Charity registration number 267172
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 3 |
| Statement of Trustees' responsibilities | 4 |
| Independent auditor's report | 5 - 7 |
| Statement of financial activities | 8 |
| Statement of financial position | 9 |
| Statement of cash flows | 10 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 11 - 21 |
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Trustees | Mr R.A. Kreitman |
|---|---|
| Mrs P.M. Kreitman | |
| Mr E.N.W. Brown | |
| Charity number | 267172 |
| Auditor | TC Group |
| 5th Floor | |
| 3 Dorset Rise | |
| London | |
| EC4Y 8EN | |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank Plc |
| 1 Churchill Place | |
| London | |
| EC14 5HP | |
| Investment advisors | Whitley Asset Management Limited |
| 116 Princedale Road | |
| London | |
| W11 4NH | |
| Vermeer Investment Management Limited | |
| 130 Jermyn Street | |
| London | |
| SW1Y 4UR |
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 5 April 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Trust'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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Structure, governance and management
The Balcombe Charitable Trust is a registered charity and was established under a Deed of Settlement dated 27 February 1974. It is governed by this Deed of Settlement and by the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees who served during the year were: Mr R.A. Kreitman Mrs P.M. Kreitman Mr E.N.W. Brown
The statutory power of appointing new or additional Trustees is vested in the settlor, Mr. R.A. Kreitman, during his life. Additional Trustees may be appointed at any time but the total number of the Trustees shall be not more than four.
The Trust's day to day activities are administered by the Trust, and it normally employs one person to provide administrative support. Its Trustees alone are responsible for the consideration and authorisation of the charitable donations made by the Trust.
The Trustees regularly review the major risks which the Trust faces and believe that maintaining the free reserves at the levels stated below, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the face of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational risks which they face and confirm they have established systems to mitigate any significant risks.
Objectives and activities
The Trustees’ short term objectives are to ensure that all grant commitments are met out of investment income. In the long term the Trustees hope to make further grants as cash flow allows.
The Trustees’ grant making policy is to make grants to charities operating in the areas of health and welfare, environment and education. The Trustees assess the need of the recipient charity in terms of available funding and ensure various reporting requirements are put in place to ensure the grants are being used for their intended purpose. The Trustees closely monitor the use of funds by all recipient charities.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust's aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policy for the year.
There have been no changes in the policies adopted by the Trust during the year.
The Trust's objectives are met in such proportion and manner as the board of Trustees shall in their absolute discretion, from time to time, determine.
The Trustees hold the capital and income of the Trust upon trust to pay or apply the whole thereof to or towards or for the benefit or furtherance of such charitable purposes, charitable institutions or charitable foundations as they, from time to time, decide.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
During the year the Trust committed donations to 23 different charitable organisations amounting in aggregate to £806,822. It is the usual policy of the Trustees to only make awards from the accumulated unrestricted fund.
The Trust conducts its own research with regular project visits carried out by the Director of Grants and the Trustees as well as with the support of several independent grant assessors who are contracted according to their fields of experience. In 2023/24 exploratory visits took place both in the UK and Madagascar.
Please note that the Trust makes direct approaches to charities of interest and will not accept or acknowledge any unsolicited applications.
Achievements and performance
The Trust's key financial performance indicator is the return on investments held. In 2023/24 this amounted to 12.18% compared with a negative return of 5.57% in the previous year. The Trustees monitor return on investment closely and discuss strategies with their investment managers as required.
During the year, the Trustees made grant commitments totalling £806, 822.
Grants were awarded to 23 charities, some for multiple projects. Of these, seven formed part of a multi year project. It was the first year of funding from the Trust for three new charities.
There are regular Trustees' meetings, either in person or online. In addition, the Trustees remain in contact outside of these meetings and all respond swiftly to matters raised. Where appropriate, one or more of the Trustees visit projects or they arrange for professional assessors to inspect on their behalf. The Trust also liaises with other funders and funding networks to discuss appropriate needs and support strategies in different areas.
During 2023/24 the Trust continued to partner with many charities with which it already had an association. New or increased support was made to services for refugees and the homeless. The Trust increased its funding of counselling and benefits advice delivered via food banks across the country. This line of charitable investment continued to produce significant returns in terms of access to unclaimed government benefits for those most disadvantaged.
2023/24 was unusual in that no grants were made directly to benefit the environment. However, Trustees were engaged in talks and negotiation with a well known conservation organisation in the anticipation of announcing a major multi year grant for 2024/25.
As previously decided and recorded, no unsolicited proposals were accepted although the Trustees continued to conduct their own research and approach charities with whom they were interested in working.
