The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1.1 to the financial statements and comply with the Charities governing document, 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 object of the Charity is restricted to preserving, for the benefit of the people of Stratford- upon-Avon and the historic county of Warwickshire and the Nation, the historical, architectural and constructional heritage that may exist in and around Stratford-Upon-Avon and the historic county of Warwickshire in buildings of particular beauty or historical, architectural or constructional interest.
The Charity have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
The Trust made significant progress in relation to the Old Toll House refurbishment in 2023 and are now able to benefit from an annual rental income from their tenant , The Pain and Injury Clinic. The Trust has been granted a 75 year lease from the freeholder, Stratford on Avon District Council. The nominal value shown in the balance sheet for this long lease does not reflect its potential income for the Trust from lettings in the future.
The Trust is also working with other charities in Stratford to help fulfil community obligations imposed by the Lottery funding.
The trustees are actively seeking to identify and consider the feasibility of preserving other properties which might be suitable projects for the Trust. Any such further project will be dependent on securing further grant funding and charitable donations.
The charity does not have a formal reserves policy, however reserves will be used to meet expenditure relating to the ongoing maintenance and repair and insurance of the Old Toll House.
The Statement of Financial Activities shows a surplus for the year ended 30 September 2025 of £2,459 (2024 deficit £3,452). Accumulated reserves total £32,043 (2024 £29,584) at the balance sheet date.
The charity is controlled by its governing document, its articles of association, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
Charity constitution
The Charity was incorporated on 7 September 2012 as a company limited by guarantee with registration number 08206419, and governed under the memorandum and articles of association . It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission, registered number 1149016.
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:
The trustees are actively seeking other trustees for the Board, exploring a variety of experience and background to supplement the knowledge base and experience of the Board.
Any person who is willing to act as trustee, and who is not disqualified from acting as a trustee, may be appointed as a trustee by ordinary resolution of the members. At each AGM one third of the trustees (or the number nearest one third) shall retire by rotation. Those retiring by rotation will be deemed to be have been reappointed unless at the meeting it is resolved not to fill the vacancy or unless a resolution for the appointment of the Trustee is put to the meeting and lost.
Risk Management
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have prepared for your approval the financial statements of Stratford Historic Buildings Trust for the year ended 30 September 2025, which comprise the statement of financial activities and the related notes from the charity’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at https://www.icaew.com/regulation.
This report is made to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial statements of Stratford Historic Buildings Trust and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in this report in accordance with the requirements of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants as detailed at https://www.accaglobal.com/content/dam/ACCA_Global/Technical/fact/technical-factsheet-163.pdf. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Stratford Historic Buildings Trust and the charity's Trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that Stratford Historic Buildings Trust has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and surplus of Stratford Historic Buildings Trust. You consider that Stratford Historic Buildings Trust is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year, and is not required to obtain an independent examiner's report.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the financial statements of Stratford Historic Buildings Trust. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory financial statements.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Stratford Historic Buildings Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Celixir House, Stratford Business & Technology Park, Innovation Way, Banbury Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 7GZ, United Kingdom.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charity's Trust Deed, 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 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. 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 Charity continues 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.
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.
Depreciation is not provided on the long leasehold interest, as it is shown at its nominal value of £1.
The Charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Maintenance costs
Sundry Expenses
Heritage Trust Map
Commission charges
Heritage Trust Network
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the during the year.
Trustees Expenses
There were no trustees expenses paid for the year ended 30 September 2025, nor for the prior year.
The charity signed a 75 year lease in 2016 regarding the leasehold property at the Toll House, Stratford upon Avon. The rent is £1 in total.
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 (2024 - none).
The charitable company is limited by guarantee. Every member of the company undertakes to contribute a sum not exceeding £10 to the company's assets if it should be dissolved while they are a member, or within one year after ceasing to be a member.