Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
Registered Charity Number 510659
ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 1 to 3 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 4 |
| Receipts and Payments Account | 5 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 6 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 7 to 10 |
Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Annual Report together with the Accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document and the Charities Act 2011.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Charity Name: The Friends of York Art Gallery Registered Number: 510659 Principal Address: York Art Gallery, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EW President Mr. Peter Miller Life Vice Presidents Mr. David Alexander Sir James Graham Bt. TRUSTEES
The Trustees of the Charity who acted during the year to 31 December were:
Prof. Charles Martindale Mrs. Azizah Clayton Mr. Benjamin Hilliam Retired 30/9/2025 Mrs. Susan Smallpage (Membership Secretary) Dr. Ronald Clayton Lapsed 22/3/2025, Co-opted 5/7/2025 Mrs. Moira Fulton Mrs. Anne McLean Mr. Paul McLean (Treasurer) Prof. Jeanne Nuechterlein Retired 22/3/2025 Prof John Roe (Secretary) Retired 22/03/2025 Mrs Cynthia Barbor(Secretary) Appointed 22/3/2025 Mrs. Helena Cox Lapsed 22/3/2025, Co-opted 5/7/2025 Resigned 11/10/2025 Mr. David Lamb Mr Nicholas Dunn McAfee Lapsed 22/3/2025, Co-opted 5/7/2025 Dr Amanda Hilliam Appointed 22/3/2025 Dr Jessica Richardson* Appointed 22/3/2025
- Elected Member of the Committee
The Trustees comprise the Elected Members of the Committee, Chair, Secretary, Membership Secretary and the Treasurer. The Trustees are elected by the members of the Friends of York Art Gallery at the Annual General Meeting of the Charity. The President, the Life Vice-Presidents and the Curator of Art may attend meetings of the Committee but may not vote.
OFFICERS
The principal officers of the Charity during the year 31 December 2025 were:
Chair Prof Charles Martindale Treasurer: Mr. Paul McLean Secretary: Mr. John Roe / Mrs Cynthia Barbor Membership Secretary: Mrs. Susan Smallpage
PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS
Independent Examiner: S B Wearing FCA, DChA, HPH, Chartered Accountants, 54, Bootham, York, YO30 7XZ
Principal Bankers: HSBC, 13 Parliament St, York, YO1 8XS
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
GOVERNING DOCUMENT
The governing document of the Friends of York Art Gallery (the "Society") is its Constitution adopted on 23 March 1979 and amended on 28 February 1992, 24 March 1995, May 1998, 27 March 2008, 15 March 2012, 24 March 2017, 27 March 2021 and 22[nd] March 2025.
TRUSTEES
The Trustees, who form the Committee, are drawn from the membership of the Society and are appointed at the Annual General Meeting. The normal term of office for members of the Committee is three years; retiring members may be re-elected up to a maximum of 12 years.
The major business and decisions of the Society are conducted at meetings normally held four times a year at which all Trustees have a vote (Chair only has a casting vote).
MEMBERSHIP
Individuals and organizations can become members ("Friends") of the Society on payment of a subscription. Every Friend is entitled to nominate any member for a position on the Committee; all nominations should reach the Secretary at least seven clear days before an Annual General Meeting.
RISK MANAGEMENT
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Society is exposed, in particular those relating to its operations and finances, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the exposure to the major risks.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
OBJECTS
The objects of the Society are to link together all friends of the York Art Gallery and establish a circle of supporters who will aid in the further development of the York Art Gallery Collection by subscription, gifts, bequests or donations and to sponsor activities in furtherance of the appreciation of the fine arts in York and the surrounding area.
York Art Gallery normally makes a charge for admission to the general public; in recognition of the Friends’ contribution to the success of the Gallery individual Friends are admitted at the lowest charge offered to anyone else. The Trustees believe they have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when undertaking their review and planning future activities.
ACTIVITIES
The main activities during the year continued to be the raising of funds from members and proceeds from organized events.
