ROYAL COMMONWEALTH EX-SERVICES LEAGUE

Charity number: 1174874
Charity reporting is up to date (on time)

Charity overview

Activities - how the charity spends its money

The charity operates outside the United Kingdom looking after the welfare of ex-servicemen, women and widows of Commonwealth countries who have at some time served the British Crown.

Income and expenditure

Data for financial year ending 31 March 2024

Total income:
£2,980,655

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Donations and legacies £1.07m
Charitable activities £0
Other trading activities £0
Investments £43.17k
Other £1.87m

Total expenditure:
£3,372,591

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Raising funds £58.60k
Charitable activities £3.31m
Other £0

£36,545 investments gains (losses)

Total income includes £1,868,835 from 1 government grant(s)

Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure

Some charities generate all, or a substantial part, of their income from investments which may have been donated to the charity as endowment or set aside by the charity from its own resources in the past. Such investments usually take the form of stocks and shares but may include other assets, such as property, that are capable of generating income and/or capital growth.

In managing their spending and investments charities need to strike a balance between the needs of future and current beneficiaries. They also need to take account of spending commitments that may stretch over a number of future years. To do this, charities will normally adopt an investment strategy designed to generate both income and capital growth. To maximise returns trustees may commit to investment strategies for several years.

Investments can experience large swings in value so trustees may, in a particular year, decide to realise and spend part of their charity’s capital or to invest part of its income.

By clicking the investment gains checkbox the charitable spending bar is adjusted to take account of capital growth as well as income. This shows the balance the charity is striking, between spending on current beneficiaries and retaining resources for future beneficiaries.

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Raising funds and other expenditure £58.60k
Charitable expenditure £3.31m

People

9 Employee(s)

10 Trustee(s)

Employees with total benefits over £60,000

Number of employees
£60k to £70k 1
£80k to £90k 1

Fundraising

No information available

Trading

This charity does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Trustee payments

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

What, who, how, where

Main way of carrying out purposes is grant making
What the charity does:
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • Disability
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
  • Armed Forces/emergency Service Efficiency
  • Other Charitable Purposes
Who the charity helps:
  • Elderly/old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • Other Defined Groups
  • The General Public/mankind
How the charity helps:
  • Makes Grants To Individuals
  • Makes Grants To Organisations
Where the charity operates:
  • Throughout England
  • Antigua And Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • Burma
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cyprus
  • Dominica
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Ghana
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Hong Kong
  • India
  • Jamaica
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • New Zealand
  • Pakistan
  • Saint Vincent
  • Scotland
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • St Kitts And Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • Tanzania
  • The Bahamas
  • The Gambia
  • Trinidad And Tobago
  • Turks And Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Governance

Registration history:
  • 27 September 2017: Standard registration
Organisation type:
Charitable company
Other names:
  • RCEL (Working name)
Company number:
10922587 Open in new window
Gift aid:
Recognised by HMRC for gift aid
Other regulators:
No information available
Policies:
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
Land and property:
This charity does not own and/or lease land or property

Trustees

Trustees are the people responsible for controlling the work, management and administration of the charity on behalf of its beneficiaries. Generally trustees are treasurer, chair, board member etc. The trustees are responsible for keeping this list up to date and can do this by updating their details as they happen through the online service

10 Trustee(s)

Name Role Date of appointment Other trusteeships Reporting status of other trusteeships
Major General Gerald Ian Mitchell Chair 07 October 2020
None on record
Lynda Susan Atkins Trustee 18 June 2025
THE SOLDIERS OF OXFORDSHIRE TRUST
Received: On time
Michael John Winarick Trustee 13 February 2024
JOHN PEARCE FOUNDATION
Received: On time
Paul Wesley Farquharson Chambers Trustee 13 February 2024
None on record
Elisabeth Watkins Trustee 15 October 2020
None on record
JEREMY MICHAEL ARCHER MA Trustee 18 August 2017
THE DEVONSHIRE AND DORSET REGIMENTAL TRUST
Received: On time
THE DORCHESTER KEEP MILITARY MUSEUM TRUST
Received: On time
THE RIFLES OFFICERS' FUND
Received: 7 days late
THE RIFLES REGIMENTAL TRUST
Received: 7 days late
THE RIFLES BENEVOLENT TRUST
Received: 7 days late
THE NOT FORGOTTEN ASSOCIATION (NFA)
Received: On time
ANDREW FREEMANTLE Trustee 18 August 2017
None on record
EVELYN ANNE STROUTS Trustee 18 August 2017
None on record
MAJOR GENERAL CHRISTOPHER HASLETT ELLIOTT Trustee 09 September 2013
None on record
ANDREW JOHN MARTIN Trustee 10 August 2010
None on record

