Ryhope Engines Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report
For the Year 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025
Introduction
The trustees present their Annual Report for the Ryhope Engines Trust for the year ended 31 March 2025. The report outlines the Trust’s activities, achievements, governance, and financial position during the period and demonstrates how the Trust has continued to meet its charitable objectives.
Objectives and Activities
The Ryhope Engines Trust exists to preserve, maintain, and promote the historic Ryhope Pumping Station and its engines for the benefit of the public. The Trust seeks to advance education in industrial heritage, provide public access to an important historic site, and encourage community engagement through volunteering, events, and learning opportunities.
During 2024–2025, the trustees continued to focus on conservation, education, accessibility, and long-term sustainability. Activities were delivered through public open days, exhibitions, educational visits, and ongoing maintenance and conservation work.
Achievements and Performance
The year was marked by significant progress and consolidation following earlier development work.
Key achievements during the period included:
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Continued growth in volunteers, reflecting sustained public interest and community support.
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Ongoing operation and maintenance of the pumping engines and site infrastructure, ensuring the preservation of the Trust’s core heritage assets.
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Removal of asbestos from around the Crab winch in anticipation of future restoration work.
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Continued engagement with stakeholders, partners, and volunteers, strengthening the Trust’s profile and resilience.
Public Benefit
Through public open days and events all of which are free to the public.
Financial Review
The Trust’s financial position remained stable during the year. Income was derived from a combination of grants, donations, some location fees for film work for the upcoming “night and day film” and trading activities. Expenditure primarily supported conservation works, operational costs, educational activities, and fuel for our Lancashire boilers.
The Trust recorded a modest surplus for the year, which has been retained to support future restoration projects and to maintain adequate reserves. The trustees consider the current
financial position to be satisfactory and appropriate for the scale and nature of the Trust’s activities.
Reserves Policy
The trustees maintain a reserves policy designed to ensure financial stability and continuity of operations. Reserves are held to meet unexpected costs, support planned maintenance, and provide resilience against fluctuations in income. The level of reserves is reviewed regularly as part of financial oversight.
Governance and Management
The Ryhope Engines Trust is governed by its trustees, who are responsible for setting strategy, ensuring compliance, and safeguarding the Trust’s assets. Trustees are appointed in accordance with the Trust’s governing document.
The trustees are grateful for the dedication and commitment of the Trust’s volunteers, whose contribution remains essential to the success of the organisation.
Plans for Future Periods
Looking ahead, the trustees aim to:
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Progress new restoration initiatives including being able to exhibit a Crab Winch that has been inaccessible for some time and the restoration of a World War 2 air raid shelter on the site.
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Enhance the visitor experience through improved interpretation and accessibility.
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Expand educational and community engagement activities.
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Strengthen partnerships with local and national heritage organisations.
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Ensure the long-term sustainability of the Trust through careful financial and strategic planning.
Trustees for 2024-2025
Keith Bell (Chair)
Julie Wilson
Raymond Carlson
Stafford Linsley
Leslie Jordan
John Robert Frazer
John Dennis Mowbray
Vincent James Cassidy
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WPLES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of On accounts for the year ended Z02£ Charity no (if any) 2Ly*8 Spt out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended ResF&onsibilities and As the charity trustptss of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention {dher- th8TrtI -disdosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 2cJ, 1 2c;20 Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): -Id,. Qox, L k-fi-LPLI Address: IER 18
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern {see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND WALE5 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to the nèarèst Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year to the nearest £ to the nearèst £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Donations inc ing te3 rM Cathrine Cook50n Grant Digital Grant Unrestricted NWL limited Woolfe comedy production5 9,813 9,813 2.500 1,037 5,500 6.600 6,986 2.500 1,037 5,500 6,600 2,500 Sub total (Gross income for AR) 21,913 3,537 25,450 9.486 A2 Asset and investment sales. (see table). Sub total 21.913 3,537 25,450 9.486 A3 Payments Tea room runn g costs Museum running oosts 3,035 2,213 3.116 11.105 3.035 2,213 3.116 11.105 1.036 3,223 3,398 2.667 Boiler Fuel Digital grant spend 1,036 Sub total 19,469 1,036 20.505 9,288 A4 Assel and investment purchases. (see table Digital grant information cameras 434 Sub total 434 19,469 1.470 20.939 9,288 Net of Aceipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 2,067 4,511 198 2.067 4.511 198 CCXX R1 accounts ISS} 1410212026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nèarest É Endowment funds to nearest £ Categories Detalls B1 Cash f ds coop bank 15,070 Total cash funds 1 S.070 (agree balS Mlh receipts and payments accournis}I Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restrlcted funds to nearest £ Endowment fund$ lo nearest £ Details Fund to which ass&t belon Cost loptionall Current value tlonal Details Fund to which asset belon Current value tional Dtrtails Cost loptronall B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to which r&lat•s Amount du• tional When due tional Details 85 Liabilities Signed by one or fv40 Iruslees on behalf of all the trustees Date of roval Signalure Print Name LL CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 1410212026