Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1.04.23 Period start date To 31.03.24 Period end date
Charity name: Charity of the Unknown Donor (Otherwise The Almshouse Charity)
Charity registration number: 239382
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To provide Almshouses for six of those persons in need in Little Baddow, Essex. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
To manage the six almshouses and support their residents who are required to be capable of independent living. This year money has been spent on site upgrade and on the purchase of land and related matters in order to construct a carpark for the six beneficiaries. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have acted in line with the Trust’s Articles and other legal requirements. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | |
| Other |
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Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Trustees supported the family at the sad death of one of their residents and after appropriate advertising were able to appoint a new beneficiary who fulfilled their Articles criteria. Trustees caught up with a back log of site improvements and maintenance held up due to the pandemic. Trustees completed the purchase of land adjacent to the gardens of the almshouses in order to construct a six vehicle carpark matching the six almshouses, planning permission have already been obtained. A surveyor is organising construction on a steep site. Trustees improved the gardens and upgraded the sheds and garden mower. All appropriate site surveys including Legionella prevention were completed. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The almshouses have no vacancies. The carpark project has made progress with the purchase of the adjacent land. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | There has been judicial on going movement of money beyond the end of this report ie. up to July 2024 to improve our investments even further. |
| Other |
2
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity’s funds on 31.3.24 were £192,841. Current estimate to complete carpark = £156,000 . (see “reserve” box below) For the first time, in order to catch up post pandemic, the charity spent more than its income on site improvements and other matters by £464, but overall it continues to have adequate income for its general needs with full occupancy and a Weekly Maintenance Contribution increase for the rise in heating oil costs. The charity had no difficulty replacing a vacancy caused by a death. The charity has spent approximately half of the carpark monies specifically raised for this purpose. Care is being taken to limit the further reserves which may be needed due to the cost of the construction on a steep site which is still under discussion with the help of the Surveyor. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The large fund held by the charity is specifically to pay for a car park for its residents. Planning permission was obtained before purchase. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Current reserve = £192,841. Projected uncommitted reserve after completion of carpark = £36,841. (see statement in 2ndparagraph of 1:21 above) |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Its weekly maintenance contributions paid in advance monthly and interest from its investments |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | The charity invests both in the CCLA charities deposit account and in building societies. It has a plan to increase the interest from its investments. |
3
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The charity has appropriate risk policies which are reviewed annually. |
| Other |
4
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | 1971 Articles, amended in 2007 |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | A Board of 5 Trustees. |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | The local Parish Council appoints local appropriate persons to be Trustees of this independent trust for four consecutive years, renewable if desired. |
Additional information (optional)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | |
|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements | where relevant about: | |
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | The Trust has completed all of the Governance Checklist provided by the Almshouse Association including appropriate training and has also completed the Charity Commission relevant questionnaire. |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | In line with its Articles, the Trustees elect an annual Chair but also have a Treasurer and Clerk from the group. There are quarterly minuted meetings with accounts and action planning and occasional special meetings if needed. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | The charity is a member of the Almshouse Association. The charity is administered together with a second entirely separate community support charity called Copyhold Allotments. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Charity of the Unknown Donor (Otherwise the Almshouse Charity) |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | The Almshouse Charity 239382 |
| Registered charity number | 239382 |
| Charity’s principal address | The Corner House, High Pastures, Little Baddow, Essex , CM3 4TS |
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr N. Cooper | Chair – elected annually @ first quarterlymeeting. |
Little Baddow Parish Council |
||
| Dr P. McAllister | ditto | |||
| Mrs G.M Houghton | Clerk | ditto | ||
| Mr R.Shepherd MBE |
Retired 13.7.23 | ditto | ||
