Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025
Registered Charity number 263690
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Contents
Reference and Administrative Details .............................................................................................................................. 3 Trustees ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 ................................................................................................. 5 Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees ................................................................................................................ 14 Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2025 ....................................................................... 18 Balance sheet as at 31 December 2025 .......................................................................................................................... 19 Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2025 ................................................................................... 20 Notes to the financial statements................................................................................................................................... 21
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Reference and Administrative Details
Address for enquiries
Grants Officer Fishmongers’ Hall London Bridge London EC4R 9EL
Email: grants@fishmongers.org.uk
Independent Auditor
Buzzacott Audit LLP 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL
Principal Investment Managers
CCLA Investment Management Limited One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB
W1M Investment Management Limited 16 Babmaes Street London SW1Y 6AH
Chelverton Asset Management 11 Laura Place Bath BA2 4BL
Solicitors
Farrer & Co LLP 66 Lincoln’s Inn Fields London WC2A 3LH
Principal Bankers
HSBC Bank plc 1-3 Bishopsgate London EC2N 3AQ
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees
The Trustees at the date of this report are the Fishmongers’ Company (the Corporate Trustee) and Amelia Fitzalan Howard.
The Fishmongers’ Company is one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London and received its first Royal Charter in 1272. The governing body of the Company is the Court of Assistants, whose members at the date of this report are listed below. The Court appoints a member, who shall be neither Prime Warden nor a voting member of the Trust’s advisory committee, to act as Chair of the Corporate Trustee for a two-year term. The current Chair is Charles Spicer Esq.
Ms Fitzalan Howard is a senior member of the Livery of the Company and, not being a Member of Court, acts as the ‘Independent Trustee’ of the Trust. She has been appointed for an initial 3-year term.
Members of the Court of the Fishmongers’ Company: Simon Barrowcliff Esq (Prime Warden from 18 June 2025) Andrew Sutcliffe Esq KC (Prime Warden to 18 June 2025) Charles Spicer Esq (Chair of Corporate Trustee) Dr Natalia Misciattelli Mocenigo Soranzo Bill S Mills Esq Evy Hambro Esq The Earl of Erroll Andrew Martin Smith Esq R G Holland-Martin Esq Andrew Morgan Esq James fforde Esq The Hon Michael McLaren KC Nigel Bankes Esq HRH The Princess Royal KG KT GCVO QSO David Robertson Esq David Jones Esq DL Alderman Sir Alan Yarrow Fred Stroyan Esq Jolyon Thornton Esq Mrs Charlotte Newson The Earl of Darnley Dr Henrietta Boyd Aldred Drummond Esq Richard Wills Esq Duncan Stirling Esq Rupert Cotterell Esq Gareth Neame Esq OBE DL
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust (the Trust) is an unincorporated Trust, governed by a Trust deed dated 21 January 1972, as amended by Deeds of Variation dated 16 November 2011 and 9 February 2012. It is registered with the Charity Commission, Registration Number 263690.
The Trustees at the date of this report are the Fishmongers’ Company (the Corporate Trustee) and Amelia Fitzalan Howard, who is not a member of the governing body of the Company but is a senior member of the Livery of the Company and acts as the Independent Trustee of the Trust. The governing body of the Corporate Trustee is the Court. Members of Court are drawn from the Livery of the Corporate Trustee and are selected so as to ensure that it and its charities can draw on a wide range of appropriate experience and expertise. New members of Court are given an induction to the finances and affairs of the Corporate Trustee and the Trust by the Company’s senior executive officer, The Clerk, and by other members of Court.
To ensure effective separation of Trust business from the business of the Corporate Trustee, the Court has created the position of Chair of the Corporate Trustee and has stipulated that the Chair should be neither the Prime Warden nor a serving member of the Trust’s advisory Committee. The current Chair of the Corporate Trustee is Charles Spicer Esq.
The Court has established a Philanthropy and Grants Committee comprised of members of Court and co-opted members of the Livery. Its purpose is to promote, develop and deliver the Corporate Trustee’s non-fisheries charitable and philanthropic work, particularly in the field of education. When acting on behalf of the Trust, the Committee Chair is accountable to the Chair of the Corporate Trustee. In respect of the Trust, the Committee’s tasks include:
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To understand the philanthropic and charitable sectors within the chosen fields of interest.
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To consider and make recommendations on the Trust’s philanthropic policy.
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To prepare and submit an annual Business Plan for the following year with an outline up to 5 years ahead.
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To implement and control the budget and oversee the awards of grants, due diligence and management of the Trust’s funds.
During the year day to day management and administration of the Corporate Trustee was delegated to its senior Executive Officer, the Clerk, Toby Williamson MVO. In addition, the Court has appointed the Corporate Trustee’s Deputy Clerk and COO, Joanna Allinson, as Executive Director responsible for leading the Company’s support to the Trust, and its Finance Director, Steve Maile, undertakes the same role for the Trust. Together they comprise the Trust’s Key Management Personnel. Their remuneration is set by the Court, having regard to the market rate for similar roles.
Amelia Fitzalan Howard, the appointed Trustee of the Charity, received no remuneration or expenses in respect of her Trusteeship. Any expenses incurred by Members of the Court of the Corporate Trustee in relation to Trust business, are reimbursed by the Corporate Trustee.
Staff of the Corporate Trustee are also jointly employed by the Trust and by the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust (Charity No. 284888). In 2025 the Trust reimbursed the Corporate Trustee £114k in respect of joint employment costs and £50k (including VAT) for administration services.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The objects of the Trust as set out in its Trust Deed are:
The relief of poverty, annual or other payments to poor pensioners and other poor persons, purposes of education, and general public purposes in so far as they are legally charitable.
The Trust is a charitable arm of the Fishmongers’ Company, and its activities closely align with that part of the Company’s mission that relates to making a difference in today’s society and to enabling people to live healthy, fulfilled lives.
Charitable giving is mainly focused on Education (primary, secondary and tertiary), multi-year grants across three thematic areas (Education in Prisons, Food & Nutrition, Mental Health,) and support for the Trust’s ‘sister’ charity, the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust (FCFCT). (More information about the FCFCT’s principal objectives and activities is available in its accounts). The Trust also gives to several charitable organisations associated with the City of London and to affiliated military regiments for welfare. Occasional small (under £5k) donations are also made, generally for appeals of a time-sensitive nature or where there is a Company connection.
The Trustees approve the Trust’s overall strategic direction, annual business plan and budget, which they review annually. The delivery of the Trust’s activities, including the approval of grants of up to £50k (or £150k over three years), is delegated to the Philanthropy & Grants Committee, which is made up of Fishmongers’ Company members with relevant skills and expertise.
