BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 315t MARCH 2025
BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Contents
| Trustees Annual Report | 1 |
|---|---|
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 |
| Notestotheaccounts | 8 |
BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Trustees Annual Report
The Trustee is pleased to present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 2 to the accounts and comply with the Trust's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, Charities SORP (FRS102).
Objectives and activities
The promotion of the study of art, music, and literature and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the provision and maintenance of the Beecroft Art Gallery, at Southend-onSea, in the County of Essex as a public art gallery and library.
The gallery now has over 2,000 works in its permanent collections, including works by Constable, Molenaer, Bright, Epstein, Weight, Lear and Seago.
The art trust is administered and maintained for the objects set out in its governing document by the City Council, which meets any deficit incurred each year on operating the facility.
The Trustees in making decisions about the Trust make those decisions with due regard to the objects of the Trust.
In addition, they have due regard to their legal duty to carry out the Trust’s charitable purposes for the Public Benefit and the Charity Commissions’ guidance thereon.
Achievements and performance
The Beecroft Art Trust is currently maintained to allow the purposes in its Governing document set out below to take place during the financial year 2024/25.
The Beecroft art collection continues to be on display in the Council’s former library building on an ad hoc basis. The Trustees have not felt the need to formalise this arrangement.
The GoodBox installed at the Gallery, which allows people to make a cashless donation for any amount they choose, generated donations averaging around £47 a month (£60/pcm 2023/24) that contribute to the running costs of the Trust.
The Trustee considers that the performance of the charity during the year was good.
Plans for the future
The Trustees will Jook at the option of loaning out some of its artwork for a fee as part of a wider initiative being proposed at the Council to generate additional income.
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Financial review
The cost of maintaining the Beecroft Art Trust exceeded the net income and the operating deficit of £133,273 (2024: £131,011) has been funded from the Southend City Council General Fund.
Reserves Policy
The trust does not need to hold reserves as any deficit which arises on the operation of the trust, should the trust have no funds to meet it, is funded by Southend on Sea City Council, which is sole trustee of the trust.
Going concern
Beecroft Arts Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Structure, governance, and management
Governing documents
The Trust’s Governing document is in the form of a Scheme sealed by Order of the Commissioners on 18 February 1980.
Trustee recruitment and training
Southend City Council elected members are corporate Trustees. Therefore, Councillors once elected become a corporate Trustee of the Trust.
Risk Assessment
The city council, when carrying out risk assessments for its own activities, includes within the assessment the activities of the trust, so any major risks applicable to the trust are covered by the council arranging appropriate insurance or having in place strategies to cover other contingencies.
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BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31* March 2025
Background
The Beecroft Art Gallery was founded by the late Walter G. Beecroft of Leigh-on-Sea, who set up a trust fund to purchase the building and collected paintings which formed the nucleus of the present collection.
Opened in 1953, the building was extended in 1960 when Sydney Thorpe Smith bequeathed his collection of local topographic works which illustrate the development of the Southend area as seen through the eyes of local artists to the gallery.
Due to serious ongoing structural problems the building in Station Road was closed in Autumn 2013.
The Beecroft Art Gallery was reopened in Autumn 2014 at the old Central Library building. The gallery occupies the basement, ground floor and 1st floor levels; the lower levels are used for temporary exhibitions and the first floor is used for a bigger display of the permanent collection and a costume gallery.
Despite significant efforts by Council officers, it was not possible to bring the former Gallery Building back into use for the purposes of the Trust after it was vacated in 2013. In December 2020, the Trustee opted to use the statutory sale provision in Section 6 of the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 and proceed to sell (complying with $117-119 of the Charities Act 2011).
The sale of the former gallery building was completed on 8 February 2022 and the net proceeds have become investment permanent endowment.
At the meeting in December 2020 the Trustees also agreed to retain the Beecroft art collection in the former library building on an ad hoc basis.
Reference and administrative details
Trustee
Southend-on-Sea City Council!
