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← The Ethel Trust

2025-03-31-accounts

Charity registration number: 700389

The Ethel Trust

ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

The Ethel Trust

Contents

Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Trustees' annual report 2 – 9
Independent examiner's report 10
Receipts and payments account 11
Statement of assets and liabilities 12
Notes to the accounts 13 – 16

The Ethel Trust

Legal and administrative information For the year ended 31 March 2025

Charity number 700389

Trustees

Deanna (Dorothy) Glossop Keith Levy David Poulsom David Tuck

Principal Address The Circle 33 Rockingham Lane Sheffield S1 4FW

Accountants

Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH

1

The Ethel Trust

Trustees’ annual report For the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document and the Charities Act 2011.

Structure, governance and management

The Ethel Trust was established under a trust deed, dated 7 June 1988, to promote the public's education and involvement in community boating. It is a registered charity, number 700389.

It has 4 trustees, accountable for administration and financial control.

It employs three part-time staff and several skippers employed on a sessional basis.

Day to day operational matters are delegated to a small group of staff and volunteers: the Operations Group whose individual members have expertise in: boat maintenance and management, training, safeguarding, health and safety, publicity and promotion and volunteer recruitment and coordination. At least one trustee sits as part of the Operations Group.

The Trust has 62 volunteers. Volunteers have:

Trustees spent considerable time on the issue of legal structure. They sought initial advice from Wrighleys solicitors. Wrighleys provided, free of charge, a telephone consultation and then detailed written advice. Trustee agreed with that advice i.e. changing from an unincorporated charitable trust (our current legal structure) to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was appropriate. The change meant setting up a new organisation which involved adopting the charity commissions model constitution for a CIO (without members), amending aims and completing the charity commissions registration form. Trustees received notification from the commission that the new organisation (The Ethel Trust CIO) was registered on 7 October 2025.

Objectives and activities

The charity’s legal object is the advancement of education among members of the public by the improvement and diffusion of knowledge of local, regional and national history.

It seeks to fulfil its object by organising educational, therapeutic and leisure outings on its purposebuilt barges ‘Ethel’ and ‘Pearl.’

The Trust`s principle users are:

2

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Users state that the Trust`s services are eagerly anticipated and much enjoyed benefitting their physical health and mental well-being.

Work with children and young people, especially those with learning and/or physical disabilities, focuses upon a programme of water-based activities called ‘Unlocking Confidence.

The work provides new and stimulating experiences that build self-esteem and develop social and interpersonal skills enabling young people to feel better about themselves and more confident taking on unfamiliar activities.

For older, people the trust provides day trips that either: enable participation (e.g. steering the boat, opening locks and bridges) or allow users to sit back, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterways.

Trips therefore ensure older people are less isolated and stay active and stimulated which contributes to healthier and happier lives.

The trust has two barges:

Ethel Barge

Ethel is fully accessible and operates all year round. Her main features are:

Ethel was professionally painted in 2018 and in October 2020 was fitted with a new, environmentally friendly engine. She can accommodate 12 users on day trips and sleeps 10 on residential trips.

Pearl Barge

Pearl is a hybrid boat (diesel/electric) specifically designed for residential trips with a high-quality finish, accessibility and all the latest safety features. She is a state of the art craft designed to be environmentally friendly with a hybrid engine and solar panels. She is fitted with a lift enabling access for all users. She has a fully equipped kitchen, large centrally heated lounge with panoramic windows and accessible toilets and shower rooms.

The trust has 2 nationally qualified trainers, and it is an accredited training centre for other organisations/individuals.

The trust has also developed strong, local partnerships (e.g. with ‘Sparkle’, a charity supporting families with severely autistic children) to assist with the delivery of its object.

The trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commissions published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011 **.** The trusts work with people, especially those from disadvantaged communities enables them to experience and enjoy the inland waterways of the UK.

3

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Achievements and Performance

In 24-25 We ran:

Of the 242 trips 206 days worth of trips were covered by grants or the charity’s general funds. And 36 were paid for.

