THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
REPORT AND STATUTORY ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 5 APRIL 2025
Registered Charity Number 288541
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
I N D E X
Year ended 5 April 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 2 |
| Independent Examiner’s report | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 5 |
| Balance Sheet | 6 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 7 |
| Appendix: Investment portfolio (not filed with Charity Commission) | 12 |
1
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
R E P O R T O F T H E T R U S T E E S
Year ended 5 April 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and accounts of the Charity for the year ended 5 April 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 of the financial statements. The statements comply with the Charity’s Trust Deed, the Charities Act 2011 and the 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 (SORP FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
Structure, governance and management
The Trust was constituted on 14 January 1982, and is governed by the Trust Deed. The Trustees who served during the year are shown in the ‘Reference and administrative details’ section below. New Trustees may be appointed by the existing Trustees by virtue of a power contained within the Trust Deed. All Trustees give of their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the year.
The Trustees consider that the principal risk facing the Trust continues to be the variability of investment returns from the Trust’s investments. The Trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the Trust faces and confirm that appropriate measures have been taken to protect it from them as far as possible.
Objectives and activities for the public benefit
The object of the Charity, under the terms of the Trust Deed, is to make donations to any charitable body, association or organisation at the discretion of the Trustees.
The Trust Deed provides that the income and (at the Trustees’ discretion) the whole or part of the Trust fund be applied for charitable purposes.
The Trustees having regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission in accordance with section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 consider that the purpose and activities of the Charity satisfy the requirements of the public benefit test set out in section 4 of the same act.
Organisation
The Charity is governed by its Trustees who may exercise all the powers contained within the Trust Deed.
In accordance with the Trust Deed, the Trustees have power to invest in such stocks, shares, investments and property in any part of the world as they see fit. The Trustees appointed Close Brothers Asset Management as investment managers on a discretionary basis to invest for a balanced return of income and capital growth in the long term.
Financial review
In total, funds decreased by £372,068 in the year to £7,763,167 (2024 - increased by £707,128 to £8,135,235).
The Trustees make donations and grants on a discretionary basis. The Trustees have continued with their policy of supporting the Rona Trust. During the year the Trustees made grants of £90,000 to the Rona Trust (2024 - £90,000). Further grants were made of £1,000 to Park Yoga (2024 - £nil) and £1,000 to Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom (2024 - £nil).
Reserves policy
At 5 April 2025 there was £1,134,627 of undistributed income (2024 - £1,064,884). The Trustees consider the aggregate level of capital and undistributed income sufficient to meet their objectives, which include a proposed significant donation to the Rona Trust to enable them to purchase a new sail training boat. The Trustees have the power to invest as they think fit any funds not immediately required.
Investment policy
The Trustees’ principal resources arise from investment income. In this regard the Trustees have noted the statutory duty of care required by the Trustee Act 2000 in relation to their holding suitable investments and the need for diversification of investments so far as is appropriate to the circumstances of the Trust. Given the Trustees’ distribution policy their view is that the retention of the excess assets of the Trust in cash pending their distribution reflects suitable investment of the Trust’s funds.
2
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THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
I N D E P E N D E N T E X A M I N E R ’ S R E P O R T
Year ended 5 April 2025
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 5 April 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’). You are satisfied that an audit is not required for this year under charity law and that an independent examination is needed.
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. Dixon Wilson, a firm of Chartered Accountants of which I am a partner has provided bookkeeping services to the Trust and I have applied the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard in carrying out my examination.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the Independent Examiner’s statement.
Independent Examiner’s statement
I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
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 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 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.
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The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no 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.
SUZANNE ROSE ACA CTA Dixon Wilson 22 Chancery Lane London WC2A 1LS
18 February 2026
4
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
S T A T E M E N T O F F I N A N C I A L A C T I V I T I E S
Year ended 5 April 2025
| Unrestricted Expendable Income Endowment Note Fund Fund Income and endowments from: £ £ Investments: Investment income 2 166,763 - Total income and endowments 166,763 - Expenditure on: Raising funds: Investment management fees 3 - 43,004 Charitable activities: Grants made 4 92,000 - Governance costs 5,020 - Total expenditure 97,020 43,004 Net (losses)/ gain on investments 5 - (398,807) Net income/ (expenses) 69,743 (441,811) Net movement in funds 69,743 (441,811) Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward 1,064,884 7,070,351 Total funds carried forward(page 6) 1,134,627 6,628,540 |
2025 £ 166,763 166,763 43,004 92,000 5,020 140,024 (398,807) (372,068) (372,068) 8,135,235 7,763,167 |
2024 £ 165,399 165,399 35,887 90,100 4,684 130,671 672,400 707,128 707,128 7,428,107 8,135,235 |
|---|---|---|
The notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these financial statements. All amounts relate to continuing operations.
