica Stevens Di Swinfield Stephen William Taylor John Stuart Titford Peter John Towey Ian Howard Waller Graham Alexander Walter Clifford Reginald Webb Darris Gordon Williams David Alan Wright
It was with sadness that during the year we report the death of Neville Taylor, the previous Chair of the Fellows. An obituary was printed in the Genealogical Magazine.
PAGE 9
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Awards**
The Board of Trustees is able to recognise the contribution of members, non-members, and appropriate organisations through the award of a Certificate of Appreciation. At the 2025 AGM they were awarded to:
- Tony Harding: for commitment to quality and productivity as a proofreader for SoG online indexing projects.
- Hilary Holt: for excellent service as a proofreader and indexer for the Great Card Index project.
- Angela Johns: for excellent service on the Archives Team.
- Barbara Tomlinson: for excellent service as a cataloguer on the Library Team.
- Gerry Slowey: for excellent service to the Pedigree Rolls Project, especially in the preparation of completed files for uploading.
- Malcolm Austen: for excellent service as an online events host
- Maria Loreti: for excellence in and commitment to the Microfilms Extraction Project.
His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent has graciously agreed that a special award may be made from time to time bearing his name. This was not awarded in 2025.
## **Financial review**
The Trustees consider that the most appropriate level of free reserves should be not less than a sum equivalent to six months of the Charity’s running costs. Free reserves are those funds, including liquid investments (that is those funds not tied up in fixed assets, designated and restricted funds), that the Charity will require to sustain its operations and make appropriate adjustments should there be a material reduction in the Charity’s income. It is the Trustees’ view that the balance of income and expenditure should be managed to maintain the appropriate level of free reserves.
## **Risk Statement**
The Society recognises that it has a responsibility to manage risks effectively in order to control its assets and liabilities, protect its employees and community against potential losses or against obstacles in the way of achieving its objectives. The Trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage and minimise those risks.
PAGE 10
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
## **Principal risks and mitigation**
|**rincipal risks and mitigation**||
|---|---|
|**Risk**|**Mitigation**|
|Hampered ability to generate income. In
particular, poor IT systems that act as barriers
to converting potential customers, hamper
membership retention and inhibit innovation
and an agile response to competition and
developments in the marketplace|The Board invested in the development of new
digital and online platforms that will enable the
Society to provide a better service to members,
enable members to better manage their
memberships
and
strengthen
the
tools
available to communicate with members.|
|Annual
expenditure
continues
to
exceed
income. This could be caused by internal
challenges, such as a lack of membership
growth, and external challenges, such as
inflation and the economic environment.
Exacerbating this could be poor financial
controls.|The Board is focusing on the appropriate steps
to resolve this ongoing issue, with a view to the
Society breaking even in 2029. In terms of
financial controls, the Treasurer undertakes a
monthly review of the financial position, and
the Board reviews them quarterly. Throughout
there is a close adherence to agreed annual or
project budgets.|
|Loss or damage to the Society’s records and its
archival
materials
from
accidental
or
deliberate action, particularly cyber hacks, that
would result in the loss of unique records,
increased recovery costs and a potentially
long-term drop in service to members.|The Society has in place measures to help
mitigate against this ongoing and serious
threat. Following a recommendation in the
British Library’s_Learning lessons from the_
_cyber-attack_report, the Society places almost
all its data in cloud storage or with third party
providers. As well as backing up in cloud
storage, almost all of the Society’s digital
genealogical data is also held in storage that is
not online. The Library team have undertaken a
risk assessment of the physical collection at
Wharf Road and have started to enact some
mitigating
actions
against
accident
and
malicious damage.|
During the year, no risks materialised that the Trustees had not considered and no additional actions were identified as being required.
## **The Board of Trustees**
For the purposes of charity law, the Trustees are directors and administer the charitable company. The Board consists of up to 10 members who receive no emoluments for their service. As set out in the Articles of Association, the Trustees are elected by the charity’s members, serving for a term of three years. The usual maximum service without a gap is two successive terms, unless this is waived under Article 6.5. The Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer are elected by the Trustees from among their number, each for a term of two years, which may be renewed.