Through its support for Education, the Trust aims to create life opportunity, enabling young people to develop the skills and abilities to reach their potential. The Trust looks to ensure its funding makes the greatest possible difference and therefore focuses its support on disadvantaged students. The Trust funds bursaries at selected schools and higher education institutions where the Fishmongers’ Company has established links. As part of the Trust’s funding for higher education, some core funding and support for widening access and outreach activity is also provided.
In 2018, the Trust embarked on a 10-year strategy which included awarding three-year grants, subject to annual review, in the focus areas of Mental Health, Education in Prisons and Food & Nutrition. Funding in each area is often underpinned by educational enrichment and most of the grants also benefit people experiencing poverty or disadvantage. A review of the Trust’s activities will take place in 2026, informing a new strategic plan to be agreed by the Trustees for 2027/28. In 2025, the Philanthropy & Grants Committee widened the previous focus area of Education in Prisons to include resettlement activity with ex-offenders in the community.
GRANT-MAKING POLICY
The Trust accepts grant applications for awards of up to £50k, but more typically c.£20-30k per year, payable for up to 3 years for activities relating to one of the three focus areas – Food & Nutrition, Mental Health, and Education in Prisons and Resettlement Support.
Applications are typically considered 3 times per year in March, June and October; they must:
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Fit clearly within one, or more, of the stated fields;
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Be from a registered Charity, social enterprise or Community Interest Company;
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Clearly identify key objectives and planned outcomes;
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Be made by the organisation delivering the activity, service or output (i.e. not by a third party);
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Be from organisations with an annual income of between £100k and £5m; and
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Request funding for a specific project or purpose, although contributions to core costs as part of this can be considered.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
GRANT-MAKING POLICY (continued)
For Food & Nutrition and Mental Health grants, the Trust’s focus is on the City of London, the City of Westminster and the boroughs of Camden, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, and Newham. Grants to support Education in Prisons and Resettlement Support are provided to charitable organisations working both in and outside London.
Grant applications are assessed on a number of factors, for example, the evidence given for the need for the activity, the potential for impact, the potential for collaboration (to avoid duplication) and how well an organisation is positioned to deliver the work. The Trust does not seek to be the sole funder of any charity and grants will usually only be awarded where there is other financial support in place to ensure the recipient’s financial viability. The Executive team shortlists the applications and conducts further due diligence on the applicant charity itself, its governance, staffing, and financial stability and budgeting, before submitting assessment reports to the Philanthropy & Grants Committee along with the original applications for consideration.
Where multi-year grants are awarded, release of each instalment of funding is contingent upon the receipt of reports, including financial accounts, demonstrating satisfactory progress against the objectives of the project.
SOCIAL INVESTMENT POLICY
The Trustees do not actively seek to make social investments but consider social investment requests on a case-bycase basis as an alternative to grant-making where potential beneficiaries require longer term equity or debt finance to meet their objectives.
In 2012/13 the Trust invested £100k in 2[nd] Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares in the New Model School Company Ltd (NMS), a non-charitable company which provides low-cost private primary education in London. The investment contributed to the Trust’s aim to advance education by strengthening NMS’s balance sheet, allowing it to increase its own investment in providing high quality, low-cost education. In 2020, the Trust accepted a gift of £100k of Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares and as a result now holds 39.8% of voting rights meaning that NMS is now classified as an Associate of the Trust. Safeguards exist to prevent the invested funds being used for noncharitable purposes or excessive private benefit.
FUNDRAISING DISCLOSURE
Members of the Livery and Freedom of the Corporate Trustee, the Fishmongers’ Company, have always been encouraged to support the work of its associated charities, either by regular donations or by giving their time, energy and expertise. In March 2025, the Company wrote to the Members of the Livery asking that all members who were not already doing so contribute to its charitable work, with a suggested minimum donation of £120 pa to the Trust or the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust. The aim was universal participation. This initiative has been positively received with the majority of Members of the Livery now making a financial contribution.
The Trust does not engage in fundraising to the general public, nor work with professional fundraisers or commercial participators. Consequently, the Trustees have not regarded it as necessary to subscribe to any voluntary fundraising standards.
PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Trustees continue to have regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in setting their grant making policies and future plans and are satisfied that the grants that have been made provide public benefit to the community.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Historically the Trust has been reliant upon annual donations from the Fishmongers’ Company. In 2000 and 2001 the Company endowed the Trust with around £12m, which has now grown to the extent that the Trust is financially independent of the Company and its principal source of funding is from its own investments.
In 2025, the Trust received donations of £292k (2024: £224k) as well as investment income of £1,043k (2024: £1,052k). During the year, the Trust expended £3,369k (2024: £2,527k) in charitable donations and grants. Of this sum, £754k (2024: £702k) was given in educational grants, £245k (2024: £230k) was donated to education in prisons, £1,699k (2024: £942k) in fishery grants, £342k (2024: £308k) in health and wellbeing grants, £271k (2024: £284k) in grants related to food and nutrition, and £58k (2024: £62k) in grants for military welfare and small civic donations.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Achievements and Performance
----- Start of picture text -----
Organisations
Awards by Area 2025 £000 %
supported
Fisheries 1,699 50 9
Education 754 22 15
Mental Health & Wellbeing 342 10 15
Food & Nutrition 271 8 12
Education in Prisons 245 7 8
Military and Civic 58 2 21
Total 3,369 100 80
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2025 saw an increase in charitable grants expenditure compared to the previous year, with £3,369k (2024: £2,527k) awarded to 80 educational institutions, charitable organisations and military affiliates.
Fish & Fisheries
An unrestricted grant of £1,625k (2025: £871k) was made to the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust (FCFCT) to support the charity in its activities, including the advancement of education on matters related to fish and fisheries and the conservation of natural habitats and environment to support healthy fish stocks. Further detailed information about the achievements and performance of the FCFCT this year is available in its accounts. Grants were also made from the Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust to several fish & fisheries programmes using restricted funds originating from Fishmongers’ Company Members’ donations. A grant to the Seafarers’ Charity funded research to advance glucose monitoring for insulin-dependent diabetic fishermen aimed at enhancing their safety at sea. North East Lincolnshire Council received £10k towards a new gallery space at the Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, which will enable visitors to learn about the historic port’s development in an engaging, interactive display.
