THE BESOM IN WITNEY

Registered charity 1146040 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

The Besom in Witney helps individuals and church groups to give their time, money, skills, or things and ensures that these reach local individuals and families in a time of need. We positively recycle good quality household items such as furniture, textiles, kitchenalia, good-as-new children's clothing, baby items and toys and pass these onto peope who need them. We also accept gifts of food.

Objects

THE OBJECTS OF THE BESOM IN WITNEY ARE:(A) THE RELIEF OF POVERTY, SUFFERING, SICKNESS AND DISTRESS.(B) THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION.(C) THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND(D) THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUCH OTHER PURPOSES AS ARE CHARITABLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ENGLISH LAW SO AS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THOSE IN NEED IN AND AROUND THE WITNEY AREA.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty · Religious Activities · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£41k

Latest spending

£44k

Registered

2012

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity ended the year with unrestricted reserves of £30,759, which is above its stated policy target of £6,000. The trustees report that the charity is prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified regarding its ability to continue operations.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: four months of average core expenditure, raised to £6,000 (held: £31k)

“The trustees have considered the charity’s requirements for reserves and presently have a policy of maintaining funds equivalent to four months of average core expenditure. This would be in the region of £5,500 but we have decided to raise this to £6,000” — page 5

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Investment
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Trustees · trustee networks

DAVID REEVES TAYLOR · trustee of 1 other charity
Henry Edward Tudor St John
Rosemary Honour Smith
SUSAN MARY PHAYRE WINGFIELD DIGBY
Susan Grenfell

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Oxfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£41k	£44k
31/12/2024	£47k	£40k
31/10/2023	£34k	£28k
31/10/2022	£33k	£34k
31/10/2021	£39k	£53k

Common questions

Is THE BESOM IN WITNEY financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with unrestricted reserves of £30,759, which is above its stated policy target of £6,000. The trustees report that the charity is prepared on a going concern basis with no material uncertainties identified regarding its ability to continue operations. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.