The Countryside Education Trust Annual Report and Accounts 2024
Charity Number 269546
Pond-dipping during stream study, October 2024
The Countryside Education Trust
Contents For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and administrative information | 1 |
| Trustees’ report | 2-11 |
| Independent examiner’s report | 12 |
| Statement of financial activities | 13 |
| Balance sheet | 14 |
| Statement of cash flows | 15 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 16-31 |
The Countryside Education Trust
Legal and administrative information For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Trustees | Lord Montagu of Beaulieu |
|---|---|
| A Moore-Gwyn (resigned 4 July 2024) | |
| R Channell (resigned 4 July 2024) | |
| N Burt | |
| M Wade | |
| K Burwood | |
| P Johnson(appointedChair27 March 2025) | |
| G Hardacre | |
| C Lee | |
| O Turgoose | |
| S Newey | |
| V Edwards (appointed 26 January 2024and resigned 13 March 2025) | |
| P Foster (appointed 4 April 2024 and resigned 12 September 2024) |
The Countryside Education Trust is a tenant of Lord Montagu and the Beaulieu Estate.
| Charity Commission | |
|---|---|
| registration number | 269546 |
| Registered office | John Montagu Building |
| Beaulieu | |
| Hampshire | |
| SO42 7ZN | |
| Independent Examiners | Saffery LLP |
| Midland House | |
| 2 Poole Road | |
| Bournemouth | |
| BH2 5QY | |
| Bankers | Barclays Bank Plc |
| 4thFloor, Block A | |
| Apex Plaza | |
| Forbury Road | |
| Reading | |
| RG1 1AX |
1
The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
Objectives of the Countryside Education Trust
The Countryside Education Trust (269546) was founded in 1975. Its objectives and activities are to:
• Provide or promote the provision of facilities so that the public and young people in particular, can gain access to the countryside, especially the Beaulieu Estate and the New Forest: and that they can both enjoy and be educated about the countryside;
• Protect, preserve and care for the beauty and character of the countryside and to stimulate the general public to do the same
• Conserve the New Forest for the benefit of the public, including the restoration and preservation of buildings of national, historic or scientific interest.
Our Mission
The Countryside Education Trust enables meaningful and enjoyable access to the countryside for all, particularly those who are the most disadvantaged, through excellent teaching and access to well-cared for special places. We connect people with the countryside.
Public Benefit
The Trustees believe that the charity operates under the following sections of the Charities’ Act 2011 and has a long tradition of ensuring maximum access to its services:
-The advancement of education
-The advancement of environmental protection or improvement
-The advancement of citizenship or community development
-The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
Public benefit is evident in the wide variety of ages and backgrounds of people who access our services. We continually strive to make access fair and affordable.
We take seriously our commitment to ensuring that both sites are looked after to high ecological, environmental and animal welfare standards.
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The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
President’s Highlights 2024
We are continuing our traditional work with schools and the public, but 2024 has been a particularly notable year for the Trust. New opportunities have resulted from collaborations with other organisations. Post pandemic, partnership is central to the way that charities need to operate, and the CET team has proved effective at this way of working.
Youth For Climate and Nature (YouCAN) funded by the National Lottery, has been one such success story. The Trust has been working with seven environmental organisations centred on the New Forest National Park, but including the cities of Southampton and Bournemouth, to provide opportunities for young people from 11-25 to engage with nature. We delivered our first Environmental Careers Taster Week in July, which covered environmental education, sustainable farming, conservation, woodland management, and community engagement, and proved a highly positive experience for participants from 16-21. Another element of YouCAN is our internship programme, and in November we offered a paid residential week to interns who worked collectively on a variety of joint tasks and delivered individual projects for the Trust subsequently. Beyond these initiatives, YouCAN has supported community events, staff costs and long-term roles for two young people at the beginning of their environmental education careers. As well as financial support, the development opportunities for our team have been incalculable and relationships with colleagues in associated charities and the National Park have deepened.
I am delighted to report the early success of the Fort Climate Centre during 2024, its first full year of operations since its opening by HRH The Countess of Wessex. In total, 2000 people visited, including all schools using the residential centre. Each school spends time in the centre during the stay, and the children leave with more ideas about how their behaviour can help the planet. Beyond that, the Fort Climate Centre is becoming a hub for positive conversations about climate change as well as a venue for lectures and public events. It is a popular space for local organisations, and this year Southampton University, New Forest National Park (almost every month, including running their Green Leaders Course here), New Forest Land Advice Service, New Forest Business Partnership, and the New Forest Marque have all visited.
