The Rotary Club of Reading Abbey Trust Fund Report and Financial Statements
Year ended : 30[th] June 2025 Charity no: 900389
a) REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30TH JUNE 2025
The trustees of the Charity present their annual report together with the financial statements for the period from the 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. The trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements and the requirements of the charity’s governing document.
b) REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Trustees
Michael Baker Darren Holmes Frances Woolaway
Charity no: 900389
Independent Examiner
Terry Spencer
Bankers
Barclays Bank, 90-93 Broad Street, Reading RG1 2 AP
c) STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
d) Consttuton
THE ROTARY CLUB OF READING ABBEY TRUST FUND is registered as a charity registered in England and Wales under the number 900389. The charity is constituted under a Trust Deed dated 7th December 1989. Under the constitution the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey has the power to appoint Trustees.
e) Related Party Relatonships
The Charity has no related party relationships.
f) Risk Management
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the Charity and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Public fundraising events are subject to risk assessments that are reviewed by the Trustees.
g) CHARITY ACTIVITIES AND OBJECTIVES
a) Aims and Objectves
The Charity works with its Rotary club membership of 21 Rotarians and other volunteers to provide charitable support and funding to support a wide range of charities and individuals both locally and in some cases internationally. It engages with local community groups, the general public and employers to generate charitable donations to support those in need.
Business Objectives of the charity are:
-
To provide a high level of community service through projects and initiatives associated with the ideals of Rotary
-
To support a wide range of requests for funding to support community organisations and individuals who are experiencing financial pressures
-
To create a modest surplus within the financial plan from annual income streams, providing the Charity and its Rotary club members with financial resources for subsequent years’ activities
-
The Trustees give due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit and to its supplementary public benefit guidance.
b) Strategies for achieving objectves
-
To provide a balanced activity programme for all our beneficiaries areas of the Charity.
-
To provide a range of fundraising activities to support local projects and individual requests for support
-
To provide a safe, supportive, and caring environment for all projects and activities
-
To promote to the public an open and transparent policy of accepting requests for support from all individuals, which celebrates their diversity.
c) ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
a) Review of actvites
The Charity has slightly increased donations during the period. Since the unusually high level of fundraising in 2022-2023 due primarily to the number of global disasters in that period, there has been a return to a more typical program of activities for the past two years. The most significant fundraising is the work done on behalf of Children in Need, followed by the charity golf day. A Duck Race, hosted in partnership with The Oracle shopping centre, is now in its second year and was widely supported by the Reading community with funds raised increasing to £4.4k from £1.5k for the inaugural event last year. The Duck Race looks set to become an annual event and both the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey and the management team of the The Oracle are keen to expand the event in coming years. The Duck Race engages more of the public than other events historically hosted by the Club, it increases footfall at The Oracle and has a growing social media presence and influence.
Membership of the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey has increased to 21 from 19 since the last year. The club has benefited from younger members joining and increased diversity and experience entering the club. It is hoped that this will positively influence the charitable program in the coming years.
Honorary membership has stayed steady at 3 members. Honorary membership was introduced in the 2023-2024 period for the more senior past members, to recognise their contributions and retain their engagement.
Corporate membership was introduced in the 2023-2024 period and allows employers to have an association with Rotary. The Oracle continues to make use of this membership route and their staff have joined and participated in a number of Rotary events, meetings and socials. The Oracle have been large supporters of the Duck Race, with high profile marketing of the event, sourcing of prizes and assistance on the day.
During the year the charity supported 18 requests for charitable support and donations, the total charitable giving was £22,173.
The charity also contributed to the sponsorship and support of a Rotary Scholar. A program whereby young people are provided the opportunity to study abroad.
Principally, funded by Rotary International the Reading Abbey Trust Fund provided some additional subsistence costs.
b) Financial Review
The Trust had a surplus for 2024/25 of £4,055 and closed the period with funds of £15,367. Of this, £4,277 is a special reserve, from a prior bequest, to assist the development of future charitable programs. The balance represents a general reserve of £11,090
The charity aims to hold a small reserve at year end to allow donations early in the following year in advance of major fundraising events. The reserve has increased in recent years with fundraising exceeding charitable giving and the charity will aim to increase donations and reduce the reserve in the coming period.
