The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the Companies Act 2006 and "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)" (effective 1 January 2019).
The charitable objective of the Society and principal activity is to promote improvement in the breeding of livestock and to improve the standards of farming and farm craft for the farmers residing within the area. In planning our activities the trustees have given due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
The run up to show weekend in 2024 saw the Society go through a period of considerable transition, with both the key posts of Chairman & General Secretary seeing change in personnel.
We would like to extend a massive thank you to Mr David Briggs, our outgoing chairman, for leaving the chairmans role in such a good standing.
We would also like to welcome Mr Patrick Harwood to the role of General Secretary and look forward to working with him for the continuing success of the show going forward. Patrick has, in the short time he has been in the role, already identified the standards that we need to adhere to that will keep us compliant with our status as a charity.
Despite the changes in management, with the concerted effort of existing council members and officials, the Society rose to the challenge. Mr Ian Ross, the treasurer, was an invaluable asset to the running of the 2024 show, providing a continuation of knowledge in the days just prior to and over show weekend. This combined with the additional help of the various section secretaries and an army of volunteers, coupled with the continued support of our valued sponsors and partners, the show weekend itself was once again a huge success, only hampered by the poor weather on the Sunday of the show which had a detrimental impact on footfall on the second day.
Sponsorship of the show continues to be extremely attractive and we are grateful to our longstanding major sponsors, East Durham College, Northern Metal Recycling, ALX Horseboxes, Martin Bell Car Sales, Fred Henderson Ltd, ProPitch Services Ltd and The Feed Warehouse, together with Workwear Express Ltd, Stagecoach NE Ltd & Batsons Groundcare Ltd whose help and support remain invaluable to the smooth running of the show.
Diversity of income is important to us and we therefore continue to hire out ‘The Barn’ and fields throughout the year for all kinds of events ranging from christenings & weddings to antique fairs, poultry shows & dog agility classes and events. Truckfest NE is also now a firm favourite in the calendar.
With the recent rise in interest rates, we have also taken the opportunity to ‘invest’ our accumulated deposits in the short term across a few selected deposit takers with a view to providing another lucrative income stream, but also to protect our funds under the FSCS guarantee scheme.
Our continued investment in the infrastructure of the show field continues apace with the completion of the new dwarf wall around the car park, with just some soft landscaping needed to finalise the project. A new planning application was submitted during the year in respect of the erection of a new storage building at the railway end of the show ground, together with further additional internal roads which will provide further insurance against inclement weather in the years to come. A positive response to the request is anticipated.
Increased usage is now being made of the two shipping containers used as the office & a meeting room and these provided a valuable base over the show weekend. Further cosmetic work is planned to enhance the area surrounding these structures.
With the help of Stuart Watson and Lewis Maddison and their associates, and groundworks by David Briggs, the internet has been improved to the showground with Wi-Fi being installed around the main field for the trade stands, and into the pay booths. A second stage will include the rest of the site at a future date, and hopefully a direct lease line in to give increased speeds.
It is also intended to upgrade the water supply, increasing water to the showground to better serve the toilet blocks over show weekend and other events. This is to be left in the capable hands of John Carrick and Jonathan Elliot.
Throughout the year the Society continued to attract enquiries to rent out the barn & showground for a variety of reasons thus enabling it to continue to diversify its income streams and provide a ‘buffer’ against a damaging wet show weekend in future years.
The annual results show a surplus of £91,307 (2023: £121,168).
The level of unrestricted free reserves at 31st October 2024 was £566,973 (2023: £466,965). The charity requires reserves (money not designated for any purposes) in order to fund the provision of the annual show and to improve the on site facilities. The trustees consider that reserves of at least the cost of holding the show be held, together with sufficient funds to enable the Society to finance the purchase of additional facilities for the showground.
Wolsingham and Wear Valley Agricultural Society is a private limited company and a registered charity. The company is limited by guarantee with the guarantors being the members to the extent of £1 each. The registered charity number is 1082095.
The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 each.
Admission of members to the society is by writing to the Secretary of the Society which is then considered by the Society's Council for admission.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Trustee induction and training
Most trustees are familiar with the practical work of the charity and are encouraged to take on relevant training.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Wolsingham and Wear Valley Agricultural Society (the charity) for the year ended 31 October 2024.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements 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
the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Wolsingham and Wear Valley Agricultural Society is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 5 Henson Close, South Church Enterprise Park, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, DL14 6WA.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of certain instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The company is limited by guarantee, there being no share capital, and as such is not controlled by any one person but by the board of trustees as a whole. At 31 October 2024 there were 8 trustees each of whom had undertaken to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 in the event of a winding up.
Grants receivable
Sponsorship
Gate receipts
Entry fees
Tradestands and franchises
Race cards and adverts
Returned prize money
Other trading activity
Investments
Show day costs
Judges expenses
Affiliation fees
Printing and advertising
Show site costs
Attractions
Prize money
Field & building repairs
Social event expenses
Bank charges & interest
Other show costs
Donations given to other charities
Investment management fee
Mr I Ross, trustee received remuneration totalling £7,500 (2023: £7,552) on behalf of his role as the charity's bookkeeper and acting secretary. The trustees are satisfied they are the best person for the job.
No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the other trustees.
Expenses relating to personal computer costs totaling £88 (2023: £160) were reimbursed so that the trustee could carry out his duties.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Additional assets held and used by the company but written off in full in the financial statements include Secretary's caravan office, Trophies, Show equipment, Office furniture, Storage containers, Personal computer and planning fees.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Freehold land represents the showground land and buildings held by the charity.
Amenities Building Fund represents the grants, raffles and donations received towards building the new amenity building in 2014.
Durham County Council represents funding provided towards the cost of developing the car park.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
During the year the charity entered into the following transactions with related parties:
Payments totalling £1,779 (2023: £2,900) were made to David Briggs Plant Hire in respect of plant hire & construction services prior to his resignation as a trustee. Mr D Briggs, Trustee (resigned 30 July 2024), is the proprietor of David Briggs Plant Hire. At the date of his resignation there were no amounts outstanding between the charity and David Briggs Plant Hire.
Payments totaling £7,333 (2023: £7,200) were made to Mr S W Pybourne in respect of grounds keeping work on the site during the year. Mr S W Pybourne, is the son of Mr G Pybourne, Trustee. At 31 October 2024 there were no amounts outstanding between the charity and Mr S W Pybourne.