GRANT MAKING POLICY
The Trustees receive requests from York Art Gallery and others for funding assistance for the purchase of works of art and their conservation and housing to sponsor activities in furtherance of the appreciation of the fine arts in York and the surrounding area. Funding requests are judged on their merits, with any grants made approved by a vote of the Trustees.
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THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT (Continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
During the year the Society gave grants to York Art Gallery details of which are shown on page 8, note 4.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
Grants to the Gallery and others during 2025 amounted to £14,446 (2024 - £45,720) details of which are shown on page 8 at note 4. The Friends had been able to make these grants from subscriptions, proceeds from events, tax refunds under Gift Aid together with interest received and from donations and bequests, including those received in earlier years.
The Friends hold funds representing past bequests which it actively seeks to spend on in line with its constitution and within the restrictions attached to bequests.
RESERVES
The Trustees have examined the requirement for free reserves, which are those unrestricted funds not invested in fixed assets, designated for specific purposes, or otherwise committed. The Trustees believe the Society should retain minimum reserves equal to one year’s subscription income (approximately £25,000) and the grant making capability of the Society should be maintained from current receipts and the use of additional reserves and Restricted Funds as opportunity arises. The free reserves at 31 December 2025 totaled £107,442 (2024 - £81,426).
INVESTMENT POLICY
The Trustees have approved the investment of an amount equal to half the Collection Fund in Equity income funds. During the year no further amount was invested into such funds. They consider that the remainder of the Society’s reserves should be held in bank and building society accounts generating interest to be applied by the Society in furtherance of its objects.
Approved on behalf of the Trustees
Prof. Charles Martindale Chair 8 March 2026
Mr Paul McLean Treasurer 8 March 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Friends of York Art Gallery (the “Society”) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
This report is made solely to the Society’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 154 of the Charities Act 2011. My independent examiner’s work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Society’s trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Society, the Society’s members as a body and the Society’s trustees as a body for my independent examiner’s work, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Society 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 Society’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 respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Society as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
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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.
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.
Sarah Wearing FCA, DChA HPH Chartered Accountants 54 Bootham York YO30 7XZ
8 March 2026
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Notes Receipts Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Subscriptions Donations and rebates Legacies Gift Aid Activities for generating funds: Fundraising Investment income 2 Other receipts 3 Payments Costs of generating funds: Other expenses Charitable activities: Grants 4 Governance costs Investment purchases Total payments Net receipts/(payments) before transfers Transfers between funds Net receipts/(payments) after transfers Cash funds brought forward at Cash funds carried forward at 7 & 8 31 December 2025 1 January 2025 Total receipts |
Unrestricted Funds £ 21,346 511 1,062 4,325 34,913 5,818 - 67,975 19,757 14,446 7,562 41,765 - 41,765 26,210 - 26,210 149,901 176,111 £ |
Restricted Funds £ 3,621 - - 989 - 2,297 - 6,907 - - - - 285 285 6,622 - 6,622 41,403 48,025 £ |
Year ended 31 December 2025 £ 24,967 511 1,062 5,314 34,913 8,115 - 74,882 19,757 14,446 7,562 41,765 285 42,050 32,832 - 32,832 191,304 224,136 £ |
Year ended 31 December 2024 £ 18,987 1,527 - 3,815 15,751 5,631 133 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45,844 | ||||
| 7,909 45,720 6,320 |
||||
| 59,949 746 |
||||
| 60,695 | ||||
| (14,851) - |
||||
| (14,851) 206,155 |
||||
| 191,304 £ |
All operations are continuing.