Education
Grant making for Education increased in 2025 as the Trust continued to prioritise widening educational opportunities for children and young people through bursaries, scholarships and core funding. A total of £754k was awarded to 15 schools, higher education institutions and charities advancing education and life chances for young people.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
REVIEW OF THE YEAR (continued)
Education (continued)
Five schools with established links to the Trust received support for educational awards: Gresham’s School (via the Gresham’s Foundation) in Norfolk, Faraday and Maple Walk Prep Schools in London, Ballykelly Primary School in Northern Ireland, and Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex. Additional bursaries were awarded at Faraday and Maple Walk—both part of the New Model School Company Ltd—to enable more children to benefit from the school’s ambitious knowledge-based curriculum. In 2025, 13 children from low-income households received substantial bursaries towards school fees with the Trust's support.
A grant to the Gresham’s Foundation funded seven means-tested bursaries, each covering between 76% and 100% of senior school fees. The school reports excellent outcomes among bursary recipients this year, with young people achieving academically and fully engaging in the school’s rich co-curricular offer in sport, music and drama.
The partnership with Ballykelly Primary School and another donor, aimed at raising attainment and aspiration, entered its second year. Founded by the Corporate Trustee in 1828, the school serves a rural community with higher-thanaverage levels of disadvantage. A grant from the Trust is helping to narrow the development gap through funding for a subsidised after-school programme, targeted maths and literacy support, and increased opportunities for cultural education. Progress to date includes evidence of accelerated learning among children receiving additional support and the establishment of a new school choir.
The Trust also maintained its commitment to the arts in higher education, continuing funding for bursaries and scholarships at several of the UK’s leading music conservatoires and drama schools. These awards help provide financial stability for talented young people pursuing creative careers regardless of their family circumstances. In 2025, grants supported 18 students studying music, art and the performing arts. Initiatives providing inclusive and highquality arts education for children and young people also received funding. The Royal College of Music was awarded a grant for the RCM Sparks Programme, which offers over 3,000 children a live music experience each year through community and school workshops and concerts. London-based World Heart Beat Music Academy, a new grant holder in 2025, is using Trust funding to award bursaries for music tuition to 70 young people aged 8–18 from low-income households.
The Trust continued its support for City & Guilds of London Art School’s outreach programme, part of a wider grant to assist the school in achieving its strategic aims. By contributing to the costs of the Learning and Participation department, the Trust helped the school deliver its National Saturday Club for 13–16-year-olds and the Tutors into Schools programme. Collectively, these initiatives have engaged more than 1,000 local young people in creative pathways, fostering excellence and inspiring the next generation of practitioners in art, design, craft and conservation.
Major Grants – Food & Nutrition, Mental Health, Education in Prisons and Resettlement Support
In 2025, many charities continued to face increased costs, reduced funding and high demand. The Trust aimed to be responsive to the needs of charities and the individuals who they help. By providing Major Grants funding for three years in principle, subject to annual review, the Trust endeavours to support partner organisations’ sustainability.
Across the Trust’s Major Grants programme supporting Food & Nutrition, Mental Health and Education in Prisons, 10 new multi-year awards (£15k+ a year) were made in 2025 and 25 other charitable organisations received further grant instalments towards ongoing projects.
£271k was awarded to 12 charities delivering activities aligned with the Trust’s philanthropic focus on Food & Nutrition. All funded projects in this area aim to provide education and life opportunities, alleviate poverty and disadvantage, or achieve a combination of these goals.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
REVIEW OF THE YEAR (continued)
Major Grants – Food & Nutrition, Mental Health, Education in Prisons and Resettlement Support (continued)
Funding from the Trust enabled the charity Share Community to offer additional spaces on its catering training programme for adults with learning disabilities and autism, as well as to broaden the range of training provided. In 2025, more than 60 adults took part in the programme, which teaches cooking, customer service and barista skills, and has a focus on healthy eating. As a result, students were better equipped to work safely in a kitchen and reported making healthier choices. Six students completed paid work experience placements at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in 2025, and 11 work-ready students are now receiving one-to-one employment support.
£342k was distributed to 15 charities working to improve people’s mental health and wellbeing. Although the Trust supported a wide range of activities in this area, all grants shared the overarching aim of helping people to live healthy and fulfilled lives. Six organisations focused on suicide prevention or supporting those bereaved by suicide received funding. The Listening Place, which provides face-to-face support for adults who feel that life is no longer worth living, used its grant to strengthen volunteer recruitment and management—critical functions for this volunteer-led service. In 2025, the charity exceeded its targets for recruiting, training and retaining volunteers, enabling it to expand its service and offer a record number of appointments.
Alongside suicide prevention, the Trust also funded charities supporting people vulnerable to poor mental health due to challenging life events, such as physical illness or disability. The Wren Project received a grant to provide mental health support for young people living in distress with autoimmune disease. According to the charity’s latest data, 97% of surveyed young people felt more hopeful about the future after accessing its support, and 89% reported increased resilience.
£245k supported the work of 12 charities providing educational opportunities for people in prison and resettlement support for those leaving custody. Engaging in education while in prison increases the chances that individuals can rebuild their lives on release, reducing the risk of reoffending. The voluntary sector plays an important role by offering a wide range of learning opportunities and through-the-gate support.
A grant to the Shannon Trust is helping to fund the charity’s Turning Pages literacy programme and Count Me In numeracy programme, which are delivered through peer-led support in prisons. These programmes directly address the low levels of literacy and numeracy among the prison population improving prisoners’ chances of securing employment on release. In 2025, more than 11,000 learners took part in Shannon Trust programmes—an increase on the previous year.
Beating Time also received funding for its Inside Job programme, which trains people in prison to support others approaching release to prepare for employment. Participants help their peers to prepare strong CVs and disclosure letters and to develop a greater awareness of their employability. The charity also brings employers into prisons to run ‘interview surgeries’, and its employment consultants match people leaving custody with job opportunities. In 2025, the charity supported over 260 people into work.
Performance against objectives
The Philanthropy & Grants Committee regularly monitors funded activity. Annual reports are supplied by the Trust’s principal education partners and update letters are received from supported students. Recipients of Major Grants submit an annual report and accounts, a prerequisite for the release of a subsequent year’s funding, as well as a final report at the end of the grant term. The Committee looks to see whether objectives have been met and to understand how the activity has made a positive difference to the lives of beneficiaries. The Trust is committed to learning from its grant making, and to a relational approach with grantees where challenges can be openly discussed. The Trust will continue to develop its funding practices in response to its learnings and wider sector developments.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
REVIEW OF THE YEAR (continued)
Providing Added Value
In line with its belief that ‘Gifts and good intentions are not enough, we must give of ourselves, our energy and time, experience and skills…’ , the Fishmongers’ Company has provided in-kind donations to further the impact of the Trust’s funding and to give additional support to beneficiaries. In 2025, three charities supported by the Trust received inkind support to hold successful fundraising events at Fishmongers’ Hall. Rooms have also been provided at no cost to Trust beneficiaries for occasional meetings.
