The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The charity was converted from its previous status as a Friendly Society on 2 January 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 charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)".
The objects of the Charity are the education of the public and research in science, literature and the fine arts, in particular, but not exclusively, by providing a reference and lending library, reading rooms, archives and such classes, lectures, concerts, meetings, film viewings and exhibitions as the Trustees may from time to time decide.
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The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Courses are provided over the year for several languages at various levels, as well as on aspects of history, literature, and music appreciation. Practical art and design classes and physical exercise sessions are also organised.
The charity provides weekly lectures on wide-ranging subjects including science, literature, and all areas of historical, intellectual and topical interest. Other activities organised by the charity include a science group, an opera circle, a film society, concerts, debates and exhibitions. The charity arranges for appropriately qualified individuals to speak at lectures and tutors for courses. The lectures take place on a weekday evening between September and May. Most courses are weekly, lasting 2-3 hours, over a term of 11-12 weeks. The charity also offers shorter and weekend courses and workshops during the year. Speakers have relevant experience in the field they are discussing, a track record for public speaking and/or teaching, and a genuine interest in promoting discourse and education. All tutors are interviewed before appointment, with some giving sample classes. The trustees are satisfied that subjects of study are of educational merit because the subjects are traditional subjects of education. Trustees take account of feedback from students indicating satisfaction with the quality of teaching. The nature of the courses and lectures that the charity runs is about participation and learning something new. The charity does not promote a position. The charity’s activities are open to all. There are no selection criteria, other than first come first served in the case of reaching maximum numbers for the courses and lectures to be practicable. We offer subsidised places on courses to those able to show they are in receipt of state benefits. In support of the volunteers who are responsible for the governance and for all the activities taking place, the Institution employs the service of seven staff (of which five part time) comprising an Operations Manager who administers and controls day to day operations, as well as two administrators and three caretakers, and a librarian.
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Throughout 2024, our first year as a charitable company, we worked hard at the HLSI to realise our vision to be an open house where everyone’s life is enriched through an engagement with the arts and sciences, learning, debate and discussion.
During the year we reached new people, introduced a new concessionary scheme for those on income-related benefits, deepened engagement with our existing members, shared arts & science in engaging ways and celebrated our important local heritage.
Since the pandemic our membership has grown steadily, standing at 938 by the end of the year, but perhaps more significantly, we have experienced strong growth in terms of engagement and revenue. This success has been driven by the extraordinary commitment and energies of our staff team and volunteers who together have strived to improve the HLSI experience for members and non-members.
Thanks to their outstanding work, our education programme has produced another exceptional year in which course enrolments grew by 25%. Our Lectures team gave us a wonderfully varied and world class season, including talks by internationally respected figures such as Nobel Laureate Paul Nurse, the environmentalist Jonathan Porrit and Paul Johnson of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
During 2024 we successfully completed the transformation of our IT infrastructure to make the HLSI’s systems fit for the digital age. A long-term plan to modernise our building was initiated, which includes, in this current year, improvements to the first-floor circulation areas, the creation of extra space for classes or other purposes, and the renovation of the main kitchen. Plans are also afoot to preserve our Library and to safeguard our heritage, including HLSI’s unique book collection.
A fundamental role of the Trustees is to ensure the Institution's finances remain on a sound footing. A key way to achieve this is to continue to improve the quality of the Institution's programme of activities and events, and to promote them with increasing effectiveness. The trustees want to encourage members to participate in the activities of the Institution and fully use its facilities.
All of us want to ensure that the Institution, in accordance with its original objectives, plays a part in enhancing the life of the community around it. The Institution is Highgate’s home for all who want intellectual stimulation in a convivial atmosphere, and everyone is welcome
The HLSI aims to balance its revenue generation activities against the costs incurred in providing them and the cost of maintaining its historical building and other premises and administering the Institution generally.
The ordinary income of the Institution is derived from four main sources:
- Members' subscriptions;
- Rental income;
- Hiring fees for the Institution's premises; and
- Classes, activities and events organised by the members.
Income from membership subscriptions, property rental and all activities totalled £486,183. Operational outgoings totalled £464,657. In addition, the HLSI received £19,162 in generous donations and legacies from members. Also, the investment portfolio valuation at year end showed an increase of £39,424, as result of which net income reached £80,112 for the year.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level at a minimum equivalent to between three and six-months’ expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year with net current assets (unrestricted) of £450,342 at the year end.
The trustees regularly review the major risks to which the Association is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to these risks.
Objectives of the Institution for 2025 |
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- | To maintain and, where possible, improve the quality of the Institution's programme of activities and events, and to promote them with increasing effectiveness. | |||||||
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- | To continue to develop the Institution's facilities for the benefit of both members and others. | |||||||
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- | To give the members full opportunity to use the facilities and to encourage them to participate in the activities of the Institution. | |||||||
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- | To ensure that the Institution plays a part in enhancing the life of the community around it. | |||||||
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- | To ensure the Institution's finances remain on a sound footing. |
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The charity is a company limited by guarantee and is governed by its memorandum and articles of association. Conversion from its previous status as a Friendly Society was effective from 2 January 2024.
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:
There is no formal process for the recruitment and appointment of new trustees, but prospective trustees are identified as having a good knowledge of the activities of the charity and of the community which it serves. None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Organisational Structure
Governance and management is vested in the Board of Trustees who meet regularly. In addition other committees have been established to oversee specific aspects of the charity's operations, the trustees having final oversight in all cases.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
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 judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 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.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Glazers be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion, the financial statements:
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we considered the following:
1) Enquiries of management concerning the charity's policies and procedures relating to:
- identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance
- detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and
- the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations;
2) The company's remuneration policies, and
3) Discussions among the engagement team regarding how and when fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.
In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.
We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included the UK Companies Act and IFRS as issued by the IASB and adopted by the EU, 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 charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but compliance with which may be fundamental to the charity's ability to operate or avoid a material penalty.
As a result of performing the above, we did not identify any key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.
In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:
- Reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;
- Enquiring of management concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;
- Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;
- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members, and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
We note that our audit is not primarily designed to detect non-compliance with laws and regulations and the Trustees and other management are responsible for such internal control as the Trustees and other management of the Charity determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to errors or fraud, including compliance with laws and regulations. Additionally, owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 11 South Grove, Highgate, London, N6 6BS.
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" 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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
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. 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.
Subscription income is recognised in the year in which it is receivable. Income from classes and hall hire is recognised in the year to which the income relates.
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.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
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.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
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.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
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 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.
Freehold land and buildings is stated at deemed cost. It is the carrying amount at the date of conversion from friendly society to incorporated charity.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
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.
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.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2023 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.