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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From Period start date 01.04.24 To Period end date 31.03.25
Charity name: Little Baddow Almshouses as from 21.11.24 – previously 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_preferably_in Little Baddow, Essex. (purpose area widened 05.12.24) |
| 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 requirements of constructing 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 families at the sad deaths of two of their residents. After appropriate advertising they were able to appoint 1 new beneficiary who fulfilled the Articles criteria and has settled well and later one who is similarly appointed pending delayed medical checks as at 31.3.25. Trustees continued with site maintenance. New beneficiaries developed the gardens and cleaned the low maintenance garden furniture of the communal garden area. The new carpark for the six beneficiaries will be widely welcomed on completion. The project has been done with surveyor support. The necessary additional construction due to the steep site is awaiting expected retrospective planning permission since planners visited and were encouraging. The carpark is already ¾ complete. The large cost of the carpark on this very difficult but appropriately sited neighbouring land will be fully covered by the specifically created reserves, so the charity will remain viable. There is a well - established annual system for monitoring all health and safety aspects. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The almshouses will have no vacancies if a NHS delayed medical check on the latest appointment is satisfactory. There is already one appropriate applicant still waiting. Full Weekly Maintenance Contribution income is therefore assured. The carpark will be a major success for the six residents. It is on the newly bought adjacent land to the almshouses with a garden gate already in place and should now be completed very quickly as retrospective planning consultation was completed on 27.03.25. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | The reorganised investments have been very successful which has been important in boosting the regular income following the planned major expenditure on the carpark. |
| Other |
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Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity’s funds, excluding the value of the physical buildings and grounds, on 31.3.25 were £88,584. The charity is committed to completing work on a car park and the current estimate to complete the carpark is £55-60,000. Overall, the charity continues to have adequate income for its general needs with full occupancy for the majority of the year and a small Weekly Maintenance Contribution increase for inflation in costs. The charity had no difficulties replacing two vacancies caused by a death. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The large fund previously held by the charity was utilised specifically to buy land and then pay for a car park for its residents. Planning permission was obtained before purchase. Going forward reserves will be held against any significant building repair work and against any lengthy gap between departing and arriving residents. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Current reserve = £88,584 but this will reduce after completion of carpark (see 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 | This year the charity invested significantly in the CCLA charities deposit account which has boosted its interest income without, in the trustees’ opinion, materially altering the risk taken, in place of the previous building society investment. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | The charity has appropriate risk policies which are reviewed annually. |
| Other |
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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 and 2024 |
| 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) You may choose to include further statements |
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 and review the nomination of the Trustee – Clerk. Additionally, a role of Trustee - Treasurer has been created and the nomination of the each Trustee - Treasurer is also reviewed annually. There are minuted quarterly meetings with accounts and action planning and occasional special meetings if needed. The quarterly meetings are organised on a timetabled basis to ensure adequate review. The views of the beneficiaries on the overall performance of the Trustee Board is reviewed annually and the results discussed and implemented where appropriate. |
| 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 village community support charity called Copyhold Allotments. |
| Other |
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Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Little Baddow Almshouses |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | (above name approved 21.11.24) |
| 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 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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dr N. Cooper | Chair – elected annually @ first quarterlymeeting. |
Little Baddow Parish Council |
||
| Dr P. McAllister | ditto | |||
| Mrs G.M Houghton | Clerk | ditto | ||
| Mr P.G. Roberts | New Treasurer | 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 | ||
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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 for the carpark has also 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 |
Little Baddow Almshouses 239382 is a registered charity entitled to use the Official Custodian of Charities. |
| 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
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
N.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Nicholas Cooper | ||
2024 and 2025 Chair of Trustees ie. whole period of this report. |
Elected by the Trustees every January in accordance with the Articles |
|
| 16thJuly 2025 | ||
| 16thJuly 2025 |
Little Baddow Almshouses - NO 239382
Income and Expenditure account
| Revenue Maintenance contributions Interest for year Sundry income Total revenue Expenditure Oil Water Electricity Maintenance and Repairs Insurance Garden Almshouse Association Wellbeing Miscellaneous Refurbishment costs Total routine spend Operational surplus Movement on reserves Reserves brought forward Less: Investment in Car Park Project Plus: Operational surplus Reserves at 31 March |
Revenue Maintenance contributions Interest for year Sundry income Total revenue Expenditure Oil Water Electricity Maintenance and Repairs Insurance Garden Almshouse Association Wellbeing Miscellaneous Refurbishment costs Total routine spend Operational surplus Movement on reserves Reserves brought forward Less: Investment in Car Park Project Plus: Operational surplus Reserves at 31 March |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
26,374.39 27113.24 5,403.00 4734.83 100.00 270.87 31,877.39 32118.94 3425.81 5510.76 1204.54 939.35 532.23 160.65 7679.46 10388.58 1085.99 1731.25 1495.09 4234.99 563.00 343.00 696.45 - 1274.26 8287.11 24969.68 24582.84 6907.71 7536.10 192841.00 242290.30 -111165.00 -56985.40 6907.71 7536.10 88583.71 192841.00 Actual to 31 march 2025 Actual to 31 March 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statement of Funds as at 31/3/2024 Bal B/Forward |
Almshouse Charity 246099 Accounts |
Investment Return |
Ordinary activity receipts |
Ordianry activity Payments |
Carpark payments |
Transfers In |
Transfers Out |
Statement of Funds as at 31/3/25 |
| 68,101.31 53,231.15 12,374.41 59,134.13 |
Current Account COIF CCLA Charities Deposit Account Monmouthshire Building Society Blackrock Charishare Account |
26,474.39 (24,969.68) (111,165.00) 174,212.96 (130,000.00) 5,298.58 - - 130,000.00 (102,600.00) 104.42 - (12,478.83) - - - (59,134.13) |
2,653.98 85,929.73 - |
|||||
| 192,841.00 | 5,403.00 26,474.39 (24,969.68) (111,165.00) 304,212.96 (304,212.96) |
88,583.71 | ||||||
Note. These accounts do not include any of the transactions or assets of the Copyhold Allotments charity which was previously reported as a restricted fund within this report. For this reason not all the comparative numbers will match with previous years’.
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of Little Baddow Almshouses
On accounts for the year 31[st] March 2025 Charity no 239382 ended (if any)
Set out on pages Page 8 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 31/03/2025 .
- 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: 30/6/2025
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