REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 269109
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 for The Ropner Centenary Trust
The Ropner Centenary Trust
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Page Report of the Trustees 1 to 2 Independent Examiner's Report 3 Statement of Financial Activities 4 Balance Sheet 5 Notes to the Financial Statements 6 to 11 Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 12
The Ropner Centenary Trust
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions 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 Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objects of the charity are the relief of those persons considered to be in a condition of poverty or distress or in need of education.
Public benefit
The charity’s aims and achievements are set out within this report. The activities set out in this report have been undertaken to further the charity's charitable purposes for the public benefit. The Trustees have complied with the duty under Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission and the Trustees have paid due regard to this guidance in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
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Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance paid due regard to this guidance in deciding what
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out 12 grants to individuals (2024: 14) and made a donation the Trustees and takes account of recent demand for funds. and the market prospects in the medium term. The funds
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maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the investment policy. The current level of free reserves
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costs and to respond to emergency applications for grants
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
During the year the charity paid out 12 grants to individuals (2024: 14) and made a donation of £5,000 to Friends of Ropner Park.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Investment policy and objectives
The investment strategy is set by the Trustees and takes account of recent demand for funds. The Trustees consider the income requirements, the risk profile and the market prospects in the medium term. The funds may be invested in any type of investment. Our strategy is reviewed annually.
Reserves policy
It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which allows maximum flexibility in determining investment policy. The current level of free reserves provides sufficient funds to cover governance and support costs and to respond to emergency applications for grants which may arise from time to time.
The charity has no restricted funds and there are no restrictions on the charity's power to invest.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an unincorporated charity.
The Ropner Centenary Trust is constituted under a trust deed dated 2 January 1975 and deed of variation dated 10 March 1983. It is a registered charity number 269109.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. New Trustees are given appropriate induction to allow them to perform their duties effectively.
Organisation
The Trustees meet annually to assess grant applications and to consider the investment performance of the assets available to the organisation.
Risk
The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that the systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced, so that the necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks.
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number
269109
Principal address
15 The Green High Coniscliffe DARLINGTON Co Durham DL2 2LJ
Trustees
A P Theakston R J B Ropner Sir Henry John William Ropner
Independent Examiner
Christopher Beaumont BA (Hons) BFP FCA DChA Clive Owen LLP Chartered Accountants 140 Coniscliffe Road DARLINGTON Co Durham DL3 7RT
Solicitors
Tilly Bailey & Irvine LLP York Chambers York Road Hartlepool TS26 9DP
Bankers
NatWest Bank Plc 25 High Row Darlington Co Durham DL3 7QP
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ A P Theakston - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Ropner Centenary Trust
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Ropner Centenary Trust
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Ropner Centenary Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the
examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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with the applicable requirements concerning and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement across no other matters in connection with the examination
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. 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 Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Christopher Beaumont BA (Hons) BFP FCA DChA
Clive Owen LLP Chartered Accountants 140 Coniscliffe Road DARLINGTON Co Durham DL3 7RT
Date: .............................................
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| DRAFT Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Investment income 2 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities 3 Donations Grants payable Total Net gains on investments NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
2025 Unrestricted fund £ 44,832 5,000 25,492 30,492 42,269 56,609 1,270,219 1,326,828 |
2024 Total funds £ 48,466 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,000 25,390 |
||
| 27,390 | ||
| 12,768 | ||
| 33,844 1,236,375 |
||
| 1,270,219 | ||
The notes form part of these financial statements
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Balance Sheet 31 March 2025
| DRAFT Notes FIXED ASSETS Investments 8 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 9 Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 10 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 11 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by: ............................................. A P Theakston - Trustee |
2025 2024 Unrestricted Total fund funds £ £ 1,265,988 1,202,690 5,867 5,784 58,173 63,807 64,040 69,591 (3,200) (2,062) 60,840 67,529 1,326,828 1,270,219 1,326,828 1,270,219 1,326,828 1,270,219 1,326,828 1,270,219 authorised for issue on |
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets.
Incoming resources
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. for on an accruals basis and has been classified under Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular within support costs, they are the costs of providing in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are (their market value) at the year end. Any gains or losses
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis considered appropriate by the Trustees.
Support costs have been allocated against the costs of the charitable activities of the Trust.
Governance costs are included within support costs, they are the costs of providing the governance infrastructure to the charity.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Returned grants are set against grants payable in the year the grant is returned.
Investments
Fixed asset investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are valued initially at cost and subsequently at fair value (their market value) at the year end. Any gains or losses on revaluation are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
There are no restricted funds.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Financial instruments
The charity has financial assets and financial liabilities as basic financial instruments. They are initially recognised at transactions value and subsequently measured as their settlement value, with charges recognised in the statement of financial activities.
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continued...