A number of the Company’s members give their time in support of the Trust’s beneficiaries, particularly in the area of Education. The Company contributes five governors to Gresham’s School and several members have voluntary liaison roles with other educational institutions or are trustees of charities. Other members have significant voluntary roles within the charities supported by the Trust. The Company plans to identify more opportunities for members to use their skills and expertise to further add value to the Trust’s activities.
INVESTMENT REVIEW
The Trust’s Statement of Investment Principles and Policy states that its investment objective is:
To maintain its assets in real terms from generation to generation, while spending at a sustainable level. The Charity’s assets will therefore tend to be invested in real assets (property and equities) which typically have an underlying income. The Charity would like to spend a growing stream of income and desires a higher current return than the MSCI World without undue risk to the future growth of that income or sacrifice of total return.
The Charity regards equities as a global asset class yet has sterling needs and does not wish to pay unnecessary tax and fees. Sterling income is a welcome match against short term needs, but not a permanent requirement.
The Charity has an ethical constraint, which is that it expects that its investment managers ensure that there is good or improving corporate governance at the companies in which it invests, and it seeks to understand how the managers link this responsibility to shareholder returns. The Charity will not second guess the manager but impress on them the importance of this responsibility.
As highlighted in last year’s financial statements, in early 2025 the Trustees decided to divest the Trust’s holding in the Trojan Income Fund (£8.7m) and reduce its exposure to CCLA (by £7.5m), moving the proceeds into a new mandate with W1M Wealth Management Ltd (formerly Waverton Asset Management Ltd). Since inception in April 2025, the new holding has returned a very satisfactory 17.8%, ahead of its composite Growth Index benchmark return of 15.7%. CCLA COIF endured another very difficult year returning -1.9% in the twelve months to December 2025, vindicating the decision to reduce exposure. While CCLA’s long-term performance remains reasonable, it now lags CPI over a fiveyear window. The Trustees met with representatives from CCLA during the year and are continuing to monitor the situation closely. Should a decision be made to exit, it would be based not upon past performance but whether the Trustees believe that CCLA is likely to recover its form in the future. The Trust continues to hold a small satellite holding in Chelverton UK Equity Income Fund, primarily owing to the attractive 6% yield. The holding returned 5.4% in the year.
Investment income in 2025 was £1,043k (2024: £1,052k) (a yield of 3.10% measured against the opening valuation). This was a small decrease on the previous year’s £1,051k, primarily as a result of having sold assets during the year rather than because of a fall in underlying income. Overall, the investment portfolio gained about 5.5% during the year (against the opening valuation) with the strong W1M return dragged down by CCLA’s underperformance. The total return was therefore c. 8.6%, ahead of domestic inflation and the return on cash lagging well behind the return on UK equities of 9%, compared to the FTSE 100 return of 21%.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 (continued)
RESERVES POLICY
The Trust’s Reserves Policy states that:
The balance on the Charity’s general (i.e., unrestricted, undesignated) funds should be set at 15% ±2% of anticipated income for the year.
The policy reflects the Trustees’ desire to avoid unplanned investment sales to fund current cashflow needs. However, the Trust is currently in the middle of a programme to sell down part of its investments to fund current expenditure. £6.7m of assets were sold between 2020 and 2025 and a further £7.8m of sales are planned by the end of the decade. At the end of the year, the Trust held total funds of £33,915k (2024: £34,784k) of which £3,715k (2024: £3,912k) were restricted and not available for the general purposes of the Trust; £27,343k (2024: £30,080k) were expendable endowment and £2,857k (2024: £792k) were unrestricted.
Included within unrestricted funds were £243k (2024: £187k) of designated funds. £241k (2024: £178k) of this total is the Livery Fund. This represents the current balance available out of the money raised from an appeal to the Livery of the Fishmongers’ Company. The Trustees envisage spending these funds on specific projects in the next 1 to 3 years.
The Trust holds £200k of investments in The New Model School Company Ltd (NMS) within unrestricted funds. These investments are not readily realisable, although the Trustees expect to be able to redeem them at par within the next 5 years. The Trustees have reviewed the financial position of NMS and have concluded there is no reason to impair the investment.
Total reserves available after deducting designated funds and investments in associates from unrestricted funds are £2,414k (2024: £405k). This compares to a target range under the Reserves Policy of £150k-£170k. The surplus is due to the sale of £4,250k of expendable endowment investments during 2025 (2024: £925k), the proceeds of which have been transferred to unrestricted funds, the unspent balance of which is intended to be applied towards 2026’s budgeted expenditure and future commitments.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Trust is exposed. The most significant risk is assessed to be disunity with the Corporate Trustee leading to a significant reduction in income and other resources. This is addressed by keeping the strategic objectives of the Trust aligned with the interests of the Corporate Trustee and carefully handling the interface between the Trust and the Corporate Trustee. The Trustees also attach high importance to addressing the risk of poor or weak governance and a number of policies and procedures have been reviewed and improved in recent years as part of a programme of continuous improvement. As the Trust currently spends all of its investment income and has embarked on a program of spending capital, the major financial risk derives from market volatility and the potential knock-on effect on the Trust’s income if markets struggle. As noted above, the Trustees restructured the Trust’s investments during the year. Additionally, the Trust’s policy is to fund specific projects rather than the core costs of other organisations and to ensure a balance of single-year and multi-year projects. Taken together, these should provide the flexibility to temporarily reduce the level of grants awarded if required without damaging existing projects.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
The Trust completed a strategic review of its activities and adopted the current set of grant guidelines in 2017. In 2026, it will begin a review of its activities since 2017 with a view to informing a new strategic plan to be agreed by the Trustees for 2027/28.
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The Fishmongers, Company's Charitable Trust Trustees, Report for the year ended 31 December 2025 Icontinuedl STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United KinEdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charitie5 in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the income and expenditure of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to.. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently observe the methods and principles in 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 IFRS 1021 make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements 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 proper accounting records that 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 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. Charles Spicer Esq On behalf of the Trustees 19 March 2026
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of the Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust (‘the Charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the Charity’s affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011,
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual report and financial statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
14 | P a g e
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees (continued)
Other information (continued)
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the information given in the Trustees’ Report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of Trustees
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees (continued)
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued)
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
-
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities, and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
-
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the Charity through discussions with those charged with governance and other management, and from our knowledge and experience of the sector;
-
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the Charity, including the Charities Act 2011 and the financial reporting framework referred to above; and
-
we understood how the Charity is complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks by making enquiries of management and those responsible for legal and compliance procedures and through our review of the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance.
