OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-03-31-accounts

Company registration number: 01351149 Charity registration number: 507337

The Grantham Canal Society

(A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Community Accounting Plus Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

The Grantham Canal Society

Contents

Reference and Administrative Details 1
Trustees' Report 2 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8 to 9
Balance Sheet 10
Notes to the Financial Statements 11 to 18

The Grantham Canal Society

Reference and Administrative Details

Honorary Patron His Grace The Duke of Rutland Honorary President John Brydon Trustees Rod Gordon Jane Grylls Mary Noble Anthony Osbond Michael Stone, Chairman Anthony Goody Secretary Ashley Mather Registered Office Unit 2 Sherbrook Enterprise 100 Sherbrook Road Daybrook Nottingham NG5 6AB Company Registration Number 01351149 Charity Registration Number 507337 Independent Examiner John O'Brien, employee of Community Accounting Plus Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

Page 1

The Grantham Canal Society

Trustees' Report

The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees and officers

The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Trustees: Rod Gordon Jane Grylls Mary Noble Anthony Osbond Michael Stone, Chairman Anthony Goody (appointed 1 April 2023) Rosemary Gibson (resigned 22 November 2023) Michelle Storer (resigned 22 November 2023)

Secretary: Ashley Mather

Structure, governance and management

Nature of governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity. It is operated under the rules of its memorandum and articles of association dated 02/02/1978 and most recently amended 04/11/2008. It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £1.

Recruitment and appointment of trustees

Trustees are appointed at the AGM by the voting membership.

Page 2

The Grantham Canal Society

Trustees' Report

Objectives and activities

Objects and aims

To advocate the use, maintenance and development of inland waterways and particularly the Grantham Canal, to advocate and promote the restoration and maintenance in good order and condition of the Grantham Canal and other waterways and to promote the use of such waterways.

The aims include:

• To promote, assist financially and otherwise support any measure or proposal for restoring, maintaining or improving the Grantham Canal or other inland waterways;

• To oppose the abandonment, neglect, pollution, obstruction, inappropriate development or closure of inland waterways or their infrastructure, environment and facilities;

• To create and promote by publicity and education the value and importance of inland waterways to the community;

• To promote by meetings, lectures, exhibitions, publications and other activities the collection and dissemination of knowledge about the Grantham Canal and other inland waterways;

• To borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Society; sell goods, articles, services or things in connection with the promotion of the Society's objects;

• To do all such other lawful things as are necessary or desirable for the attainment of the Society's objects and which may lawfully be done by a body established for charitable purposes.

Objectives, strategies and activities

Promote, assist financially and otherwise support any measure or proposal for restoring, maintaining or improving the Grantham Canal or other inland waterways; oppose the abandonment, neglect, pollution, obstruction, inappropriate development or closure of inland waterways or their infrastructure, environment and facilities; create and promote by publicity and education the value and importance of inland waterways to the community; promote by meetings, lectures, exhibitions, publications and other activities the collection and dissemination of knowledge about the Grantham Canal and other inland waterways; lend and advance money to any body established for charitable objects similar to those of the Society; borrow or raise money for the purposes of the Society; sell goods, articles, services or things in connection with the promotion of the Society's objects; do all such oher lawful things as are necessary or desirable for the attainment of the Society's objects and which may lawfully be done by a body established for chatitable purposes

Page 3

The Grantham Canal Society

Trustees' Report

Public benefit

• The provision of a wildlife environment along the line of the canal for the enjoyment of all; the promotion of the canal and its wildlife and leisure facilities to the community and the encouragement of the community to use and enjoy the canal and its facilities;

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Achievements during the year

A busy year for Grantham Canal Society which started with the major purchase of a 9 tonne excavator and a 6 tonne dumper to start the enabling works on the refurbishment of Lock 13 to bring it back into a working order. It will be a long job but an integral part of the Woolsthorpe flight of locks.

We completed major repairs to the underground section of the Knipton Feeder which provides water into the canal below Lock 12

At the Woolsthorpe Depot the workshop was refurbished and kitted out so that we have a fully functioning boat and machinery facility.

On-going maintenance of the navigable section of the canal in clearing vegetation and tree growth so that the section from Lock 15 to the A1 is always clear for our Three Shires cruise boat.

We continued with canal maintenance into the western end of the canal working in Lady Bay and Gamston and carried out work in the Cotgrave Country Park where the canal passes through the park area.

We are developing partnership working with commercial companies and in October we joined with Greenfield Landscaping in Cropwell Bishop to start a major clearance of trees growing in the canal from Colston Lane Bridge to Spencers Bridge in Owthorpe.