Secretary/Treasurer to the Trust
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Address Civic Centre Victoria Avenue Southend-on-Sea Essex SS2 6ER
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
independent Examiner
TC Group
The Courtyard Shoreham Road Upper Beeding Steyning West Sussex BN44 3TN
Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of each financial year and the income and expenditure of the Charity for that period.
In preparing those accounts, the Trustees are required to:
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e Select suitable and applicable accounting policies and then apply them consistently e Make judgement and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
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¢ Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the organisation will continue in business
The Trustees are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable it to ensure that the financial statements comply with charity legislation and the relevant governing instruments. They are responsible for safeguarding the Charity’s assets and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Results
The Trust’s financial results are as per the annexed accounts.
By order of the Trustees
Signed Joe Chesterton (Jan 27, 2026 16:44:02 GMT) Joe Chesterton, Executive Director (Finance & Resources) Date 27/01/26
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Independent Examiner’s Report
| report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31% March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 11.
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’).
| 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 | have followed ail the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | 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 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
| have no concerns and have come across no other maiters 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.
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a ee
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Mark Cummins FCCA FCIE For and on behalf of TC Group Office: Steyning, West Sussex Dated: 9H Tan maw Ror
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BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Statement of Financial Activities
| 2024/25 | 2024/25 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Endowment | Total | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income From | |||||
| Donations | 3 | 134,211 | - | 134,211 | 132,290 |
| Investments | 4 | 62,679 | - | 62,679 | 65,142 |
| Total Income | 196,890 | - | 196,890 | 197,432 | |
| Expenditure on | |||||
| Charitable activities | 5 | 196,890 | - | 196,890 | 197,432 |
| Total expenditure | 196,890 | - | 196,890 | 197,432 | |
| Net income and net | |||||
| _ | |||||
| movement in funds | |||||
| Reconciliation of Funds | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | - | 3,256,018 | 3,256,018 | 3,256,018 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | - | 3,256,018 | 3,256,018 | 3,256,018 |
All income and gains for the year are recognised on the statement of financial activities. All the Charity's activities are classified as continuing.
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BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
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Balance Sheet
2024/25 2023/24
Total Total
Funds Funds
Note £ £
Fixed Assets
Heritage Assets 6 1,969,295 1,969,295
Total Fixed Assets 1,969,295 1,969,295
Current Assets
Cash at bank and in hand 1,287,673 1,287,563
Total Current Assets 1,287,673 1,287,563
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one 5 (950) (840)
year
Net current assets 1,286,723 1,286,723
Total assets less current liabilities 3,256,018 3,256,018
The funds of the charity
Endowment funds 8 3,256,018 3,256,018
Total charity funds 3,256,018 3,256,018
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Approved by the Trustee and signed on its behalf by an authorised signatory.
_ Joe Chestert Joe Chesterton (Jan 27, 2026 16:44:02 GMT) Joe Chesterton, Executive Director (Finance & Resources) Southend on Sea City Council for the Trustee Date 27/01/26
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Notes to the accounts
Note 1 Legal Status
Beecroft Art Trust is an unincorporated charity registered in England and Wales (charity number 310658).
Note 2 Accounting Policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with 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) — (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), and the Charities Act 2011.
Beecroft Art Trust meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern given the continued support of Southend City Council.
The financial statements are prepared in Pounds Sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.
Cash Flow Statement
In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) the charity is claiming exemption from the requirement to prepare a cash flow statement on account of it being a small charity.
income
Donations and other forms of voluntary income are recognised as incoming resources when receivable, except insofar as they are incapable of financial measurement.
Charitable activities - represent income from rent and are recognised when receivable.
Investment income is accounted for when receivable.
Expenditure
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis exclusive of the element of VAT which is recoverable by Southend City Council in accordance with VAT Notice 749 para 7.5.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised at cost. Land is not depreciated. Buildings are depreciated ona straight-line basis over their useful life. The art collection is held as a heritage asset and is not depreciated on the basis it is expected to increase in value.