Financial statements
The Trust is an endowed charity with assets of approximately £42.8 million. The Trust's portfolios of quoted securities are managed by Vermeer Investment Management Limited and Whitley Asset Management Limited. All quoted securities are held on behalf of the Trustees by the appointed custodians of the investment managers in pooled investment accounts. The investment portfolio managed by Whitley Asset Management Limited is under the custodian of Multrees Investor Services Limited and that managed by Vermeer Investment Management Limited is under its own custody. Changes in the Trust's investments during the year are shown in note 14 on page 17.
Whilst the Trustees are not prevented from making grants from the expendable endowment fund, they have consistently awarded grants within the unrestricted income fund and have also built up a surplus over the years. Although some of the grants awarded last for more than one year, the Trustees are confident in being able to meet their financial commitments.
Costs are well controlled and remain relatively stable from year to year. They fall into four main areas:
-
Investment fees
-
Governance — including accountancy and legal fees
-
Office management and support
-
Travel expenses for meetings and project inspections
-
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
Financial review
Details of income and expenditure for the year are shown in the statement of financial activities on page 8.
Incoming resources comprised entirely of investment income receivable of £1,185,744 (2023: £1,156,081), an increase of £29,663 compared to previous year.
Investment management costs in the year totalled £225,529 which is a £23,667 increase from the prior year. Grants payable in the year were £806,822, compared to £877,471 in 2023. Governance costs rose to £96,345 from £76,329 in the prior year mostly due to an increase in staff costs.
Total net (losses)/gains, both realised and unrealised, from the investments held by the Trust amounted to £3,421,791 as compared to a loss of £3,350,875 for the previous year.
The statement of financial position on page 9 shows the financial position of the Trust as at 5 April 2024.
Total assets less liabilities amounted to £42,815,510 which are represented by the accumulated balances on both the expendable endowment and unrestricted income funds. The net assets of the Trust's expendable endowment fund are held to generate sustainable income in order to support the Trust's activities and to meet a proportion of the management and administration costs of the Trust. The net assets of the unrestricted income fund are held in order to meet the ongoing overheads and administrative expenses and also to be applied towards the Trust's charitable objectives.
The Trustees have reviewed the unrestricted reserves of the Trust and consider it prudent that these funds should be maintained and are sufficient to cover the management and administration costs for at least the next three years and its ongoing conditional grant commitments.
There are currently no major commitments and the position together with the level of reserves is regularly reviewed by the Trustees.
The Trustees have the power to invest in such assets as they see fit.
The investment objective is to achieve real returns ahead of inflation.
Plans for the future
The Trustees plan to continue grant-making activities for the foreseeable future.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mrs P.M. Kreitman
Trustee Dated: 5 December 2024
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities 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 Trust and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Trust for that year.
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;
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make judgements and 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
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Balcombe Charitable Trust (the ‘Trust’) for the year ended 5 April 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the statement of financial position, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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:
-
give a true and fair view of the state of the charity’s affairs as at 5 April 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended;
-
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
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 Trust 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 Trust’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 other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 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
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
-
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees' report; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
-
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
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 Trust’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 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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect irregularities, including fraud. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and management.
Our approach was as follows:
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We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the charity and determined that the most significant are those that relate to the reporting framework (FRS 102 as applied in the Charities SORP and the Charities Act 20211) and the relevant legislation in the United Kingdom including employment, environmental and health and safety regulations.
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We understood how the charity is complying with those frameworks by making enquiries of management and seeking representations from those charged with governance. We corroborated our understanding by reviewing supporting documentation including board meeting minutes and correspondence with regulatory bodies.
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Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. Our procedures involved enquiries of management and those charged with governance, review of legal and professional expenses and review of board meeting minutes.
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We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by considering the risk of management override of internal control and by designating revenue recognition as a fraud risk. We performed journal entry testing by specific risk criteria, with a focus on journals indicating large or unusual transactions based on our understanding of the business. We tested completeness of income through substantive tests performed, analytical review procedures and cut off tests on the revenue recognised.