The Trustees also have the power to elect any eligible member of the Society to the Board to fill any casual vacancy arising between one Annual General Meeting and the next; any person so elected shall retire at the AGM next following their election but shall be eligible for re-election. The Trustees serving during the year 2025 and up to the date of this report are listed on page 12.
PAGE 11
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Committees**
The Board of Trustees appoints other committees and working parties as it considers expedient from time to time.
## **Governance**
**President** Patric Dickinson, CVO, FSA, FSG **Vice Presidents** Dr Colin Chapman, FSG (re-elected 2022) Miriam Margolyes OBE (re-elected 2022)
**Trustees** Graham Walter (Chair until July 2025) Ann Radmore CBE (appointed and Chair from July 2025) Heather Nowlan (Vice- Chair) Raymond O'Connell (Treasurer, resigned February 2026) David Gill Hayley Hall (Interim Treasurer, February - July 2026) Kevin Laurence (appointed July 2025) Alan Pursell Judy Webb Darris Williams John Wray (appointed July 2025)
**Secretary** Philip Spedding
The Society’s Governing documents require all Trustees to become a member, if not already, on appointment. By not having to be a member for a requisite time in advance it means any appropriately experienced individuals can become a Trustee. We carry out an audit of skillsets when considering any gaps for new applicants.
Trustees are recruited through notice in the main instruments of communications with members, i.e. The Genealogists' Magazine and the website, and through approaching relevant organisations. Applicants wishing to put themselves forward are invited to submit a 200-word CV and are interviewed. Formal election takes place at the Annual General Meeting where all members have a right to vote.
Induction processes ensure that all Trustees are aware of their responsibilities. This process is consistently under review to ensure it is still adequate for our needs and to assist ongoing awareness, all Trustees receive any relevant updates from the Charity Commission _et al_ . The Trustees employ a Chief Executive whose role it is to ensure any arising issues are highlighted to the Trustees.
PAGE 12
**TRUSTEES' REPORT(INCLUDING DIRECTORS REPORT)**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Staff**
The senior staff during 2025, until the date of this report, are:
Chief Executive: Philip Spedding
Genealogist: Else Churchill
Financial Controller: Laura Fernie
Head of Operations & Membership: Rebecca Gregory (Maternity Leave May-December 2025)
Head of Change & Communications: Natalie Pithers
Head of Events and Education: Ruth Willmore
Research Collections Co-ordinator: Christine Worthington
The Society would also like to thank its other members of staff who served during 2025: Alexander Andreou, Alice Imperatori, Catherine Hopkins, Emma Jolly, Graham Collett, Joe O’Donnell, Marisa Henderson, Nicky Gamble, Rachel Stakes, Rebecca Carlton, Virginia Gilman, and Zoe SutherlandRowe.
## **Supplier payment policy**
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction, ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts and pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations. Trade creditors of the company at the year-end were equivalent to 9 day's purchases, based on the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the year.
## **Disclosure of information to auditor**
Each of the Trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees
Ann Radmore (Chair) Trustee
Hayley Hall (Interim Treasurer, , February – July 2026) Trustee
Date: July 2026
PAGE 13
**STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
The Trustees, who are also the directors of Society of Genealogists for the purpose of company law, 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).
Company Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Society and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
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; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Society will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Society and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Society and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
PAGE 14
**INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of Society of Genealogists (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
PAGE 15
**INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **Other information**
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
- sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue
PAGE 16
**INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
In relation to fraud, the objectives of our audit are to identify and assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud, to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatements due to fraud through designing and implementing appropriate responses and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit.
However, it is the primary responsibility of management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, to ensure that the entity’s operations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and for the prevention and detection of fraud.
In identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud, the audit engagement team made enquiries of management, and those charged with governance, regarding the procedures relating to identifying, evaluating and complying with;
1. laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of noncompliance;
2. detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;
3. the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations;
As a result of these procedures, we consider the most significant laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the financial statements are FRS 102, Companies Act 2006, employment and tax law and regulations and data protection regulations. We performed audit procedures to detect non-compliance, which may have a material impact on the financial statements. These included reviewing financial statement disclosures and evaluating advice received from internal management. There were no significant laws and regulations we deemed as having an indirect impact on the financial statements.