Financial history

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Financial period end date

Income / Expenditure 31/03/2020 31/03/2021 31/03/2022 31/03/2023 31/03/2024
Total gross income £5.18m £3.56m £4.12m £3.79m £2.98m
Total expenditure £5.30m £4.57m £4.24m £3.84m £3.37m
Income from government contracts N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Income from government grants £2.48m £2.09m £2.84m £2.55m £1.87m
Income - Donations and legacies £2.16m £1.44m £1.26m £1.22m £1.07m
Income - Other trading activities £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Charitable activities £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Endowments £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Income - Investment £43.76k £19.13k £16.28k £24.93k £43.17k
Income - Other £2.98m £2.09m £2.84m £2.55m £1.87m
Income - Legacies £262.37k £0 £0 £5.00k £0
Expenditure - Charitable activities £5.30m £4.49m £4.16m £3.77m £3.31m
Expenditure - Raising funds £0 £45.78k £47.40k £52.10k £58.60k
Expenditure - Governance £42.46k £32.67k £35.41k £37.92k £45.52k
Expenditure - Grants institution £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Investment management £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Expenditure - Other £0 £37.01k £35.31k £14.44k £0

Assets and liabilities

Definitions for assets and liabilities
Own use assets

These are assets, other than investments, which are held for more than 12 months and used to run and administer the charity such as buildings, offices, exhibits and fixtures and fittings.

Long term Investments

Investments are assets held by the charity with the sole aim of generating income which will be used for their charitable purposes such as deposit accounts, shares, rental property and unit trusts.
Investment assets are re-valued every year and included in the balance sheet at their current market value.
Long term investments are held for more than 12 months.

Other assets

These are assets held generally for less than 12 months such as cash and bank balances, debtors, investments to be sold within the coming year and trading stock.

Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability

This is a surplus or deficit in any defined benefit pension scheme operated and represents a potential long-term asset or liability.

Total liabilities

These are all the amounts owed by the charity at the balance sheet date to third parties such as bills due but not yet paid, bank overdrafts and loans and mortgages.

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Asset / Liability 31/03/2020 31/03/2021 31/03/2022 31/03/2023 31/03/2024
Own use assets £1.75m £0 £0 £0 £2.09k
Long-term investments £0 £1.66m £1.55m £1.37m £1.20m
Other assets £1.21m £448.17k £499.11k £590.69k £413.80k
Defined benefit pension scheme asset or liability £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total liabilities £54.29k £78.64k £69.59k £50.26k £59.87k

Accounts and annual returns

This table shows the charity's record of submitting annual returns, accounts and trustees' annual report (TAR) for the last five financial periods.
Title Reporting year Date received Received Download
Annual return 31 March 2024 30 October 2024 On time
Accounts and TAR 31 March 2024 30 October 2024 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 March 2023 11 January 2024 On time
Accounts and TAR 31 March 2023 11 January 2024 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 March 2022 16 November 2022 On time
Accounts and TAR 31 March 2022 16 November 2022 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 March 2021 12 November 2021 On time
Accounts and TAR 31 March 2021 12 November 2021 On time Download Open in new window
Annual return 31 March 2020 23 July 2020 On time
Accounts and TAR 31 March 2020 23 July 2020 On time
Submit annual return Open in new window

Governing document

Details of the type of governing document the charity has and when it was established.
It is not the full text of the charity's governing document.

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES INCORPORATED 18 AUG 2017

Charitable objects

WITH A VIEW TO PERPETUATING THE MEMORY OF GALLANT MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SUFFERED OR DIED FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS, THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY SHALL BE BY CHARITABLE MEANS: 1) TO SEEK TO ENSURE THAT NO MAN OR WOMAN RESIDENT OVERSEAS WHO HAS AT SOME TIME SERVED THE CROWN: A) IN THE ARMED FORCES OF ANY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY OR FORMER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY BEFORE THAT COUNTRY ACHIEVED INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM; OR B) DURING HOSTILITIES IN THE MERCHANT NAVIES OF ANY SUCH COUNTRY; OR C) IN THE RED CROSS OR ST JOHNÆS ORGANISATION WHILE SUCH ORGANISATION WAS SERVING WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF ANY SUCH COUNTRY, SHOULD SUFFER UNDUE HARDSHIP; 2) TO SEEK TO ENSURE THE WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS OF SUCH PERSONS WHO QUALIFY FOR SUPPORT UNDER 3.1 SHOULD NOT SUFFER UNDUE HARDSHIP; 3) TO ASSIST UNITED KINGDOM SERVICE CHARITIES TO PROVIDE WELFARE TO QUALIFYING PERSONNEL (INCLUDING THEIR WIDOWS OR WIDOWERS) RESIDENT OVERSEAS WHO ARE IN NEED AND WHO AT SOME TIME SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES OR DURING HOSTILITIES IN THE MERCHANT NAVY OR THE RED CROSS OR ST JOHNÆS ORGANISATIONS WHILE SUCH ORGANISATIONS WERE SERVING WITH THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM; AND 4) TO SEEK, WHERE POSSIBLE AND WITHIN RESOURCES, TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE SUBJECT OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE SERVICE OF THE ARMED AND AUXILIARY FORCES OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND OF THEIR NEEDS.

Contact information

Address:
ROYAL COMMONWEALTH EX-SERVICES LEAG
HAIG HOUSE
199 BOROUGH HIGH STREET
LONDON
SE1 1AA
Phone:
020 3207 2413
Email:
hyoung@commonwealthveterans.org.uk
Website:

http://www.commonwealthveterans.org.uk/welfare.php Open in new window