HOWARD DE WALDEN HOSTEL CHARITY

Registered charity 239044 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as WESTBOROUGH HOUSE

The Charity maintains a hostel for the residential accommodation, recreation and instruction of young people of the town of Maidstone employed within the said town or the neighbourhood thereof, and those attending a course of instruction at a recognised place of education in Maidstone.

Objects

(A) THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A HOSTEL FOR THE RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION, RECREATION AND INSTRUCTION OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OF THE TOWN OF MAIDSTONE WHO ARE EMPLOYED WITHIN THE SAID TOWN OR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OR, IF NO SUCH PERSONS CAN BE FOUND, MEN AND WOMEN ATTENDING A COURSE OF STUDY WITHIN THE SAID TOWN OR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.(B) PREFERENCE MUST BE GIVEN TO WOMEN IN THE ALLOCATION OF HOSTEL PLACES.

Area of benefit: TOWN OF MAIDSTONE AND NEIGHBOURHOOD.

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

Causes: Accommodation/housing · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£91k

Latest spending

£97k

Registered

1965

Accounts read

FY2026

Financial health, per its FY2026 accounts

The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £154,037, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover the costs of running and maintaining the hostel for the next 12 months. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £402 for the year, driven by charitable expenditure exceeding income, though investment gains partially offset this loss.

Automated summary of the FY2026 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: sufficient to cover costs of running and maintaining the hostel for the next 12 months (held: £154k)

“Trustees aim to hold reserves sufficient to cover costs of running and maintaining the hostel for the next 12 months.” — page 5

Per its FY2026 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Payments to trustees: Mr S M Ring received an honorarium of £900.

“All Trustees give their time freely and no trustee remunation was paid in the year except a small honorarium paid to the Treasurer which is agreed each year by the Board of Trustees.” — page 6

Per its FY2026 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.

Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Safeguarding policy and procedures

Trustees · trustee networks

Fr John Francis Ainsliechair
Carole Smith
Elizabeth Rose Deane
JEAN IRENE SWEETMAN
MARGARET DOROTHY JOYCE SMITH
STEPHEN MICHAEL RING
Vanda Rachel Seeley

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

Operates in: Kent

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2026	£91k	£97k
31/03/2025	£80k	£84k
31/03/2024	£68k	£72k
31/03/2023	£65k	£64k
31/03/2022	£64k	£62k

Common questions

Is HOWARD DE WALDEN HOSTEL CHARITY financially healthy?

Per its FY2026 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves stood at £154,037, which the trustees consider sufficient to cover the costs of running and maintaining the hostel for the next 12 months. The charity reported a net decrease in funds of £402 for the year, driven by charitable expenditure exceeding income, though investment gains partially offset this loss. Its FY2026 accounts were independently examined.