THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES' REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
CHARITY No. 326605
THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
Charity Information
| Trustees | The Management Committee of |
|---|---|
| The Society of Authors | |
| Simon Brett | |
| Mark Le Fanu | |
| Imtiaz Dharker | |
| Tracy Chevalier | |
| Charity Number | 326605 |
| Charity Offices | c/o The Society of Authors |
| 24 Bedford Row | |
| London WC1R 4EH | |
| Independent Examiner | Simon Goodridge FCA |
| Knox Cropper LLP | |
| Chartered Accountants | |
| 65 Leadenhall Street | |
| London EC3A 2AD | |
| Bankers | HSBC |
| The Peak | |
| 333 Vauxhall Bridge Road | |
| Victoria | |
| London SW1V 1EJ | |
| Investment Managers | Aberdeen Standard Capital |
| Bow Bells House | |
| 1 Bread Street | |
| London EC4M 9HH |
THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 1 - 2 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Balance Sheet | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 – 10 |
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2020. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (second edition effective 1 January 2019).
Trustees
Under the trust deed of the charity, the Society of Authors is authorised to appoint new Trustees. A list of trustees is shown in the Charity Information attached to these statements.
Investment powers and Risk Management
The Trust Deed authorises the Trustees to make and hold investments using the Capital Funds of the charity. These are shown in detail in the notes to the financial statements. The principal area of risk concerns the management of the investments, the income from which provides the principal source of funds from which the awards are paid. The investments are therefore kept under constant review by the investment managers.
Constitution, objects and policies
This charity was constituted under a Trust Deed dated 23rd February 1984 for the advancement of literature and the encouragement of creative writing. The purpose of the Foundation is to advance the education of the public by making grants and awards out of income to authors of outstanding literary merit to enable them to create and/or procure publication of literary works of educational value or artistic merit, and by promoting the publication and dissemination of literary works of educational value or artistic merit. The policy of the Authors' Foundation continues to be to pay grants in accordance with the Trust Deed out of the income generated by the investments and donations and to seek additional donations wherever possible.
The Restricted Endowment was created in September 2001 from donations totalling £1,650,000 from the Royal Literary Fund (RLF) to support the work of the Authors’ Foundation. The donation was made on certain conditions to ensure that such an award falls within the object of its Charter, the conditions being that the whole of the annual income be spent; a member of the committee of the RLF should be a trustee of the Authors’ Foundation; at least one member of the RLF committee should be appointed by the Authors’ Foundation to be an assessor each year; the RLF’s assessor should be satisfied that grants from the restricted fund be made towards time and research for works of public education and the improvement of public taste in the field of literary work, thus meeting the requirement of the RLF’s Charter (Clause 3b); and that the Authors’ Foundation should submit a draft and its final annual accounts to the RLF each year.
The RLF, when giving this donation, stated that the making of grants from this award should be entirely at the discretion of the Authors’ Foundation. To make the matter clear, the RLF stated that the funds having been received from them on special trust, the distribution of the income is a matter solely for the Authors’ Foundation.
Public Benefit
In reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities, the Trustees refer to the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit.
Reserves Policy
The Trustees policy is to operate on the basis of being able to continue to generate sufficient incoming resources to use toward meeting their charitable objectives and to accord with their principal terms. The Trustees are of the opinion that the funds remain sufficient to enable them to continue this ongoing objective. The charity has sufficient but not excessive funds to service its objective of making future charitable distributions.
Financial Review
The results for the year ended 31st December 2020 appear on pages 4 to 10. A total of 91 authors received grants from the Foundation in 2020 (2019: 138 authors).
1
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Restricted Endowment: The income from investments for the year amounted to £75,173 (2019: £102,211) and the fund-raising income for the year amounted to £10,000 (2019: £10,000). After payment of charitable awards amounting to £187,530 (2019: £179,850) and other expenditure totalling £58,348 (2019: £62,616) there was a Net decrease in Funds for the year of £160,705 (2019: £130,255 decrease) before including the capital movements on investments - the realised gain on the sale of investments of £253 (2019: £26,408 gain) and the unrealised increase in the market value of £10,261 (2019: £407,502 increase). The Accumulated Fund carried forward at 31st December 2020 stands at £3,395,179 (2019: £3,545,370).