The Countryside Education Trust’s work around conservation has taken a more central place during the year, one good example being land on the Beaulieu Estate which had been degraded by previous management regimes. Volunteers pulled ragwort before a conservation grazing regime was instituted, focussed especially on the Trust’s prize-winning Shetlands, and the difference is notable even at this early stage. This experiment will provide a good case study for local farmers and especially the general public.
2025 will see the implementation of the first phase of a new strategy, centred on ‘People for Nature, and Nature for People’ as well as the opportunity to celebrate 50 years of the Countryside Education Trust, a major achievement for the small charity imagined by my father, Edward Lord Montagu, in 1975.
Lord Montagu of Beaulieu President & Trustee
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The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
Activities
Education is central to the identity of the Trust, whether formal education with schools or through the Trust’s work with the wider community. The Trust has a residential centre with a capacity of 44, the Fort Climate Centre, a small farm, heritage orchard and remarkable ancient woodlands, with our awardwinning Treehouses.
Residential school visits were 10% weaker this year largely due a drop to only 27 children per class attending, from an earlier average of 32. On the positive side, the Trust managed to fund 27% of all visits fully or partly, ensuring that children from the most challenged backgrounds did not miss out on an opportunity to experience a residential with all the social, cultural and educational benefits these confer.
Day visits remain popular, especially the stream study; the Hartford Stream rises on the heath just above our site, which means that young people can walk the course of the stream all the way to the Beaulieu River, perfect for scientific enquiry as well as an opportunity to explore semi-ancient woodland, and one of the best habitats for a host of rare flora and fauna, some only found in the New Forest.
Water science in action, Hartford Wood, 2024
Community education had a successful year, especially as a result of major projects with the Lottery, which Lord Montagu has highlighted, and with the Environment Agency. Championing Coastal Coordination was a stand-out success in 2024. The focus of this project was the 18.5km stretch of New Forest National Park coastline running east of the Lymington River to Calshot, much of the land designated as SSSI, SPA and SAC. Not only is this at high risk due to climate change, but policy also currently indicates
4
The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
that it will not attract public funding. People locally have various degrees of understanding about this, so the Championing Coastal Coordination project aimed to begin to engage the local community and inform local landowners of the threats and opportunities around mitigations. One to one conversations with landowners provided a good baseline for future collaborative efforts, and a series of public events focussed on the theme of ‘Our Coast’.
The winners (adult, youth and child) with Lord Montagu
These ranged from lectures (‘Archaeology of the Western Solent’ and ‘Climate Change and Wildlife’) to a photography competition and exhibition, and a vox pop film (by an intern) asking coastal users about their relationship with the coastline. Conservation efforts included young people aged 10-14 making and painting terns for deployment to attract nesting birds, to a beach clean with over 130 people. The project also afforded the development of education and interpretation materials.
5
The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
At work creating music in the Treehouses with Oliver Tarney
This year with the support of the Arts Council and Culture in Common, the Trust launched the New Forest Song. Working with a professional conductor, composer and librettist, the project seeks to turn the words of local children into a song series, celebrating the New Forest. The children either visit one of our sites, or we visit the school, and in the spring the inaugural concert was held, bringing together local schools to sing the songs they had worked on. This project will reach 12 schools and homeschool groups over the course of the project.
The Trust continues to run fully subscribed children’s clubs, from our OWLs clubs (0-13 year olds, Owlets, Little Owls, Big Owls and Eagle Owls) to the after-school Farm Club, where the children, mainly from non-farming backgrounds, can help on the farm, developing into proficient young sheep handlers. We offer a wide and growing range of opportunities for young people to become involved, from work experience for year 10s and students at local colleges, youth volunteering and several paid internships each year.
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The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
Teaching coppicing techniques to interns, November 2024
Home Farm is a small-holding based on a Victorian model farm, but it provides the perfect teaching base for schools and adults as we have a small number of many different animals. Our growing success is in breeding pedigree Shetland sheep, a perfect breed for the farm’s clay fields as they are light on their feet, good mothers and relatively sociable. These small sheep come in a wide variety (30+) of colours and markings, which means that we have a genetic laboratory laid out in front of visitors on the farm for teaching purposes. They are also excellent conservation grazers. As well as more conventional farmers, we are commoners too, so the education offering focusses on the ancient traditions and language built into the history of the New Forest landscape. The Trust, as Commoners, can graze pigs and ponies on the Forest.
These farming connections are demonstrated in the fact that the New Forest Southern Cluster is based in the Fort Climate Centre, 17 farmers, tenants and land agents looking to achieve landscape scale climate and environment change through collaboration. Early work centres on carbon audits and soil health, but the Cluster has the potential to deliver real environmental change for the Forest.