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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.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https:// www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 391 of the Companies Act 2014. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members 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 company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
TC Group 5 December 2024 Statutory Auditor 5th Floor 3 Dorset Rise London EC4Y 8EN
TC Group is eligible for appointment as auditor of the Trust by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
| Unrestricted Endowment funds funds 2024 2024 Notes £ £ Income from: Investments 2 1,185,744 - Expenditure on: Raising funds 3 108,981 157,870 Charitable activities Education 4 80,121 3,056 Environment 4 - - Health and welfare 4 781,776 29,814 Total charitable expenditure 861,897 32,870 Total expenditure 970,878 190,740 Net gains/(losses) on investments 10 - 3,421,791 Net income/(expenditure) 214,866 3,231,051 Other recognised gains and losses: Other (losses)/gains 12 - (117) Net movement in funds 214,866 3,230,934 Reconciliation of funds: Fund balances at 6 April 2023 3,056,119 36,313,591 Fund balances at 5 April 2024 3,270,985 39,544,525 |
Total Unrestricted Endowment funds funds 2024 2023 2023 £ £ £ 1,185,744 1,156,081 - 266,851 98,686 141,558 83,177 101,334 3,558 - 52,296 1,836 811,590 767,815 26,961 894,767 921,445 32,355 1,161,618 1,020,131 173,913 3,421,791 - (3,350,875) 3,445,917 135,950 (3,524,788) (117) - 17,270 3,445,800 135,950 (3,507,518) 39,369,710 2,920,169 39,821,109 42,815,510 3,056,119 36,313,591 |
Total 2023 £ 1,156,081 240,244 104,892 54,132 794,776 953,800 1,194,044 (3,350,875) (3,388,838) 17,270 (3,371,568) 42,741,278 39,369,710 |
|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 5 APRIL 2024
| Notes Fixed assets Investments 14 Current assets Cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Other payables 15 Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities The funds of the Trust Endowment funds 18 Unrestricted funds |
2024 £ £ 41,757,055 1,137,385 78,930 1,058,455 42,815,510 39,544,525 3,270,985 42,815,510 |
2023 £ £ 37,814,884 1,635,917 81,091 1,554,826 39,369,710 36,313,591 3,056,119 39,369,710 |
2023 £ £ 37,814,884 1,635,917 81,091 1,554,826 39,369,710 36,313,591 3,056,119 39,369,710 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 39,369,710 | |||
| 36,313,591 3,056,119 |
|||
| 39,369,710 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 6 December 2024
Mr R.A. Kreitman Trustee
Mrs P.M. Kreitman Trustee
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||
| Cash absorbed by operations | 21 | (1,163,896) | (1,142,127) | ||
| Investing activities | |||||
| Purchase of investments | (5,881,406) | (5,489,768) | |||
| Proceeds from disposal of investments | 5,361,026 | 3,727,589 | |||
| Investment income received | 1,185,744 | 1,156,081 | |||
| Net cash generated from/(used in) | |||||
| investing activities | 665,364 | (606,098) | |||
| Net cash used in financing activities | - | - | |||
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | (498,532) | (1,748,225) | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year | 1,635,917 | 3,384,142 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 1,137,385 | 1,635,917 |
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
The Balcombe Charitable Trust is a registered, unincorporated charity. The correspondence address of the Trust is 5th Floor, 3 Dorset Rise, London EC4Y 8EN.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Trust'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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The Trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements 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 the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of certain financial instruments at fair value. Fixed asset investments consist of quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments. These are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value based on published market prices. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The Trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the Trust has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives and to meet ongoing overheads and administrative expenses.
The restricted capital fund comprises an expendable endowment fund (see note 18). The income generated by the funds held on this endowment are unrestricted and are, therefore, included as part of the unrestricted income funds for the year.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the Trust is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Investment income from interest on deposits and listed loan stocks is accounted for an accruals basis. Income from other investments is accounted for when received.
Voluntary donations are recognised on receipt.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objects of the Trust. In the case of an unconditional grant offer this is accrued once the recipient has been notified of the grant award. The notification gives the recipient a reasonable expectation that they will receive the grant. Grant awards that are subject to the recipient fulfilling performance conditions are only accrued when the recipient has been notified of the grant and any remaining unfulfilled conditions attaching to that grant are fulfilled.
1.6 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include trade and other receivables and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
1.7 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
1.8 Foreign exchange
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are included in net outgoing resources.
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.9 Investments
Investments are a form of basic financial instruments and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price.
All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and their opening carrying value or their purchase value if they were acquired subsequent to the first day of the financial year.
Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between the fair value at the year end and their carrying value.
Realised and unrealised investment gains and losses are combined in the Statement of Financial Activities.
1.10 Irrecoverable VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is shown separately in the notes to the statement of financial activities for the convenience of the Trustees in monitoring expenses.