The principal funding sources for the Charity are the charitable donations and activities managed by Rotary club membership through the following projects
-
Charity Golf day
-
Duck Race
-
Public fundraising collections
-
Raffles
-
Personal donations
-
Christmas Greeting cards
-
Plant sales
-
Children in Need collections
Much of the fundraising relies on Rotarians and willing volunteers.
c) GOING CONCERN AND RESERVES POLICY
a) Going Concern
Given the level of reserves held, the Trustees believe they have sufficient liquidity to meet the Charity’s liabilities for the next 12 months and that the preparation of the financial statements on a going concern basis remains appropriate as the company expects to be able to meet its obligations as and when they fall due for the foreseeable future.
b) Reserves Policy
Each year the Trustees review the financial position and allocate as appropriate to surplus funds, modest reserves in accordance with the Reserves Policy.
Reserves are needed to bridge the gap between the spending and receiving of income and to cover unplanned emergency repairs and other expenditure. The trustees believe that the ideal level of reserves would be no less than £2000.
c) DISCLOSURES
-
Fundraising is managed by members of the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey through club activities and public events as detailed in section 5a.
-
No professional fundraisers were engaged by the charity.
d) TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the charity’s report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Trustees must prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law 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 the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
Make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the trustees on 26[th] February 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Darren Holmes
Trustee of The Rotary Club of Reading Abbey Trust
THE ROTARY CLUB OF READING ABBEY - TRUST FUND
Balance Sheet As at 30th June
| Balance Sheet As at 30th June |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| Current Assets | ||||
| Balance at Bank | Current account | £10,344 | £9,033 | £5,457 |
| Tracker account | £10,087 | £9,943 | £9,777 | |
| Loan to Members | a/c | £153 | £112 | £40 |
| Debtors | Duck Race / 10K | £95 | £109 | |
| AmAm | £516 | £250 | ||
| Current Liabilities | £20,583 | £19,699 | £15,633 | |
| AmAm in RY | ||||
| AmAM next RY | £0 | £5,100 | ||
| Creditors | Foundation/other cha | £3,224 | £5,679 | £554 |
| Raffle president charity | £745 | |||
| Launch Reading | £1,993 | £2,709 | £1,152 | |
| Waterside | £120 | |||
| £5,217 | £8,388 | £7,671 | ||
| Net Assets | £15,367 | £11,312 | £7,962 | |
| Accumulated Fund | ||||
| Opening Balance | £11,312 | £7,963 | £9,802 | |
| Surplus/Deficit for year | £4,055 | £3,349 | -£1,840 | |
| General reserve | £15,367 £11,090 |
£11,312 £7,035 |
£7,962 £3,686 |
|
| Ken Reserve | £4,277 | £4,277 | £4,277 | |
| Total | £15,367 | £11,312 | £7,963 | |
| General reserve | £11,090 | £7,035 | ||
| Less set aside for future years | £2,500 | £2,500 | ||
| Less expenses Jan to June 2024 | £200 | |||
| Balance left | £8,590 | £4,335 |
THE ROTARY CLUB OF READING ABBEY - TRUST FUND
Income and Expenditure Account Year end 30th June
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | ||||
| Christmas Greetings | £744 | £895 | £1,111 | |
| Raffles | £323 | £745 | ||
| Easy Fundraising | £93 | £57 | £167 | |
| Amazon Smile | £69 | |||
| President's charity | £265 | |||
| Gift Aid | £0 | £2,620 | £1,664 | |
| Surplus from waterside | £208 | |||
| AMAM this year AmAm last year Englefield Run Children In Need Earthquake Turkey & Syria Duck race Kids day out Foodbank |
£1,160 £5,112 £11,919 £4,408 |
£3,836 £5,220 £13,233 £1,512 £140 £520 |
£3,964 £4,200 £1,240 £11,905 £3,926 £445 |
|
| Add | Donations Received Grants received Interest received |
£21,439 £4,574 £143 |
£20,625 £1,188 £250 £166 |
£21,716 £1,040 £480 |
| £4,717 | £1,604 | £1,520 | ||
| Expenditure | Reading rescue/equipment Website costs President raffle charity RYLA & D4L Waterside event Scholar LaunchReading Connect Reading sub Charitable Giving |
£27,317 £414 £650 £25 £22,173 |
£26,065 £25 £318 £265 £766 £21,343 |
£27,200 £155 £277 £745 £20 £27,843 |
| £23,262 | £22,717 | £29,040 | ||
| Surplus/Deficit | for year | £4,055 | £3,349 | -£1,840 |
Accounts prepared by: Mike Dyson, Treasurer
Report of the Honorary Examiner
In my opinion, the above Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ended 30th June 2025 and attached Balance Sheet at that date, show the true position of the Trust Account of The Rotary Club of Reading Abbey and are in accordance with the books and records.
Terry Spencer
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey Trust Fund
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Rotary Club of Reading Abbey Trust Fund (the Trust) for the year ended 30 June 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
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.
Signed:
Name: E Spencer
Address:Caversham, Reading
26 August 2025