MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
Page
Trustees' Annual Report Independent Examiner's Report Statement of[Financial][ Activities]
Balance Sheet
Schedule of Investments and Income
Notes to the Financial Statements
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8 9-13
MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the notes to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 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 published in October 2019.
Objectives and activities
The Primary objectives of the Trust are to provide for persons in necessitous or straitened circumstances who have been, are, or shall be employed (a) by the Settlor's father the Third Lord Cowdray deceased, (b) by the Settlors's mother Lady Anne Cowdray deceased, (c) by any other family company, or (d) on the Cowdray Estate or the parents, wives, widowers, children or more remoter issue of the persons so employed for charitable purposes generally.
The Trustees carry out their objectives by making distributions to charitable individuals in line with the above definitions and also by regularly considering appeals from other charities and making policy and funding decisions.
Public Benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 201] and have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the donations policy for the year. The benefit that arises is the provision of funding to organisations that demonstrate charitable purpose.
Achievements and performance
During the year the Trustees made grants totalling £1,006,519 [2024: £17,100] in furtherance of their objectives and continue to make grants to charitable organisations both on a one-off and recurring basis. The larger grants awarded during the year are stated in the notes to the financial statements.
The Trustees are pleased with the progress made in the financial year ended 5 April 2025 and look forward to expanding their work with many other charities in the years to come.
Financial review
The Trustees received £121,257 in investment income in the current year [2024: £110,889] and the Trustees have achieved their intention of spending the income on charitable activities.
Net outgoing resources for the year were £933,476 [2024: incoming £52,956]. In addition the Trust realised a gain on investments of £179,516 [2024: gain £0] and made an unrealised loss of £447,926 [2024: gain £518,349]. The net outgoing movement on funds was £1,201,886 [2024: incoming £571,305].
Investment policy
The Trustees have instructed the Investment Manager that the portfolio is to be invested to produce a suitable mixture of income in order that the level of grants may be maintained and capital growth to secure the future of the Charity over the coming years. The Trustees are confident that the future income stream is secure.
The investment policy is monitored by regular investment reports and meetings with the Investment Manager. A breakdown of the investments held during the financial year ended 5 April 2025 can be seen on page 8.
Risk Management
The major risks to which the Charity is exposed have been identified and steps taken to mitigate those risks.
The main risk to the Charity concerns the investments held. The Trustees have mitigated this risk by engaging Cazenove Capital to manage the investments and monitor the portfolio and financial risks to the Charity. The Trustees regularly review the valuation of investments and the income stream generated.
The Trustees have satisfied themselves that the trust is a going concern and has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The charitable activities are funded by the investment portfolio and although Covid-19 did have a negative impact on this, the portfolio has recovered with sufficient value to support continued grant making.
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025 pe
Reserves policy
It is the intention of the Trustees to sustain the unrestricted funds at a level which will provide sufficient funds for the level of grants paid and to cover the Charity's management and administration costs.
At the Balance Sheet date the unrestricted reserves amounted to £5,809,763.
Future Plans
The Trustees do not envisage any material change to the operation of the Charity in the long-term and the investments will continue to be managed on a similar basis as they are now. Notwithstanding this, the Trustees remain flexible in terms of the type of organisations they support.
Structure, governance and management
The Trust has charitable status and was set up by The Fourth Viscount Cowdray by Deed dated 25 June 1965.
The management of the Charity is vested in the Trustees and they actively review the perceived major risks which the Charity faces and the Trustees are satisfied that the systems are in place to mitigate those risks.
The Trustees have received appropriate briefing on their responsibilities under the law relating to charities and their duty to ensure that their charitable activities are for the public benefit. The appointment of new trustees is vested in the Settlor during their life. The selection of future trustees will have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Charity. Induction and training for trustees is provided where relevant.
Reference and administrative information
A registered charity, registered with the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales as number 245230.
Principal Office:
4th Floor, 7 Swallow Street London WIB 4DE
The Trustees are Cowdray Trust Limited and Rathbones Trust Company Limited.
The Directors of Cowdray Trust Limited are: The Hon H MT Gibson (Chairman) The Viscount Cowdray (Resigned 12 March 2025) The Hon C A Pearson The Hon P N Gibson The Hon B C Gurdon Mr JRE Smith Mr R CP Troughton (Resigned 13 June 2024) Mrs S J Burrell Mts C A Bullough (Appointed 30 August 2024) Mr S J Atkinson Mrs F A Rice Mr MP Harris Mr K Wright Mr P Pearson (Appointed 14 May 2025)
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
The Directors of Rathbones Trust Company Limited are: MrT Harris (Managing Director)
Mr RP Stockton (Resigned 6 June 2025)
Mr B R Newbigging (Resigned 31 December 2024) Miss L J Cousins (Resigned 31 December 2024) Mr A Richmond Mr J Hurrell (Resigned 6 June 2025) Mrs K Roberts Ms A Frost (Appointed 1 July 2025)
Solicitors:
Currey & Co LLP 33 Queen Anne Street London W1G 9HY
Independent Examiner: Harriet Sergeant Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited 25 St Thomas Street Winchester Hampshire S023 9HJ
Banker:
Royal Bank of Scotland 119 - 121 Victoria Street London SWIE 6RA
Banker:
Schroder & Co 1 London Wall Place London EC2Y 5AU
Investment Manager: Cazenove Capital 1 London Wall Place London EC2Y SAU
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable regulations). Under that law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period.