The charity has no recognised gains and losses other than as stated above.
5
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST ALANCE SHEET Al S Apnl 2015 2025 2024 F+xod a8wII e51neffjs * w4ue 8.141 162 &982295 CvrrentA•#•t# i. Isa 104 Deèlor l (Q7. 1.It19 42r cwTvnt118.Illl• Crethtty¥. due I¥ y Not ¢uritni awl• I1 ceoi I UI6IX15 {16 467) T•ial n•iAss 6.lJ523J Th• lund$ ol the ctrk•¥#y Unie5YlCted Fund Ipage g Expenohklè Entstswinoit Funttlpage ¥ Toial ¢hartty luftds 1 13d..627 $628.JO I C. 884 T.07OJ51 Tro 5 tr) 11 ty Ille Truskes 18 Fèbruary 2028 A D.SEIfiLF V C SE4RLE Trusie
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Year ended 5 April 2025
1. Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of preparation
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), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The Trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention modified to include the revaluation of investments. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the financial currency of the Trust and rounded to the nearest £.
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern.
(b) Fund accounting policy
The Charity comprises an Unrestricted Income Fund and an Expendable Endowment Fund. Unrestricted funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity. Expendable Endowment Funds are capital funds that may be freely converted into spendable income as the Trustees see fit.
(c) Income
Investment gains and losses includes any realised or unrealised gains or losses on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year.
Dividends and similar income are recognised on the date the Trust becomes entitled to the income. Interest is recognised on an accruals basis.
(d) Expenditure and liabilities
Donations are recognised when the Charity is committed to making the donations. All other expenditure is based on an accruals basis. The Charity has creditors which are measured at settlement amounts.
(e) Assets
Fixed asset investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are initially recognised at transaction price and subsequently measured at fair value. All realised and unrealised gains are taken to the statement of financial activities.
(f) Taxation
The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its Charitable Objectives.
(g) Trustees’ remuneration and expenses
The Trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind.
7
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Year ended 5 April 2025
2. Investment income
| Unrestricted Expendable Income Endowment Fund Fund £ £ UK equities 73,398 - Overseas 53,946 - Fixed interest 23,324 - Deposit interest 16,095 - 166,763 - |
Unrestricted Expendable Total Income Endowment 2025 Fund Fund £ £ £ 73,398 74,773 - 53,946 76,324 - 23,324 7,490 - 16,095 6,812 - 166,763 165,399 - |
Total 2024 £ 74,773 76,324 7,490 6,812 165,399 |
|---|---|---|
3. Raising funds
| 3. Raising funds |
3. Raising funds |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Expendable | Unrestricted | Expendable | |||
| Income | Endowment | Total | Income |
Endowment | Total | |
| Fund | Fund | 2025 | Fund |
Fund | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
£ | £ | |
| Investment management fees | - |
43,004 | 43,004 | - |
35,887 | 35,887 |
4. Charitable activities
The Charity undertakes its charitable activities through grant making and awards grants to institutions in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Charitable activities relate to the Unrestricted Income Fund only.