The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
| Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | Year ended | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Unrestricted | Restricted | 31 December | 31 December | 31 December | 31 December | |||
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| ASSETS | |||||||||
| Investment assets | |||||||||
| Quoted securities (at market value) | 5 | - | 20,256 | 20,256 | 20,834 | ||||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 6 | ||||||||
| Undesignated | 7 | 107,443 | - | 107,443 | 81,426 | ||||
| Designated | 7 | 68,668 | - | 68,668 | 68,475 | ||||
| Restricted | 8 | - | 48,025 | 48,025 | 41,403 | ||||
| £ | 176,111 £ |
£ | 48,025 £ |
£ | 224,136 £ |
£ | 191,304 £ |
||
| OTHER ASSETS | |||||||||
| Gift aid for 2024 owing | - | - | - | 16 | |||||
| 2025 event costs | - | - | - | 323 | |||||
| £ | - | £ | - | £ | - | £ | 339 | ||
| LIABILITIES | |||||||||
| Fee for Independent Examination | 600 | - | 600 | 480 | |||||
| Subscriptions paid in advance | - | - | - | 30 | |||||
| 2026 event income | 1,035 | - | 1,035 | 925 | |||||
| Donation for 2026 paid in advance | - | 35 | 35 | 35 | |||||
| Unpaid expenses | - | - | - | 141 | |||||
| £ | 1,635 £ |
£ | 35 £ |
£ | 1,670 £ |
£ | 1,611 £ |
Approved by the Trustees on 8 March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Prof. Charles Martindale Chair
Mr. Paul McLean Treasurer
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
a) Basis of Preparation
The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payment basis.
b) Receipts
Receipts from generated funds
Subscriptions, donations and legacies
All income from subscriptions, donations and legacies is accounted for on the receipts basis. This policy is applied to legacy income.
Activities for generating funds
Fundraising
This represents gross income from events and from sales of merchandise in the year.
Investment income
Investment income from bank interest is accounted for on the receipts basis.
c) Payments
Costs of generating funds
Costs of generating voluntary income
The heading comprises direct costs of participating in events, all publicity costs and support costs.
Charitable activities
Grants
Grants are charged to the Receipts and Payments Account when paid. Additional monies allocated for grants in the year are transferred to a designated unrestricted fund. These costs include the costs incurred in managing the grants system.
Governance costs
These are the costs associated directly with the management by the Trustees of the Society's activities, including postage, stationery, printing, insurance and other general administration costs.
d) Assets
Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing less than £500 per item are written off against income as they are purchased. Other assets are capitalised as fixed assets and depreciated over 4 years on a straight line basis.
e) Designated funds
Where the Society has agreed to pay a grant at a future date the amount is transferred to an unrestricted designated reserve. This ensures the Society is aware of its free reserves.
f) Restricted funds
Restricted funds are funds that can only be used for a specific purpose within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
| 2. INVESTMENT INCOME Bank interest received Quoted investment income 3. OTHER RECEIPTS Included under the above heading are the following items: Book Sales Unrestricted Restricted 2025 2025 4. GRANTS £ £ Grants paid during the year were:- Grants to York Museums & Gallery Trust: Conservation of the Art Gallery’s painting by Mary Ellen Best: A Woman Paring Apples 975 - General grant to the gallery 10,000 - Anina Major's ceramic sculpture ‘Kindred’ 2023 2,930 - Chikanobu Yoshu’s 1896 print Evacuation, Chiyoda Palace, Meiji. 541 - YORAG Lighting for the Burton Gallery - - YORAG :Conservstion and framing Balthasar painting - - YORAG General Grant - - 14,446 - University of York MA in history of art scholarship - - 14,446 £ - £ Included in other receipts is £nil (2024: £nil) relating to Restricted Funds. Included in investment income is £2,297 (2024: £1,791) relating to Restricted Funds. |
