THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
ACCOUNTS AND TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025
Charity Registered Number: 267587
THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
ACCOUNTS AND TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ Report | 1-2 |
| Independent Examiners’ Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 6-8 |
| Schedule to the Accounts: Grants payable | 9 |
| Schedule to the Accounts: Institutional grants commitments | 10 |
THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT
The Trustees present their report and the accounts for the year ended 5th April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102).
Constitution
The Trust was established by Trust Deed on 9th May 1974.
Principal activities
The Trust is registered as a charity under the Charities Act 2011. The objects of the Trust are:
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1 The financial support, relief or aid of such Christian ministers, missionaries or churches as are or have been engaged in the dissemination of the Evangelical Christian Faith as most purely represented in the Westminster Confession, the Savoy Confession and the London Baptist Confession of 1689.
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2 The relief of the dependants of Christian ministers or missionaries.
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3 Generally the promotion and advancement in such parts of the world as the Trustees may decide of the better knowledge of the doctrines of the Christian Faith, and in particular that aspect of the said Faith as taught by the Protestant Reformers and English Puritans.
Results for the year
The Trustees have continued to distribute the regular income of the trust in accordance with the objects of the Trust Deed. The distributions made are detailed in note 2 to the accounts.
Trustees and Key Management Personnel
The names of the persons who were Trustees at any time during the year ended 5th April 2025 were as follows:
| G Brady | G N Burke | (appointed 21stJanuary 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| R W Fay | R I Haffenden | |
| J W Keddie | J L Rawlinson | (appointed 21stJanuary 2025) |
| R P B Strivens (resigned 3rdDecember 2024) | M Thomas | (appointed 21stJanuary 2025) |
New Trustees may be appointed by the existing trustees. The correspondence address of the Trust is 5 Robin Hood Lane, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 2SW.
The key management personnel of the trust are the trustees, and they are in charge of directing, controlling and operating the trust on a day to day basis. All trustees give of their time freely and no trustee received any remuneration. Details of expenses reimbursed during the year are provided in note 6 to the accounts.
Policies
The Trustees have provided public benefit by carrying out the principal activities of the Trust, and the Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when planning their activities for the year. Grants have been made to a wide range of qualifying individuals, while the institutional grants were made to charitable organisations which provide extensive public benefit.
The Trustees aim to distribute the majority of the regular annual income of the Trust each year. The Trustees maintain a level of reserves to ensure this level of income can be maintained. Funds are invested to generate income while protecting the capital value of the investments.
Bankers
CAFCash Limited, PO Box 289, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA.
Independent Examiner
John Helps, 28 Southway, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey SM5 4HW.
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THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued)
Investment advisers
Brewin Dolphin Limited, 12 Smithfield Street, London EC1A 9BD.
Investment Policy
Under the trust deed trustees have the power to undertake investments as they see fit. The trustees have discharged this responsibility by investing in funds in a professionally managed diversified portfolio. The trust has made no social investments during the year.
Risk management
The Trustees have considered any risks to which the Trust could be exposed and concluded that, aside from those of due care in accounting and administration, the main risks are those associated with safeguarding the Trust’s investments. The trustees mitigate these risks by investing in a diversified portfolio managed by professional investment managers.
Trustees' responsibilities
The Charities Act requires the Trustees to prepare in respect of each financial year financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of its financial activities for that period.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the activities of the Trust will continue.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Trust. 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.