We assessed the susceptibility of the Charity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
-
making enquiries of management as to their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
-
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
-
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected financial relationships;
-
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
-
performed substantive testing of expenditure including testing the authorisation thereof; and
-
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
-
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; and
-
enquiring of those charged with governance and management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Independent auditor’s report to the Trustees (continued)
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Buzzacott Audit LLP 130 Wood Street London Statutory Auditor EC2V 6DL
Date: 20 March 2026
Buzzacott Audit LLP is eligible to act as an auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 December 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Restricted Expendable Total |
Unrestricted Restricted Expendable Total |
|||
| Endowment Funds |
Endowment Funds |
|||
| Note | £000 £000 £000 £000 |
£000 £000 £000 £000 |
||
| Income from | ||||
| Investments | 2 | 923 120 - 1,043 |
953 99 - 1,052 |
|
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 273 19 - 292 |
93 131 - 224 |
|
| Sale of small items | 1 - - 1 |
- - - - |
||
| Total income | 1,197 139 - 1,336 |
1,046 230 - 1,276 |
||
| Expenditure on | ||||
| Raising funds | - 25 123 148 |
- 26 227 252 |
||
| Charitable activities | ||||
| Grants | 4 | 3,201 168 - 3,369 |
2,210 317 - 2,527 |
|
| Grant related support costs | 5 | 181 6 - 187 |
165 - - 165 |
|
| Total Charitable activities | 3,382 174 - 3,556 |
2,375 317 - 2,692 |
||
| Total expenditure | 3,382 199 123 3,704 |
2,375 343 227 2,945 |
||
| Net (expenditure) before investment gains | (2,185) (60) (123) (2,368) |
(1,329) (113) (227) (1,669) |
||
| Netgains on investments | 7 | - (136) 1,636 1,500 |
- 108 1,013 1,121 |
|
| Net (expenditure)/income | (2,185) (197) 1,513 (869) |
(1,329) (5) 786 (548) |
||
| Transfer between funds | 13 | 4,250 - (4,250) - |
925 - (925) - |
|
| Net movement in funds | 2,065 (197) (2,737) (869) |
(404) (5) (139) (548) |
||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 792 3,912 30,080 34,784 |
1,196 3,917 30,219 35,332 |
||
| Total funds carried forward | 2,857 3,715 27,343 33,915 |
792 3,912 30,080 34,784 |
18 | P a g e
The Fishmonger5' Companvs Charitable Trust Balance sheet as at 31 December 2025 2025 Expendable Endowment 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Expendable Endowment Total Funds £000 Funds Note £000 £0 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Investments 3,423 27.343 30,766 200 3,632 30.080 33,712 200 Investment in associate 200 200 Total fixed assets Current assets 200 3.423 27,343 30,966 200 3,632 30,080 33.912 Debtors and prepayments Cash at bank and in hand 2,715 2,717 292 3,007 3,009 603 321 924 Total current assets 292 606 321 927 Llabilities Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year io 61 61 15 40 55 Net current assets 2.656 292 2,948 33,915 592 280 872 Net assets 2,857 3,715 27,343 792 3,912 30,080 34.784 The funds of the charity Unrestricted funds Restricted funds li 2,857 2,857 3,715 27,343 33.915 792 792 12 3,715 3,912 3,912 30,080 34.784 Expendable endowment funds Total charity funds 13 27,343 27,343 30,080 30,080 2,857 3.715 792 3,912 The notes on pages 21 to 35 form part of these financial statements. Charles Spicer Esq On behalf of the Trustees 19 March 2026
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 December 2025
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | £000 |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |
| Net cash used in operating activities (3,793) |
(2,426) |
| Cash flows from investing activities | |
| Dividends, interest and rents from investments 1,043 |
1,051 |
| Proceeds from the sale of investments 19,777 |
926 |
| Purchase of investments (14,944) |
(76) |
| Net cash provided by investing activities 5,876 |
1,901 |
| Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 2,083 |
(525) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 924 |
1,449 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 3,007 |
924 |
| Reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow from operating activities | |
| Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the SOFA) (869) |
(549) |
| Adjustments for: | |
| Gains on investments (1,888) |
(837) |
| Dividends, interest and rents from investments (1,043) |
(1,051) |
| Decrease in debtors 1 |
9 |
| Increase in creditors 6 |
2 |
| Net cash used in operating activities (3,793) |
(2,426) |
| Analysis of cash and cash equivalents | |
| Cash at bank and in hand 3,007 |
924 |
| Total cash and cash equivalents 3,007 |
924 |
| Split between: | |
| Restricted Funds 292 |
321 |
| Unrestricted Funds 2,715 |
603 |
| Expendable Endowment Funds - |
- |
| Analysis of changes in net debt Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 924 Cashflows 2,083 |
() |
| 1,449 | |
| (525) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 3,007 |
924 |
The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:
Basis of Preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain fixed asset investments, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) 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 (FRS 102).
The Charity constitutes a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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: 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) rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
The functional currency is GBP £000s.
Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
The Trustees have considered the Trust’s forecast income and expenditure and cashflow for the next 12 months and are satisfied that the Trust is a going concern and have prepared these financial statements on that basis.
Income
Donation income is recognised when the Trust has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. Investment Income, including interest, is recognised when receivable.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the Charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the Charity which the Trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the Trust’s work. Expendable Endowment Funds are funds which the Trustees intend to hold and invest on a long-term basis for the purpose of generating investment income, but on which there is no formal restriction on the disposal of capital. From time to time the Trustees may elect to spend Expendable Endowment Funds in furtherance of the Charity's objectives. Income arising from Expendable Endowment investments accrues to Unrestricted Income.
Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following headings:
-
Investment Management Fees in Expenditure on Raising Funds represent the Trust’s share of fees charged to collective investments schemes in which it has holdings where these are clearly identifiable.
-
Expenditure on Charitable Activities includes both grants awarded and their associated support costs. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which expenditure was incurred.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Allocation of support costs
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the Trust but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include the Trust’s share of employment costs for staff jointly employed by the Fishmongers’ Company and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust; administration expenses, and audit fees. Support costs have been wholly allocated to Charitable Expenditure.
Investments
Investments are stated at market value. Realised and unrealised gains and losses are combined on the Statement of Financial Activities.