2025 £ 7,354 761 8,115 £ 2025 £ - - £ Total 2025 £ 975 10,000 2,930 541 - - - 14,446 - 14,446 £ |
2024 £ 4,924 707 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,631 £ |
||
| 2024 £ 133 |
||
| 133 £ |
||
| Total 2024 £ - - - - 30,000 2,720 8,500 |
||
| 41,220 | ||
| 4,500 | ||
| 45,720 £ |
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
5. INVESTMENTS
| VESTMENTS | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quoted Investments Market value at 31 December 2025 Historical cost at 31 December 2025 ANK BALANCES HSBC Community Account NatWest Community Account 1 NatWest Community Account 2 NatWest 35 day Account Barclays Community Account Shawbrook Bank 100-day notice account Hampshire Trust Bank - *179 Hampshire Trust Bank - ***662 United Trust Bank 1 year bond -579 CCLA COIF Deposit Fund United Trust Bank 1 year bond -200 United Trust Bank 1 year bond -172 United Trust Bank 1 year bond -335 COIF deposit fund Manchester Building Society Easy Access |
Unrestricted 2025 £ - £ - £ Unrestricted 2025 £ 128 - 15,618 24,564 12,369 36,734 - 32,792 20,753 33,153 - - - - - 176,111 £ |
Restricted 2025 £ 20,256 £ 19,433 £ Restricted 2025 £ - 302 - - - 11,110 - - - - 12,645 8,410 6,680 6,808 2,070 £ 48,025 |
Total 2025 £ 20,256 £ 19,433 £ Total 2025 £ 128 302 15,618 24,564 12,369 47,844 - 32,792 20,753 33,153 12,645 8,410 6,680 6,808 2,070 £ 224,136 |
Total 2024 £ 20,834 £ |
| 18,500 £ |
||||
| Total 2024 £ 149 643 6,018 10,148 1,910 46,262 13,623 31,502 19,850 31,550 8,022 8,015 6,364 6,486 762 |
||||
| 191,304 £ |
6. BANK BALANCES
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Docusign Envelope ID: 42963407-7162-49A7-889C-11E8A4ED6475
THE FRIENDS OF YORK ART GALLERY
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025
7. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Receipts | Payments | Transfers | Balance at | |
| 1 Jan 2025 | in Year | in Year | in Year | 31 Dec 2025 | |
| Undesignated Funds | 81,426 | 67,782 | (41,765) | - | 107,443 |
Designated Funds
The Trustees have designated funds to make the following Grants to York Art Gallery during later years:
| Malden-Owen Bequest Collection Fund |
62,568 5,907 149,901 £ |
193 - 67,975 £ |
- - £ (41,765) |
- - - £ |
62,761 5,907 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 176,111 £ |
Malden-Owen Bequest: in 2017 the Charity received this bequest to be applied towards the general purposes of the Friends.
Collection Fund: during 2016 the Charity established a fund financed primarily by monthly standing orders from Members.
8. RESTRICTED FUNDS
| Dr D. M. Bearpark Fund Collection Fund Gallery Fund |
Balance at 1 Jan 2025 16,876 23,560 967 41,403 £ |
Receipts in Year - 5,651 1,256 6,907 £ |
Payments Transfers in Year in Year - - 285 - - - 285 £ - £ |
Balance at 31 Dec 2025 16,876 28,926 2,223 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48,025 £ |
Dr D. M. Bearpark Fund: During the year ended 31 December 2008 the Charity was bequeathed £178,643 by the late Dr Denis Michael Bearpark. In his will Dr Bearpark wished that the money be used by The Friends of York Art Gallery "to assist in the purchase of works of art to add to the permanent collection of York Art Gallery and I express the wish that decisions as to which purchases shall be assisted shall be made by the Committee of the Friends of York Art Gallery and shall include works considered to be executed about one hundred years prior to the date of purchase".
Collection Fund: during 2016 the Charity established a fund financed primarily by monthly standing orders from Members. During 2024 the Gallery Fund was introduced to allow members to make additional standing order payments to support the gallery.
9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION
During the year, none of the Trustees received any remuneration or benefits by virtue of being a Trustee of the Charity.
10. INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION FEE
The Charity's independent examiner's fee for the work undertaken is reduced by 50%. The estimated benefit to the charity of this reduction for the year is £600.
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