2 Investments
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Income from listed investments | 1,185,744 | 1,156,081 |
3 Raising funds
| Unrestricted Endowment funds funds £ £ Foreign tax deducted 41,322 - Irrecoverable VAT 11,276 26,312 Investment management fees 56,383 131,558 108,981 157,870 For the year ended 5 April 2023 Foreign tax deducted 38,382 - Irrecoverable VAT 10,051 23,593 Investment management fees 50,253 117,965 98,686 141,558 |
Total 2024 £ 41,322 37,588 187,941 266,851 |
Total 2023 £ 38,382 33,644 168,218 |
|---|---|---|
| 240,244 | ||
| 38,382 33,644 168,218 |
||
| 240,244 |
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
4 Charitable activities
| Education Environment Health and welfare £ £ £ Grant funding of activities (note 5) 75,000 - 731,822 Governance costs (note 6) 8,177 - 79,768 83,177 - 811,590 |
Total 2024 £ 806,822 87,945 894,767 |
Total 2023 £ 877,471 76,329 |
|---|---|---|
| 953,800 |
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THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
5 Grants payable
| Education Environment Health and welfare £ £ £ The Jericho Foundation - - - Prison Radio Association 30,000 - - St Christopher's Hospice 30,000 - - Coram Fields - - - Money for Madagascar - - 50,310 Zoological Society of London - - - Durell Wildlife Conservation Trust - - - Radical Recruit - - 19,675 The Halo Project - - 20,000 The 999 Club & Lady Florence Trust - - 46,000 Medical Justice - - 25,000 Bone Cancer Research Trust - - 25,000 Assist Sheffield - - 15,000 The British Liver Trust - - - The Trussell Trust - - 300,000 The British Shalom - Salaam Trust - - - The Royal Marines Charity - - - Lewisham Food Bank - - 35,000 Housing Justice - - 16,500 In2Out - - 40,000 Refugee Community Kitchen - - 45,000 Bloody Good Period - - 15,000 Medical Aid for Palestinians - - 15,000 Asylum Matters - - - Asylum Support Appeals Project - - 15,000 The BACA Charity - - 5,000 The Vavengers - - - Birth Companions - - - Stop Hate UK - - 5,000 The Blackheath Society - - - Crisis UK - - - Doctors in Distress - - 10,000 Dorothy House - - - Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit - - 25,000 The Happy Baby Community - - - Langdale/Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team - - - Nunhead's Voice Limited - - 4,337 Passage 2000 - - - Sex Education Forum - - - Venice in Peril Fund CIO - - - Read - The Reading Agency 15,000 - - 75,000 - 731,822 |
Total 2024 £ - 30,000 30,000 - 50,310 - - 19,675 20,000 46,000 25,000 25,000 15,000 - 300,000 - - 35,000 16,500 40,000 45,000 15,000 15,000 - 15,000 5,000 - - 5,000 - - 10,000 - 25,000 - - 4,337 - - - 15,000 806,822 |
Total 2023 £ 20,000 34,000 - 22,500 30,727 22,300 25,000 - 20,000 26,000 25,000 25,000 15,000 15,000 290,000 5,000 29,000 25,000 16,500 25,000 25,000 15,000 16,000 10,000 - 5,000 12,000 5,000 - 8,500 15,000 9,100 3,000 25,000 7,000 10,000 3,344 5,000 15,000 2,500 15,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 877,471 |
- 15 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
6 Governance costs
| Governance costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs Audit fees Legal and professional fees Travelling expenses Irrecoverable VAT IT Costs Sundry expenses |
2024 £ 32,606 9,000 28,576 4,782 8,381 3,597 1,003 87,945 |
2023 £ 23,551 9,000 28,449 782 7,814 5,775 958 |
| 76,329 |
7 Trustees
None of the Trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year. One of the Trustees, Mrs P.M. Kreitman, was reimbursed £2,125 (2023: £3,216) for travelling and other expenses during the year.
The Trustee, Mr E.N.W. Brown, is also a consultant with BDB Pitmans LLP ("BDB"), a firm of solicitors. During the year the Trust paid BDB legal fees amounting to £11,440 (2023: £16,135).
8 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| Administration | 1 | 1 |
| Employment costs | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 31,950 | 22,812 |
| Other pension costs | 656 | 739 |
| 32,606 | 23,551 |
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
9 Auditor's remuneration
| Fees payable to the Trust's auditor and associates: Audit of the Trust's annual accounts Non-audit services Fees payable to the Trust's auditor for all other non-audit services |
2024 £ 9,000 16,611 |
2023 £ 9,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 10,375 |
- 16 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
10 Net gains/(losses) on investments
| **Endowment ** | Endowment | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Revaluation of investments | 3,196,817 | (2,934,665) |
| Gain/(loss) on sale of investments | 224,974 | (416,210) |
| 3,421,791 | (3,350,875) |
11 Taxation
No liability to taxation arises as the Trust is a registered charity and is, therefore, exempt from UK taxation on the income arising from its normal activities.