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Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
The Countryside Education Trust
Corporate volunteers from RWD
The Trust could not accomplish as much as it does, given its size, without the support of volunteers. We also enable corporate volunteering on both our sites during the course of the year, which adds to our capacity.
The volunteers work on the farm, in the woods, at special events, in the office and as fundraisers. Latterly a dedicated team has been renovating the Treehouses. These efforts are valued by the Trust enormously, not only providing resources and skills to which we would not otherwise have access but also embedding the Trust further into the community.
Staff, volunteers and Friends of the Trust gather round the fire to hear Yarrow Townsend’s work as Writer-in-Residence funded by Artful Scribe and the New Forest National Park
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The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
What does the future hold?
2024 saw the creation of a new strategic plan to establish the Countryside Education Trust’s priorities. Several Trustees served their full term this year, and our longstanding chair, Lord Montagu, moved to become President of the Trust. We appointed an experienced interim Chair in Dr. Victoria Edwards, who shepherded the Trust through the year before moving aside for a new Chair, Mr. Phil Johnson. He arrived with the benefit of a history of working as the longstanding Finance Director at Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd, and consequently overseeing the production of the Countryside Education Trust’s Accounts for many years before heading up the Charity’s Finance, Risk and Governance Committee since 2023. His appointment lends stability to the Trust in a period of change.
Principal Sources of Income
Although based on Beaulieu Estate’s land and with a generous mix of direct and indirect support from the Estate, the Countryside Education Trust is an independent charity.
2024 continued the trend of seeking more diverse funding sources. We received £198,000 from The National Lottery project, Youth for Climate and Nature, continued with our partners from across the region, bringing the Trust to the centre of exciting work with young people interested in the environmental sector for three years concluding in 2026. We were successful, again alongside the in gaining £36,000 of funding from Championing Coastal Coordination, an Environment Agency initiative. Given that the coastline from Lymington to Lepe is not likely to be defended by the public purse, it is important for local communities to understand the impact of rising sea levels here.
The Ernest Cook Trust Outdoor Week of Learning continued, funding a research project and places for young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to spend time in the countryside; this is a really important initiative which has now been extended to 2027 and provides benefits well beyond the funding in terms of links with other centre, intellectual engagement and research. We were also grateful to the support of the Fort Foundation with costs associated with the Fort Climate Centre. The Beaulieu Beaufort Foundation kindly paid for wood for our Treehouse renovations, unlocking many hours of volunteering. Various family trusts who wish to remain anonymous also supported our work, and we are very grateful to them too.
We have a team of volunteers who help with fundraising events, and once again the Chef’s Night was a great success; one of the objectives of 2025 is that we should explore new possibilities for fundraising events.
Weddings at the Treehouse were more modest than in previous years, but more in keeping with the values of the Trust, with couples appreciating the setting, and we also hosted a series of wellbeing events in the woods.
Renting the residential centre to non-school groups is a valuable source of income and also created opportunities for people to connect to the countryside, as did the holiday cottage, through animal feeding. Event income was low key, as we were not sufficiently staffed for larger public events, but the pop-up shop did well. We certainly need to diversify income streams, which will be part of the new strategy review 2025-2028.
Sadly, we had to return one large grant of £25,000 as we were unable to spend the funds.
9
The Countryside Education Trust
Trustees’ Report For the year ended 31 December 2024
Risk management
Risks are reviewed by Trustees on a regular basis. The major risks during 2024 revolved around a volatile world, in which environmental education for funders and for potential visitors was not a priority.
Reserves Policy
The Trust holds total funds of £900,357 (2023: £1,021,987) at the year end, of which £426,456 (2023: £546,277) are restricted. Free reserves are arrived at by adjusting for the fixed assets required to continue to operate the Trust of £473,901 (2023: £475,710). Free reserves therefore amounted to a deficit of £1,809 (2023: deficit of £101,156). Trustees aspire to hold three months of operating costs in reserves but this is challenging at the current time and we will seek to aim for this during 2025. After making enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to operate in the future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is governed by a Trust Deed and is an Unincorporated Association. The Montagu Family is entitled to chair or be represented on the governing board as founders. No other body has the ability to be automatically represented. Trustees are recruited through advertising and recommendation. As part of the recruitment process, they receive a briefing from the CEO, a tour of both sites and are interviewed by two or three Trustees, before being appointed by the Chair on behalf of the board.
As well as the main board, a new Finance, Governance and Risk Committee was created during 2023, which will support the board and the governance of the charity.
Services are contracted out where it is cost effective, including for IT, Finance, HR and website support. Weddings used to be run by an outside contractor, but we have utilised a freelancer to deliver weddings since 2023.
