## **CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25** ## **Report of the Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary** ## **Date: 28 November 2025** ## **1. Overview** - 1.1 The City of Westminster Charitable Trust was established in January 1987 for the purpose of allocating income received for charitable purposes directed wholly or mainly to the benefit of the City of Westminster or for charitable purposes in any other part of the world as the Trustees shall from time to time decide. - 1.2 The charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014. **Full Name of Charity:** City of Westminster Charitable Trust **Registration Number:** 296091 **Date of registration:** 20 January 1987 **Main communication address:** City of Westminster, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP - 1.3 The Trustees comprise of members and officers of Westminster City Council. The current Trustees are: - Cllr McAllister (as the Lord Mayor until 15th May) - Cllr Robert Rigby (from 15th May 2024) - Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg - Cllr Caroline Sargent - Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis - Cllr Iman Less - Gerald Almeroth (Honorary Treasurer) - Helen Haris (Honorary Secretary) - 1.4 Councillor Robert Rigby became Mayor on 15[th] May 2024 and continued to be the mayor for the 2024-25 Financial Year. ‘The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund’ supports the Lord Mayor’s charity Westminster Befriend a Family. 1 - 1.5 Independent Examiner: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Internal Audit Service, 3[rd] Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX. ## **2. Financial Review** - 2.1 The Trust is made up of two separate funds, namely the Community Contribution Fund and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund. This is the seventh financial year of the Community Contribution Scheme and like previous years, the account has been prepared on an accrual basis. - This is also the seventh year for which a statement of cash flow (Table 3) has been prepared for the Trust. All large charities, donations above £500k, are required to produce a cashflow. Though not a requirement for this financial year, the cashflow has been included. - 2.3 As with the previous two years, the total income of the charity in 2024/25 has exceeded the £25,000 threshold set by the Charity Commission, rendering the accounts subject to independent examination. This will be carried out by RBKC Internal Audit prior to the submission of the accounts in January 2026. ## **3. Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund** - 3.1 The expenditure for the Lord Mayor’s appeal fund was nil in 2024/25, the same as 2023/24. - 3.2 The total funds available within the Lord Mayor’s account as at 31 March 2025, which relates to more than one financial year, is £24,864 which will be disbursed as agreed by the trustees, to the chosen charities of the relevant Mayors in 2025/26. ## **4. Community Contribution Fund** - 4.1 The community contribution donations totalled £232,340 in 2024/25. This balance comprises £213,231 in-year community contributions and £19,110 in Gift Aid. - 4.2 The expenditure in 2024/25 on Board approved grant payments was £374,069. Expenditure on bank charges for statements and use of WorldPay / Bankline services was (£2,697). - 4.3 Total fund available within the Community Contribution account for distribution as at 31/03/2025 is £241,219.29. - 4.4 Throughout the year monthly reconciliations are completed for the Community Contribution Fund against the bank account and agreed donations. This reconciliation process ensures that accurate record keeping is maintained throughout the year and supports the completion of the annual accounts. 2 ## **5. Community Contribution Scheme Background** - 5.1 Following a consultation with Band H properties between November and December 2017, the Westminster City Council Cabinet recommended to Council that a voluntary Community Contribution scheme be introduced. The scheme invites Band H council taxpayers to make a voluntary contribution to fund discretionary local services. - 5.2 The consultation also highlighted that a significant number of respondents wanted to be able to make their contribution as a charitable donation as well as direct it towards specific priorities. The Council recommended, and the Trustees of the charity have agreed, that any funds raised through the scheme should be paid into the charity, and should be used to support three priorities: - Extra support for people who find themselves sleeping on Westminster’s streets - Helping to tackle isolation and loneliness – not just amongst the elderly but across all age groups, including children - Helping young people – investing in youth support ## **6. Recommendation** - 6.1 That the Trustees approve the Annual Accounts and Annual Report 2024/25 for submission to the Charity Commission. 