Investments in Associates
Investments in Associates are investments in entities where the Trust is able to exercise significant influence that falls short of overall control by virtue of holding more than 20% but less than 50% of total shareholder votes. The Trust’s Investments in Associates are all Programme Related Investments whose primary intention is to further the Trust’s charitable objectives rather than make a financial return. Investments in Associates are included on the Balance Sheet at cost less impairments, which are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities. Impairments arise if information becomes available which indicates that the recoverable value of the Investment has fallen below its cost.
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount due.
Financial instruments
The Trust has only financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value except investments which are stated at market value.
Pensions
The Trust jointly employs staff with the Fishmongers’ Company and Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust. The Fishmongers’ Company meets the obligations of the employers in respect to auto enrolment legislation.
Accounting estimates and judgements
The most significant area of judgement that affects items in the financial statements relates to the recognition of multi-year grant commitments. In respect of the next reporting period the most significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets are the level of investment return and the performance of investment markets.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Restricted funds £000 |
£000 |
| St Peter's Hospital Fund 53 Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Fund 42 Ben Travers Fund 4 EL Beckwith Fund 1 Yarrow Fund for Convalescent Children 19 |
51 |
| 42 | |
| 4 | |
| 1 | |
| 1 | |
| Total Restricted funds 119 Unrestricted funds 924 |
99 |
| 953 | |
| Total investment income 1,043 |
1,052 |
3. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Restricted funds £000 |
£000 |
| Membership Giving Initiative 2 |
12 |
| Ballykelly Fund 12 |
25 |
| Yarrow Fund for Convalescing Children - |
44 |
| Missing Salmon Alliance 5 |
- |
| Donations from The Fishmongers' Company - |
50 |
| Total Restricted funds 19 |
131 |
| Designated funds | |
| Livery Appeal | |
| Donations from the Livery 152 |
83 |
| Low cost education 114 |
3 |
| Other unrestricted funds | |
| Other donations 7 |
7 |
| Total Unrestricted funds 273 |
93 |
| Total donations 292 |
224 |
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4. GRANTS
Grants comprised:
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Educational grants £000 |
£000 |
| The Gresham's Foundation 268 |
268 |
| New Model School Company Ltd 185 |
91 |
| City and Guilds of London Art School 74 |
64 |
| Ballykelly Primary School 38 |
74 |
| UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Scholarships 33 |
33 |
| Lyric Theatre 25 |
25 |
| Royal College of Music 25 |
22 |
| Guildhall School of Music & Drama 20 |
20 |
| Trinity Laban 18 |
17 |
| St Paul's Chorister Trust 15 |
15 |
| Central School of Speech & Drama 15 |
15 |
| World Heart Beat Music Academy 15 |
- |
| Royal Academy of Music 13 |
12 |
| Christ's Hospital 6 |
6 |
| Restore The Music - |
20 |
| London Musical Theatre Orchestra - |
20 |
| Donations below £5k(Education Organisations) 4 |
- |
| Total educationalgrants to organisations 754 |
702 |
Expenditure on educational grants was £754k (2024: £702k) of which £61k was restricted (2024: £183k) and £693k was unrestricted (2024: £519k).
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Prison educational grants £000 |
£000 |
| Beating Time 40 |
30 |
| Prison Radio Association 30 |
30 |
| Fulham Reach Boat Club 30 |
25 |
| Irene Taylor Trust 30 |
30 |
| Switchback 30 |
30 |
| ThinkForwardUK 30 |
- |
| Shannon Trust 30 |
- |
| ARK Resettlement Services 25 |
- |
| Prisoners Education Trust - |
30 |
| The Longford Trust - |
25 |
| The Right Course - |
20 |
| LibertyChoir - |
10 |
| Totalprison educationalgrants to organisations 245 |
230 |
Expenditure on prison educational grants was £245k (2024: £230k) none of which was restricted (2024: all unrestricted).
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4. GRANTS (continued)
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Fisheries grants to organisations £000 |
£000 |
| Fishmongers’ Company Fisheries Charitable Trust 1,625 Cat Zero 25 Seafarers Charity 14 |
871 |
| 20 | |
| - | |
| City and Guilds Foundation 10 |
10 |
| North East Lincolnshire Council 10 Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Missing Salmon Alliance 5 Food Teachers Centre - |
- |
| - | |
| 20 | |
| Cornwall Community Development Limited - |
13 |
| River Woods - Donations below £5k(Fisheries) 10 |
8 |
| - | |
| Total fisheriesgrants 1,699 |
942 |
Expenditure on fisheries grants was £1,699k (2024: £942k), £18k of which was restricted (2024: £71k) and £1,681k unrestricted (2024: £871k).
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Health and wellbeing grants to organisations £000 |
£000 |
| Together for Short Lives (Yarrow Fund) 33 |
- |
| Claremont 30 |
30 |
| The Ascension Trust 30 |
- |
| Helen Bamber Foundation 30 |
- |
| Suicide & Co 30 |
30 |
| Islington Mind 28 |
27 |
| The Wren Project 26 |
- |
| The Listening Place 25 |
25 |
| Interact Stroke Support 25 |
25 |
| Justice & Care 20 |
20 |
| Olly's Future 18 |
22 |
| Central London Samaritans 15 |
15 |
| Consortium for Suicide Prevention 15 |
15 |
| James Place Charity 10 |
20 |
| Community Action Nepal 7 |
- |
| Oasis Hub Waterloo - |
30 |
| Woman's Trust - |
21 |
| Room to Heal - |
15 |
| Thames Skills Academy - |
13 |
| Total health and wellbeing grants 342 |
308 |
Expenditure on health and wellbeing grants was £342k (2024: £308k), £33k of which was restricted and £309k was unrestricted. (2024: all unrestricted).
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4. GRANTS (continued)
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Food and nutrition grants to organisations £000 |
£000 |
| Manna Society 38 |
33 |
| Share Community 30 |
30 |
| Alexandra Rose 30 |
30 |
| School Food Matters 25 |
24 |
| Beyond Food Foundation 25 |
29 |
| Bow Food Bank 23 |
22 |
| Bromley by Bow Centre 21 |
29 |
| Providence Row 20 |
20 |
| Garden Museum 20 |
- |
| FoodCycle 19 |
20 |
| Hackney School of Food 17 |
- |
| City Harvest 3 |
10 |
| Chefs in Schools - |
36 |
| Total food and nutritiongrants 271 |
283 |
Expenditure on food and nutrition grants was £271k (2024: £283k) of which £18k was restricted (2024: £57k) and £253k was unrestricted (2024: £226k).
| 2025 Military and Civic grants to organisations £000 First Aid Nursing Yeomanry 8 The Lord Mayor's Appeal 6 Brigade of Gurkhas 6 South Norwood Community Kitchen - Donations below £5k(Militaryand Civic Organisations) 38 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| 8 | |
| 6 | |
| 6 | |
| 6 | |
| 36 | |
| Total civicgrants 58 |
62 |
Expenditure on military and civic grants was £58k (2024: £62k) of which £38k was restricted (2024: £5k) and £20k was unrestricted (2024: £57k).
| 2025 £000 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| Total grants 3,369 |
2,527 |
Of the total grants figure of £3,369 (2024: £2,527) £168k were restricted (2024: £317k) and £3,201k unrestricted (2024: £2,210k).