The audit engagement team identified the risk of management override of controls as the area where the financial statements were most susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud. Audit procedures performed included but were not limited to testing manual journal entries and other adjustments and evaluating the business rationale in relation to any
PAGE 17
**INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
significant, unusual transactions and transactions entered into outside of the normal course of business.
Revenue recognition was also identified as a significant risk which could lead to a material mis-statement due to fraud or error. Audit procedures performed included but were not limited to performing walk through tests to identify the control procedures in place and once an understanding of the sales process was gained, a substantive test was carried out using a sample basis to ensure all sales existed and were complete in the accounts. Cut off testing was also performed to ensure sales were recorded in the correct period.
Another area of significant risk is the identification and disclosure of related party transactions in the accounts. The team looked at transactions in the year involving the directors and key members of management as well as their known family links to ensure all related party transactions have been appropriately disclosed.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
## **Darren Harding ACA, FCCA, DChA (Senior Statutory Auditor) Affinia (Crawley)**
## **Chartered Accountants**
## **Statutory Auditor**
**Ground Floor**
## **1-7 Station Road**
## **Crawley**
## **West Sussex**
## **RH10 1HT**
Affinia (Crawley) are eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
PAGE 18
.
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Current financial year**
**Income from:**
**Notes**
Donations and legacies
**3**
Charitable activities
**4**
Investments
**5**
Other income
**6**
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**7**
Charitable activities
**8**
**Total resources expended**
**Net incoming resources**
**before transfers**
Gross transfers between funds
**Net income for the**
**year/ Net**
**movement in**
**funds**
Fund balances at 1 January
2025
**Fund balances at 31**
**December 2025**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**general**
**2025**
**£**
(54,949)
485,460
64,975
234,098
729,584
-
1,269,080
1,269,080
(539,496)
556,757|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**designated**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(556,757)|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
799
-
38,065
-
38,864
-
20,899
20,899
17,965
-|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
(54,150)
485,460
103,040
234,098
768,448
-
1,289,979
1,289,979
(521,531)
-|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
71,958
560,211
145,386
33,530|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||811,085|
||||||-
1,120,610|
||||||1,120,610|
||||||(309,525)|
||17,261
148,989
**166,250**|(556,757)
6,556,650
**5,999,893**|17,965
848,938
**866,903**|(521,531)
7,554,577
**7,033,046**|(309,525)
7,864,102
**7,554,577**|
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
PAGE 19
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **Prior financial year**
|**Income from:**
**Note**
**s**
Donations and legacies
**3**
Charitable activities
**4**
Investments
**5**
Other income
**6**
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**7**
Charitable activities
**8**
**Total resources expended**
**Net incoming resources before**
**transfers**
Gross transfers between funds
**Net income for the**
**year/ Net movement**
**in funds**
Fund balances at 1 January 2024
**Fund balances at 31 December**
**2024**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**general**
**2024**
**£**
68,208
560,211
145,386
33,530
807,335
-
1,120,610
1,120,610
(313,275)
(844,499)
(1,157,774)
1,306,763
148,989|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**designated**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
844,499
844,499
5,712,151
6,556,650|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
3,750
-
-
-
3,750
-
-
-
3,750
-
3,750
845,188
848,938|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
71,958
560,211
145,386
33,530|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||811,085|
|||||-
1,120,610|
|||||1,120,610|
|||||(309,525)
-|
|||||(309,525)
7,864,102
7,554,577|
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
PAGE 20
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**15**
**Current assets**
Stocks
**16**
Debtors
**17**
Cash at bank and in hand
Short-term Investment
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**18**
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Income funds**
Restricted funds
**19**
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds
**20**
General unrestricted funds|**2025**
**£**
**£**
3,742,849
3,742,849
9,346
1,019,148
144,053
2,257, 044
3,429,591
(139,394)
3,290,197
7,033,046
866,903
5,999,893
166,250
6,166,143
7,033,046|**2024**
**£**
**£**
3,807,635
3,807,635
9,477
1,068,404
20,461
2,749,015
3,847,357
(100,415)
3,746,942
7,554,577
848,938
6,556,650
148,989
6,705,639
7,554,577|**£**
3,807,635|
|---|---|---|---|
|||||
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2025, although an audit has been carried out under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements under the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 17[th] June 2026
Ann Radmore (Chair) Hayley Hall (Interim Treasurer, February – July 2026) Trustee Trustee
## **Company registration number 00115703**
PAGE 21
## **STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Cash absorbed by operations
**25**
**Investing activities**
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from disposal of tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from disposal of subsidiaries
Investment income received
