The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.
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 trust's memorandum and articles of association, 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 trust 's objects are the advancement of the public benefit of education concerning the natural environment and knowledge of the living world.
The policies adopted in furtherance of these objects is the operation of an educational field centre. There has been no change in this during the year.
The general aims of the trust remain the education, mainly of children, through its field centre, in matters concerning the natural environment.
Objectives for the year were, as previously, the effective running of the field centre and the provision of high quality field courses and services.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the trust should undertake.
The Charitable Trust is a market leader in the provision of high quality field courses and promotes its services to schools and colleges nationwide.
At the end of this year, the Person Days (PD) figure ended down 3.5% to 11,781 when compared to the PD total from the previous academic year. The last three years unfortunately hold the record as the lowest three years of PD figures since 2001 (excluding COVID). Sadly, this fall occurred despite us increasing the number of residential courses to 188, rising from a total of 155 residential courses (Sept 2022 – Aug 2023) and 181 courses (Sept 2023 - Aug 2024). The main reason for this fall in PD therefore was due to a continual stubborn decrease in the size of student cohorts, not thankfully a lack of interest from schools themselves.
After two years of low PD, this trend appeared not to be an isolated, one off ‘bad year’ and in September 2024 after looking at the projections for the 2025 PD being similar to the last two years, we began looking at ways of cutting costs in all areas of the Centre to ensure financial sustainability going forwards. This was especially important given the size of each student cohort is influenced by many factors which are outside of our control; but we can at least control our costs to some degree.
We met with all departmental areas and asked them to consider ways in which they could make savings without reducing the quality of our service. This resulted in switching back and forth from different suppliers more readily (e.g. purchasing food/ingredients from supermarkets when it was on offer, rather than through our main suppliers). We also operated an ‘essential spending’ only stance and chose not to visit the GA conference, minimal advertising, we provided no pay rises in April 2025 except the statutory increase for the NMW. All colleagues understood and supported the Centre in this, with some staff generously paying out of their own pocket to help the Centre, this included voluntary pay cuts, providing money to pay for a DJ for the staff Christmas social or bringing in dishes of food to share and eat rather than buying food in.
We had already agreed to purchase another minibus in January 2024 and this was delivered and paid for in September 2025. This was a significant purchase and was needed to replace an older 2016 registered bus which had experienced a lot of engine trouble and had become unreliable. In order to mitigate the financial hit of the new bus purchase, we sold the old bus privately (rather than through a local garage as we had done in previous years), we also did not get the new bus ‘branded’ with our logo to reduce the cost.
We also explored other avenues to generate additional income as well as improving the services we offer. This included installing a contactless Vending Machine for students to use which has proven popular and generate a small income stream too. In addition we also increased our prices by circa 8% which was a much more significant rise than in previous years, this came after researching the costs used by other providers which we discovered were more expensive than our own fees. We had historically always been more than other national fieldwork providers but clearly, post COVID other providers in the industry have needed to adapt their costs accordingly to the increased cost of energy, bills and labour and we had fallen behind the market value. Thankfully, despite this significant rise ion our prices our customer feedback forms continued to maintain very positive ratings with 93.3% of respondents rating ‘Value for Money’ as either ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’.
It is the policy of the trust that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to 12 month’s expenditure. The trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the trust’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
Total reserves are £ 124,672 (2024 £ 35,674 ) and therefore the current amount of reserves are less than the required amount although it is the intention of the trustees to continue to generate surpluses in the future which will be retained in order adhere to the policy.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the trust is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The trustees review the major risks which the trust faces on a regular basis with the trust's manager and believe that maintaining the trusts unrestricted reserves as above, combined with a regular review of the trust's finances and financial controls will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks faced by the charity and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate any significant risks.
Bookings going forward continue to look similar to prior years, with 11,500-12,000 per year being the ‘new normal’. We do not have plans to return to austerity budgets but we will need to continue to monitor our expenditure carefully (monitoring our reserves on a termly basis). As our courses are still very popular with schools we feel that with caution and careful management of the budgets going forward we will be able to continue to run a successful field studies centre. It is likely that we will need to replace the final 2016 purchased minibus in the coming year and possibly the 2015 ford focus car due to age, but we will monitor their reliability coming forwards. Ford provide grant funding for charities to help purchase minibuses and it is likely that we will apply for this to assist in the purchase of any new minibus.