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
4. GRANTS (continued)
In addition to the sums above there are grant commitments of £1,612k payable in 2026 (2025: £1,305k) and another £1,568k payable in 2027 (2025: £1,108k) from multi-year grants awarded previously by the Trust but where payments are conditional upon continued satisfactory performance of the project funded.
5. ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS
| 2025 £000 Grant Making Staff Costs 114 Administration expenses 50 Governance 11 Other expenditure 6 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| Grant | |
| Making | |
| 100 | |
| 50 | |
| 13 | |
| 2 | |
| Total Support Costs 181 |
165 |
The Trust does not engage in activities other than grant making and, accordingly, 100% of Support Costs have been allocated to Grant Making. £6k of Support Costs were restricted, £175 unrestricted (2024: all unrestricted).
Staff Costs comprise the Trust’s share of the employment cost of staff who are also jointly employed by the Fishmongers’ Company and the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust. The payroll is administered by the Fishmongers’ Company and the appropriate proportion of the employment costs of the relevant employees is recharged to the Trust.
Administration Expenses relate to the provision of other administrative support services to the Trust by the Fishmongers’ Company in connection with the operation and implementation of the objectives of the Trust, the management of the Trust’s assets and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Governance expenditure includes an audit fee of £11k (2024: £13k).
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
6. ANALYSIS OF STAFF COSTS
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | £000 |
| Salaries and wages 86 |
75 |
| Social security costs 9 |
8 |
| Pension costs 19 |
17 |
| Total Staff Costs 114 |
100 |
There were no employees (2024: none) for whom the Trust’s share of employee benefits exceeded £60k.
Staff Costs includes £114k (2024: £100k) in respect of the proportion of the remuneration (including NI and Pension Contributions) of Trust’s Key Management Personnel which was recharged from the Fishmongers’ Company.
The proportion of staff costs that were recharged to the Trust represent approximately 2 people (2024: 1.9).
7. INVESTMENTS
| 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | £000 |
| Market value at 1 January 33,711 |
33,725 |
| Purchases at market value 14,944 |
44 |
| Sales proceeds (19,777) |
(926) |
| Realised and unrealised gains 1,551 |
1,121 |
| Investment management fees (171) |
(252) |
| Closing 30,258 |
33,712 |
| Cash awaiting investment 508 |
- |
| Market value at 31 December 30,766 |
33,712 |
| Consisting of: | |
| Restricted funds 3,423 |
3,632 |
| Expendable endowment funds 27,343 |
30,080 |
| Total funds 30,766 |
33,712 |
Investments in collective investment funds are quoted at their Bid Price at year end.
Investment management fees includes £52k of fees charged by W1M on the Trust’s segregated portfolio with the balance representing the Trust’s notional share of fees charged to its holdings in collective investment funds. They have been calculated by applying the published Ongoing Charges Figure to a simple average of each fund’s value (opening balance plus closing balance divided by two). Investment management fees are deducted from the capital of each of the funds held and the gains and losses shown in the financial statements have therefore been grossed up by the amount of the notional fee.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
8. INVESTMENTS IN ASSOCIATES
In 2012/13 the Trust invested £100k of 2[nd] Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares in the New Model School Company Ltd (NMS), a non-charitable company which provides low-cost private primary education in London. Prior to making the investment, the Trustees considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on investment in the equity capital of non-charitable companies in CC14 and sought independent legal advice. The Trustees consider that the investment furthers the Trust’s aims in respect of the advancement of education and are satisfied that safeguards exist to prevent the funds being used for non-charitable purposes or excessive private benefit. In particular, the board of the New Model School have entered into a binding commitment to redeem the shares at the request of the Trustees in the following circumstances:
-
the Trustees decide that the company’s activities no longer correspond with its own charitable purposes; and/or
-
the company decides to pay any dividend which, in the opinion of the Trustees could be considered to provide excessive and/or unreasonable private benefit to other investors.
In 2021, the Trust accepted a gift of £100k of Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares in NMS, taking its total holding in NMS to £200k. The non-2nd share class does not benefit from the protections stated above in relation to the original investment, however the Trust now holds 39.9% of total share capital (and 39.8% of total voting rights) and the Trustees are satisfied that the significant influence this gives the Trust is a sufficient safeguard.
The Trustees have reviewed the financial forecasts for the company and consider that it remains appropriate to value the investments at cost.
If the Trust prepared consolidated accounts and used the Equity Method, then its share of NMS’s profit for the yearended 31 December 2025 which would have appeared in these accounts is £40k (2024: £9k) and its share of the company’s net assets at 31 December 2025 is £370k (2024: £330k).
The New Model School Company Ltd has also benefited from donations from the Trust for educational purposes of £185k (2024: £91k).
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
9. DEBTORS
| 2025 £000 Prepayments and accrued Income 2 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | 3 |
10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| 2025 £000 Grants payable 42 Accruals and deferred income 7 Amounts owing to the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust 1 Amounts owing to the Fishmongers' Company 4 Other creditors 7 |
2024 |
|---|---|
| £000 | |
| 36 | |
| 13 | |
| - | |
| - | |
| 6 | |
| 61 | 55 |
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
11. MOVEMENT IN UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| 2025 |
|
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 January Income Expenditure Transfer 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 178 181 (118) - 241 9 114 (121) - 2 605 902 (3,143) 4,250 2,614 |
|
| Designated funds | |
| Livery Fund | |
| Low Cost Education | |
| Income Reserve | |
| 792 1,197 (3,382) 4,250 2,857 |
|
| 2024 |
|
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 January Income Expenditure Transfer 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 100 112 (34) - 178 34 3 (28) - 9 1,062 931 (2,313) 925 605 |
|
| Designated funds | |
| Livery Fund | |
| Low Cost Education | |
| Income Reserve | |
| 1,196 1,046 (2,375) 925 792 |
|
Livery Fund
In 2010 an appeal was launched to the Livery of the Fishmongers’ Company. The above Livery Fund represents the balance of funds that the Trustees expect to be available for grant giving in 2025 and beyond.
Low Cost Education Fund
The Low Cost Education Fund represents funds to be applied towards educational purposes and bursaries at the New Model School Company Ltd.