**Net cash used in investing activities**
**Net cash used in financing activities**
**Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of year**|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(458,216)
171,324
(13,203)
(2,972)
-
-
-
-
103,040
145,386
89,837
142,414
-
-
(368,379)
313,738
2,769,476
2,455,738
2,401,097
2,769,476|**2025**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
(458,216)
171,324
(13,203)
(2,972)
-
-
-
-
103,040
145,386
89,837
142,414
-
-
(368,379)
313,738
2,769,476
2,455,738
2,401,097
2,769,476|
|---|---|---|
||||
|||313,738
2,455,738
2,769,476|
PAGE 22
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
The Society of Genealogists is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 2, 40 Wharf Road London N1 7GS.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Society's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The Society is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Society. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Society has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives. Designated Funds are unrestricted funds which have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to receipt and the amount can be measured with reasonable certainty. Income is deferred only when charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Donations are accounted for gross when receivable, so long as they are capable of financial measurement, recognises legacies when they have been informed they are to be in receipt of a legacy. This represents a change in accounting policy, as in previous years legacies were only recognised when there was adequate certainty and reliability of their value and could be accurately measured.
Grants receivable are recognised when there is reasonable assurance of their receipt, whether capital or revenue in nature. Grants are recognised on an accruals basis.
PAGE 23
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
Membership income represents subscriptions for membership of the charity and is recognised in the period in which it received.
Event income represents sponsorship and entrance fees for events and is recognised in the accounts when the event takes place.
Genealogy income represents sum paid for specific genealogical consultation is recognised in the accounts when the consultation takes place.
Bookshop, magazine, and publications income represents income from sales of genealogy books and the Society of Genealogist magazine and is recognised on the day the sale takes place.
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category.
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office and governance costs which support membership, library, event, genealogy and bookshop and publication activities. These costs have been allocated and apportioned to the various charitable activates. A percentage basis has been used to apportion the support costs to the charitable activities. Staff support costs are by time allocation and all other support costs are by space allocation.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets other than books and manuscripts are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, for items over £250. No depreciation is provided on leasehold land or on books, manuscripts, and typescripts, since it is the Society's practice to maintain these in a continual state of sound repair and any depreciation involved would not be material. Provision will be made should any permanent diminution in the value of these documents occur. The Charity has chosen to take advantage of the transitional relief available on adoption of FRS102-1A and have elected to include the land and building at its valuation which is its deemed cost for the purposes of these accounts. The rates currently used are as follows:
Leasehold land and buildings 2% straight line per annum where residual value exceeds cost there will be no depreciation Fixtures, fittings & computer 20% on books value per annum equipment Microfilm 10% on book value per annum
PAGE 24
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the Society reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.8 Stocks**
Stocks of publications and other items for sale are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after providing for slow moving items.
## **1.9 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
## **1.10 Financial instruments**
The Society has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the Society's balance sheet when the Society becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any discounts due.
## **1.11 Taxation**
No provision has been made for corporation tax or deferred tax as the charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt.
PAGE 25
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **1.12 Employee benefits**
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
## **1.13 Retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution scheme. The pension costs charged to the SOFA represent the amount of the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.
## **1.14 Foreign exchange**
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are included in net outgoing resources.
## **1.15 Irrecoverable VAT**
Irrecoverable VAT is included in Resources Expended within administration costs.
## **2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the Society’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **Valuation of the library**
The valuation of the books which are included within fixed assets is a material figure in the accounts and is based primarily on the historical cost value that the Society paid a number of years ago. Given that the majority of these items are not available to be purchased on the open market, it has been estimated that their value has not fluctuated since the original cost incurred by the Society. For insurance purposes the library is valued at £3,669,782.