Greenfields donated personnel and machinery for a complete day which they are going to repeat in October 2024 and January 2025

Our vision for a Trent Connection is moving forward as we commissioned a feasibility study which confirmed that our plan to run from Gamston Bridge onto Adbolton Lane and then to the River Trent can be done from a technical point of view. We have approvals from Rushcliffe Borough Council and Notts Couty Council pending some engineering issues to be sorted out.

Page 4

The Grantham Canal Society

Trustees' Report

We are now talking to National Highways concerning a major culverted bridge to take the canal under the A52 Gamston Lings Bar.

All of this work could not be done without our volunteers. Our time sheet records show that in the year ending March 2024 19637 hrs were logged compared to March 2023 where 17491 were logged.

To put this in monetary terms this equates to a value of just over £980k of labour given to the society free of charge!!

Financial review

Policy on reserves

We hold an annual reserve balance of £10,000 to cover Insurance, Licences, necessary inspections and training, maintenance and repair costs and general running costs. This is considered by the Committee to be adequate at the present time bearing in mind that the Society has no paid employees and all the work of the Society is undertaken by unpaid volunteers.

Page 5

The Grantham Canal Society

Trustees' Report

Statement of Responsibilities

The trustees (who are also the directors of The Grantham Canal Society for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland". The report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Small companies provision statement

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small companies regime under the Companies Act 2006.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on .................... and signed on its behalf by: 22/8/2024

......................................... Michael Stone Trustee

Page 6

The Grantham Canal Society

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Grantham Canal Society ('the Company')

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of The Grantham Canal Society ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

  4. 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 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.

......................................

John O'Brien MSc, FAIA, FCCA, FCIE, employee of Community Accounting Plus Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners

Units 1 & 2 North West 41 Talbot Street Nottingham NG1 5GL

Date:............................. 22/8/2024

Page 7

The Grantham Canal Society

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
11
Unrestricted
£
152,059
25,343
2,929
180,331
(101,443)
(101,443)
78,888
78,888
162,109
240,997
Restricted
£
-
2,443
-
2,443
(8,374)
(8,374)
(5,931)
(5,931)
11,568
5,637
Total
2024
£
152,059
27,786
2,929
182,774
(109,817)
(109,817)
72,957
72,957
173,677
246,634
Total
2023
£
67,740
42,720
12
110,472
(38,729)
(38,729)
71,743
71,743
101,934
173,677

All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for the period is shown in note 11.

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8

The Grantham Canal Society

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024 (Including Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses)

These are the figures for the previous accounting period and are included for comparative purposes

Note
Income and Endowments from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net income
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
11
Unrestricted
funds
£
67,740
31,975
12
99,727
(30,956)
(30,956)
68,771
68,771
93,338
162,109
Restricted
funds
£
-
10,745
-
10,745
(7,773)
(7,773)
2,972
2,972
8,596
11,568
Total
2023
£
67,740
42,720
12
110,472
(38,729)
(38,729)
71,743
71,743
101,934
173,677

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9

The Grantham Canal Society

(Registration number: 01351149) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 6 49,407 33,993
Current assets
Stocks 7 1,339 1,493
Debtors 8 3,015 -
Cash at bank and in hand 193,498 138,890
197,852 140,383
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 9 (625) (699)
Net current assets 197,227 139,684
Net assets 246,634 173,677
Funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
Restricted funds 11 5,637 11,568
Unrestricted income funds
Unrestricted funds 240,997 162,109
Total funds 11 246,634 173,677

For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements on pages 8 to 18 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 22/8/2024 .................... and signed on their behalf by:

......................................... Jane Grylls Trustee

The notes on pages 11 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 10

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

1 Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements 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)) (issued in October 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of preparation

The Grantham Canal Society 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 notes.

Going concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

Under the exemption available to smaller charities the Board of Trustees has chosen not to include a Statement of Cash Flows within the financial statements.

Income and endowments

Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Donations and legacies

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charity before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Expenditure

All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category.

Page 11

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Charitable activities

Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Taxation

The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.

Tangible fixed assets

Individual fixed assets costing £200.00 or more are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:

Asset class Depreciation method and rate
Furniture and equipment 25% straight line
Boats 10% straight line to leave a residual value
of 50% of the cost
Motor vehicles 25% straight line

Stock

Stock is valued at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell, after due regard for obsolete and slow moving stocks. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO).

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Fund structure

Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Page 12

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Restricted income funds are those grants for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.