Trustees' responsibilities statement
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 charity, and of the incoming resources and application of resources 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;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable group will continue in operation.
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The Countryside Educatioii Trust Trustees. Report For the year ended 31 December2024 The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain tlie c113rity's tran5action5 and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financi21 position of Lhe charity and enable then) to ensiii'e that the financial ststements comply with the Charities Act 2011. 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. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the cliarily's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing tlie preparation and dissetnination of finaiicial statements may differ from leg5islaiion in other jurisdictions. This report was approved by the trustees on %.fj./.,. .Iz¥ . and signed on their behalf by.. Phil Johnson Chair li
The Countryside Education Trust
Independent examiner’s report To the trustees of Countryside Education Trust
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity’s 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 2011 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.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
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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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by 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 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.
Casidhe Baleri ACA CTA For and on behalf of Saffery LLP
Midland House Date: 28 October 2025 2 Poole Road Bournemouth Dorset BH2 5QY
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The Countryside Education Trust
Statement of financial activities For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Note Income from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 5 Other trading activities 3,4 Other income Total income Expenditure on: Raising funds: Voluntary income 6 Fundraising trading 6 Charitable activities 6 Total expenditure Net (expenditure)/income before transfers Transfers between funds 15 Net movement of funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds at 1 January 2024 Total funds at 31 December 2024 |
Restricted funds 2024 £ 54,400 - - - 54,400 - - 174,221 174,221 (119,821) - (119,821) 546,277 426,456 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 107,034 163,419 59,178 1,383 331,014 26,426 39,986 266,411 332,823 (1,809) - (1,809) 475,710 473,901 |
Total funds 2024 £ 161,434 163,419 59,178 1,383 385,414 26,426 39,986 440,632 507,044 (121,630) - (121,630) 1,021,987 900,357 |
Total funds 2023 £ 326,811 155,150 63,171 2,369 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 547,501 | ||||
| 23,452 26,542 444,333 |
||||
| 494,327 | ||||
| 53,174 - 53,174 968,813 |
||||
| 1,021,987 |
All activities relate to continuing operations.
The notes on pages 16 to 31 form part of these financial statements.
13
The Countryslde Educatlon Trust Balance sheet Asat31 December 2024 2024 2023 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets io 754,665 766,740 Current assets Stock Debtors Cash at bank and in hand li 12 13,784 181,772 65.147 13,995 279.276 122,973 260,703 416,244 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 13 {96,056] [135,997) Net current assets 164,647 280,247 Creditors.. Amounts fallingdueafter morethan one year 14 {18,955) (25,000) Net assets 900,357 1,021,987 Represented by: Restricted funds Unrestricted funds 15 15 426,456 473.901 546.277 475,710 Total funds 900,357 1,021,987 The fina ial state nts were approved by the trustees on .&.F.. and signed on their behalf by= Phil lohnson Chalr The notes on pages 16 to 3 1 lorm part of these financial statements. 14
The Countryside Education Trust
Statement of cash flows For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Note 17 Net cash (absorbed in)/provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of tangible fixed assets Net cash used in investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Loan repayments Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents brought forward Cash and cash equivalents carried forward |
2024 £ (27,774) (20,885) (20,885) (9,167) (9,167) (57,826) 122,973 65,147 |
2023 £ (8,507) |
|---|---|---|
| (40,010) | ||
| (40,010) | ||
| (10,000) | ||
| (10,000) | ||
| (58,517) 181,490 122,973 |
The notes on pages 16 to 31 form part of these financial statements.
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The Countryside Education Trust Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The Countryside Education Trust is an unincorporated charity. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by 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 and Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and Charities Act 2011.
Countryside Education Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
1.2 Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on the basis that the charity is a going concern. The Trustees have considered the current uncertainties and do not believe they will impact the ability of the charity to continue its activities for the foreseeable future.
1.3 Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Income
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.
For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
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The Countryside Education Trust Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies (continued)
1.4 Income (continued)
Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold. Donated facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers.
Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure headings.
The cost of generating funds include the cost incurred in generating voluntary income and fundraising trading costs. These costs are regarded as necessary to generate funds that are needed to finance charitable activities.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services to enable the charity to meet its charitable aims and objectives. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature to support them.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include audit fees, legal advice for trustees and costs linked to the strategic management of the trust.
Support costs are those costs which enable the fund generating and charitable activities to be undertaken. These costs include finance, human resources, communication and professional fees. Where expenditure incurred relates to more than one cost category it is apportioned on a time or usage basis, over and above a de minimis figure.
1.6 Operating leases
Rentals under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
1.7 Stocks
Stocks for resale are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slow-moving stocks. Stocks used as part of a charitable activity are valued at fair value. Cost includes all direct costs and an appropriate proportion of fixed and variable overheads.