We finally concluded our BBC Children in Need “Opening up the waterways” project. 3 year Funding for it was secured in 2018 but Covid meant it had to be put on hold for nearly 2 years and then rolled out over a longer timeframe than the original 3 years. But it has been a great success as we engaged children and young people in new, often challenging activity in an environment very different to what they were use to, enabling them to gain confidence, build friendships and develop personal and social skills.

677 children and young people participated over the course of the project and we received very positive feedback from them and their carers:

“Fantastic! Inclusive, accessible, exciting and fun.” “Very good experience, very sensory. We would like to come again.”

“Giving the children life enriching experiences.”

“Loved the relaxed pace.” Letting the children experience the motion on the water, the wildlife & buildings.

“We all enjoyed how tranquil it is, it is a very calm and relaxing experience. We liked looking at all the nature and wildlife, ducks and ducklings. We saw a terrapin and birds nest. Jamie enjoyed looking at the bridges and trams going past.”

The feedback, at the end of the project from our funder, Children in Need was also encouraging “ It was great to read that so many of your children and young people have started to experience progress or are already experiencing significant progress and siblings involved in the trips had a really positive experience, I especially liked that there had been plenty of fun and laughter. It's sounds like everyone involved really enjoyed their time on Ethel and Pearl, learning new skills and being on the water.”

We recruited 7 more volunteers bringing our number up to 62. We were particularly pleased to have increased the number of female volunteers but disappointed we were unable to recruit younger volunteers and volunteers from minority ethnic communities.

We held 3 open meetings for all involved with Ethel. These “all aboard” (as we called them) meetings provided an opportunity for individuals to discuss issues affecting the trust and also to socialise. With the growth of volunteers and the fact we are spread across South Yorkshire we felt it important to bring everyone together periodically to build relationships. Our volunteer recruitment group worked well throughout the year making us more effective at recruiting and retaining volunteers. The planned volunteer residential did not happen but we plan to organise it for next financial year.

4

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Our operations group which brings together the lead individuals facilitating the key areas of our work and is responsible for our day to day operations, met 6 weekly during the year. Its skills and enthusiasm ensured the smooth running of our day and residential outings.

We were particularly pleased to recruit an educationalist to co-ordinate our work with schools and colleges as schools and colleges provide an important beneficiary group and our work with them had lacked a dedicated volunteer to lead on it. Our volunteer has strengthened links with existing schools and colleges and promoted the full range of our activities to them. He has also begun to reach out to new educational establishments across South Yorkshire.

We continued to work closely with the National Community Boats Association benefiting from its information and expertise.

We also published 2 newsletters which were circulated to all interested parties. They proved an excellent way of sharing information and keeping everyone up to date with our activities. We maintained our presence on social media (e.g. Facebook) with information about and pictures of trips regularly posted.

Administration

The Trust administration continued to be a busy with a constant balancing act regarding volunteer availability and demand for trips. We have also had an issue with a number of crew unavailable so skippers have been encouraged to fill the gaps where needed. It has been particularly difficult to find crew for residentials. Demand has been high with both boats being fully booked months in advance.

Joining instructions for our users have been updated to reinforce the need for trip leaders to be available to be contacted in the days immediately prior to their trip. We now include the size of the lifts as some large motorised wheelchairs have been very challenging to get onto the boats and also include a warning about the noise of the thrusters recommending that anyone who is sensitive to noise bring ear defenders.

A successful promotional campaign was carried out to encourage Autumn trips across both boats. During the year we reintroduced certificates for young users. We introduced free Christmas Trips on Ethel & Pearl for groups supporting elderly people and these proved very successful.

Sadly, we experienced a small number of groups with a rather cavalier attitude to their bookings, cancelling at short notice. As these groups, who were offered free trips, did not seem to value their trips they will not be included in any future promotions.

Repair work to Bacon Lane delayed the start of our season at Sheffield and we had to reschedule a small number of trips. The loss of the propellor on Pearl also meant that a number of trips had to be rescheduled.

5

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Training

Ethel Trust Community Barges

This year the training team organised a range of courses both NCBA Qualification Courses and specific training to meet the needs of our volunteers. Please see the table below.

