The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's 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)" (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2020).

The charity’s objectives are as follows:

• to promote for the public benefit, and in particular for the young and for the elderly, in England and Wales a safer and increased quality of life through the prevention of crime and the protection of people of all ages and property from criminal acts and anti-social behaviour;

• to secure the advancement of education, particularly amongst those between the ages of five years and twenty- five years of age but also for the public benefit generally, in all matters relating to crime and to anti-social behaviour.

The Trustees have encouraged High Sheriffs in England and Wales to find new schemes in their counties. Whether or not there is an existing Crimebeat or other High Sheriff Award scheme, youth groups who are running suitable projects can apply to their High Sheriff for support and nomination for an award.

The Trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

In March 2025 the annual Awards Ceremony returned to the Royal National Hotel once again, attended by all the Trustees and those young people whose awards were being judged.

Projects should have a beneficial effect on the community outside the group. They should be aimed either at directly reducing crime or anti-social behaviour, or supporting victims of crime.. Projects have to be established and running with benefits being achieved.

Awards are given to qualifying projects delivered by youth groups.

Out of 20 submissions from 17 counties, prizes were awarded for first, second, third, and three Highly Commended and an award by the High Sheriff’s Association of England and Wales for the project which would be both replicable in other counties and which could continue for years to come. The Trustees were assisted in the judging of awards by Mr Alex Walduck, Imperial Hotels Group. Those awarded prizes attended the Awards ceremony in London on 18 March 2025. Two further projects were Commended and received certificates.

The team judged to have given the best presentation on the day received the Burnett Presentation Award. Details in the table below.

Matthew Ward, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, addressed the audience and presented the awards together with the Chairman of the High Sheriffs’ Association, Andrew Tuggey. HHJ Rosa Dean talked to the young people about her work in Snaresbrook Crown Court.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Charity was held on 28 October 2025. At the AGM, in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, which is incorporated into the Company’s Articles of Association, all the Trustees and Members of the Company reviewed the Articles of Association and decided not to recommend any changes.

The main achievement of the charity during the year was to give recognition to young people who come up with schemes to beat crime and anti-social behaviour through its Annual Awards.

The Charity received £17,500 in donations and grants and gave out £10,150 in awards. The expenses incurred by the charity were £7,954.

National Crimebeat Award Winners 2025

Hugh Burnett Award

ICE POP, Lancashire

High Sheriffs’ Association Award

Project 16 - VAWG, East Sussex

For the 2025 Awards we introduced the Richard Walduck Award to celebrate the support from Richard Walduck, a former High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, and the continuing support of his family. This award will be annually awarded to the best project delivered by younger children.

Richard Walduck Award:

Kingsmead Mini Police, Cheshire

The Statement of Financial Activities on page 7 shows that resources retained for future use at 31 December 2025 amount to £48,135 (2024 - £48,305) Reserves are held to fund the activity of the charity and for making grants to qualifying charitable projects.

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

National Crimebeat is a registered charity, number 1068034, and a company limited by guarantee and is therefore governed by its Articles of Association and has no share capital.

The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:

The Trustees have discussed the skills and experience required for the appointment of new Trustees, any appointment of which is always confirmed at the AGM.

The Trustees shall consist, when complete, of a minimum of four competent persons appointed as follows:

• The Chairman of Trustees who shall be a member of the High Sheriffs’ Association and who shall be appointed for a term of 3 years by the Council of the Association according to the ordinary practice of the Association and whom the Council of the Association can change at any time for the remainder of the term of the Trustee being replaced, and;

• A minimum of three and no maximum of other Trustees who may but need not be members of the Association who shall be appointed for a term of three years at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting of the Trustees of the Charity that is to say until the third Annual General Meeting after the one at which their appointment was confirmed. When Trustees are appointed at a Special General Meeting their appointment must be confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting.

• Trustees may be re-appointed at an Annual General Meeting for one further term of three years. Any further period of appointment must be proposed by the Chairman and approved by the Trustees at an Annual General Meeting.

• The Trustees may admit to meetings such advisors as are helpful to the objects and business of the Charity. The Chairman of the Association is an ex-officio advisor who shall receive all notices, agendas and minutes which are received ordinarily by Trustees, and has a right to attend all meetings and may comment but not vote.

None of the Trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the Trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1.00 in the event of a winding-up.

The trustees, who are also the directors of National Crimebeat 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 ture 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 the year.

In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• observe the method and principles in the Charities SORP;

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 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 the 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.

Independent examiner

Laura Pae FCA, Mitchell Charlesworth, was appointed examiner for the current period and has been re-appointed for the ensuing year.

The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of National Crimebeat (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2025.

As the Trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law), you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 charity’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.

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanation from you as trustees concerning any such matters, The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

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 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.

Investments

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

National Crimebeat is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Maple House, Park West, Sealand Road, Chester, CH1 4RN.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's 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 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 pound.

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.

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

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.

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.

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.

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 receipts 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.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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.

Award Costs

Insurance

Sundry expenses

Trustees were reimbursed during the year £1,068 (2024 - £Nil) for travelling expenses incurred undertaking board related 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.

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 charity had no material debt during the year.