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The Countryside Education Trust Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
1 Accounting policies (continued)
1.8 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
Buildings 2-5% straight line Machinery and equipment 5% and 20% straight line Motor vehicles 12.5%-25% straight line
Tangible fixed assets costing less than £500 are not capitalised and are written off in the year of purchase. All assets are examined annually for potential impairment and any material deductions in value are written down at the year end.
1.9 Interest receivable
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.
1.10 Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
1.11 Cash at bank and in hand
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 acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
1.12 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 after allowing for any trade discounts due.
Concessionary loans include those payable to third parties which are interest free or below market interest rates and are received to advance charitable purposes. All loans are measured at cost, less impairment as permitted by section 34 of FRS 102.
1.13 Pensions
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and the pension charge represents the amounts payable by the charity to the fund in respect of the year.
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The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Individual donors Friends of CET Grants Total donations and legacies |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - - 54,400 54,400 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 105,681 1,353 - 107,034 |
Total funds 2024 £ 105,681 1,353 54,400 161,434 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 58,812 - 242,224 301,036 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 24,497 1,278 - 25,775 |
Total funds 2023 £ 83,309 1,278 242,224 326,811 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 Activities to generate funds
| Fundraising activities |
Restricted funds 2024 £ - - |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 6,896 6,896 |
Total funds 2024 £ 6,896 6,896 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - - |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 6,785 6,785 |
Total funds 2023 £ 6,785 6,785 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
4 Trading activities
| 5 Income from charitable activities Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ Primary purpose activity: Residential fees - 145,983 Non-residential fees and income - 17,436 Total - 163,419 Restricted funds 2024 Unrestricted funds 2024 £ £ Charity trading income Farm income - 16,189 Wedding income - 17,700 Holiday let income - 18,393 - 52,282 Charity trading expenses Farm purchases - 11,250 Wedding purchases - - Holiday let purchases - 28,736 Net income/ (expenditure) from trading activities - 12,296 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 16,189 17,700 18,393 |
Total funds 2024 £ 145,983 17,436 163,419 Total funds 2024 £ 16,189 17,700 18,393 52,282 11,250 - 28,736 12,296 |
Total funds 2024 £ 16,189 17,700 18,393 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - - - - - - |
Restricted funds 2023 £ - - - |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 137,541 17,609 155,150 Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 14,143 19,493 22,750 56,386 12,461 527 13,554 29,844 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 14,143 19,493 22,750 |
Total funds 2023 £ 14,143 19,493 22,750 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,282 | 52,282 | - | 56,386 | 56,386 | |||||
| Total funds 2023 £ 137,541 17,609 155,150 12,461 527 13,554 29,844 |
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The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
6 Total expenditure
| Current Year Staff costs (Note 9) Expenditure on raising funds Fundraising - Fundraising trading - - Expenditure on charitable activities Primary purpose trade 217,222 Governance - 217,222 Support staff costs 57,742 274,964 |
Other direct costs - 39,986 39,986 123,998 - 163,984 |
Support costs (Note 7) 26,426 - 26,426 93,120 6,292 125,838 (57,742) 68,096 |
Governance costs - - - 6,292 (6,292) - |
Total 2024 26,426 39,986 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66,412 | ||||
| 440,632 | ||||
| - | ||||
| 507,044 | ||||
21
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
6 Total expenditure (continued)
| Prior Year Staff costs (Note 9) Other direct costs Expenditure on raising funds Fundraising - - Fundraising trading - 26,542 - 26,542 Expenditure on charitable activities Primary purpose trade 173,485 180,067 Governance - 2,558 173,485 209,167 Support staff costs 46,305 219,790 Support costs Costs of generating voluntary income £ Office costs 14,300 Staff costs 12,126 26,426 |
Support costs (Note 7) 23,452 - |
Governance costs - - - 8,142 (8,142) - Governance £ 3,405 2,887 6,292 |
Total 2023 23,452 26,542 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23,452 | 49,994 | ||||
| 82,639 | 444,333 | ||||
| 5,584 | - | ||||
| 111,675 (46,305) |
494,327 | ||||
| Total 2024 £ 68,096 57,742 125,838 |
|||||
| 65,370 | |||||
| Primary purpose trading £ 50,391 42,729 93,120 |
7 Support costs
22
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
7 Support costs (continued)
| Prior year Office costs Staff costs |
Costs of generating voluntary income £ 13,728 9,724 23,452 |
Primary purpose trading £ 48,373 34,266 82,639 |
Governance £ 3,269 2,315 5,584 |
Total 2023 £ 65,370 46,305 111,675 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
8 Net incoming resources
This is stated after charging:
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets Independent examiner’s fee Operating lease rentals |
2024 2023 £ £ 32,960 33,365 3,000 2,550 10,680 5,956 |
|---|---|
9 Staff employment costs
Staff costs were as follows:
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs |
2024 £ 251,818 16,296 6,850 274,964 |
2023 £ 201,697 12,227 5,866 219,790 |
|---|---|---|
The average number of persons employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
| 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Number | Number |
| 14 | 12 |
No employee received remuneration amounting to more than £60,000 in either year.