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES
Rev R W Fay Trustee
- 2[nd] December 2025
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Biddestone Trust
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Biddestone Trust (“the Trust”) for the year ended 5th April 2025 set out on pages 4 to 8.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Report) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of 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 the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
John Helps ACA
Chartered Accountant
Skingle Helps & Co 28 South Way Carshalton Surrey SM5 4HW
23 December 2025
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THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025
| Note Income from: Investments: Dividends receivable Interest receivable Donation receivable Total income Expenditure on: Expenditure on raising funds – investment management fees Expenditure on charitable activities 2 Total expenditure Net expenditure before investment movements Net (deficit)/gains on investments Net (deficit)/income for the year Fund balance brought forward at 6th April 2024 Fund balance carried forward at 5th April 2025 |
General funds 2025 2024 £ £ 119,645 114,276 1,179 1,160 6,614 - 127,438 115,436 20,013 18,700 120,068 122,151 140,081 140,851 (12,643) (25,415) (12,621) 119,743 (25,264) 94,328 3,016,463 2,922,135 2,991,199 3,016,463 |
|---|---|
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THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
BALANCE SHEET AT 5th April 2025
| Note Fixed assets Investments 4 Current assets Grant repayable Income tax recoverable Cash at bank Cash with stockbroker Liabilities: Amounts falling due within one year Deferred grants payable 5 Accrued expenses Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Liabilities: Amounts falling due after more than one year Deferred grants payable 5 Total net assets General fund |
2025 £ £ 2,951,021 5,000 208 42,148 26,892 74,248 23,000 8,070 31,070 43,178 2,994,199 3,000 2,991,199 2,991,199 |
2024 £ 2,995,474 - 369 55,617 37,847 93,833 44,000 10,844 54,844 38,989 3,034,463 18,000 3,016,463 3,016,463 |
|---|---|---|
Approved by the Trustees on 2[nd] December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Mr R I Haffenden
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THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Biddestone Trust is an unincorporated charitable trust registered in England and Wales. The principal office is 5 Robin Hood Lane, Sutton, Surrey SM1 2SW.
Basis of accounting
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”), “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102, the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015. The trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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 fixed asset investments. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
(a) 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.
(b) Income
Voluntary income and donations (including legacies) are accounted for once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be reliably measured. Investment income is recognised on an accruals basis.
(c) Expenditure
Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, discounted to present value for longer term liabilities. Charitable expenditure includes all support costs in respect of the company’s activities. Governance costs comprise expenditure on compliance with statutory legal requirements and are included in charitable activities.
(d) Investments
These are recorded at mid-market value. Unrealised and realised gains and losses are disclosed separately in the Statement of Financial Activities and included as a component of net income or expenditure.
(e) Grants payable in furtherance of the charity’s objects
These are accounted for once the trustees have agreed to make each distribution. Some grants are payable over several years. Such grants is recognised in full as distributions commence, with the remaining instalments recognised as deferred grants payable.
(f) Other current assets
Tax on interest receivable and investment income receivable are included at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025
THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
(g) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of opening of the deposit.
(h) Current liabilities
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation arising 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 recognised at their settlement amount.
(i) Financial instruments
The trust only has financial assets and 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.
EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
| 2 EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Grants for institutions: Biblical Creation Trust Bethersden Baptist Church London Seminary ‘Grace for Rushden’ Invergordon Christian School Winlanton Evangelical Church Childs Hill Baptist Church Ealing Road Baptist Church Salem Baptist Church Norwich Reformed Church Grace Baptist Partnership - Wimbledon Grants for 12 individuals (2024:14) Support costs (note 3) 3 SUPPORT COSTS Accountancy (including VAT) Bank Charges Independent examiners’ fee (including VAT) Trustees’ expenses |
2025 £ 10,000 12,000 5,250 4,000 2,000 15,000 - 5,000 - - - 53,250 60,000 113,250 6,818 120,068 2025 £ 5,340 86 756 636 6,818 |
2024 £ - - - - - - 5,000 5,000 17,000 20,000 30,000 77,000 38,500 115,500 6,651 122,151 2024 £ 5,340 82 756 473 6,651 |
|---|---|---|
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THE BIDDESTONE TRUST
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 5th April 2025 (continued)
| 4 INVESTMENTS Market value at 6th April 2024 Acquisitions at cost Disposals at opening value Net (deficit) on revaluation at 5th April 2025 Market value at 5th April 2025 |
2025 £ 2,995,474 20,441 ( 52,273) ( 12,621) 2,951,021 |
|---|---|
All listed investments are dealt with on a recognised stock exchange.
5
| DEFERRED GRANTS PAYABLE Falling due within one year Falling due after more than one year |
2025 £ 23,000 3,000 26,000 |
2024 £ 44,000 18,000 62,000 |
|---|---|---|
Deferred grants payable are institutional grants where the trust has agreed to provide targeted support over a limited period exceeding one year.
6 TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTIES
No remuneration was made to key management personnel (who are the trustees) during the year (2024: £nil).
Four trustees were reimbursed disbursements totalling £636 in respect trustees’ expenses (2024: one, £473).
JCS Accountants Limited provided accountancy services totalling £5,340 (2024: £5,340) inclusive of value added tax during the year. One of the trustees, R I Haffenden, is a director in the company JCS Accountants Ltd.
No other transactions took place during the year with connected parties.
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