PAGE 26
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
**3 Donations and legacies**
|Donations and grants
Legacies receivable|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**general**
**2025**
**£**
6,544
(61,493)
(54,949)|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
799
-
799|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
7,343
(61,493)
(54,150)|**Total**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
17,020
54,938
71,958|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unrestricted legacies receivable in the year represents a write down in a previously accounted for legacy on completion of the estate accounts. Excluding this, legacies received during the year totalled £16,140.
## **4 Charitable activity income**
||**Membership**|**Library**|**Event**|**Genealogy**|**Bookshop &**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Income**|**income**|**income**|**income**|**publications**|||
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Income from||||||||
|charitable activities|364,656|8,262|106,819|226|5,497|485,460|560,211|
|Analysis by fund||||||||
|Unrestricted funds -
general|364,656|8,262|106,819|226|5,497|485,460|560,211|
|Restricted funds|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|
||364,656|8,262|106,819|226|5,497|485,460|560,211|
|**For the year ended**|**31 December**|**2024**||||||
|Income from
charitable activities
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds -
general
Restricted funds|**Membership**
**income**
**£**
445,088
445,088
-
445,088|**Library**
**income**
**£**
6,985
6,985
-
6,985|**Event**
**income**
**£**
99,237
99,237
-
99,237|**Genealogy**
**income**
**£**
1,082
1,082
-
1,082|**Bookshop &**
**publications**
**£**
7,819
7,819
-
7,819|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
560,211|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||560,211
-
560,211|
PAGE 27
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
|**5**|**Investments**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|
|||**Funds**|**Funds**|**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2025**|**2024**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
||Interest receivable|64,975|38,065|145,386|-|
## **6 Other income**
|Royalties
Other income|**Unrestricted**
**Funds - general**
**2025**
**£**
27,665
206,433
234,098|**Unrestricted**
**Funds - general**
**2024**
**£**
32,767
763|
|---|---|---|
|||33,530|
The Society had a contractual £200,000 entitlement to funds from the sale of previous offices at Charterhouse Buildings, due on the granting of planning permission obtained by the purchaser. This was received during 2025.
## **7 Raising funds**
|Fundraising and publicity
Other fundraising costs|**Unrestricted**
**Funds - general**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
-|**Unrestricted**
**Funds - general**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
-|
|---|---|---|
PAGE 28
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **8 Charitable activities expenditure**
|Staff costs
Direct other costs
Share of support costs
(see note 9)
Share of governance costs
(see note 9)
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds - general
Unrestricted funds –
designated
Restricted funds|**Membership**
**expenditure**
**2025**
**£**
90,178
52,238
142,416
94,596
-
237,012
237,012
-
-
237,012|**Library**
**expenditure**
**2025**
**£**
143,239
112,794
256,033
158,126
76,301
490,460
469,561
-
20,899
490,460|**Event**
**expenditure**
**2025**
**£**
97,019
50,735
147,754
102,688
-
250,442
250,442
-
-
250,442|**Genealogy**
**expenditure**
**2025**
**£**
84,384
**-**
84,384
88,519
172,903
172,903
-
-
172,903|**Bookshop &**
**publications**
**expenditure**
**2025**
**£**
62,395
11,315|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
477,215
227,082|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||73,710
65,452
-|704,297
509,381
76,301|
||||||139,162|1,289,979|
||||||139,162
-
-|1,269,080
-
20,899|
||||||139,162|1,289,979|
## **For the year ended 31 December 2024**
|Staff costs
Direct other costs
Share of support costs
(see note 9)
Share of governance costs
(see note 9)
**Analysis by fund**
Unrestricted funds - general
Unrestricted funds –
designated
Restricted funds|**Membership**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
57,128
42,165
99,293
56,954
-
156,247
156,247
-
-