The trust was registered with the Charity Commission on 30th July 2001 and is constituted as a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by its memorandum and articles of association dated 22nd June 2001.
The trust began to operate on 1 September 2001 when the assets and liabilities of the registered charity also known as the Cranedale Educational Charitable Trust were transferred to the company at their balance sheet value.
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 appointment of trustees is governed by the Articles of Association. At the annual general meeting one third of the trustees who are subject to retirement by rotation, or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, the number nearest to one third shall retire from office; but if there is only one trustee who is subject to retirement by rotation, he shall retire.
Subject to the provisions of the articles, the trustees to retire by rotation shall be those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment, but as between persons who became or were last reappointed trustees on the same day those to retire shall (unless they otherwise agree among themselves) be determined by lot.
If the charity at the meeting at which a trustee retires by rotation, does not fill the vacancy the retiring trustee shall, if willing to act, be deemed to have been reappointed unless at the meeting it is resolved not to fill the vacancy or unless a resolution for the reappointment of the trustee is put to the meeting and lost.
As a result, R E France and JP Midgley retire from office but, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election.
The charity may by ordinary resolution appoint who is willing to act to be a trustee and may also determine the rotation in which any additional trustees are to retire.
The trustees may appoint a person who is willing to act to be a trustee either to fill a vacancy or as an additional trustee provided that the appointment does not cause the number of trustees to exceed any number fixed by or in accordance with the articles as the maximum number of trustees. A trustee so appointed shall hold office only until the next following annual general meeting and shall not be taken into account in determining the trustees who are to retire by rotation at the meeting. If not reappointed at such annual general meeting, he shall vacate office at the conclusion thereof.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £10 in the event of a winding up.
The trustees have complied with the duty imposed upon them by Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011/2006 to have due regard to guidance published by the Charity Commission.
The Trustees have also had regard to the Charity Commissioners guidance on public benefit.
The trust does not receive any services from volunteers.
All new trustees are given a copy of the trust's memorandum and articles of association and are provided with booklets CC3 and CC3a from the Charity Commissioners and "Running a Limited company" from Companies House, which give guidance and advice on being a trustee and director.
The trustees meet regularly to manage the trust's affairs and delegate the day-to-day running of the trust's activities to its operational director, Mr Chris Cassells, general manager, tutors and administrative staff.
The Memorandum and Articles of Association authorises the trustees to deposit or invest in the name of the charity and part of the funds as the trustees in their absolute discretion think fit.
The remuneration of the charity's key management personal is agreed at the current market rates applicable to the particular duties performed by the employees concerned.
The trust has numerous schools and educational facilities who return on a regular basis to the field centre. Although no formal working relationships have been formed with any of these entities.
The trust wholly owns a subsidiary company The Cranedale Centre Limited which provides holidays and associated goods and services of a non educational nature. It also provides the trust with transport facilities. The subsidiary's results are summarised in note 21.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Cranedale Educational Charitable Trust (the trust) for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the trust are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the trust’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales., 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 trust as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
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 Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
Cranedale Educational Charitable Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Manor Farm, Kirby Grindalythe, Malton, North Yorkshire, YO17 8DB, UK.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the trust'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 trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the trust. 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 freehold properties and to include fixed asset investments 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 trust 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 trust 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.
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
A grant which specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
Resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis.
Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the field centre and educational programmes and include both direct and support costs relating to those activities.
Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
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 trust 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).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
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 trust 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 trust's balance sheet when the trust 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 trust’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 trust 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.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to net income/(expenditure) for the year so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measure reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
In the application of the trust’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 rental income received arises from the letting of various parts of the centre's premises to the charitable trust's wholly owned subsidiary, Cranedale Centre Limited.
All the charitable activities relate to the operation of the educational field centre.