The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
| DRAFT 2. INVESTMENT INCOME 2025 £ Dividends receivable 36,134 Interest receivable 8,698 44,832 3. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Grant funding of activities Support (see note costs (see 4) note 5) £ £ Donations 5,000 - Grants payable 22,800 2,692 27,800 2,692 4. GRANTS PAYABLE 2025 £ Donations 5,000 Grants payable 22,800 27,800 The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as follows: 2025 £ Middlesbrough Sea Cadets - Friends of Ropner Park 5,000 5,000 Total number of grants paid to individuals 12 |
2024 £ 40,958 7,508 48,466 Totals £ 5,000 25,492 30,492 2024 £ 2,000 23,100 25,100 2024 £ 2,000 - 2,000 14 |
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The grants are within the purpose of the charity.
continued...
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
5. SUPPORT COSTS
| 5. | SUPPORT COSTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governance | ||||
| Management | costs | Totals | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Grants payable | 550 | 2,142 | 2,692 | |
| Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: | ||||
| Management | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Grants | Total | |||
| payable | activities | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| 6. 7. |
DRAFT Administration of the charity 550 550 Governance costs 2025 2024 Grants Total payable activities £ £ Professional fees - 117 Independent examiner fee 2,142 1,623 2,142 1,740 TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. Trustees' expenses There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024. See note 12 for further details of amounts due to trustees. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fund |
|||
| £ | ||||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM | ||||
| Investment income | 48,466 | |||
| EXPENDITURE ON | ||||
| Charitable activities | ||||
| Donations | 2,000 | |||
| Grants payable | 25,390 | |||
| Total | 27,390 | |||
| Net gains on investments | 12,768 | |||
| NET INCOME | 33,844 | |||
| Page 8 | continued... |
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
7. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued
Unrestricted fund £ RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 1,236,375 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 1,270,219 8. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS Listed investments £ MARKET VALUE At 1 April 2024 1,202,690 Additions 213,100 Disposals (192,071) Revaluations 42,269 At 31 March 2025 1,265,988 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2025 1,265,988 At 31 March 2024 1,202,690 There were no investment assets outside the UK. The cost of the investment, represented above at fair value, was £830,967 (2024: £867,867). 9. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 £ £ Prepayments and accrued income 5,867 5,784
continued...
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
| Accruals and deferred income 11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
2025 £ 3,200 |
2024 £ 2,062 |
|---|---|---|
| DRAFT At 1.4.24 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 1,270,219 TOTAL FUNDS 1,270,219 Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 44,832 (30,492) TOTAL FUNDS 44,832 (30,492) Comparatives for movement in funds At 1.4.23 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 1,236,375 TOTAL FUNDS 1,236,375 Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming Resources resources expended £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 48,466 (27,390) TOTAL FUNDS 48,466 (27,390) |
Net movement in funds £ 56,609 56,609 Gains and losses £ 42,269 42,269 Net movement in funds £ 33,844 33,844 Gains and losses £ 12,768 12,768 |
At 31.3.25 £ 1,326,828 |
At 31.3.25 £ 1,326,828 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,326,828 | |||
| Movement in funds £ 56,609 56,609 At 31.3.24 £ 1,270,219 |
|||
| 1,270,219 | |||
| Movement in funds £ 33,844 33,844 |
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| 33,844 |
continued...
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
| Net |
|---|
| movement At |
| At 1.4.23 in funds 31.3.25 |
| £ £ £ |
| Unrestricted funds |
| General fund 1,236,375 90,453 1,326,828 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 1,236,375 90,453 1,326,828 |
| DRAFT A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above as follows: Incoming Resources Gains and Movement resources expended losses in funds £ £ £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 93,298 (57,882) 55,037 90,453 TOTAL FUNDS 93,298 (57,882) 55,037 90,453 General Fund - This fund represents unrestricted resources available for the general work of the charity. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES Alan Theakston, Trustee, charged a fee of £550 for administration expenses (2024: £550), both 2024 and 20 fees were outstanding at 31 March 2025. |
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Alan Theakston, Trustee, charged a fee of £550 for administration expenses (2024: £550), both 2024 and 2025 fees were outstanding at 31 March 2025.
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The Ropner Centenary Trust
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 | |||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | |||
| Investment income | |||
| Dividends receivable | 36,134 | 40,958 | |
| Interest receivable | 8,698 | 7,508 | |
| 44,832 | 48,466 | ||
| Total incoming resources | 44,832 | 48,466 | |
| EXPENDITURE | |||
| DRAFT Charitable activities Grants payable to institutions 5,000 Grants to individuals 22,800 27,800 Support costs Management Administration of the charity 550 Governance costs Professional fees - Independent examiner fee 2,142 2,142 Total resources expended 30,492 Net income before gains and losses 14,340 Realised recognised gains and losses Net gains/(losses) on investments 42,269 Net income 56,609 |
2,000 23,100 25,100 550 117 1,623 1,740 27,390 21,076 12,768 33,844 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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