Key management personnel received remuneration and benefits totalling £34,469 (2023: £28,064) and pension contributions of £1,379 (2023: £1,123).
23
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
10 Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 January 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2024 Depreciation At 1 January 2024 Charge for the year Eliminated on Disposal At 31 December 2024 Net book value At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2023 k Stock tors Trade debtors Other debtors |
Buildings £ 1,127,650 20,885 13,235 1,161,770 396,956 27,974 13,235 438,165 723,606 730,694 |
Machinery and equipment £ 178,348 - - 178,348 147,372 3,991 - 151,363 26,984 30,976 |
Motor vehicles £ 61,832 - - 61,832 56,762 995 - 57,757 4,075 5,070 2024 £ 13,784 2024 £ 29,750 152,022 181,772 |
Motor vehicles £ 61,832 - - 61,832 56,762 995 - 57,757 4,075 5,070 2024 £ 13,784 2024 £ 29,750 152,022 181,772 |
Total £ 1,367,830 20,885 13,235 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,401,950 | ||||||
| 601,090 32,960 13,235 |
||||||
| 647,285 | ||||||
| 754,665 | ||||||
| 766,740 | ||||||
| 2023 £ 13,995 |
||||||
| 2024 £ 29,750 152,022 181,772 |
2023 £ 20,032 259,244 279,276 |
11 Stock
12 Debtors
24
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
13 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
| Loan Trade creditors Other taxation and social security Other creditors and accruals Deferred income 14 Creditors: Amounts falling due after one year Bank loans |
2024 £ 6,878 14,072 3,601 30,266 41,239 96,056 2024 £ 18,955 |
2023 £ 10,000 4,789 6,726 51,536 62,946 |
|---|---|---|
| 135,997 | ||
| 2023 £ 25,000 |
The Bounce Back loan was drawn down in July 2021. It has a term of 72 months. Capital repayments will commence 13 months following the drawdown of the loan. A capital repayment holiday has been granted for the period 8 December 2024 until 8 May 2024 with repayments made during this period being interest only. A guarantee has been provided by the UK Government under BBLS.
25
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
| 15 Statement of funds Statement of funds – current year Designated funds – fixed assets General funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Minibus Fund Sensory Trail Project Fund Bird Trail Fund Fort Climate Centre Residential Bathrooms Project Treehouse Repairs Fund YouCAN Project Fund The OWL Collaboration Green & Blue Horizons Green Cascade Volunteer Programme IT Equipment Fund 3C’s Project Fund Arts Council New Forest Song Farming in Protected Landscapes Total funds |
At 1 January 2024 Incoming resources £ £ 441,482 - 34,228 331,014 475,710 331,014 1,597 - 22,539 - 1,879 - 230,637 - 15,000 - 9,000 4,000 193,717 - 37,225 36,400 1,186 - 455 - 560 - 32,482 8,000 - 6,000 - - 546,277 54,400 1,021,987 385,414 |
Resources expended Transfers in/out At 31 December 2024 £ £ £ (12,985) - 428,497 (319,838) - 45,404 (332,823) 473,901 (262) - 1,335 - - 22,539 (470) - 1,409 (11,019) - 219,618 (1,280) - 13,720 - - 13,000 (59,025) - 134,692 (59,175) - 14,450 (296) - 890 - - 455 (314) - 246 (37,124) - 3,358 (4,885) - 1,115 (371) - (371) (174,221) - 426,456 (507,044) - 900,357 |
Resources expended Transfers in/out At 31 December 2024 £ £ £ (12,985) - 428,497 (319,838) - 45,404 (332,823) 473,901 (262) - 1,335 - - 22,539 (470) - 1,409 (11,019) - 219,618 (1,280) - 13,720 - - 13,000 (59,025) - 134,692 (59,175) - 14,450 (296) - 890 - - 455 (314) - 246 (37,124) - 3,358 (4,885) - 1,115 (371) - (371) (174,221) - 426,456 (507,044) - 900,357 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45,404 | |||
| 473,901 | |||
| 1,335 22,539 1,409 219,618 13,720 13,000 134,692 14,450 890 455 246 3,358 1,115 (371) |
|||
| 426,456 | |||
| 900,357 |
26
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