Date Type of Training Attendance
May 2024 NCBA 3 Day Community Crew
Course		 2 Candidates passed the course
June 2024 NCBA 3 Day Community Crew
Course		 2 Candidates passed the course
July 2024 NCBA 3 Day Community Crew
Course		 3 Candidates passed the course
Aug2024 2 x Ropes Courses 8 Volunteers attended
Feb 2025 2 x 1 Day Skippers Update Training
on Pearl		 16 Skippers attended
Feb 2025 1 Day H&S Level 3 First Aid Courses 12 Volunteers attended and passed the
courses.
March 2025 3 x 1 DayCrew Refresher Courses 10 Crew members attended
Mar 2025 NCBA 3 Day Community Boat
Management (Skippers) Course on
Pearl		 3 Candidates passed the course
Mar 2025 New Skippers induction on Ethel 3 New Skippers attended

The NCBA courses consisted of 3 Crew Courses and one Skipper`s Course.

Following feedback from Volunteers who felt they needed more training in handling ropes, the training team organised 2 ropes courses with 4 Volunteers attending each course. Going forward the team is prepared to run more of these courses if volunteers request them.

At the start of each new season, the team organises Skipper update training. This covers any new requirements but also any topics the Skippers have highlighted they would like further training on. This year the focus was on electrical boat systems.

For the first time this year the team also organised refresher and update training for Crew members. As Ethel has a large number of Crew, the team invited all Crew members who had taken their Crew Qualification before 2023. All who attended said they found it very beneficial. Going forward the team plan to organise a number of these courses each year so all crew will receive regular refresher training.

The training team organised a comprehensive first aid course in February 2025 with 12 volunteers gaining a qualification. Now over 80% of the trust`s volunteers holds a valid First Aid Qualification. During the course, delivered by a tutor from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, a couple of volunteers raised their concerns about the potential difficulties in evacuating some disabled users from either Ethel or Pearl in the event of a fire.

This led the team to organise a number of Fire Extinguisher and Fire Prevention Courses. The first, attended by 12 volunteers was delivered in July 2025 with another one organised for Nov 2025. The team is also working with the local Fire Station in Thorne and will organise training with them on evacuation plans and processes for canal boats.

6

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

During the year two skippers indicated that they would like to get involved with training. So far they have assisted on the crew refresher training courses and it is hoped they will get more involved with other training courses in the coming years.

The table below outlines the training that has taken place or is scheduled to take place since the end of the year.

of theyear.
Date Type of Training Attendance
May 2025 NCBA 3 Day Community Crew
Course		 2 Candidates passed the course
July 2025 NCBA 3 Day Community Crew
Course		 3 Candidates passed the course
July 2025 3 Hour Fire Extinguisher Training
Course		 12 Volunteers Attended
Nov 2025
Planned		 3 Hour Fire Extinguisher Training
Course Booked		 15 Volunteers currently signed up to
attend
Feb 2026 1 DayH&S Level 3 First Aid Courses 3 Feb Venue and Trainer alreadybooked

Maintenance

Ethel and Pearl have continued to give us reliable service over the last year with very few unexpected breakdowns. Those which occurred were very quickly repaired by our own maintenance team or, if more complex, by Thorne Boat Services.

An unexpected recent event was the loss of Pearl’s propeller on a training exercise at Thorne, fortunately great team work by Colecraft, Thorne Boat Services, Stanilands Marina and our own team ensured a speedy solution with an absolute minimum of cancelled trips.

Pearl might look very similar to Ethel but the handling characteristics are quite different, the installation by our volunteers of 1.25 tonnes of extra ballast under the bow deck has improved the trim in the water and made a great improvement to steering and handling. A significant amount of time has been spent in an effort to understand the electrical, digital and water/waste systems on Pearl. The bow and stern thrusters are very useful for fine boat manoeuvring but have proved to be somewhat unreliable, at present we are working with the manufacturer to find a solution. Work on the toilet tank has continued and good progress made to reduce odours by regular emptying and establishing a suitable chemical dosing regime.

Ethel has continued to provide a comfortable and reliable service from Victoria Quays. Much work has been carried out to the update the interior by the removal of unnecessary fixtures from the main cabin entrance, painting the walls and ceiling and also replacing the port toilet floor covering, the seat cushion backs, the chairs and the tables.