2 Income from donations and legacies

Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals
3
Income from charitable activities
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
Subscriptions
13,254
Sales
2,447
Donations & gift aid
-
Events & fundraising
233
Trip Boat income
9,409
25,343
4
Investment income
Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
152,059
152,059
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
2,443
-
-
2,443
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
2,929
Total
2024
£
152,059
152,059
Total
2024
£
13,254
2,447
2,443
233
9,409
27,786
Total
2024
£
2,929
Total
2023
£
67,740
67,740
Total
2023
£
13,633
7,547
10,745
-
10,795
42,720
Total
2023
£
12

Page 13

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

5 Expenditure on charitable activities

Insurances & licenses
Boat maintenance & diesel
Small tools maintenance
Cost of sales
Depot & utilities
Administration, accounts & training
Events
PR & Communications
Projects
Sundry payments
Three Shires costs
Depreciation
Van
Health & safety
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
7,332
4,725
4,077
154
2,378
5,229
923
2,828
55,922
21
1,409
12,722
2,156
1,567
101,443
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
669
-
7,705
-
-
-
-
-
8,374
Total
2024
£
7,332
4,725
4,077
154
2,378
5,229
1,592
2,828
63,627
21
1,409
12,722
2,156
1,567
109,817
Total
2023
£
4,771
3,742
2,259
-
938
3,543
280
1,962
11,328
200
3,018
6,688
-
-
38,729

6 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
Additions
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023
Furniture and
equipment
£
27,997
-
27,997
19,425
1,363
20,788
7,209
8,572
Motor vehicles
£
8,394
-
8,394
4,196
2,098
6,294
2,100
4,198
Machinery
£
-
28,136
28,136
-
7,034
7,034
21,102
-
Boats
£
44,555
-
44,555
23,332
2,227
25,559
18,996
21,223
Total
£
80,946
28,136
109,082
46,953
12,722
59,675
49,407
33,993

Page 14

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

7 Stock

7
Stock
Stocks
8
Debtors
Accrued income
9
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
2024
£
1,339
2024
£
-
625
625
2023
£
1,493
2024
£
3,015
2023
£
21
678
699

Page 15

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

10 Charity status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and consequently does not have share capital. Each of the members is liable to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards the assets of the charity in the event of liquidation.

11 Funds

Unrestricted funds
General
General fund
Restricted funds
Lock 13
Training
Woolsthorpe Slipway
Western Depot
Events
Total restricted funds
Total funds
Unrestricted funds
General
General fund
Restricted
Lock 13
Training
Woolsthorpe Slipway
Western Depot
Total restricted funds
Total funds
Balance at 1
April 2023
£
162,109
7,753
1,605
1,210
1,000
-
11,568
173,677
Balance at 1
April 2022
£
93,338
-
1,605
6,991
-
8,596
101,934
Incoming
resources
£
180,331
175
-
-
-
2,268
2,443
182,774
Incoming
resources
£
99,727
8,725
-
1,020
1,000
10,745
110,472
Resources
expended
£
(101,443)
(7,705)
-
-
-
(669)
(8,374)
(109,817)
Resources
expended
£
(30,956)
(972)
-
(6,801)
-
(7,773)
(38,729)
Balance at 31
March 2024
£
240,997
223
1,605
1,210
1,000
1,599
5,637
246,634
Balance at 31
March 2023
£
162,109
7,753
1,605
1,210
1,000
11,568
173,677

Page 16

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:

The Training fund is to cover training for volunteers.

Lock 13 is enabling works prior to restorationof Lock 13. Woolsthorpe Slipway is towards the restoration of the slipway.

Western Depot is towards setting up a depot at the western end to enable further works in that area. Events to put on additional events.

12 Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
49,407
192,215
(625)
240,997
Unrestricted
funds
General
£
33,993
128,815
(699)
162,109
Restricted
funds
£
-
5,637
-
5,637
Restricted
funds
£
-
11,568
-
11,568
Total funds at
31 March
2024
£
49,407
197,852
(625)
246,634
Total funds at
31 March
2023
£
33,993
140,383
(699)
173,677

13 Benefits in kind

The charity benefits from considerable input from many volunteers. The value of this contribution is not included within the financial statements.

14 Taxation

The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.

Page 17

The Grantham Canal Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

15 Trustees remuneration and expenses

No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.

No trustees have received any other benefits from the charity during the year.

16 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the year.

17 Fees payable to independent examiner

During the period, the fees payable (excluding VAT) to the charity’s independent examiner Community Accounting Plus are analysed as follows:

Accounting Plus are analysed as follows:
Independent examination 2024
£
625
625
2023
£
565
565

Page 18