| 15 Statement of funds (continued) Statement of funds – prior year Designated funds – fixed assets General funds General funds Total unrestricted funds Restricted funds Biomass Project Fund Home Farm Biomass Minibus Fund Sensory Trail Project Fund Education Officer Salary Fund Bird Trail Fund Fort Climate Centre Residential Bathrooms Project Environmental Education Fund Treehouse Tools Treehouse Repairs Fund YouCAN Project Fund The OWL Collaboration Green & Blue Horizons Green Cascade Volunteer Programme IT Equipment Fund 3C’s Project Fund Total funds |
At 1 January 2023 Incoming resources £ £ 456,061 - 120,805 246,465 576,866 246,465 16,250 - 25,000 (25,000) 1,859 - 22,374 165 36,034 - 2,349 - 209,436 49,086 15,000 - - 8,000 20 - - 9,000 - 198,000 62,625 - - 25,225 1,000 - - 560 - 36,000 391,947 301,036 968,813 547,501 |
Resources expended Transfers in/out At 31 December 2023 £ £ £ (14,579) - 441,482 (376,846) 43,804 34,228 (391,425) 43,804 475,710 - (16,250) - - - - (262) - 1,597 - - 22,539 (36,034) - - (470) - 1,879 (26,059) (1,826) 230,637 - - 15,000 (8,000) - - (20) - - - - 9,000 (4,283) - 193,717 - (25,400) 37,225 (23,711) (328) 1,186 (545) - 455 - - 560 (3,518) - 32,482 (102,902) (43,804) 546,277 (494,327) - 1,021,987 |
Resources expended Transfers in/out At 31 December 2023 £ £ £ (14,579) - 441,482 (376,846) 43,804 34,228 (391,425) 43,804 475,710 - (16,250) - - - - (262) - 1,597 - - 22,539 (36,034) - - (470) - 1,879 (26,059) (1,826) 230,637 - - 15,000 (8,000) - - (20) - - - - 9,000 (4,283) - 193,717 - (25,400) 37,225 (23,711) (328) 1,186 (545) - 455 - - 560 (3,518) - 32,482 (102,902) (43,804) 546,277 (494,327) - 1,021,987 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 34,228 | |||
| 475,710 | |||
| - - 1,597 22,539 - 1,879 230,637 15,000 - - 9,000 193,717 37,225 1,186 455 560 32,482 |
|||
| 546,277 | |||
| 1,021,987 |
27
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
15 Statement of funds (continued)
Summary of funds – current year
| Designated funds General funds Restricted funds mmary of funds – prior year Designated funds General funds Restricted funds |
At 1 January 2024 Incoming resources £ £ 441,482 - 34,228 331,014 475,710 331,014 546,277 54,400 1,021,987 385,414 At 1 January 2023 Incoming resources £ £ 456,061 - 120,805 246,465 576,866 246,465 391,947 301,036 968,813 547,501 |
Resources expended Transfer s in/out At 31 December 2024 £ £ £ (12,985) - 428,497 (319,838) - 45,404 (332,823) - 473,901 (174,221) - 426,456 (507,044) - 900,357 Resources expended Transfer s in/out At 31 December 2023 £ £ £ (14,579) - 441,482 (376,846) 43,804 34,228 (391,425) 43,804 475,710 (102,902) (43,804) 546,277 (494,327) - 1,021,987 |
Resources expended Transfer s in/out At 31 December 2024 £ £ £ (12,985) - 428,497 (319,838) - 45,404 (332,823) - 473,901 (174,221) - 426,456 (507,044) - 900,357 Resources expended Transfer s in/out At 31 December 2023 £ £ £ (14,579) - 441,482 (376,846) 43,804 34,228 (391,425) 43,804 475,710 (102,902) (43,804) 546,277 (494,327) - 1,021,987 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 475,710 546,277 |
|||
| 1,021,987 |
Summary of funds – prior year
Designated funds
The fixed asset designated fund has been set up to reflect those assets held by the charity that were acquired previously with restricted funds, principally the refurbishment and development of the New Forest Study Centre, and improvements at the Out of Town Centre.
Restricted revenue funds descriptions
The Minibus fund is to help towards the purchase of a new minibus and signage.
The Sensory Trail Project Fund is to contribute towards the Sensory Trail Project.
The Bird Trail Fund is to contribute towards the building of a bird trail and hide for bird watching, together with associated display boards and cameras.
The Fort Climate Centre Fund is for building and equipping the new Fort Climate Centre Building.