24-25 has been extremely busy with both Ethel and Pearl being out on trips most days and during weekends. Over the year, the engine hour indicator on Ethel showed 389 hours on diesel power and the indicators on Pearl showed 240 hours on diesel power and 140 hours on electrical propulsion.

7

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

Financial Review

Our overall financial position remained strong throughout the year. We were able to add to existing income through:

Again we carried forward a considerable amount of grant funding from previous years. Some of it has been used, (in the main to fund trips) but we will take the lion`s share into our new financial year. However we anticipate delivering an increased number of trips which will substantially reduce this balance.

Although the cost for maintaining ‘Ethel’ and ‘Pearl’ was not as high as last year we still had to pay for their annual surveys which were considerable. There was also costs incurred because of additional work on Pearl`s engine and gearbox. We spent on equipment including: fenders, a wheel chair, life jacket accessories, radio and laptop computer. Moreover, we saw an increase in our major fixed costs i.e. insurance, mooring fees and boat licences.

We end the year in a robust financial position, we will seek future income as appropriate and continue to spend as and when necessary.

Reserves Policy

We have agreed to hold unrestricted financial reserves in a realisable form so as to deal with possible unforeseen expenditure which is not specifically provided for in our annual budget.

This includes sufficient to (please note this list is not exhaustive) :

The reserves policy is to hold a minimum of free reserves to the value of expected spend. The minimum target amount is £73,000 for 2025-26. We will revise the policy annually.

Actual free cash reserves at 31 March 2025 were £243,573. Reserves were increased a few years ago by a significant legacy, and continue to increase due to successful grant applications funding the majority of trips.

8

The Ethel Trust

Trustees' annual report -continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

In addition £174,356 cash funds were held in designated funds representing:

£140,218 is held as cash restricted reserves primarily to be used against future trips for specific client groups.

Plans for the future

Objectives for 2025-26

The continued growth in our activities means we need more volunteers. We will aim to recruit more accordingly. We will also aim to recruit more women, young people and people from ethnic minorities to reflect our users base.

We wish to be an organisation that truly operates across South Yorkshire. We will aim to do this through the work of our Education Co-ordinator and Administrator and by targeting our publicity.

We have had another fantastic year providing services to our users which users say have been much appreciated. What we have accomplished would not have been possible without the efforts of our staff and volunteers and the continued support of our funders and friends. So thank you to all who make our work possible.

The annual report and accounts were approved by the Board of Trustees on 9 December 2025.

Signed on their behalf by:

Ik. levy

Keith Levy Trustee

9

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees of The Ethel Trust (“the Charity”)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I have assisted the trustees in the revision of bookkeeping and other records to ensure that the statutory accounts can be prepared accurately. The charity trustees remain responsible for making such judgments and decisions that are needed in relation to the presentation and disclosure of information in the financial statements. During my work I have been mindful of the guidance given by CC32 in relation to day to day administration of the charity, in assisting in preparing the accounts, and the provisions of the Revised Ethical Standard 2024 issued by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records.

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 Lightfoot FCA DChA Seven Hills Accountants Limited 57 Burton Street Sheffield S6 2HH

15 December 2025

10

The Ethel Trust

Receipts and payments account For the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes
Income from:
Donations
Grants
2
Charitable activities - trips
Fundraising
Investments - bank interest
Other income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
3
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers
4
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
£
6,785
17,516
6,440
-
10,701
149
41,591
50,543
50,543
(8,952)
40,500
31,548
386,381
417,929		 Restricted
funds
£
5,393
67,168
-
-
-
-
72,561
21,839
21,839
50,722
(40,500)
10,222
129,996
140,218		 2025
Total
£
12,178
84,684
6,440
-
10,701
149
114,152
72,382
72,382
41,770
-
41,770
516,377
558,147		 Unrestricted
funds
£
8,110
9,000
3,585
-
7,221
357
28,273
27,604
27,604
669
16,082
16,751
369,630
386,381		 Restricted
funds
£
-
64,266
-
-
-
-
64,266
49,379
49,379
14,887
(16,082)
(1,195)
131,191
129,996		 2024
Total
£
8,110
73,266
3,585
-
7,221
357
92,539
76,983
76,983
15,556
-
15,556
500,821
516,377

All of the charity's operations are classed as continuing.