| Grant-funded Governance activity costs £ £ Funded from Unrestricted Income Fund: Grant making 92,000 5,020 Total 92,000 5,020 Governance costs 2025 £ Bank charges 480 Accountancy fees 4,540 5,020 Accountancy fees payable to the Independent Examiner’s firm as follows: 2025 £ - Examination 1,000 - Accountancy 3,540 4,540 |
Total 2025 £ 97,020 97,020 2024 £ 484 4,200 4,684 2024 £ 1,000 3,200 4,200 |
|---|---|
(continued)
8
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 4. Charitable activities (continued) Recipients of institutional grants: Rona Trust – London Sailing Project Park Yoga Parkinson’s Disease Society of the United Kingdom Ann Bowers |
2025 £ 90,000 1,000 1,000 - 92,000 |
2024 £ 90,000 - - 100 90,100 |
|---|---|---|
5. Fixed asset investments
| Unrestricted Expendable Unrestricted Expendable Income Endowment Total Income Endowment Fund Fund 2025 Fund Fund £ £ £ £ £ Market value At 6 April 2024 - 6,982,295 6,982,295 - 6,354,191 Additions at cost - 1,177,985 1,177,985 - 1,810,604 Disposals at carrying value - (840,460) (840,460) - (1,534,183) Unrealised gains on investments - (633,411) (633,411) - 442,007 Movement in cash balance - 60,753 60,753 - (90,324) At 5 April 2025 - 6,747,162 6,747,162 - 6,982,295 Historical cost - 3,782,581 3,782,581 - 3,445,056 2025 £ Investments at market value consists of UK listed investments 6,570,821 Cash held for investment 176,341 6,747,162 Reconciliation of realised and unrealised gains/(losses) on investments Unrealised (losses)/ gains (633,411) Realised gains 234,604 (398,807) The following investment holdings are in the opinion of the Trustees material: Market value £ Findlay Park Fds PLC American Fund 326,377 Close Sustainable Select Fixed Income 349,596 |
Total 2024 £ 6,354,191 1,810,604 (1,534,183) 442,007 (90,324) 6,982,295 3,445,056 2024 £ 6,866,707 115,588 6,982,295 442,007 230,393 672,400 Portfolio % 4.97 5.32 |
|---|---|
9
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Year ended 5 April 2025
| 6. Cash at bank Coutts & Co current account Close Brothers – income account Fixed deposit – Money Market |
2025 £ 970,747 65,952 - 1,036,699 |
2025 £ 970,747 65,952 - 1,036,699 |
2024 £ 254,700 113,404 800,000 1,168,104 |
2024 £ 254,700 113,404 800,000 1,168,104 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Investment manager’s fees Accountancy and independent examination fees |
2025 £ 10,540 10,540 21,080 |
2024 £ 10,487 6,000 16,487 |
8. Related party disclosures
A D Searle is also a Trustee of the Rona Trust – London Sailing Project. Unconditional grants totalling £90,000 (2024 - £90,000) were made to the Rona Trust – London Sailing Project during the year.
The Trustees did not receive remuneration or reimbursed expenses in the year (2024 - £nil).
| 9. Unrestricted Funds Funds brought Incoming Outgoing forward resources resources £ £ £ Analysis of fund movements Unrestricted Income Fund 1,064,884 166,763 (97,020) Expendable Endowment Fund 7,070,351 - (43,004) 8,135,235 166,763 (140,024) Funds brought Incoming Outgoing forward resources resources £ £ £ Prior year – analysis of funds Unrestricted Income Fund 994,269 165,399 (94,784) Expendable Endowment Fund 6,433,838 - (35,887) 7,428,107 165,399 (130,671) |
Net funds carried Losses forward £ £ - 1,134,627 (398,807) 6,628,540 (398,807) 7,763,167 Net funds carried Gains forward £ £ - 1,064,884 672,400 7,070,351 672,400 8,135,235 |
|---|---|
10
THE SEARLE CHARITABLE TRUST
N O T E S T O T H E F I N A N C I A L S T A T E M E N T S
Year ended 5 April 2025
10. Analysis of total net assets between funds
| Unrestricted Expendable Income Endowment Fund Fund £ £ Investments - 6,747,162 Current assets 1,145,167 (108,082) Current liabilities (10,540) (10,540) 1,134,627 6,628,540 |
Unrestricted Expendable Total Income Endowment 2025 Fund Fund £ £ £ 6,747,162 - 6,982,295 1,037,085 1,070,884 98,543 (21,080) (6,000) (10,487) 7,763,167 1,064,884 7,070,251 |
Total 2024 £ 6,982,295 1,169,427 (16,487) 8,135,235 |
|---|---|---|
11. Financial instruments
| 11. Financial instruments 2025 |
2024 |
| £ | £ |
| Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure 6,747,162 |
6,982,295 |
| Financial assets measured at fair value through income and expenditure comprise fixed asset investments. |
11