In preparing these financial statements the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS 102);
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make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees on 30/01/2026
and signed on their behalf by:
Cowdray Trust Limited
Rathbones Trust Company Limited
Director
Director
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 5 April 2025 which are set out on pages 6-13.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3 the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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ff ‘ al .
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Harriet Sergeant
Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited
25 St Thomas Street Winchester Hampshire S023 9HJ
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Date: >
Ss a febwery Lol
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
eee
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Unrestricted | Total | Prioryear | |
| funds | funds | total funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Income from: | ||||
| Investments | 4 | 121,257 | 121,257 | 110,889 |
| Total | 121,257 | 121,257 | 110,889 | |
| Expenditure on: | ||||
| Raising funds | 5 | 2,359 | 2,359 | 2,366 |
| Charitable activities | 6 | 1,052,374 | 1,052,374 | 55,567 |
| Total | 1,054,733 | 1,054,733 | 57,933 | |
| Netincome/(expenditure) | (933,476) | (933,476) | 52,956 | |
| Other recognised gains/(losses): | ||||
| Gains/(losses) oninvestment assets | 10 | (268,410) | (268,410) | 518,349 |
| Netmovementin funds | (1,201,886) | (1,201,886) | 571,305 | |
| Reconciliation offunds: | ||||
| Total funds broughtforward | 13 | 7,011,649 | 7,011,649 | 6,440,344 |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 5,809,763 | 5,809,763 | 7,011,649 |
Seee
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 5 APRIL 2025
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|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Note|2025|2024|
|Total|Prior year|
|funds|funds|
|£|£|
|Fixed|Assets:|
|Investments|10|5,699,594|6,377,815|
|Total|Fixed Assets|5,699,594|6,377,815|
|Current Assets:|
|Cash|at bank|11|110,169|640,501|
|Total|Current Assets|110,169|640,501|
|Liabilities:|
|Creditors: Amounts|falling due|within one year|12|-|(6,667)|
|Net Current Assets|or Liabilities|110,169|633,834|
|Total|Net Assets|or|Liabilities|5,809,763|7,011,649|
|The|Funds|of the|Charity:|
|Unrestricted funds|13|5,809,763|7,011,649|
|Total|Charity Funds|5,809,763|7,011,649|
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Approved by the Trustees on 30/01/2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Cowdray Trust Limited
Rathbones Trust Company Limited
Director
Director
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
1 Statutory Information
Midhurst Pensions Trust is a registered charity. The registered number and principal office address can be found in the Report of the Trustees’.
2 Accounting Policies
a) Basis of financial statements preparation
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair' view. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been removed.
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust's ability to continue as a going concern.
b) Nature of funds
All funds held are unrestricted and the Trustees are free to use them in accordance with the charitable objects.
c) Fixed asset investments
Investments are stated at market value at the Balance Sheet date. Overseas investments are translated into sterling at the rates ruling at the year end. The Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) includes the net gains and losses on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.
d) Income
Income is recognised in the SOFA once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
e) 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 costs related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
f)
Charitable grants
Grants payable are recognised in the SOFA when they are approved by the Trustees and the recipient has been informed of the amount to be paid.
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
(Continued)
g) Foreign currencies
Transactions denominated in a foreign currency are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. At the Balance Sheet date monetary assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated at the rate ruling at that date. All exchange differences are dealt with in the SOFA.
h) _‘Irrecoverable VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is written off to the same expense category in which the actual expenditure was incurred.
3 Remuneration of Trustees
In the financial year to 5 April 2025 the Trustees did not receive any remuneration or have their expenses reimbursed by the Charity. Cowdray Trust Limited charged administration expenses of £35,566 [2024: £31,360].
