The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 October 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 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 principal objectives are to promote the advancement of religion through upkeep, repairs and improvement of church buildings; the relief of poverty with particular reference to assisting the disadvantaged of Kirkby Stephen, the Upper Eden Valley and the surrounding areas and assisting them at any time in circumstances of urgent financial need.
The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the Charity should undertake.
The trustees and directors have continued to support the needs of individuals, organisations, young people, schools, youth groups and children who satisfy the Charity’s objectives from its funds under its aims and objectives. The charity to the year-end 31 October 2025 has made grants to the following people and organisations:
Kirkby Stephen Youth Group are occupying the newly refurbished Evergreen Building in Kirkby Stephen to give a purpose to young people from within the town and local villages in the upper Eden Valley with facilities for craft work, computers for educational purposes, sports equipment and many other items to assist their activities which are organised by the adult volunteer leaders.
Kirkby Stepen Community and Arts towards their works in the arts in Kirkby Stephen and Upper Eden Valley with an emphasis to the youth and young people.
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School towards their transport costs for ‘away’ sports fixtures with other schools which the children would be unable to attend and gain that valuable experience in early life due to the cost.
Winton United Church a grant towards their renovation of their building in Winton Village for their church community. Their congregation is now made up with Methodists, Church of England, Baptists and many others affiliated to other denominations and some to none. A real fellowship now exists in the village.
Eden District Scout Group a grant to support 15 members of the group to attend a summer camp in Romania organised and planned by the group.
The Charity continues to receive a subsidised rent from their investment property, 10 Fletcher Hill Park due the tenants’ disabilities supported by a doctor’s certificate.
For the year up to 31 October 2025 the charity generated income of £22,057 (2024 - £22,009). In the year £24,727 (2024 - £29,662) has been spent on charitable activities, generating funds and governance of the charity.
The charitable company now has reserves of £1,129,753 (2024 - £1,048,968), all of which are unrestricted funds. These funds are held in order that sufficient income can be generated to meet the charitable aims of the charity.
The Trustees consider the major risks to which the charity is exposed and establish systems and procedures to manage those risks. The Trustees consider that the decline in income as a result of a fall in the value of yield of the investment portfolio as a consequence of economic downturn is the principal risk. The Trustees consider the use of specialist agents to manage their investments and property is the best approach to the maintenance of stability.
The Incorporated John Strutt Charity (Company’s Article & Memorandum – limited Company) was approved on 2 February 2022 by the Charity Commission which succeeded the original charity, a charity formed by a Declaration of the Trust Deed dated 12 October 1987.
The Trustees/Directors met twice during the year on 5 December 2024 and 12 June 2025.
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:
No formal training is given to the Trustees but recruitment is only made from those who support the charity's objectives and who are considered well qualified to contribute to its work.
All Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee was paid during the year.
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 The John Strutt Charity for the year ended 31 October 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 (ICAEW), 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 The John Strutt Charity and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than The John Strutt Charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that The John Strutt Charity 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 The John Strutt Charity. You consider that The John Strutt Charity 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 The John Strutt Charity. 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.
The John Strutt Charity is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is John G Hills, Estate Office, 13 Market Place, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5EW, United Kingdom.
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 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 investment properties and certain financial 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.
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.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the Charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Investment income, in the form of investment interest and dividends is recognised when receivable by the Charity.
Rental income from the investment property is recognised when the rent is due.
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them,
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost, which includes the purchase cost and any directly attributable expenditure. Subsequently it is measured at fair value at the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in profit or loss.
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.
During the period, one Trustee was reimbursed expenses for travel totalling £133 (2024 - £nil).
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.
Investment property comprises of 10 Fletcher Hill Park, Kirkby Stephen. The fair value of the investment property has been arrived at on the basis of a valuation carried out at 31 October 2024 by RF de Robeck (FRICS) of JG Hills Chartered Surveyors, Mr de Robeck is a Trustee of the charity. The valuation was made on an open market value basis by reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties. The Trustees are of the opinion there has been no significant change in market value since that date.
During the year the charity incurred management fees and expenses of £2,700 (2024 - £3,600) to J G Hills, a firm in which Mr Richard de Robeck, a trustee, is a partner. At the year-end there was an amount owed to J G Hills of £1,200 (2024 - £300).