156,247|**Library**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
119,358
167,622
286,980
118,998
46,291
452,269
452,269
-
-
452,269|**Event**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
119,321
50,076
169,397
118,960
-
288,357
288,357
-
-
288,357|**Genealogy**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
36,536
-
36,536
36,426
-
72,962
72,962
-
-
72,962|**Bookshop &**
**publications**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
74,690
1,621|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
407,033
261,484|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||76,311
74,464
-|668,517
405,802
46,291|
||||||150,775|1,120,610|
||||||150,775
-
-
150,775|1,120,610
-
-
1,120,610|
PAGE 29
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
|**9**
**Support Costs**
**Support**
**Costs **
**£**
Staff Costs
118,710
Depreciation
77,989
rrecoverable VAT
(16,518)
Premises Costs
91,082
Administration
costs
238,118
Audit Fees
-
Accountancy
-
Legal and
professional
-
Other Costs
-
509,381|**Governance**
**costs **
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
10,450
1,424
62,111
2,316
76,301|**2025 **
**£**
118,710
77,989
(16,518)
91,082
238,118
10,450
1,424
62,111
2,316
585,682|**Support**
**Costs **
**£**
111,434
117,077
(12,987)
88,934
101,344
-
-
-
405,802|**Governance**
**costs **
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
10,650
7,857
27,784
46,291|**2024**
**£**
111,434
117,077
(12,987)
88,934
101,344
10,650
7,857
27,784
452,093|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Administration costs in 2025 include £169,200 for the installation and licencing of upgraded customer relationship management software.
|**10**|**Net movement in funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting)|||
||Fees payable to the company's auditor for the audit of the
company's financial statements|10,450|10,650|
||Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets|77,989|117,077|
## **11 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the Society during the year. Any payments made to Trustees for other services are shown in note 23.
## **12 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
PAGE 30
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **13 Employees**
|The average monthly number of employees during the year
was:
Direct charitable activities
Governance
Total
**14**
**Employees**
**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs|**2025**
**Number**
16
1
17
**2025**
**£**
511,614
51,801
32,510
595,925|**2024**
**Number**
15
1
16
**2024**
**£**
450,257
41,280
26,930|
|---|---|---|
|||518,467|
Remuneration paid to key management during the year was £341,862 (2024: £297,237).
The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows:
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||Number|Number|
|£60,000|- £70,000|-|2|
|£70,000|- £80,000|1|-|
PAGE 31
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
|**15**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Leasehold land**
**and buildings**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 January 2025
3,692,881
Additions
10,423
Disposals
-
At 31 December 2025
3,703,304
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 January 2025
146,457
Depreciation charged in the year
71,678
Eliminated in respect of disposals
-
At 31 December 2025
218,135
**Carrying amount**
At 31 December 2025
3,485,169
At 31 December 2024
3,546,424|**Fixtures,**
**furniture,**
**fittings and**
**computer**
**equipment**
**£**
619,921
2,780
(586,926)
35,775
593,044
6,311
(586,926)
12,429
23,346
26,877|**Library**
**£**
234,334
-
-
234,334
-
-
-
-
234,334
234,334|**Microfilm**
**£**
159,405
-
-
159,405
159,405
-
-
159,405
-
-|**Total**
**£**
4,706,541
13,203
(586,926)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||4,132,818|
|||||898,905
77,989
(586,926)|
|||||389,969|
|||||3,742,849
3,807,635|
The valuation of books, manuscripts and typescripts is a 1952 professional valuation amounting to £8,195. Additions since then have been included at cost. The insured value of books, manuscripts, typescripts, microform, plant and machinery, fixtures and fittings is £3,796,307 (2024: £3,328,600).
The majority of fixed assets of the Society are used for direct charitable activities. The assets used for non-charitable activities are of immaterial values and therefore have not been disclosed separately in the financial statements.