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|4|Investment|income|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Income|from|investments|118,838|105,617|
|Deposit|interest|2,419|5,272|
|121,257|110,889|
|5|Expenditure|on|raising|funds|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Investment management|fees|2,359|2,366|
|2,359|2,366|
|6|Charitable|activities|
|Direct|costs|Support|costs|2025|2024|
|(see|note|7)|(see|note|8)|Total|Total|
|£|£|£|£|
|Charitable|expenditure|1,006,519|45,855|1,052,374|55,567|
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7 Direct costs
The Charity undertook no direct charitable activities but awarded grants to a number of institutions in furtherance of its charitable objectives. These are as follows:
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|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|£|
|Cowdray|Heritage|Trust|990,000|
|990,000|
|Other|grants|(equal|to|or|individually|less than £10,000)|16,519|
|Total|for the|year|1,006,519|
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7 Direct costs (continued)
MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
(Continued)
| Analysis ofgrants made | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grants to | Grants to | |||
| institutions | individuals | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Reliefofthose in need, by reasonofyouth, age, ill-health, | ||||
| disability, financial hardshipor other disadvantage | - | 16,519 | 16,519 | |
| Any other charitablepurposes | 990,000 | - | 990,000 | |
| 990,000 | 16,519 | 1,006,519 | ||
| 8 | Support costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |||
| Administration expenses | 35,566 | 31,360 | ||
| Bank charges | 16 | - | ||
| Rathbones TrustCompany Limited fees | 4,200 | 4,200 | ||
| Currey& Co fees | 3,024 | - | ||
| Portfolio Stewardship fees | 3,049 | 2,907 | ||
| 45,855 | 38,467 |
During the year administration expenses of £35,566 were charged by Cowdray Trust Limited (trustee). The amount of £935 plus VAT was charged by Shaw Gibbs (Audit) Limited for the Independent Examination of these Financial Statements.
9 Staff costs
There are no employees so consequently no staff costs have been incurred.
10
| —«*Fiixed asset investments | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Market value brought forward | 6,377,815 | 5,859,466 |
| Less disposal proceeds | (409,811) | - |
| Net gains/(losses) on investments | (268.410) | 518,349 |
| Marketvaluecarriedforward | 5,699,594 | 6,377,815 |
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
(Continued)
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|---|---|---|---|---|
|10|__‘|Fixed|asset investments|(continued)|
|Geographical|analysis|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|United Kingdom|investments|5,687,862|6,365,987|
|Overseas|investments|11,732|11,828|
|5,699,594|6,377,815|
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The investments were revalued each year up to 5 April 1999. Therefore, there is no historic cost figure available. The book value of the investments at 5 April 2025 was £3,419,647.
Net gains/(losses) on investments includes realised gains for the year of £179,516 [2024: gain £0] and unrealised losses on revaluation to market value of £447,926 [2024: gain £518,349].
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|11|Cash|at bank|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Royal Bank of Scotland|8,364|457,690|
|Schroder & Co|101,145|182,434|
|National|Westminster Bank|660|377|
|110,169|640,501|
|12.|Creditors:|Amounts|falling|due within|one|year|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Administration Expenses|-|3,760|
|Portfolio|Stewardship|fees|-|2,907|
|-|6,667|
|13.|Movement|in|funds|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Unrestricted|funds:|
|Balance|brought|forward|7,011,649|6,440,344|
|Net movement|in|funds|(1,201,886)|571,305|
|Balance|carried|forward|5,809,763|7.011.649|
|Net movement|in|funds|included|in|the|above|are|as|follows:|
|Gains|and|Movement|
|Income|Outgoings|losses|in|funds|
|£|£|£|£|
|Unrestricted Funds|121,257|(1,054,733)|(268,410)|(1,201,886)|
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MIDHURST PENSIONS TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
(Continued)
14 ~—Related Party Transactions
During the year Millbank Financial Services Limited ('MFS') charged fees of £3,049 [2024: £2,907] for their Portfolio Stewardship service and Cowdray Trust Limited charged administration expenses of £35,566 [2024: £31,360]. The Hon H MT Gibson, The Hon C A Pearson and Mr MP Harris (Directors of Cowdray Trust Limited) are Directors of MFS.
It should be noted that a sibling of Hon H M T Gibson and Hon PN Gibson, the father of Mrs C A Bullough, the son of Mr J R E Smith and the mother of Mr R C P Troughton (Directors of Cowdray Trust Limited) are Directors of MFS, namely Hon W K Gibson, Hon C A Pearson, Mr O G E Smith and Mrs S H Troughton respectively.
Mr RC P Troughton resigned as Director of Cowdray Trust Limited on 13 June 2024.
Mrs S H Troughton resigned as Director of MFS on 17 September 2025.
During the year grants were awarded to the Cowdray Heritage Trust of £990,000. The Viscount Cowdray (Director of Cowdray Trust Limited) and Mr B R Newbigging (Director of Rathbone Trust Company Limited) are trustees of the Heritage Trust. The Viscount Cowdray resigned as a Director of Cowdray Trust Limited on 12 March 2025. Mr B R Newbigging resigned as a Director ofRathbones Trust Company Limited on 31 December 2024.
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