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Note 2 Accounting Policies (continued)
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments. No separate bank account is maintained by the Trust, therefore all income and expenditure pass through the City Council’s account, and its cash balances are held within the City Council’s general bank account.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in a transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
Critical accounting estimates andjudgements
In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised.
The trustees do not consider that there are any critical estimates or areas of judgement that need to be brought to the attention of the readers of the financial statements.
Note 3 Income from Donations
Donations of £938 (2024: £1,279) were received from the public to contribute to operating costs. Donations of £133,273 (2024: £131,011) were from Southend City Council as the funding required to make up the operational deficit for the year of £133,273 (2024: £131,011). The donation to fund the operational deficit is equitably apportioned across all operational trust expenditure. Included in the donation of £133,273 are the following donated services:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Employees—seconded staff | 48,315 | 45,522 |
| Administration | 374 | 336 |
| 48,689 | 45,858 |
Note 4 Income from Investments
Interest earned on cash balances held within Southend-on-Sea City Council and invested in accordance with the City Council’s Treasury Management Policy.
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BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Note 5 Cost of Charitable Activities
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|||||
|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Employees|70,880|67,938|
|Building/Ground|Maintenance|353|1,947|
|Business|Rates|13,889|(62,136)|
|Utilities|82,339|155,064|
|Insurance|20,950|20,750|
|Supplies &|Services|6,980|12,528|
|Governance|costs|950|840|
|Administration|549|501|
|196,890|197,432|
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The support costs incurred are the administration services provided by Southend City Council and governance costs. Total support costs for the year were £1,499 (2024: £1,341).
Governance costs comprise solely of fees paid to independent examiners. During the year £950 (2024: £840) was paid to the independent examiner in respect of examination services.
Employee costs relate to employees of the Council.
No staff are remunerated over £60,000 in the year.
The charity is managed by Southend City Council and doesn’t have any key management personnel.
Note 6 Fixed Assets
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|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Art|Collection|
|(Heritage|Assets)|
|£|
|Asset|cost,|valuation,|or|revalued|amount|
|Balance|as at 01/04/24 and|31/03/25|1,969,295|
|Accumulated|depreciation|and|impairment|reviews|
|Balance|as|at 01/04/24 and|31/03/25|-|
|Net|Book Value|
|Brought|forward|@|01/04/24|1,969,295|
|Carried|forward @|31/03/25|1,969,295|
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BEECROFT ART TRUST Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31% March 2025
Note 7 Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year.
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Other | Creditors | 950 | 840 |
Note 8 Endowment fund
The endowment comprises of the collection of art held by the Trust and the net funds received from the sale of the Station Road building.
Note 9 Trustee remuneration
No trustee was paid in respect of their services as a trustee in 2024 or 2025 and no expenditure was reimbursed.
Note 10 Related Party Transactions
During the year the trustee (Southend City Council) donated £133,273 (2024: £131,011) to the Trust in respect of the funding required to cover the operational deficit for the year. Southend City Council collected a further £62,679 (2024: £65,142) on behalf of the Trust in respect of income generated from facilities hire and interest earned on cash balances. The Trust paid the Council £195,940 in respect of operating costs for the year (2024: £197,432).
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BEECROFT ART TRUST
Charity Registration No 310658 Year Ended 31°t March 2025
Note 11 Comparative Funds
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|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2023/24|2023/24|2023/24|
|Unrestricted|Endowment|Total|
|Funds|Funds|Funds|
|Note|£|£|£|
|Income|From|
|Donations|3|132,290|-|132,290|
|Investments|4|65,142|-|65,142|
|Total|Income|197,432|-|197,432|
|Expenditure|on|
|Charitable|activities|5|197,432|-|197,432|
|Total|expenditure|197,432|-|197,432|
|Net|income|and|net|movement|in|funds|-|-|-|
|Reconciliation|of funds|
|Total|funds|brought forward|-|3,256,018|3,256,018|
|Total funds carried|forward|-|3,256,018|3,256,018|
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