## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **ANNUAL REPORT** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024** ## **Registered Charity No. 259425** ## **DEAN STATHAM** **CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS** **Staffordshire** ## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**CONTENTS**|**Page**| |---|---| |Trustee’s Report|1-3| |Independent Examiners Report|4| |Receipts and payments account|5| |Statement of assets and liabilities|6| **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** **1** ## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2024** Stafford United Charities, 23 Dawlish Avenue, Stafford, ST17 0EU is registered with the Charity Commissioners (No 259425) and is governed by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated 20th July 1962. The Charity is an amalgamation of 15 small charities which were all established to benefit the people of the Borough of Stafford as constituted from time to time. ## **Trustees and Officers** The Charity is administered by the following members: Ex-officio Trustee The Mayor of Stafford Nominative Trustees Cllr. J. Barron Cllr. J. Pert Cllr. A. Loughran Co-optative Trustees Mr. J. Sly Mr. I. Mason Mr. J. Cantrill The Trust Deed provides for:One Ex-officio Trustee - Mayor of the Borough of Stafford Four Nominative Trustees - appointed by the Borough of Stafford Four Co-optative Trustees - appointed by all Trustees at a Special Meeting The Charity is served by Unity Trust Bank in Birmingham as Bankers; Hand, Morgan & Owen in Stafford as Solicitors; Staffordshire Housing Association in Stoke on Trent as Housing Managers; and Dean Statham Chartered Accountants in Newcastle-under-Lyme as Independent Examiner. ## **Trustee's Responsibilities** The Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” and the Charities Constitution, require the Trustees to make available an Annual Report for each financial year, showing a true and fair view of the financial transactions of the Charity during the financial year and of the disposition, at the end of the financial year, of the assets and liabilities. **2** ## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2024** In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that this basis applies. The Charity is entitled under Charities Act 2011 to prepare a receipts and payments account and a statement of assets and liabilities at the year end. The Trustees under Trust Law are responsible for ensuring proper accounting records are kept which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any one time, the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with 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. ## **Charity’s Objectives and Activity during the year** The objective of the Charity is to ensure that the people of the Borough of Stafford benefit from its activities. The main area of benefit is now the premises and residents of the Sir Martin Noel’s Almshouses (known locally as “The College”) in Mill Street Stafford. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the building and for the well being of the residents. The Charity has a small investment income, although the main income comes from rents paid by the residents. Day to day administration matters, including allocation of accommodation and recurring financial matters are dealt with by Staffordshire Housing Association which acts under a Management Agreement with the Trustees. ## **Public benefit** The Trustees confirm they have referred to guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aims and objectives. ## **Achievements during the year and plans for the future.** The net incoming receipts for the year were £11,986 compared with £16,934 in the previous year. **3** ## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **Restrictions on the Charity’s operations** The Charity is governed by the Scheme dated 20[th] July 1962. This Scheme imposes certain restrictions on the day to day operations of the Charity as stated below. -  The area of benefit is restricted to the area of the Borough of Stafford as constituted from time to time. -  Applicants must be not less than 50 years of age and of good character and born in the Borough of Stafford or have resided there for not less than 15 years preceding the time of appointment to be eligible for appointment. ## **Selection of investments and specific investment powers** The Scheme states that surplus cash should be invested in the name of the Official Custodian for Charities unless the Charity Commissioners direct otherwise. Originally the Charity had numerous small investments, all Government securities. When Staffordshire Housing Association took over the day to day running of the Charity it was decided that those investments be realised and the proceeds reinvested in COIF Income Units, which change has been justified by the difference between historical cost and current value. The Charity has no plans to change the existing investment policies, however all investments are likely to be needed to maintain and improve the existing Grade II Listed Almshouses in Mill Street, Stafford. ## **Reserve Policy** The Charity has a level of reserves which the Trustees believe is sufficient to cover any unforeseen liabilities. ## **For and on behalf of the Trustees** **...............................** **Dated .........................** **Mr. J. W. Sly** **4** ## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT** ## **Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees of Stafford United Charities** I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31st December 2024, which are set out on pages 5 to 6. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** The Charity’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. ## It is my responsibility to: -  examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, -  to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and -  to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiners report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you, as Trustees, concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent Examiners statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting - requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Dean Statham Chartered Accountants 29 King Street Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 1ER Dated ........................... **5** ## **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** ## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT** |**Receipts**
Other trading activities
Rental Income
Other income
Income from investments
**Total Receipts**
**Payments**
**Premises**
Heat and light
Water rates
Insurance
Council tax
Maintenance repairs
**Support costs allocated to activities**
Honeycomb group
Accountants charges
Residents welfare
Almshouses subs
Sundry
Financing
**Total Payments**
**Excess of receipts over payments**
**Capital expenditure**
Bank balances at 1 January
**Bank balances at 31 December**|54,142
50,471
523
130
1,096
1,081
55,761
51,682
501
88
3,523
3,140
2,172
2,131
6,155
6,473
15,565
7,842
11,412
9,017
900
900
275
275
407
233
1,395
963
1,470
3,686
43,775
34,748
11,986
16,934
-
-
106,698
89,764
118,684
106,698
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**| |---|---| **STAFFORD UNITED CHARITIES** **6** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024** |**MONETARY ASSETS**
Cash balances
Bank balance
Investments
COIF Charities Investment Fund
Other Assets
Functional assets
**LIABILITIES**
Loan|**2024**
**£**
118,684
40,251
372,416
2,205|**2023**
**£**
106,698
39,362
378,332
3,675| |---|---|---| Approved by the Trustees on .......................... and signed on their behalf by: ........................................(Signature) **Mr. J. W. Sly** (Name)