## **THE FORBES ALMSHOUSES EAST MEON REGISTERED NUMBER 236542** # **ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025** ## **PRINCIPAL ADDRESS** **Garston Farm Coombe Road East Meon Hants GU32 1PB** ## **CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS** **Garston Farm Coombe Road East Meon Hants GU32 1PB** ## **SUMMARY OF THE TRUSTS** The administration of seven almshouses in East Meon vested in the Official Trustee of Charity Lands and of the endowment fund established by deed poll made on 19 December 1863 by Joanna Agnes Forbes of Bereleigh House East Meon and of other funds belonging to the Charity from time to time. The almshouses are for the benefit of occupants local to the parish of East Meon and Langrish appointed by the Trustees. The original trusts were superseded by a Scheme approved by the Charity Commissioners by order made on 23 January 1906 as subsequently varied. The Oxenbourne Fuel Allotment and the S.H.Colverson Charity, two small and virtually defunct local charities, were amalgamated into the Forbes Almshouses in 1995 under S74(2)(a) Charities Act 1993. The trustees consist of four ex officio trustees, being the vicar and church wardens of East Meon Church and the owner of Bereleigh from time to time and one nominated trustee who is to be nominated by the ex officio trustees every 12 months and who is eligible for re-nomination. The Trustees are obliged to meet at least once a year. ## **TRUSTEES DURING 2025** Mr William Tyrwhitt-Drake Mr Stuart Martin (Church Warden) Mrs Emma Bird (Church Warden) Mr Richard Brown (nominated trustee and treasurer) The other ex officio trusteeship was vacant owing to there being no vicar. 2 ## **UNPAID HELPERS** Mrs Geraldine Lacey (Clerk) Mrs Libby Swayne (Manager) retired Mrs Jane French (Manager) ## **REPORT** The trustees met on 21 January and 22 July. Richard Brown was re-nominated as trustee. The continued contributions of Geraldine Lacey as clerk and Libby Swayne, then Jane French, as manager were greatly appreciated by the Trustees. Libby Swayne retired at the January meeting as previously agreed and Jane French was appointed as manager in her place. Jane French gave her notice to step down as manager but agreed to remain in place until the January 2026 meeting should this be necessary to secure a replacement. There was 1 void during the year, which was filled within a reasonable period, but only after extending the notice of vacancy to West Meon. There was an increase in Maintenance charges during the year. With under budget cost of repairs and almost full occupancy the charity enjoyed a strong financial year. Reserves and the Endowment fund held with M&G again performed strongly. The investment of the Extraordinary Repair Fund in M&G Charity Multi Asset Fund Accumulation shares has shown considerable growth in the past three years. That and the endowment fund in M&G CMAF Income shares were considered by the trustees to be producing a reasonable return compared to other eligible investments and should not at present be changed. For the third consecutive year an informal drinks party was held for the Almshouses residents at Ye Olde George pub in East Meon. This was well attended by the residents, trustees and volunteer helpers and was considered to be an excellent and inexpensive way of establishing broader contact between the charity and the residents. The registered address and correspondence address for M&G and the Charity Commission was changed, following a house move at the end of the year, to Garden House, Coombe Road, East Meon, Hants GU32 1PB ## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees** [SIGNED W TYRWHITT-DRAKE]. **Trustee** **Date 20 January 2026** …………………….. **FORBES ALMSHOUSES EAST MEON REGISTERED NO: 236542** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** |**RECEIPTS**
Maintenance contributions
LESS voids (budget)
Income from tenant
Endowment income
Donations & misc. receipts
Bank Interest
Tax rebate
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
**PAYMENTS**
Misc. expenses
Insurance
Water & drainage
Electricity
Repairs and maintenance
Almshouses Association
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**Operating (deficit)/surplus**
(Sale) Purchase net of
M&G CMAF Acc. shares
**Cash (deficit)/surplus**
Cash at Bank 1 January
Cash at Bank 31 December|**2025**
**BUDGET**
15,964.00
16,320.00
(1,280.00)
9,280.00
9,280.00
841.74
800.00
-
-
14.07
-
-
-
26,099.81
25,120.00
296.30
500.00
2,758.60
2,948.57
983.18
667.24
-
250.00
10,640.99
12,614.00
353.00
353.00
15,032.07
17,332.81
11,067.74
7,787.19
10,000.00
8,000.00
1,067.74
(212.81)
2,619.58
3,687.32
1,067.74|**2024**
13,966.00
9,000.00
802.13
-
12.97
-
23,781.10
226.44
2,680.52
606.58
-
11,481.43
343.00
15,337.97
8,443.13
8,000.00
443.13
2,176.45
2,619.58
443.13| |---|---|---| 1 No income is restricted within the meaning of the Charity Accounting Regulations - 2 There was 1 change of resident during the year, at no 7 - 3 Rent and maintenance charge increased during the year as budgeted - 4 Miscellaneous includes bank charges, TV licences and residents' drinks party - 5 Repairs and maintenance include improvements to insulation at nos 6 and 7 ## **FORBES ALMSHOUSES EAST MEON REGISTERED NO: 236542 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025** ## **ASSETS** **INVESTMENTS (31 DECEMBER 2025 BID VALUES)** **2025 2024 Endowment £ £** 19806 M&G CMAF income shares @ 103.42 pence (92.83 pence) 20,483.37 18,385.91 **Extraordinary Repair Fund** 3544.798 M&G CMAF accumulation shares* @ 14092.90 pence (12107.14 pence) 499,564.84 420,511.60 *71.545 shares purchased net during the year **Cash** Current A/C 3,687.32 2,619.58 **TOTAL CASH AND INVESTMENTS 523,735.52 441,517.09** Increase (decrease) in funds 82,218.43 66,856.07 ## **Approved by …[SIGNED W TYRWHITT-DRAKE]………………………. Trustee** **Date …20th January 2020……………………….** INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FORBES AL141SHOUSES I r•port kn th¢ T￿￿t￿*S on my of actsmls ofts Fcrfbes Aknshou8es (the Chalityl for th¢ year ¢ndwJ 3108combor 2025. Respon&"bilities and basts or￿pOrt As IheTwst•e$ oltheCh•ty you a￿ reswmst4e trthe weparakn ofthe acoiurlts in a(fAKdance wrth the r¢quirem¢rts ol the Chaiities Act 2011 Ith8 2011 Acll. I rew)rt in dmy wminalion oftr* Chwitys *>xwnts ￿￿1￿j undefseclwM 145 ofthè 2011 Act. In carryin9 Out my examination I have fc41cth*d am the applKatde ￿re(￿l￿ by the Charity Comn¥s8ion under so¢tion 14951(bl of 2011 Act. Independent 8xaminerfs slatement I compl•t•d my •xamw7alTh. I c¥*fimi Ihat ￿ m8tters hwe cur• lo ry 8ttenllon in connecthjn with tho exam￿atIOn MB rAuse lo Ihat in any malthial r¢swX. acts)u￿n0 r•c>)rds w•re rtot k•pt in r•spect of ts Chority as ty Secti￿ 1￿ ofllie 2011 Act. or t￿ {WX￿rta do nol acctyd wth tho#¢ frfords I have no ¢0￿m8 aThJ IM¥e c4Jm• ocrou no othw in *ith the exami￿4￿ lo which 8ttenlion $hwld be In Ihls re￿ in Lyder to enaNe a Pfopor und•rsland￿g ofth8 accounts to ￿ re•¢h•(l. Anthony Swayne FCA Ivy Hou Hi*1 Stre•t E8et Meon Pelefstleld GU32 1QD Dated.. 2(PJanu*y 2026