# **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2025** 

**Charity Registration No: 515527** 

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## **LEGAL AND ADMINSTRATIVE INFORMATION** 

## **Registered Charity Name THE TORCH ASSOCIATION** 

## **TRUSTEES** 

**Mr Brian Massey MBE (Chairman)** 

**Mr John Robinson Mrs Bryony Gibson MBE Mrs Ann Francis Dr Howard Forrest** 

**Hon. Treasurer** 

**Helen Dobson** 

**Principal Address** 

**TORCH CENTRE CORBRIDGE ROAD HEXHAM NORTHUMBERLAND NE46 1QS** 

**BANK** 

**LLOYDS PLC** 

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|**CONTENTS**||
|---|---|
|**Trustees’ Annual Report**|**4 - 5**|
|**Statement of Financial Actvites &**||
|**Independent Examiner’s Report**|**6**|
|**Balance Sheet**|**7**|
|**Notes to the Accounts**|**8 - 9**|
|**Financial Actvites Breakdown**|**10 - 11**|



**Trustees’ Annual Report** 

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## **Year Ending 31[st] March 2025** 

## **Formation of the Charity** 

The governing document of the Charity is the Constitution adopted on the 11th April 1984 and last amended in July 2022. 

## **Objectives of the Charity** 

The relief of illness and suffering of all disabled persons resident in a defined local area of Tynedale and beyond by providing, managing and maintaining a Centre for recreation or other leisure time occupation and in particular by providing facilities for competitive and noncompetitive sports. 

## **Administration** 

The names of the Trustees of the Association are provided above. Where vacancies arise, they are advertised externally and among the Trustees’ personal contacts. 

The administration of the Charity is conducted through a Management Committee, working in accordance with the current constitution, and meeting at least quarterly under the chairmanship of Gill Woodward. 

## **Organisation** 

There is a volunteer administrator and three part time employees; a barman and two cleaners. The caretaking is, however, principally undertaken by volunteers on the Management Committee. 

## **Management** 

The Management Committee continued to focus on and address the following : 

1. Raising the profile of the Torch Centre within the town of Hexham. 

2. Increasing income to offset the increase in outgoings, particularly higher utility charges. 

3. Maximising the use of the letting rooms and bar. 

4. Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation. 

5. Procuring grants to carry out ongoing repairs and improvements to the building. 

## **Risk Assessment** 

The Management Committee are taking measures to ensure that the charity and its building complies with all relevant legislation. Having considered all the risks to which the Charity is exposed, the Committee is satisfied that it is putting in place measures to mitigate exposure to such risks. 

These risks include any reduction in usage of the building with a resultant drop in income and any unexpected maintenance and capital expenditure. 

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## **Financial Performance** 

Whilst rental income has recovered since the Covid pandemic, the level of outgoings has continued to surge. In addition, it has proved increasingly difficult to procure grants for ongoing maintenance and repair works. 

However, the departure of the former part-time administrator and part-time caretaker has resulted in a substantial wage saving. In addition, a fundraising campaign has enabled the charity to benefit from substantial individual one-off donations totalling £17,724. These factors have resulted in an enhanced year end cash balance of £21,954. 

## **Strategic Review** 

Current anticipated inflationary pressures will inevitably continue to result in increased costs. 

The financial situation will continue to be very closely monitored during the next 

accounting year. **Reserves Policy** 

The Trustees conduct a review annually to ensure that there are sufficient funds to maintain the charity’s financial stability and ongoing development. The Trustees’ reserves policy is to ensure that the charity holds unrestricted free reserves, after taking account of any fixed assets that are required for ongoing use, equivalent to the cost of closing the charity and currently assessed at £14,000. 

Cash reserves held at the yearend have enabled the charity to comply with our reserves policy. 

## **Serious incidents** 

During the year, there were no serious incidents recorded which the Trustees were required to report to the Charity Commission. 

## **Public Benefit Statement** 

The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charities aims and objectives and in planning future activities. In particular, the Trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the Torch Associations charitable purpose and objectives. 

Brian Massey 

Chair of Trustees 

**Statement of Financial Activities including Income** 

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## **Expenditure at 31st March 2025** 

|Notes|||||2025|2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted|||Restricted              Total|Restricted              Total||
||Funds||Funds                   Funds|Funds                   Funds|Funds                   Funds||
|Income|||||||
|Grants – Restricted|2|||13500|13500|570|
|Grants – Unrestricted|2|7600|||7600||
|Investment income|3|74|||74|30|
|Charitable Activities|4|48946|||48946|24441|
|||56620||13500|70120|25041|
|Total Income|||||||
|Expenditure<br>Charitable Activities|5|47042||12682|59724|49732|
|||47042||12682|59724|49732|
|Net Movement in Funds||9578||818|10396|-24691|
|Total funds B/F<br>Total funds C/F||127481<br>128181|700<br>10396|700<br>128181<br>10396<br>138577|||



Report on the independent check of the accounts of the Torch Associaton for the year ended 31st March 2025 

1. I have undertaken an independent check of the accounts of the Torch Association for the year ended 31st March 2025. 

2. I confirm that I have examined all income and expenditure records together with the relevant Bank statements and confirm that the accounts reflect an accurate statement of the financial position of the Torch Association as at 31st March 2025. 3. The Bank reconciliation as at 31st March 2025 is correct and the balance has been checked to the Bank statement. 

Andrew Michael Pryor 

ACIB (retired) 

20/06/2025 

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## FixedAssets 

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## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ending 31[st] March 2025** 

## 1. Accounting Policies 

## 1.1 Basis of Preparation 

The financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and comply with the Companies Act 2006, Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their Financial Statements in accordance with the Financial Statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). 

## 1.2 Incoming Resources 

Donations, fundraising and charitable activities are recognised when received by the charity. 

## 1.3 Resources Expended 

All expenditure is recognised by the charity when the liability has been incurred.  Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis and liability incurred.  Governance costs include those costs in association with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include accountancy fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. 

## 1.4 Tangible fixed assets and depreciation 

The amount of the Leasehold Building being depreciated at the original cost (£148,679); depreciated by 10% instalments.   All earlier Equipment and Fixtures & Fittings purchased have now been fully depreciated.  New purchases are fully written down in the year of purchase. 

## 1.5 Stock 

Stock is valued at the lower cost and net realisable value. 

## 1.6 Accumulated Funds 

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. 

## 1.7 Performance & Going Concern 

Usage of the Centre in 2024 – 2024 financial year has again increased slightly.  However, cost pressures continue to increase, particularly utility costs and repairs. Substantial savings have been made through the departure of the part-time administrator and part-time caretaker with those roles being undertaken by members of the Management Committee. 

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Improvements and repairs have been undertaken during the 2024-2025 financial year from restricted funds including new outside cladding and fascia, sanding and polishing of flooring and repairs to water damage in the snooker hall. 

More improvements are planned for 2025-2026 to include decoration of the main hall, lounge/bar area and kitchen.  New fire doors will be installed. 

Further small rental cost rises may be necessary from September 2025. 

The Trustees are of the opinion the Charity will have sufficient resources to meet its liabilities as they fall in 2025 – 2026 and consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. 

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