3 ## **CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024/25** ## **Income and Expenditure – Table 1** 4 Balance Sheet - Table 2 crry OF WESTMINsfER CHAR￿ABLE TRUST Balan￿ Sheet 31 Marth 2025 31 Marth 2025 Community C•ntrib&rtlons Fund 31 Marth 2024 31 March 2024 Community C•ntrib&rtloni Fund Lord M•yor' Appeal Fund Lord Mayor. Appeal Fund Curr•nt •ss•ts Debtor- Westtninstet City Council Contribution to Independent Examinels Fee and Bank Charges Debtor- Gift Aid Cash at bank and in hand 12,0751 1.533 241.219 1.757 6.266 374,183 24.864 24.864 Total ¢urrent a55ets 24.864 240.677 24,864 382.206 Cr+d￿•r$. •mounts fallln¢ du• wlthln on• Y￿r Council Tax paid into incorrect account Expense accrual . Independent Examinerfs Fee 11.3331 16221 11.1591 I￿6) Totsl Liabilrty 11,9551 11,7651 Net current assets/lliabilitiesl 24,864 238.722 24,864 380.442 Total assets less cuwreTht Ilabilitles 24.864 238.722 24,864 380.442 Creditgrs: arnounts fallini due after one year Net assets / Iliabilrliesl Funds of the Charity Cashflow - Table 3 Clty of Westrninster Charitable Trust 2024125 2023124 Cash flows from operating activitie$ Operatin8 profit/{lossl Interest / Bank Char8es paid Depreciation {Increasel/Decrease in receivables and debtors Increase/lDecreasel in payables and creditors Net cash inflow/(oufflow) generated from operating activities 1144,4261 2,697 125,544) (1,1511 8.566 191 1132,972) 38,506 23 11,834 Cash flows from Investlng artlvltles Purchases of non current assets Interest received Net cash flows from investing artivities 5.58 5.58 Cash flows from financing artivities Net Idecrease}lincrease in cash and cash equivalents 1132,9631 11,840 Cash and cash equlvalents at the beginnlng of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 399,047 266.083 387,207 399,047 Balance Sheet 266,083 399,047 ## **CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2024/25** ## **Report of the Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Secretary** ## **Date: 28 November 2025** ## **1. Overview** - 1.1 The City of Westminster Charitable Trust was established in January 1987 for the purpose of allocating income received for charitable purposes directed wholly or mainly to the benefit of the City of Westminster or for charitable purposes in any other part of the world as the Trustees shall from time to time decide. - 1.2 The charity's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in July 2014. **Full Name of Charity:** City of Westminster Charitable Trust **Registration Number:** 296091 **Date of registration:** 20 January 1987 **Main communication address:** City of Westminster, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP - 1.3 The Trustees comprise of members and officers of Westminster City Council. The current Trustees are: - Cllr McAllister (as the Lord Mayor until 15th May) - Cllr Robert Rigby (from 15th May 2024) - Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg - Cllr Caroline Sargent - Cllr Nafsika Butler-Thalassis - Cllr Iman Less - Gerald Almeroth (Honorary Treasurer) - Helen Haris (Honorary Secretary) - 1.4 Councillor Robert Rigby became Mayor on 15[th] May 2024 and continued to be the mayor for the 2024-25 Financial Year. ‘The Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund’ supports the Lord Mayor’s charity Westminster Befriend a Family. 1 - 1.5 Independent Examiner: Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) Internal Audit Service, 3[rd] Floor, Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London, W8 7NX. ## **2. Financial Review** - 2.1 The Trust is made up of two separate funds, namely the Community Contribution Fund and the Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund. This is the seventh financial year of the Community Contribution Scheme and like previous years, the account has been prepared on an accrual basis. - This is also the seventh year for which a statement of cash flow (Table 3) has been prepared for the Trust. All large charities, donations above £500k, are required to produce a cashflow. Though not a requirement for this financial year, the cashflow has been included. - 2.3 As with the previous two years, the total income of the charity in 2024/25 has exceeded the £25,000 threshold set by the Charity Commission, rendering the accounts subject to independent examination. This will be carried out by RBKC Internal Audit prior to the submission of the accounts in January 2026. ## **3. Lord Mayor’s Appeal Fund** - 3.1 The expenditure for the Lord Mayor’s appeal fund was nil in 2024/25, the same as 2023/24. - 3.2 The total funds available within the Lord Mayor’s account as at 31 March 2025, which relates to more than one financial year, is £24,864 which will be disbursed as agreed by the trustees, to the chosen charities of the relevant Mayors in 2025/26. ## **4. Community Contribution Fund** - 4.1 The community contribution donations totalled £232,340 in 2024/25. This balance comprises £213,231 in-year community contributions and £19,110 in Gift Aid. - 4.2 The expenditure in 2024/25 on Board approved grant payments was £374,069. Expenditure on bank charges for statements and use of WorldPay / Bankline services was (£2,697). - 4.3 Total fund available within the Community Contribution account for distribution as at 31/03/2025 is £241,219.29. - 4.4 Throughout the year monthly reconciliations are completed for the Community Contribution Fund against the bank account and agreed donations. This reconciliation process ensures that accurate record keeping is maintained throughout the year and supports the completion of the annual accounts. 