| Mr P.G. Roberts | New Treasurer | Appointed 3.08.23 | ditto | |
| Mrs C. Hodgson | Treasurer | Resigned 18.4.24 | ditto | |
| Mr M. Richmond | Appointed 2.5.24 | ditto | ||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| Official Custodian | ||
6
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
The Almshouses are registered for the Trustees by the Official Custodian and the new land has also just been registered. |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
The Charity of the Unknown Donor (Otherwise The Almshouse Charity) |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) N.C. Full name(s) Dr Nicholas Cooper Position (eg Secretary, 2023 and 2024 Chair of Trustees Elected by the Trustees every Chair, etc) ie. whole period of this report. January in accordance with the Articles Date Meeting 18.07.24
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31.7.24
CHARITY OF THE UNKNOWN DONOR (OTHERWISE THE ALMSHOUSE CHARITY) - NO 239382 (including COPYHOLD ALLOTMENTS CHARITY- NO 246099 monies in current account)
Receipts and Payments Account for the Year Ended 31st March 2024
| 2022-2023 101,781.29 Balance Brought Forward 1/4/23 CURRENT ACCOUNT |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds unrestricted is almshouse funds 126,285.44 8,609.00 134894.44 restricted is copyhold funds 22,948.06 22948.06 2,973.22 2973.22 1,191.96 1191.96 260.00 260.00 115.00 115.00 155.87 155.87 27,384.11 260.00 - 27644.11 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds (5,510.76) (5,510.76) (939.35) (939.35) (160.65) (160.65) (10,388.58) (10,388.58) (1,731.25) (1,731.25) (4,234.99) (4,234.99) (343.00) (343.00) (56,985.40) (56,985.40) (1,274.26) (1,274.26) - (350.00) (350.00) (81,568.24) (350.00) - (81,918.24) (54,184.13) (90.00) - (54,274.13) Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds (4,000.00) (6,500.00) (10,500.00) 0.00 (4,000.00) (6,500.00) - (10,500.00) 68,101.31 2,019.00 - 70,120.31 40.00 68,141.31 2,019.00 - 70,160.31 2023/24 |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds unrestricted is almshouse funds 126,285.44 8,609.00 134894.44 restricted is copyhold funds 22,948.06 22948.06 2,973.22 2973.22 1,191.96 1191.96 260.00 260.00 115.00 115.00 155.87 155.87 27,384.11 260.00 - 27644.11 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds (5,510.76) (5,510.76) (939.35) (939.35) (160.65) (160.65) (10,388.58) (10,388.58) (1,731.25) (1,731.25) (4,234.99) (4,234.99) (343.00) (343.00) (56,985.40) (56,985.40) (1,274.26) (1,274.26) - (350.00) (350.00) (81,568.24) (350.00) - (81,918.24) (54,184.13) (90.00) - (54,274.13) Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds (4,000.00) (6,500.00) (10,500.00) 0.00 (4,000.00) (6,500.00) - (10,500.00) 68,101.31 2,019.00 - 70,120.31 40.00 68,141.31 2,019.00 - 70,160.31 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Receipts Current Account | ||
| 22,724.12 Maintenance Contribution 3,119.88 Oil - Heating 1,250.64 Water Rates 510.00 Poors Piece EWT memorial donations zoom refund 0.00 27,604.64 Total Receipts |
||
| Payments Current Account | ||
| (5,207.10) Oil (900.64) Water Rates (161.09) Electricity (3,061.08) Maintenance ERF Repairs (1,011.27) Insurance (2,228.28) Garden (196.00) Almshouse Association Car Park Project (7,643.45) Miscellaneous (350.00) CA Grant (20,758.91) Total Payments 6,845.73 Net of receipts/(payments) |
||
| Transfer of Funds | ||
| Copyhold Allotments 25,965.42 Transfer from Savings Accounts Total Transfers 134,592.44 Cash Funds for this year unpresented cheques 40.00 cheques cleared fromlast year 342.00 rent paid in from last year 134894.44 Balance with Statement |
||
| 2022-2023 Statement of Funds as at 31st March 2024 Bal B/Forward Notes Almshouse Charity 246099 Accounts 134,894.44 1 Current Account 506.18 4 COIF CCLA Copyhold Charities Deposit 46,827.68 2 COIF CCLA Almshouse Deposit Account 12,054.18 Monmouthshire Building Society 57,123.00 3 Blackrock Charishare Account 251,405.48 Notes All Payments and receipts are processed via 1 2 3 4 5 £6500 restricted funds transferred to CCLA C New COIF CCLA Almshouse deposit Account £4000 transferred to build reserve for renova Blackrock Charishare sold 27.2.24, awaiting The charity also owns the Almshouses in Littl the Almshouses. The trustees have no nintent properties valued. |
2023/24 Investment Return Receipts Payments Transfers In Transfers Out Bal C/Fwd 27,644.11 (81,918.24) (10,500.00) 70,120.31 130.38 6,500.00 7,136.56 2,403.47 - - 4,000.00 53,231.15 320.23 - - - 12,374.41 2,011.13 - - - - 59,134.13 |
Almshouse Copyhold Allotment Un restricted Restricted 68,101.31 2,019.00 7,136.56 53,231.15 12,374.41 59,134.13 |
| 4,865.21 27,644.11 (81,918.24) 10,500.00 (10,500.00) 201,996.56 |
192,841.00 9,155.56 |
|
| Almshouse Copyhold A account, £4000 transferred to CCLA almshouse account tions of Flat AA monies to pay into Barclays current account e Baddow and during the year it acquired land on a neighbouring site which will be developed to be a car park for the residents of ion of ever realising these assets as they are core to the charity's objectives and so believe that there is no value in getting these |
Page 9
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Charity of the Unknown Donor (Almshouse Charity)
On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2024 Charity no 239382 ended (if any)
Set out on pages Page 9 of the Trustees Annual Report
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Name: Graham Charles Lennard Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 2 The Rye Field Little Baddow CM3 4TR
Date: 27/11/24
1
October 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
October 2018
IER