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

11

The Ethel Trust

Statement of assets and liabilities As at 31 March 2025

Unrestricted Restricted 2025 Unrestricted Restricted 2024
funds funds Total funds funds Total
Note £ £ £ £ £ £
Cash at bank and in hand
General funds 243,573 - 243,573 229,389 - 229,389
Designated funds 174,356 - 174,356 156,992 - 156,992
Total unrestricted funds 7 417,929 - 417,929 386,381 - 386,381
Restricted funds 8 - 140,218 140,218 - 129,996 129,996
417,929 140,218 558,147 386,381 129,996 516,377
Other monetary assets
Prepayments 5,331 - 5,331 2,999 - 2,999
Assets retained for the charity's own use
Ethel Barge
(insurance value)		 80,000 - 80,000
Pearl Barge
(insurance value)		 360,000 - 360,000
Boat equipment
(not valued)		 - - -
Office equipment (not valued) - - -
Liabilities
HMRC VAT reclaimed 3,560 - 3,560 3,560 - 3,560
Taxes and social security 276 - 276 276 - 276
Accruals 1,132 - 1,132 1,871 - 1,871
Income in advance 1,605 - 1,605 2,025 - 2,025
6,573 - 6,573 7,732 - 7,732

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 9 December 2025.

Signed on its behalf by: Ik. levy

Keith Levy Trustee

12

The Ethel Trust

Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting Policies

General

The account are prepared in line with the Charity Commission guidance on "Receipts and payments" accounts.

Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context "cash" includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.

Funds

General funds are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.

Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the accounts.

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the funder.

2 Income from grants

Unrestricted
funds
£
Grants
2025 Restriction
BBC Children In Need
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
Boots Charitable Trust
Elderly
-
Bruce Wake Charitable Trust
Unlocking confidence
-
Children in Need
Unlocking confidence
-
Douglas Arter Foundation
Unlocking confidence
-
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Unlocking confidence
-
Facey Family Foundation
unrestricted
5,000
Gripple Ltd
Unrestricted
-
Herefordshire Community Foundation
Mooring fees
-
Magic Little Grants
Unlocking confidence
-
National Lottery Community Fund
Elderly
-
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust
Unrestricted
12,516
Sheffield And District Association For The Disabled Pearl equipment
-
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation T Unlocking confidence
-
Sheffield Town Trust
Unrestricted
-
South Yorkshire Housing Association
Vulnerable people
-
South Yorkshire's Community Foundation
Unlocking confidence
-
South Yorkshire's Community Foundation
Vulnerable people
-
South Yorkshire's Community Foundation
Operating costs
-
The 29th May 1961 Charity
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
The Arnold Clark Community Fund
Day trips
-
The Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
The Brelms Trust
Elderly
-
The Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust
Unlocking confidence
-
The Cutlers Company Charitable Trust
Unlocking confidence
-
The Dransfield Foundation
Unlocking confidence
-
The Freshgate Trust Foundation
Unlocking confidence
-
The Hedley Foundation
Unlocking confidence
-
The Ironmongers' Company
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
The James Neill Trust Fund
Unlocking confidence
-
The JG Graves Charitable Trust
Unlocking confidence
-
The Sheldon Trust
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
The Spirit Of Sheffield Children's trust
Unlocking confidence
-
The Whirlwind Charitable Trust
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
The WO Street Charitable Foundation
Operating costs
-
The Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
Operating costs
-
W.G.Edwards Charitable Foundation
Ethel equipment
-
Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation
Unlocking confidence - residentials
-
17,516		 Restricted
funds
£
7,968
3,350
1,500
-
500
-
-
-
-
-
8,200
-
-
-
-
12,500
-
5,000
5,000
5,000
500
4,000
-
2,000
1,000
-
-
-
3,250
1,000
2,000
-
-
-
4,400
-
-
-
67,168		 2025Unrestricted
Total
funds
£
£
7,968
-
3,350
-
1,500
-
-
-
500
-
-
-
5,000
5,000
-
1,500
-
-
-
-
8,200
-
12,516
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,500
12,500
-
-
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
500
-
4,000
-
-
-
2,000
-
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,250
-
1,000
-
2,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,400
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
84,684
9,000		 Restricted
funds
£
-
-
1,500
7,737
-
3,000
-
-
2,800
500
-
-
1,000
2,200
-
4,592
1,000
-
-
5,000
-
-
4,590
3,000
-
2,345
2,000
2,000
-
-
2,000
9,150
500
5,250
-
2,000
1,000
1,102
64,266		 2024
Total
£
-
-
1,500
7,737
-
3,000
5,000
1,500
2,800
500
-
-
1,000
2,200
2,500
4,592
1,000
-
-
5,000
-
-
4,590
3,000
-
2,345
2,000
2,000
-
-
2,000
9,150
500
5,250
-
2,000
1,000
1,102
73,266