Unrestricted Fund: The income from investments totalled £80,105 (2019: £104,996) and fund-raising income for the year amounted to £1,168 (2019: £1,786). Charitable awards paid were £141,470 (2019: £147,150) and other expenditure totalled £47,605 (2019: £50,496). The Net decrease in Funds for the year was £107,708 (2019: £90,773 decrease). The capital movements on investments consisted of realised deficit of £1,114 (2019: £nil) and the unrealised increase in market value was £6,457 (2019: £368,578 increase). The balance carried forward on the Accumulated Fund at the year-end is therefore £2,900,119 (2019: £3,002,484).
The trustees consider that both the Restricted Endowment and the Unrestricted Fund have sufficient income and capital to meet the obligations likely to be placed on each of the funds in the foreseeable future.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the way the charity and the Society of Authors works. The value of the charity’s investment portfolio has recovered the losses suffered in March/April 2020 and has increased in value over the course of the whole year before disposals as set out in the notes to the financial statements. The charity anticipates being able to maintain its existing support for writers.
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, 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 its incoming resources and application of resources for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and the principles of the Charity SORP;
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make judgements 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 charity will continue to operate.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.
Approved by the board of Trustees on 27 May 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Joanne Harris – Chair of the Management Committee, The Society of Authors
2
THE AUTHORS' FOUNDATION
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Authors’ Foundation Fund
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Authors’ Foundation Fund for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees 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.
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 aspect:
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a) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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b) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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c) 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 the 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.
Simon Goodridge FCA Knox Cropper LLP Chartered Accountants 65 Leadenhall Street London EC3A 2AD Date: 1 June 2021
3
THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
| Notes Income and Endowments from: Fund Raising Income Donations and Legacies CAF Fund Raising Income from Investments Dividends and Interest - Listed Investments 2 Dividends from other investments Bank Interest Other Income Total Income Expenditure on: Cost of Generating Funds Investment Management Fees Direct Charitable Activities Awards Paid Support Costs 4 Total Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net gains/(losses) on investments 6 Net income/(expenditure) Reconciliation of Funds: Total Funds Brought Forward Total Funds Carried Forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ - 1,168 1,168 65,325 14,700 80 80,105 94 81,367 19,405 141,470 28,200 189,075 (107,708) 5,343 (102,365) 3,002,484 £2,900,119 |
Restricted Endowment £ 10,000 - 10,000 75,160 - 13 75,173 - 85,173 20,969 187,530 37,379 245,878 (160,705) 10,514 (150,191) 3,545,370 £3,395,179 |
2020 Total Funds £ 10,000 1,168 11,168 140,485 14,700 93 155,278 94 166,540 40,374 329,000 65,579 434,953 (268,413) 15,857 (252,556) 6,547,854 £6,295,298 |
2019 Total Funds £ 10,500 1,286 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11,786 187,270 19,600 337 |
||||
| 207,207 92 |
||||
| 219,085 | ||||
| 49,012 327,000 64,100 |
||||
| 440,112 | ||||
| (221,027) 802,488 |
||||
| 581,461 5,966,393 |
||||
| £6,547,854 |
All income and expenditure have arisen from continuing activities. The notes form part of these financial statements.
4
THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
BALANCE SHEET
31 DECEMBER 2020
| Notes Fixed Assets Listed Investments 5,6 Other Investments 5 Current Assets Debtors 7 Cash held by Investment Managers Cash at Bank Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 8 Net Current Assets Total Net Assets Accumulated Funds Restricted Endowment Fund Unrestricted Fund Total Funds |
2020 £ £ 6,254,401 49 6,254,450 - 42,314 12,433 54,747 (13,899) 40,848 £6,295,298 3,395,179 2,900,119 £6,295,298 |
2019 £ £ 6,294,544 49 6,294,593 5,000 254,352 19,965 279,317 (26,056) 253,261 £6,547,854 3,545,370 3,002,484 £6,547,854 |
2019 £ £ 6,294,544 49 6,294,593 5,000 254,352 19,965 279,317 (26,056) 253,261 £6,547,854 3,545,370 3,002,484 £6,547,854 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,294,593 253,261 |
|||
| 54,747 (13,899) |
279,317 (26,056) |
||
| £6,547,854 | |||
| 3,545,370 3,002,484 |
|||
| £6,547,854 |
The Financial Statements were approved by the Trustees on 21 May 2021 and signed on their behalf by:
Joanne Harris – Chair of the Management Committee, The Society of Authors
The notes form part of these financial statements
5
THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
-
a) The Financial Statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments, and include the results of the charity’s operations, which are described in the Trustees’ Report, all of which are continuing. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS102 second edition) and in compliance with the Charities Act 2011.