12 Other gains or losses
| 12 | Other gains or losses | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| **Endowment ** | Endowment | ||
| funds | funds | ||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Foreign exchange gains/(losses) | 117 | (17,270) | |
| 13 | Financial instruments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | ||
| Carrying amount of financial assets | |||
| Instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss | 41,757,055 | 37,814,884 |
14 Fixed asset investments
| Listed | |
|---|---|
| investments | |
| £ | |
| Cost or valuation | |
| At 6 April 2023 | 37,814,884 |
| Additions | 5,881,406 |
| Valuation changes | 3,196,817 |
| Disposals | (5,136,052) |
| At 5 April 2024 | 41,757,055 |
| Carrying amount | |
| At 5 April 2024 | 41,757,055 |
| At 6 April 2023 | 37,814,884 |
- 17 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
14 Fixed asset investments
(Continued)
Fixed asset investments revalued
The historical cost of the fixed asset investments held at the year end is £36,187,806 (2023: £35,547,162).
15 Creditors
| Creditors | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| Amounts falling due within one year: | £ | £ |
| Accruals and deferred income | 78,930 | 81,091 |
16 Unrestricted funds
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise of the unexpended balances of investment income and donations which are not subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
| General funds Previous year: General funds |
At 6 April 2023 £ 3,056,119 At 6 April 2022 £ 2,920,169 |
Incoming resources £ 1,185,744 Incoming resources £ 1,156,081 |
Resources expended £ (970,878) Resources expended £ (1,020,131) |
At 5 April 2024 £ 3,270,985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 5 April 2023 £ 3,056,119 |
17 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Unrestricted Endowment funds funds 2024 2024 £ £ Fund balances at 5 April 2024 are represented by: Investments 2,212,530 39,544,525 Current assets/(liabilities) 1,058,455 - 3,270,985 39,544,525 |
Total 2024 £ 41,757,055 1,058,455 |
|---|---|
| 42,815,510 |
- 18 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
| 17 | Analysis of net assets between funds | (Continued) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | ||
| funds | funds | |||
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Fund balances at 5 April 2023 are represented by: | ||||
| Investments | 1,501,293 | 36,313,591 | 37,814,884 | |
| Current assets/(liabilities) | 1,554,826 | - | 1,554,826 | |
| 3,056,119 | 36,313,591 | 39,369,710 |
- 19 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
18 Endowment funds
| Endowment funds | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 6 April 2022 £ Expendable endowments Expendable restricted funds 39,821,109 39,821,109 |
Incoming resources £ - - |
Movement in funds Resources expended Investment gains/(losses) Foreign exchange gains/(losses) £ £ £ (173,913) (3,350,875) 17,270 (173,913) (3,350,875) 17,270 |
Balance at 5 April 2023 £ 36,313,591 36,313,591 |
Incoming resources £ - - |
Movement in funds Resources expended Investment gains/(losses) Foreign exchange gains/(losses) £ £ £ (190,740) 3,421,791 (117) (190,740) 3,421,791 (117) |
Balance at 5 April 2024 £ 39,544,525 |
| 39,544,525 |
The Trust's expendable endowment fund is attributable to the original amount settled on the Trust, subsequent settlements and the accumulated realised and unrealised gains (less losses) thereon. Under the terms of the Deed of Settlement, the endowment is expendable at the discretion of the Trustees on expenditure which meets the charitable objectives of the Trust.
- 20 -
THE BALCOMBE CHARITABLE TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2024
19 Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities
At the year end, the Trust had made commitments to pay a further £298,000 (2023: £260,000) in grants to certain charities but subject to specific future conditions being satisfied by those charities. As there is uncertainty as to whether those conditions will be satisfied, these future commitments have not been provided for in these financial statements. Of the total amount, £245,000 (2023: £165,000) would be payable within one year, while £53,000 (2023: £95,000) would be payable in more than one year.
20 Related party transactions
The only related party transactions during the current and comparative years have been disclosed in note 7.
| 21 | Cash generated from operations | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Surplus/(deficit) for the year | 3,445,917 | (3,388,838) | |
| Adjustments for: | |||
| Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities | (1,185,744) | (1,156,081) | |
| Foreign exchange differences | (117) | 17,270 | |
| (Gain)/loss on disposal of investments | (224,974) | 416,209 | |
| Fair value gains and losses on investments | (3,196,817) | 2,934,666 | |
| Movements in working capital: | |||
| (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables | - | 2,202 | |
| (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables | (2,161) | 32,445 | |
| Cash absorbed by operations | (1,163,896) | (1,142,127) |
- 21 -