2 ## **5. Community Contribution Scheme Background** - 5.1 Following a consultation with Band H properties between November and December 2017, the Westminster City Council Cabinet recommended to Council that a voluntary Community Contribution scheme be introduced. The scheme invites Band H council taxpayers to make a voluntary contribution to fund discretionary local services. - 5.2 The consultation also highlighted that a significant number of respondents wanted to be able to make their contribution as a charitable donation as well as direct it towards specific priorities. The Council recommended, and the Trustees of the charity have agreed, that any funds raised through the scheme should be paid into the charity, and should be used to support three priorities: - Extra support for people who find themselves sleeping on Westminster’s streets - Helping to tackle isolation and loneliness – not just amongst the elderly but across all age groups, including children - Helping young people – investing in youth support ## **6. Recommendation** - 6.1 That the Trustees approve the Annual Accounts and Annual Report 2024/25 for submission to the Charity Commission. 3 ## **CITY OF WESTMINSTER CHARITABLE TRUST: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024/25** ## **Income and Expenditure – Table 1** 4 Balance Sheet - Table 2 crry OF WESTMINsfER CHAR￿ABLE TRUST Balan￿ Sheet 31 Marth 2025 31 Marth 2025 Community C•ntrib&rtlons Fund 31 Marth 2024 31 March 2024 Community C•ntrib&rtloni Fund Lord M•yor' Appeal Fund Lord Mayor. Appeal Fund Curr•nt •ss•ts Debtor- Westtninstet City Council Contribution to Independent Examinels Fee and Bank Charges Debtor- Gift Aid Cash at bank and in hand 12,0751 1.533 241.219 1.757 6.266 374,183 24.864 24.864 Total ¢urrent a55ets 24.864 240.677 24,864 382.206 Cr+d￿•r$. •mounts fallln¢ du• wlthln on• Y￿r Council Tax paid into incorrect account Expense accrual . Independent Examinerfs Fee 11.3331 16221 11.1591 I￿6) Totsl Liabilrty 11,9551 11,7651 Net current assets/lliabilitiesl 24,864 238.722 24,864 380.442 Total assets less cuwreTht Ilabilitles 24.864 238.722 24,864 380.442 Creditgrs: arnounts fallini due after one year Net assets / Iliabilrliesl Funds of the Charity Cashflow - Table 3 Clty of Westrninster Charitable Trust 2024125 2023124 Cash flows from operating activitie$ Operatin8 profit/{lossl Interest / Bank Char8es paid Depreciation {Increasel/Decrease in receivables and debtors Increase/lDecreasel in payables and creditors Net cash inflow/(oufflow) generated from operating activities 1144,4261 2,697 125,544) (1,1511 8.566 191 1132,972) 38,506 23 11,834 Cash flows from Investlng artlvltles Purchases of non current assets Interest received Net cash flows from investing artivities 5.58 5.58 Cash flows from financing artivities Net Idecrease}lincrease in cash and cash equivalents 1132,9631 11,840 Cash and cash equlvalents at the beginnlng of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 399,047 266.083 387,207 399,047 Balance Sheet 266,083 399,047 Independent Examiner’s Report Year ending 31 March 2025 City of Westminster Charitable Trust November 2025 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust (registered charity number 296091)** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust for the year ended 31[st] March 2025. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust (the Trust), it is your responsibility to ensure the preparation of accounts is in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) and you are satisfied that the accounts are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination. An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence, which is normally required in an audit, and does not cover all of the matters that an auditor considers when giving their opinion on the accounts. The planning and conduct of an audit go beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently, I express no opinion as to whether the consolidated accounts presented are ‘true and fair’ and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement. All examiners must follow the Directions below. The Directions have legal force as they are made by the Commission under section 145(5) b of the 2011 Act which places three specific duties on the examiner: - They must carry out the independent examination in accordance with the Commission’s Directions. - They must make their independent examiner’s report to the charity’s trustees. - They must consider if matters of material significance have come to their attention during the independent examination which give rise to a legal duty to report direct to the Commission. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** Since the Trust’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 the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), which is one of the listed bodies. I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: - Accounting records, with respect to the Trust, were not kept as required. - The accounts do not accord with those records. - The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts. - 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. I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Moira Mackie Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Date: 28 November 2025 This report is prepared solely for the use of the Trustees of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust. Details may be made available to specified external agencies, including external auditors, but otherwise the report should not be quoted or referred to in whole or in part without prior consent. No responsibility to any third party is accepted as the report has not been prepared, and is not intended for any other purpose.