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b) The income from Investments and Bank Interest received represents the actual income receivable in the year.
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c) Donations are accounted for when the charity is unconditionally entitled to receipt.
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d) Awards paid include all amounts payable in the year in accordance with the terms of the Trust Deed and in accordance with the charter of the Royal Literary Fund.
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e) Other expenditure is on the basis of amounts payable for the year and includes provisions for amounts paid after the Balance Sheet date.
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f) The Quoted Investments are included in the Financial Statements at market value to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice. Other investments are stated at cost.
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g) The UK economy has been seriously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity’s income is derived from its investment portfolio whose value has recovered the losses suffered in March/April 2020. The trustees believe that its investments will continue to provide sufficient resources in the foreseeable future to enable the charity to maintain its activities and that there are no other material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
2 INVESTMENT INCOME
| Non-Government Bond Funds (Global) UK Corporate Bonds (Sterling fixed interest) Charity Investment Fund (Multi Asset) Non-Government Bond Funds (Global) UK Corporate Bonds (Sterling fixed interest) Charity Investment Fund (Multi Asset) |
2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ 9,542 12,796 22,338 24,863 7,390 9,967 17,357 18,145 48,393 52,397 100,790 144,262 |
|---|---|
| £65,325 £75,160 £140,485 £187,270 |
|
| 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ 10,621 14,242 24,863 7,593 10,552 18,145 66,925 77,337 144,262 £85,139 £102,131 £187,270 |
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THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
3 AWARDS
Awards were paid to 91 individuals during the year (2019:138).
4 ANALYSIS OF SUPPORT COSTS
| Administration Costs Judges Fees and Expenses Bank Charges Other Governance Independent Examiners Fees -current year - prior year Comparative year Administration Costs Judges Fees and Expenses Bank Charges Other Governance Independent Examiners Fees -current year - prior year |
2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ 22,756 30,164 52,920 50,400 3,328 4,412 7,740 8,570 93 122 215 230 - - - 136 2,038 2,702 4,740 4,764 (15) (21) (36) - |
|---|---|
| £28,200 £37,379 £65,579 £64,100 |
|
| 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ 21,030 29,370 50,400 3,856 4,714 8,570 103 127 230 62 74 136 2,063 2,701 4,764 - - - £27,114 £36,986 £64,100 |
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THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
5 INVESTMENTS
| 2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 244,736 321,976 566,712 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 259,669 319,217 578,886 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,447,171 2,661,632 5,108,803 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,951,576 £3,302,825 £6,254,401 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,901,839 2,085,200 3,987,039 4,031,920 Comparative year 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 239,411 321,032 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 245,401 330,991 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,476,420 2,681,289 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,961,232 £3,333,312 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,911,298 2,120,622 4,031,920 |
2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 244,736 321,976 566,712 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 259,669 319,217 578,886 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,447,171 2,661,632 5,108,803 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,951,576 £3,302,825 £6,254,401 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,901,839 2,085,200 3,987,039 4,031,920 Comparative year 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 239,411 321,032 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 245,401 330,991 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,476,420 2,681,289 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,961,232 £3,333,312 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,911,298 2,120,622 4,031,920 |
2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 244,736 321,976 566,712 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 259,669 319,217 578,886 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,447,171 2,661,632 5,108,803 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,951,576 £3,302,825 £6,254,401 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,901,839 2,085,200 3,987,039 4,031,920 Comparative year 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ Listed Investments Non-Government Bond Funds ASC (Offshore) Global Fixed Interest 239,411 321,032 560,443 UK Corporate Bonds ASC (Offshore) Sterling Fixed Interest 245,401 330,991 576,392 Charity Investment Fund BNY Mellon Fund - Newton Growth & Income for Charities 2,476,420 2,681,289 5,157,709 Total Market Value £2,961,232 £3,333,312 £6,294,544 Historic Cost 1,911,298 2,120,622 4,031,920 |
|---|---|---|
| £2,951,576 £3,302,825 £6,254,401 £6,294,544 |
||
| 1,901,839 2,085,200 3,987,039 4,031,920 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ 239,411 321,032 560,443 245,401 330,991 576,392 2,476,420 2,681,289 5,157,709 £2,961,232 £3,333,312 £6,294,544 1,911,298 2,120,622 4,031,920 |
Other investments
The Foundation has a 49% shareholding in Eric Ambler Literary Management Limited, representing a nominal value of 49 £1 shares. A controlling 51% holding is held by Worldwrites Limited (formerly Legacy Books Limited) which is part of the Peter Fraser & Dunlop Group.