13

The Ethel Trust

Notes to the Accounts - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

3 Charitable expenditure

Unrestricted
funds
Notes
£
People costs
Staff costs
14,665
Volunteers' expenses
3,284
Training and supervision
930
Barge costs
Equipment, repairs and maintenance
13,207
Fuel
1,032
Berthing and mooring fees
8,038
Pump Out
394
Boat licences
1,397
Refreshments
190
Administration costs
Insurance
3,951
Rent and I.T. service charge
115
Promotion and marketing
377
Printing, stationery and postage
223
Telephone and website
365
Other administration costs
883
Independent examination
6
720
Payroll Service
532
Other professional fees
240
Grants and match funding paid out
-
50,543		 Restricted
funds
£
12,806
3,061
-
1,454
925
885
-
256
1,178
1,118
-
-
-
-
97
-
59
-
-
21,839		 2025Unrestricted
Total
funds
£
£
27,471
3,385
6,345
692
930
668
14,661
6,287
1,957
1,781
8,923
719
394
336
1,653
1,268
1,368
20
5,069
4,232
115
96
377
-
223
250
365
340
980
1,369
720
1,404
591
647
240
-
-
4,110
72,382
27,604		 Restricted
funds
£
24,685
5,844
-
10,409
1,220
5,278
-
160
1,286
194
-
-
7
-
296
-
-
-
-
49,379		 2024
Total
£
28,070
6,536
668
16,696
3,001
5,997
336
1,428
1,306
4,426
96
-
257
340
1,665
1,404
647
-
4,110
76,983

4 Transfers

Transfer from:
Transfer to:
Reason
Restricted funds
Un-Locking Confidence Project
General funds
Trips funded by restricted funding
Un-Locking Confidence Project - residentials
General funds
Trips funded by restricted funding
Elderly groups
General funds
Trips funded by restricted funding
Vulnerable people
General funds
Trips funded by restricted funding
Designated funds
Vulnerable people
General funds
Trips funded by designated funding
General funds
Ethel barge - major repairs
Set aside monies for future overhaul
Total funds transfer - as per receipts and payments accounts		 General Designated
Fund
Funds
£
13,650
-
-
-
14,350
-
12,500
-
7,152
(7,152)
(12,000)
12,000
35,652
4,848
40,500		 Restricted
Funds
£
(13,650)
-
(14,350)
(12,500)
-
(40,500)
(40,500)

5 Trustee's remuneration and expenses

Trustees were not paid or received any other benefits in their role as trustees during the year (2024: £nil).

Two trustees (or their spouses) were paid £664 travel expenses during the year in their role as volunteer crew (2024: Two trustees or their spouses were paid £1,802). No other remuneration or out of pocket expenses were paid to any trustees during the year.

6 Independent examiner's fees

Independent examiner's fee
The independent examiner's organisation was also paid the following:
Accounts preparation/bookkeeping assistance		 2025
2024
£
£
720
720
240
-

14

The Ethel Trust

Notes to the Accounts - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

7 Unrestricted funds

Designated funds
Ethel barge - major repairs
Pearl Barge - maintenance and running costs
Vulnerable people
Total designated funds
General funds		 Balance
brought
forward
£
36,000
120,992
-
156,992
229,389
386,381		 Income Expenditure
£
£
-
-
-
-
12,516
-
12,516
-
29,075
(50,543)
41,591
(50,543)		 Transfers
£
12,000
-
(7,152)
4,848
35,652
40,500		 Balance
carried
forward
£
48,000
120,992
5,364
174,356
243,573
417,929

Ethel barge - major repairs

A large overhaul of the barge is due roughly every 5 years - the next one being due in 2025-2027. The estimated cost is approximately £60,000 therefore the trustees aim to set aside up to £12,000 a year towards this cost.