|**16**|**Stocks**|||
|---|---|---|---|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Finished goods and goods for resale|9,346|9,477|
PAGE 32
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
|**17**
**Debtors**
**2025**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
**£**
Trade debtors
4,096
Other debtors
945,560
Prepayments and accrued income
69,492
1,019,148
Other debtors include a significant legacy, £500,000 of which was received in April 2026
**18**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**2025**
**£**
Other taxation and social security
14,178
Deferred income
2,621
Trade creditors
17,527
Other creditors
2,159
Accruals
102,909
139,394|**2024**
**£**
4,741
1,017,147
46,516|
|---|---|
||1,068,404|
||
**2024**
**£**
11,995
1,841
23,223
1,705
61,651
100,415|
## **19 Restricted funds**
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:
|Fellows fund
Library funds
Collections fund
Binding funds|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2024**
**£**
226
843,500
-
1,462
845,188|**Movement in funds**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
226
3,750
-
847,250
-
-
-
-
-
1,462
3,750
-
848,938|**Movement in funds**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**Balance at 31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
226
38,065
20,100
865,215
799
799
-
-
-
1,462
38,864
20,899
866,903|
|---|---|---|---|
The Fellows Fund is to be used by the Fellows for any purpose deemed appropriate. The Library Funds are to be used specifically for library purchases, acquisitions, digitisation, or indexing purposes.
The Collections Fund is to be used costs relating to the running and maintaining the library and its collections.
The Binding Funds are to be used towards the cost of binding records.
PAGE 33
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **20 Designated funds**
The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
|Library Fund
(Books,
Manuscripts,
Microform)
Land &
Buildings
Investme
nts|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2024**
**£**
18,413
3,654,698
2,039,040
5,712,151|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Transfers**
**£**
(18,413)
152,937
709,975
844,499|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2025**
**£**
-
3,807,635
2,749,015
6,556,650|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
-
-
-
-|**Transfers**
**£**
-
(64,786)
(491,971)
(556,757)|**Balance at**
**31 December**
**2025**
**£**
-
3,742,849
2,257,044
5,999,893|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Library fund represents the funds of the charity that are to be used to add to the holdings of the library.
The land and buildings fund represents the funds of the charity that are tied up in the land and the buildings that the charity operates out of.
The investment represents that part of the charity's liquidity that is currently being invested in high interest cash funds with COIF and LGIM. This investment supports the financial resilience of the charity, to bolster operational needs in the medium-term and finance enhancements to member services on an ongoing basis.
PAGE 34
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **21 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Fund balances at 31
December 2025 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets / (liabilities)
Fund balances at 31
December 2024 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets / (liabilities)|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
166,250
166,250
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
148,989
148,989|**Designated**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
3,742,849
2,257,044
-
5,999,893
**Designated**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
3,807,635
2,749,015
-
6,556,650|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2025**
**£**
-
-
866,903
866,903
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**£**
-
-
848,938
848,938|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
3,742,849
2,257,044
1,033,153|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||7,033,046|
|||||**Total**
**2024**
**£**
3,807,635
2,749,015
997,927
7,554,577|
## **22 Operating lease commitments**
At the reporting end date, the Society had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non- cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
|Within one year
Between two and five years|**2025**
**£**
-
2,720
2,720|**2024**
**£**
-
3,626
3,626|
|---|---|---|
PAGE 35
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 (continued)**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **23 Related party transactions**
Prior permission by the Charity Commission has been given for Trustees to receive lecture fees and any author royalties.
In 2025, there was one payment for lecture fees of £270 (2024: one, £240).
## **24 Status of the Society**
The Society is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. The liability of members is limited to £2 each.
## **25 Cash generated from operations**
|**Cash generated from operations**
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial
activities
Depreciation and impairment of tangible fixed assets
Movements in working capital:
Decrease / (Increase)in stocks
Decrease / (Increase) in debtors
(Decrease) / Increase in creditors
(Decrease) / Increase in deferred income
**Cash absorbed by operations**|**2025**
**£ **
(521,531)
(103,040)
77,989
131
49,256
38,199
780
(458,216)|**2024**
**£**
(309,525)
(145,386)
117,077
(4,759)
713,332
(126,548)
(72,867)|
|---|---|---|
|||171,324|
## **26 Analysis of changes in net funds**
The Society had no debt during the year.
PAGE 36
@societyofgenealogists/
@SoGGenealogist sogenealogists
Annual Report & **Financial Statements**
for the year ended 31 December 2025
Front: **Keenan Small Collection** , box 88 and **Roger Michael James Collection** , box B **|** Back: **Williams (Dr Christina née Hill) Collection** , box 4 Company no. 115703 **|** Registered charity no. 233701