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Trustees Annual Report for 2025

22 June 2025 By webadmin

Structure, Governance & Management

The names of the Charity Trustees throughout the period are as follows:

Peter Winterton (Chairman)

Peter Ware (Secretary)

Charles Wilson (Treasurer)

The Trust continues to be managed in accordance with its founding documents, a Trust Deed of 1st January 1973 and a Supplemental Trust Deed of 23rd April 1974.

The Deed of 1973 provides for a Management Committee to deal with day-to-day business, currently comprising the Charity Trustees, one academic member representing the University, one doctoral student representing the student body, and other co-opted members as deemed necessary. Current non-trustee members of this committee are Professor Alexander Trautrims, Roderick Chapman, Douglas Hough, Richard Sumner and Adrian Brown.

Internal discussions have been initiated within the Management Committee to address the question of succession in relation to trusteeship, and Management Committee membership.

Meetings of the Management Committee are held monthly by video conference, reflecting the fact that some members reside away from Nottingham. In normal circumstances it is intended that physical meetings, including the AGM, are held twice per calendar year, if possible on campus.

The Management Committee continued to operate during the period with a quorum for all relevant decisions. Conflicts of interest are recorded where they occur, with recusal where appropriate.

The Charity Trustees maintain Charities Act compliance by making public an annual return of required financial information.

The Trustees intend posting this Report on the Cripps Hall Association website and/or on social media, and circulating it to members of Cripps Hall Association.

Objectives & Activities

The Trust continues in its efforts to meet the objectives set out in the governing documents. These objectives reflect the intention of the original benefactors, the Cripps Family, and the first Hall Warden, the late Dr.Harry Lucas, to foster an ethos based on a sense of community and fellowship in current and former student residents. Through this, individuals are encouraged to develop broader skills and values beyond their academic pursuits, reach their full potential as individuals, and make a positive contribution to others.

To that end, in the current year, activity has included:-

  • The grant of a number of Harry Lucas Travel Scholarships, (HLTS);
  • Grant approval for a Margaret Lucas Scholarship in support of a new university society supporting social programmes for Research Postgraduates;
  • Continued review and update of the Cripps Hall Association website, Facebook page, Instagram account, and communications generally;
  • Updating of grant application forms to include Harry Lucas Travel Scholarships, Edward Cripps Bursaries, Margaret Lucas Scholarships, and grants in support of students experiencing financial or other hardship;
  • Improving links with university management, including with its Head of Philanthropy and various schools within the academic faculties;
  • Making funds available for renewal and refurbishment of a number of items of equipment in the Hall;
  • Engaging with the University’s management to seek preservation and display of artefacts from the Hall’s life, including sports trophies, honours boards, the contents of the hall library, and a set of cutlery;
  • Negotiations with the University’s Conference and Alumni Relations Departments regarding Cripps Hall Association’s 2025 reunion weekend;
  • The award at its reunions of commemorative Cripps Hall Association medals to former Wardens, staff and alumni who have given distinguished service to Hall students or the Association; also to alumni from the original intake in 1959 who have supported the work of the Trust and Association by attending reunions.

As regards all the above activities, the Trustees declare that they have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on ‘public benefit’.  The Trust continues its membership of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, to take advantage of its programmes and materials in support of volunteering.

Cripps Hall Association

Cripps Hall Association is the informal membership arm of the Trust, and as such does not hold Trust funds or other assets itself. It is formally represented on the Management Committee by its Secretary, Peter Ware, (Law 1974), a retired solicitor, who is also a Trustee and Secretary of the Charity.

The Trust continues via the Association to work closely with the University through the Hall’s management team and the University’s ‘Residential Experience’ Department.

The Trustees continue to ensure that diversity and inclusion is embedded in the Trust’s and Association’s cultures, as far as is consistent with their activities. In this way, people from different backgrounds can participate fully in both organisations’ affairs, including persons having ‘protected characteristics’, (and those associated with them).

Financial Review

The Trust’s financial situation is as shown in financial statements for the fiscal year ending 5th April 2024, to be presented at this year’s combined AGM on 22nd June.  The value of invested and cash holdings as at the last Management Committee meeting was £109,554.  There are no funds materially in deficit.

The policy on cash reserves is to use them as far as possible for the purposes of the Charity and to actively seek opportunities for grant-giving, through regular contact with the university authorities and the Cripps Hall student body, including former residents.

There is currently no specific fund-raising programme in operation, but recent communications with alumni have included details to enable donation.

Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the above Trustees’ Annual Report.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees by Peter Winterton (Chairman).

Presented at the combined AGM of The Cripps Hall Trust and Cripps Hall Association at Cripps Hall on 22nd June 2025.