Pearl Barge - maintenance and running costs

A part of the remaining legacy monies, after allocating funds for the purchase of the second barge Pearl, were set aside to cover future maintenance and running costs of this barge, in accordance with the wishes of the deceased who provided for ongoing running costs of the barge. Each barge requires a major overhaul every 5 years.

Vulnerable people

A grant specified as unrestricted by the funder, but used to provide day trips for vulnerable groups. Transfers have been made based on the number of trips proposed in the application, and given free of charge for eligible groups of beneficiaries in the year.")

Prior year comparison
Ethel barge - major repairs
Pearl Barge - maintenance and running costs
Total designated funds
General funds		 Balance
brought
forward
£
24,000
124,000
148,000
221,630
369,630		 Income
£
-
-
-
28,273
28,273		 Expenditure
£
-
(3,008)
(3,008)
(24,596)
(27,604)		 Transfers
£
12,000
-
12,000
4,082
16,082		 Balance
carried
forward
£
36,000
120,992
156,992
229,389
386,381

8 Restricted funds

Un-Locking Confidence Project
Un-Locking Confidence Project - Children in Need
Un-Locking Confidence Project - specific use
Un-Locking Confidence Project - residentials
Elderly groups
Elderly groups - specific use
Vulnerable people
Ethel Equipment
Operating costs		 Balance
brought
forward
£
56,308
-
2,345
26,262
32,555
4,994
6,532
1,000
-
129,996		 Income Expenditure
£
£
13,893
-
7,968
(7,968)
-
(2,345)
12,250
-
-
-
11,550
(4,994)
17,500
(6,532)
-
-
9,400
-
72,561
(21,839)		 Transfers
£
(13,650)
-
-
-
(14,350)
-
(12,500)
-
-
(40,500)		 Balance
carried
forward
£
56,551
-
-
38,512
18,205
11,550
5,000
1,000
9,400
140,218

Restricted funds have been split into key areas - where funders have specified what their grant can be spent on they are shown separately, and costs are allocated specifically to this grant. Where funders have restricted the use of the grant to a particular group of clients, but not specified expenditure, then transfers have been made based on a cost per day of £350 when trips have been given free of charge for eligible groups of beneficiaries.

Details of transfers are given in note 4.

15

The Ethel Trust

Notes to the Accounts - continued For the year ended 31 March 2025

8 Restricted funds - continued

Prior year comparison
Un-Locking Confidence Project
Un-Locking Confidence Project - Children in Need
Un-Locking Confidence Project - specific use
Un-Locking Confidence Project - residentials
Elderly groups
Elderly groups - specific use
Vulnerable people
Ethel Equipment
Pearl equipment
Pearl running costs
Other running costs		 Balance
brought
forward
£
46,758
-
8,120
8,700
27,965
13,097
18,300
-
5,891
2,360
-
131,191		 Income
£
19,700
7,737
2,345
20,502
4,590
-
4,592
1,000
1,000
-
2,800
64,266		 Expenditure
£
-
(7,737)
(6,090)
-
-
(8,103)
(16,360)
-
(5,929)
(2,360)
(2,800)
(49,379)		 Transfers
£
(10,150)
-
(2,030)
(2,940)
-
-
-
-
(962)
-
-
(16,082)		 Balance
carried
forward
£
56,308
-
2,345
26,262
32,555
4,994
6,532
1,000
-
-
-
129,996

Restricted funds have been split into key areas - where funders have specified what their grant can be spent on they are shown separately, and costs are allocated specifically to this grant. Where funders have restricted the use of the grant to a particular group of clients, but not specified expenditure, then transfers have been made based on a cost per day of £290 when trips have been given free of charge for eligible groups of beneficiaries.

5 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions during the year, other than those disclosed in note 5.

16