Income Reserve
The Income Reserve represents the balance of the Trust’s undesignated unrestricted funds and comprises the historic excess of unrestricted income over expenditure (including future commitments). It therefore includes any excess investment income above the figure designated as being available for current usage under the Trust’s Total Return investment policy. During 2025 the Trustees approved a transfer of £4,250k from expendable endowment funds to unrestricted funds, representing the proceeds from the sale of investments which are intended to be used to fund current expenditure.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
12. MOVEMENT IN RESTRICTED FUNDS
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 January Income Expenditure Gains/(Losses) 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 34 - - - 34 43 2 (45) - - 1,993 53 (29) (75) 1,942 1,621 42 (44) (59) 1,560 168 4 (5) (6) 161 - 5 (5) - - 8 1 (1) (1) 7 |
|
| Doggett's Legacy | |
| Principal Legacy and Interest | |
| Membership Giving Initiative | |
| St Peter's Hospital Fund | |
| Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Fund | |
| Ben Travers Fund | |
| Missing Salmon Alliance | |
| EL Beckwith Fund | |
| Ballykelly Fund | 1 13 (38) - (24) |
| Yarrow Fund for Convalescent Children | 44 19 (33) 5 35 |
| 3,912 139 (200) (136) 3,715 |
|
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 January Income Expenditure Gains/(Losses) 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 35 - - - 35 198 12 (168) - 42 1,936 51 (51) 58 1,994 1,576 42 (44) 46 1,620 165 4 (5) 5 169 7 1 (1) 1 8 - 75 (74) - 1 - 45 - (2) 43 |
|
| Doggett's Legacy | |
| Principal Legacy and Interest | |
| Membership Giving Initiative | |
| St Peter's Hospital Fund | |
| Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Fund | |
| Ben Travers Fund | |
| EL Beckwith Fund | |
| Ballykelly Fund | |
| Yarrow Fund for Convalescent Children | |
| 3,917 230 (343) 108 3,912 |
|
The Doggett’s Legacy represents a bequest from Beatrice Maud Odell used to provide financial assistance to the Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race. This assistance may take the form of funding running costs, such as training expenditure, or capital items, such as boat renewal.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
12. MOVEMENT IN RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
In October 2021, the Fishmongers’ Company launched a new Membership Giving Initiative . In recognition of its 750[th] year as a Company governed by Royal Charter, and to encourage a sense of contribution by all, the Company pledged to match and double the value of every donation made by its membership to the Trust until October 2023 (capped at £0.5m). The Trustees have chosen to direct the majority of donations resulting from the initiative to The Beyond Food Foundation, CatZero and Chefs in Schools.
The St Peter’s Hospital Fund represents the proceeds from the sale of St Peter’s Hospital in the 1920s and is for the prevention and relief of poverty.
The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Fund provides bursaries to students studying medicine at University College London.
The Ben Travers Fund is for a drama scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The Missing Salmon Alliance is a group of conservation-focused organisations combining expertise, coordinating activities and advocating effective management solutions to save wild Atlantic salmon from extinction.
The EL Beckwith Fund is for a music scholarship at the Royal College of Music and a sculpture scholarship at the City and Guilds of London Art School.
The Ballykelly Fund comprises restricted donations for the advancement of education at Ballykelly School, Northern Ireland .
The Yarrow Fund for Convalescent Children represents the residual investments and cash that were gifted to the Trust from the dissolved charity of the same name. In line with the objects of that charity, the funds are restricted for the benefit of children in need of assistance who are or who have been patients in any convalescent home or hospital in England or Wales and the families of such children. In 2025, a donation was made from the fund to the charity Together for Short Lives.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
13. MOVEMENT IN EXPENDABLE ENDOWMENT FUNDS
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 January Expenditure Gains/(Losses) Transfer 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 555 (4) (22) - 529 540 (4) (20) - 516 28,985 (115) 1,678 (4,250) 26,298 |
|
| Livery Fund: | |
| Education and General | |
| Fish and Fisheries | |
| Other Endowment Funds | |
| 30,080 (123) 1,636 (4,250) 27,343 |
|
| 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Balance Balance 1 JanuaryExpenditure Gains Transfer 31 December £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 543 (4) 16 - 555 529 (4) 16 - 541 29,147 (219) 981 (925) 28,984 |
|
| Livery Fund: | |
| Education and General | |
| Fish and Fisheries | |
| Other Endowment Funds | |
| 30,219 (227) 1,013 (925) 30,080 |
|
Livery Fund
In 2010 an appeal was launched to the Livery of the Fishmongers’ Company. Some donors indicated a preference for their gifts to be used for Fishery or Educational projects, although the Trustees retained ultimate discretion over all expenditure. Furthermore, some donors indicated a preference for their donations to be used for immediate charitable purposes or to form part of the Trust’s expendable endowment. The above balance represents all such donations over £2.5k where a preference to form part of expendable endowments or where no preference was indicated and includes subsequent investment gains.
Other Endowment Funds
Other endowment funds are mainly derived from donations from the Corporate Trustee. During 2025 the Trustees approved a transfer of £4,250k from expendable endowment funds to unrestricted funds, representing the proceeds from the sale of investments which are intended to be used to fund current expenditure.
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The Fishmongers’ Company’s Charitable Trust
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
14. CONNECTED CHARITIES AND RELATED PARTIES
The Trust shares common Trustees with the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust. Grants made to the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust are shown in Note 4.
Payment of administration charges to the Fishmongers’ Company were £50k (2024: £50k).
During the year, the Trust donated £185k (2024: £91k) to the New Model School Company Ltd (NMS) to fund bursaries at its schools. The Trust also holds £100k of 2[nd] Non-Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares and £100k of NonCumulative Redeemable Preference Shares in NMS. These shares carry one vote for each ten held and the total holding represents 39.9% of issued share capital and 39.8% of voting rights.
During the year, the Trust donated £268k (2024: £268k) to the Gresham’s Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee whose object is the advancement and promotion of charitable purposes connected with Gresham’s School. The Corporate Trustee is one of three members of the company (the others being Gresham’s School and the Old Greshamian Club), each of which has the right to appoint up to 3 trustees (out of a maximum of 9). During the year, and at the date of this report, Member of Court Andrew Martin Smith Esq was a trustee. Additionally, Member of Court and Warden Bill Mills Esq was a governor of the Gresham’s School during the year and at the date of this report. The Prime Warden of the Corporate Trustee serves as an ex officio governor and the Corporate Trustee has the power to nominate up to seven governors in total.
Total donations from Court members/Trustees were £52k.
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