REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 279242
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
FOR
RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
| Report of the Trustees | 2 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 to 10 |
RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
TRUSTEES
Mr A C H Gordon OBE Mr I K Clements Mrs H Kippax
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS
Ruskin Mill Old Bristol Road Nailsworth Gloucestershire GL6 0LA
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER
279242
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2024. 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 object of the Trust is the advancement of the education of the public in agriculture and related subjects with particular reference to principles and methods based on the teaching of Rudolf Steiner.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
The main activity of the charity during the year has been the leasing of Plas Dwbl Farm, its principal asset, to Ruskin Mill Trust Ltd for the purpose of operating a therapeutic educational programme for young people with special needs.
FINANCIAL REVIEW Reserves policy
The financial position of the Trust remains sound and the Trustees confirm that reserves are adequate to fulfil present obligations.
FUTURE PLANS
Future plans for the Responsive Earth Trust are:
a) To gift the property Lyn Piod, together with approximately 20 acres of adjoining farmland, to the charity Ruskin Mill Centre for Research (RMCR) in order to support the research that will be conducted by RMCR.
b) To develop the Canolfen Awen Centre on the Trust's land at Plas Dwbl, subject to the successful granting of planning consent.
c) To continue leasing Plas Dwbl Farm to Ruskin Mill Trust Ltd for the purpose of operating a therapeutic educational programme for young people with special needs.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a Deed of Trust, and constitutes an unincorporated charity. The Deed of Trust was constituted on 19 September 1979 by Marion Estell Swatton, Joan Winifred Mary Hydon, Daniel Manasse David Donahaye and Cornelie de Bruyne.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr A C H Gordon OBE - Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Responsive Earth Trust
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Responsive Earth Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 July 2024.
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:
-
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
-
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.
Philip Burton BSc FCA
Bronsens Chartered Certified Accountants Eden House Two Rivers Business Park Witney Oxfordshire OX28 4BL
30 May 2025
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies Investment income 2 Total EXPENDITURE ON Other NET INCOME RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
31.7.24 Unrestricted fund £ 146,357 43,430 189,787 18,879 170,908 829,850 1,000,758 |
31.7.23 Total funds £ - 39,687 39,687 19,805 19,882 809,968 829,850 |
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
BALANCE SHEET 31 JULY 2024
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 5 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 Cash at bank CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 7 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year 8 NET ASSETS FUNDS 10 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
31.7.24 Unrestricted fund £ 942,295 4,509 243,690 248,199 (29,660) 218,539 1,160,834 (160,076) 1,000,758 1,000,758 1,000,758 |
31.7.23 Total funds £ 942,350 (15,374) 120,715 105,341 (39,273) 66,068 1,008,418 (178,568) 829,850 829,850 829,850 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 30 May 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Mr A C H Gordon OBE - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
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.
The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Freehold property - not provided Fixtures and fittings - 25% on reducing balance
Freehold properties are not depreciated as the trustees consider that the present value of future income exceeds their book value.
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.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
2. INVESTMENT INCOME
| Rents received 3. SUPPORT COSTS Management £ Other resources expended 1,988 Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: Insurance Depreciation of tangible assets Interest payable and similar charges Independent examination fee Bookkeeping costs Bank charges |
31.7.24 £ 43,430 Governance Other costs £ £ 14,161 2,730 31.7.24 Other resources expended £ 1,933 55 14,161 1,350 1,350 30 18,879 |
31.7.23 £ 39,687 Totals £ 18,879 31.7.23 Total activities £ 5,637 88 11,450 1,200 1,400 30 19,805 |
|---|---|---|
4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 July 2024 nor for the year ended 31 July 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 July 2024 nor for the year ended 31 July 2023.
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Improvements Freehold to property property £ £ COST At 1 August 2023 274,961 667,167 Reclassification 667,167 (667,167) At 31 July 2024 942,128 - DEPRECIATION At 1 August 2023 - - Charge for year - - At 31 July 2024 - - NET BOOK VALUE At 31 July 2024 942,128 - At 31 July 2023 274,961 667,167 6. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors Other debtors 7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Bank loans and overdrafts (see note 9) Trade creditors VAT Other creditors Accruals |
Fixtures and fittings £ 42,312 - 42,312 42,090 55 42,145 167 222 31.7.24 £ 4,509 - 4,509 31.7.24 £ 19,000 - 574 2,243 7,843 29,660 |
Totals £ 984,440 - 984,440 42,090 55 42,145 942,295 942,350 31.7.23 £ (17,307) 1,933 (15,374) 31.7.23 £ 19,000 2,400 322 9,708 7,843 39,273 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
| 8. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31.7.24 | 31.7.23 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Bank loans (see note 9) | 160,076 | 178,568 | ||
| 9. | LOANS | |||
| An analysis of the maturity of loans is given below: | ||||
| 31.7.24 | 31.7.23 | |||
| £ | £ | |||
| Amounts falling due within one year on demand: | ||||
| Bank loans | 19,000 | 19,000 | ||
| Amounts falling between one and two years: | ||||
| Bank loans - 1-2 years | 20,000 | 20,000 | ||
| Amounts falling due between two and five years: | ||||
| Bank loans - 2-5 years | 66,000 | 66,000 | ||
| Amounts falling due in more than five years: | ||||
| Repayable by instalments: | ||||
| Bank loans more 5 yr by instal | 74,076 | 92,568 | ||
| 10. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | |||
| Net | ||||
| movement | At | |||
| At 1.8.23 | in funds | 31.7.24 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 829,850 | 170,908 | 1,000,758 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 829,850 | 170,908 | 1,000,758 | |
| Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: | ||||
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | ||
| resources | expended | in funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted funds | ||||
| General fund | 189,787 | (18,879) | 170,908 | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 189,787 | (18,879) | 170,908 |
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RESPONSIVE EARTH TRUST
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1.8.22 £ 809,968 809,968 |
Net movement in funds £ 19,882 19,882 |
At 31.7.23 £ 829,850 829,850 |
|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 39,687 | (19,805) | 19,882 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 39,687 | (19,805) | 19,882 |
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
Mr A C H Gordon and Mrs H Kippax are also trustees of Ruskin Mill Trust (charity no. 1137167). During the year the charity received £43,400 (2023 - £39,687) in rental income from Ruskin Mill Trust. At 31 July 2024 £4,509 (2023 - £nil) was outstanding.
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