Time spent
Telecommunications
Total Expenditure
Printing & Stationery
Total Expenditure
Advertising
Total Expenditure
Staff Training
Total Expenditure
Conference expenses
Total Expenditure
Cleaning & General Maintenance
Total Expenditure
IT Costs
Total Expenditure
Bank Charges
HP & Lease Charges
Bookkeeping
Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £2,700 (2024 - £2,600) for the independent examination of the financial statments and £2,112 (2024- £1,984) for other services.
Trustees AWA Outhwaite and ME Outhwaite, husband and wife, purchased various goods and services, at full commercial rates and under normal commercial terms, from the trust during the year as follows:
Cleaning services £8,628 (2024- £8,297)
Domestic services £6,580 (2024- £8,499)
Motor insurance £2,677 (2024- £2,677)
The amounts outstanding at the year end were £nil (2024 £nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts. The depreciation charge in respect of such assets amounted to £960 (2024 - £1,111) for the year.
An impairment review of the charity's fixed assets has been undertaken. The net realisable value of the assets concerned has been assessed by estimating their market value. Their value in use has been determined by evaluating present value of the future benefits expected to arise from the continued use of the assets concerned.
It has been agreed that the improvements to the leasehold property will be acquired by the landlord at their written down value at the time of the landlord's terminating the trust's operating lease.
On 1st June 2020 the trust was advanced a loan of £50,000 under the Coronavirus Bounce Bank Loan Scheme. Repayable in instalments over 8 Years after an initial 12 months interest and repayment free. Interest is payable at 2.5%.
.
Net obligations under finance lease and hire purchase contracts are secured by fixed charges on the assets concerned.
The trust operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the trust in an independently administered fund.
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.
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The Cranedale Centre's freehold land is owned by Shipton Estates Limited of which Mr A W A Outhwaite, a trustee of the trust, is director and major shareholder. The centre is occupied under an operating lease, dated 1 January 2021, for 3 years, on a full repairing and insuring basis, at a rental of one acorn, if so demanded. Due to the expiration of the lease the tenancy is holding over under the landlord and tenant legislation with no notice having been served by either party.
On 4 January 2012 the trust entered into assured shorthold tenancies in respect of 4 domestic properties owned by Shipton Estates Limited to be occupied by the centre's tutors, the rents payable are at a full market rent and have been assessed by an independent surveyor. A rent free period was granted to the trust in respect of the coronavirus pandemic situation. The total rents paid amounted to £24,000 (2024- £24,000) with amounts outstanding at the year end of £nil (2024- £nil).
The trust wholly owns a subsidiary company The Cranedale Centre Limited which provides holidays and associated goods and services of a non educational nature.
Goods and services were purchased from the company during the year, on normal commercial terms, totalling £130,020 (2024- £123,270) with amounts outstanding at the year end of £nil (2024- £nil).
Goods and services were sold to the company during the year, on normal commercial terms, totalling £3,600 (2024- £3,600) with amounts outstanding at the year end of £nil (2024- £nil).
The trust receives a rent from the company, in respect of a 12 month licence, renewable yearly, for the company to occupy and use, including trading from and the hiring out of, various areas of the Cranedale Centre, payable at a sum of £600 per annum (2024- £600).
Donations under the Gift Aid scheme were also made to the trust, by the company, during the year totalling £nil (2024- £nil). The amount owing at the year end was £0 (2024- £ 0).
The trust has supported it's wholly owned subsidiary during the year and has an unsecured loan due from the company which has a balance at 31 August 2025 of £106763 (2024- £122351).
The loan is repayable in full on 13 July 2025, and interest is payable at 2% above HSBC base rates, per annum.
These financial statements are separate trust financial statements for Cranedale Educational Charitable Trust for the year ending 31 August 2025.
Separate company financial statements are prepared in compliance with Companies Act 2006. Consolidated financial statements for the group are not required to be prepared in accordance with Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act.
Separate financial statements for the trusts subsidiary, Cranedale Centre Limited are prepared and can be obtained from the registered office.
Details of the trust's subsidiaries at 31 August 2025 are as follows:
The investments in subsidiaries are all stated at fair value.