**Report of the Trustees**
**For The Year Ended 31st December 2025**
Registered Charity Number **236902** Trustees Mrs N Griffiths Chairperson R Reed Vice Chair C Wilton Cllr R Stephenson (resigned 04.7.25) S Bradley (appointed 23.3.26) T Robbins (resigned 30.4.26) C Hassell (resigned 30.4.26) Cllr S J Firth (appointed 01.5.26)
Principal Address Parlington House Beech View Aberford Leeds LS25 3BX
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025.
The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for Social Housing Providers 2018 and applicable accounting standards.
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## **Objective**
The purpose of the Charity is to manage Almshouses, to afford independent living for the elderly, poor and needy people. The main criteria for meeting its objectives are that the Almshouses be available on payment of a maintenance contribution to elderly, poor and needy people who (except in special cases to be approved by the Charity Commissioners) have resided for a period of not less than two years in a beneficial area consisting of Parlington, Aberford, Lotherton, Garforth, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Church Fenton, Barkston Ash, South Milford, Saxton and Barwick-in-Elmet, with a preference in the first place for those having been resided in the first four ancient townships mentioned.
## **Public benefit**
The Trustees have reviewed the Charity Commission's guidance on the requirement to report on public benefit. The Trustees are satisfied that the work of the Charity and its policies and procedures accord with its stated objectives and provides tangible public benefit. The criteria used to assess those who may benefit comply with its Governing Document and are not unreasonably restrictive. The Charity has taken due regard in its policies for the public benefit.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
The principal activity of the trust is the letting of almshouses.
The Trustees are satisfied that, in continuing to provide low cost accommodation, ensuring that the Almshouses are maintained to a good standard and that occupancy levels are high, they have met their objectives.
Trustees consider the operations of the Trust during the year and that the position at the end of the year were satisfactory.
## **FINANCIAL REVIEW**
## **Principal funding sources**
The Weekly Maintenance Contribution (WMC) paid by residents is the principal source of funding for the Almshouses.
The Trustees set the WMC at a level anticipated to cover the annual budgeted operating costs of the Trust and continue to implement increases to the Weekly Maintenance Contributions, within the guidelines laid down by Homes England, to ensure that the Charity generates a sufficient surplus to meet its capital commitments on the mortgage.
Additionally, continuous efforts are made to control costs across all areas of expenditure.
## **Reserves policy**
Day to day repairs and maintenance are charged to the income and expenditure account as and when they occur. An amount for repairs during the next financial year is budgeted for and agreed by Trustees at their December meeting.
The Charity operates a cyclical repairs and maintenance reserve to meet any costs in excess of annual budgeted expenditure.
£30558 was in the Current Account to support the cyclical repairs and maintenance reserve but any unexpected costs incurred are met from the Extraordinary Repair Fund..
An extraordinary repair reserve in excess of £55000 is held at the Co Operative bank.
Additional reserve funds in excess of £30000 are held in the Charities Official Investment Fund managed by CCLA.
The Charity also holds reserves in excess of £72,000 which are held in M & G's Charity Multi Asset Fund.. Each year the Trust adds funds to the Extraordinary Repairs Fund. The amount is in line with the amount recommended by the Almshouse Association.
The Trust includes an amount in reserves to enable it to operate without the Weekly Maintenance Contribution income for a period of six months.
The Trustees review the level of reserves held at each Trustees meeting and consider the current level of reserves to be more than adequate.
## **Going concern**
After making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
## **FUTURE PLANS**
The Charity plans to continue its present activities in the future. Funds are available to meet future needs where those have been identified.
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## **Governing document**
The governing document of the Charity is a deed dated 22 July 1913, amended 26 July 1960 and approved by the Charity Commission.
The Charity is a member of the National Association of Almshouses and is also a Registered Social Landlord with The Homes and Communities Agency.
## **Charity constitution**
The Almshouse is a Registered Charity (number 236902).
The Almshouse Trust is registered with the Regulator of Social Housing (Registration number A0230).
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The are no specific requirements in the Charity deed relating to the appointment of Trustees. The Trustees may appoint a Clergyman of the Church of England and have sought to have a representative from Leeds
City Council on the Board.
Other than the above, new Trustees are approached based on the personal recommendations of those already on the Board.
## **Organisational structure**
The Charity operates 28 Almshouses located at Parlington House, Beech View, Aberford. **Decision making**
The Charity is managed by a Board of Trustees. During 2024 the Trust had four Trustees who met on a regular basis.
Any decisions requiring Trustees authorisation which were taken between the full meetings were agreed via email or telephone and ratified at the next full Trustees meeting.
The trust operates under the Charity Commission's guidelines and follows advice from the Almshouses Association.
Policies are reviewed on a regular basis.
A cashbook of receipts and payments is maintained by the Clerk (in line with the Charities Act requirements).
Summaries of all receipts and payments are reviewed at each Trustees meeting. Reasons for variation from budget are discussed and any remedial action required is agreed by the Trustees. A small amount of petty cash is held by the House Manager with all expenditure being checked and reconciled by the Clerk on a periodic basis.
## **Risk management**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ R Reed - Trustee
**IASYORKSHIRE**
## **Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees of The Aberford Almshouses.**
We report to the charity trustees on our examination of the accounts of The Aberford Almshouses Charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2025.
We report in respect of our examination of the Trusts accounts carried out under the guidance given by the Charity Commission.
Independent examiners statement:
Accounting records were kept on a Receipts and Payment basis.
On the basis of our revue no matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination giving cause for concern that relevant regulation requirements have not been met.
We have not identified any other concerns in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in regard to this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Address; 44 Mulberry House, Burgage Square, Wakefield WF1 2SE
## **Statement of Financial Activities. Charity No: 236902**
|**Receipts**
Charitable activities
Investment Income
Other Income
**Payments**
Staff
Property management
Support costs
**Net Receipts / Payments**
**Reconciliation of Funds**
£
Cwfd 2024
166227
Net Receipts / Payments
22518
188745
**Bank and investment funds 2025**
**Fixed Assets**
**£**
Tangible
**2079378**
**Current Assets**
**£**
Cash in Bank and in hand
**188745**
**Liabilities**
£
Creditors:
6737
Mortgage
33736
**40473**
**Net Current Assets / Liabilities**|**£**
165475
10801
1059
177335
43694
72605
38518
202443
**£**
**22518**
**£**
**188745**
**£**
**Total2227650**|
|---|---|