Residential Bathrooms Project helping us to futureproof ourselves by kickstarting a new project to change our residential centre bathrooms so that they are suitable for a wider range of groups.
28
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
15 Statement of funds (continued)
Treehouse Repairs Fund relates to donations towards major Treehouse Repairs Project
YouCAN Project Fund is funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the Youth for Climate and Nature Scheme.
The OWL Collaboration fund is a four-year project aimed at disadvantaged young people enabling them to experience high quality residential Outdoor Weeks of Learning (OWLs.) Transfers reflect the funds being used to fund such OWLs.
Green and Blue Horizons Project is a National Heritage Lottery funded scheme for public engagement.
The Green Cascade Volunteer Programme aims to pass skills onto volunteers.
Championing Coastal Communities (3C's) is a project funded by the Environment Agency connecting communities with climate changes which will impact the land between Lymington and Calshot.
The New Forest Song, funded by the Arts Council, is a project enabling local schools to co-create music capturing the children's feelings about and understanding the New Forest.
The Farming in Protected Landscapes Grant provides equipment and machinery to enable better land management practices.
Other restricted funds are for various projects as outlined in the names of the funds above.
16 Analysis of net assets between funds
Analysis of net assets between funds – current year
| Fixed assets Current assets Creditors due within one year Creditors due in more than one year |
Restricted funds 2024 £ 249,795 176,661 - - 426,456 |
Designated funds 2024 £ 428,497 - - - 428,497 |
Unrestricted funds 2024 £ 76,373 84,042 (99,178) (15,833) 45,404 |
Total funds 2024 £ 754,665 260,703 (99,178) (15,833) 900,357 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
29
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
16 Analysis of net assets between funds (continued)
| Analysis of net assets between funds – prior year Restricted funds 2023 £ Fixed assets 242,238 Current assets 304,039 Creditors due within one year - Creditors due in more than one year - 546,277 |
Designated funds 2023 441,482 - - - 441,482 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 83,020 112,205 (135,997) (25,000) 34,228 |
Total funds 2023 £ 766,740 416,244 (135,997) (25,000) 1,021,987 |
|---|---|---|---|
17 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities
| Net (expenditure)/income for the year Adjustment for: Depreciation charges Loss on disposal of fixed assets Decrease in stocks Decrease/(Increase) in debtors (Decrease)/Increase in creditors Net cash (absorbed by)/provided by operating activities |
2024 £ (121,630) 32,960 - 211 97,504 (36,819) (27,774) |
2023 £ 53,174 35,365 38,039 52 65,988 (8,507) (201,125) |
|---|---|---|
18 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
| Cash in hand | 2024 2023 £ £ 65,147 122,973 |
|---|---|
19 Pension commitments
The charity participates in a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the charity to the fund and amounted to £6,850 (2023: £5,866). Contributions totalling £2,360 (2023: £3,261) were payable to the fund at the balance sheet date and are included in creditors.
30
The Countryside Education Trust
Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
20 Operating lease commitments
At 31 December 2024 the total of the Charity’s future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating lease payments was:
| Amounts payable: Within 1 year Between 1 and 5 years After more than 5 years Total |
Land and buildings 2024 2023 £ £ 5,667 5,667 19,204 19,204 205,231 210,032 230,102 234,903 |
Other 2024 2023 £ £ 1,679 1,679 4,198 5,878 - - 5,877 7,557 |
|---|---|---|
21 Trustees
No Trustee or closely connected person received emoluments from the charity and no expenses were reimbursed to Trustees during the year.
During the year the charity provided Trustee indemnity insurance to cover all its trustees at a cost of £1,624 (2023: £1,624).
22 Related party transactions
During the year the charity entered the following transactions with connected parties.
Beaulieu Enterprises Limited ('BEL') a company in which one of the directors was also Trustee of the charity.
Recharged services provided by BEL amounted to £34,969 (2023: £28,787).
At the year end the balance owed by the charity to BEL amounted to £487 (2023: £6,503).
Lord Montagu - A Trustee of the charity
During the year the trust leased all leasehold properties from the private estate of Lord Montagu. The rentals payable on these properties for the year were £13,157 (2023: £13,157).
The charity also paid £872 (2023: £3,873) for other services provided by the private estate of the Lord Montagu. At the year end the balance owed by the charity to Lord Montagu amounted to £1,801 (2023: £nil).
23 Control
The charity is controlled by its Trustees acting in accordance with the terms of the governing trust deed.
31
A frosty morning at the Fort Climate Centre
Countryside Education Trust (Charity No. 269546) Home Farm, Palace Lane, Beaulieu SO42 7YG www.cet.org.uk