8
THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
6 MOVEMENTS ON INVESTMENTS
| Market Value as at beginning of year Disposal Proceeds Investment Gains Market Value as at end of year Analysis of Investment Gains Realised Gains/(Losses) Unrealised Gains/(Losses) |
2020 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total Total £ £ £ £ 2,961,233 3,333,311 6,294,544 5,702,056 (15,000) (41,000) (56,000) (210,000) 5,343 10,514 15,857 802,488 |
|---|---|
| £2,951,576 £3,302,825 £6,254,401 £6,294,544 |
|
| (1,114) 253 (861) 26,408 6,457 10,261 16,718 776,080 |
|
| £5,343 £10,514 £15,857 £802,488 |
7 DEBTORS: Amounts falling due within one year
| Other Debtors | 2020 2019 £ £ - 5,000 |
|---|---|
| £- £5,000 |
8 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year
| Investment Managers Fees Professional Fees Awards to be paid |
2020 2019 £ £ 9,159 12,400 4,740 4,656 - 9,000 |
|---|---|
| £13,899 £26,056 |
9 NET ASSETS BY FUND
| Fixed Asset Investments Net Current Assets Total Comparative year Fixed Asset Investments Net Current Assets Total |
2020 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ 2,951,625 3,302,825 6,254,450 (51,506) 92,354 40,848 |
|---|---|
| £2,900,119 £3,395,179 £6,295,298 |
|
| 2019 Unrestricted Fund Restricted Endowment Fund Total £ £ £ 2,961,281 3,333,312 6,294,593 41,203 212,058 253,261 |
|
| £3,002,484 £3,545,370 £6,547,854 |
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THE AUTHORS’ FOUNDATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020
10 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
The Society of Authors, which is a Trustee of the Foundation, carried out management services for the Foundation and charged management fee for the year amounting to £52,920 (2019: £50,400). There were no other related party transactions in the year.
11 COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Income and Endowments from: Fund Raising Income Donations and Legacies CAF Fund Raising Income from Investments Dividends and Interest - Listed Investments Dividends from other investments Bank Interest Other Income Total Incoming Resources Expenditure on: Cost of Generating Funds Investment Management Fees Direct Charitable Activities Awards Paid Support Costs Total Expenditure Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Total Funds Brought Forward Total Funds Carried Forward |
Unrestricted Funds £ 500 1,286 1,786 85,139 19,600 257 104,996 92 106,874 23,382 147,150 27,114 197,646 (90,773) 368,578 277,806 2,724,678 £3,002,484 |
Restricted Endowment £ 10,000 - 10,000 102,131 - 80 102,211 - 112,211 25,630 179,850 36,986 242,466 (130,255) 433,910 303,655 3,241,715 £3,545,370 |
2019 Total Funds £ 10,500 1,286 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11,786 187,270 19,600 337 |
|||
| 207,207 92 |
|||
| 219,085 | |||
| 49,012 327,000 64,100 |
|||
| 440,112 | |||
| (221,027) 802,488 |
|||
| 581,461 | |||
| 5,966,393 | |||
| £6,547,854 |
10