SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY
Maintaining the Herd Book of the South Devon Pedigree Breed.
Objects
TO MAINTAIN, ENCOURAGE, PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE BREEDING OF SOUTH DEVON CATTLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND OR ELSEWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. (FOR FURTHER DETAILS SEE CLAUSE 3 OF MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION AMENDED 5TH AUGUST 1976.)
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The charity reported a surplus of £13,200 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £554,934. The trustees' reserves policy aims to maintain sufficient funds to cover 12 months of running costs, a target which the current reserves significantly exceed. The accounts were subject to an independent examination rather than a full audit, with the examiner confirming no matters caused concern regarding the accounts' preparation or compliance.
What the accounts disclose
“Charitable activities 4 122,696 122,696” — page 11
“The Trustees aim to maintain these reserves at a level sufficient to cover business running costs for a period of 12 months, taking into account the particular volatility of the agricultural industry.”
“Sir J L Bell (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £5811. At the balance sheet date the amount due from Sir J L Bell was £2,794 (2024 - £Nil).”
“R Rowe (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £3,801. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from R Rowe was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).”
“Sir J L Bell (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £5811. At the balance sheet date the amount due from Sir J L Bell was £2,794 (2024 - £Nil).”
“R Rowe (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £3,801. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from R Rowe was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).”
“Sir J L Bell (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £5811. At the balance sheet date the amount due from Sir J L Bell was £2,794 (2024 - £Nil).”
“R Rowe (Trustee) Purchases from the Society at arms-length value £3,801. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from R Rowe was £Nil (2024 - £Nil).”
Policies the charity declares
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Risk management
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025
- Volunteers: 50
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024
- Volunteers: 50
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023
- Volunteers: 50
Annual return filing dates (Charity Commission record)
Of its last 5 annual returns with a recorded received date, 1 was received after the due date: year ending 31/12/2023 (received 03/03/2025, 123 days after the 31/10/2024 due date).
Property (HM Land Registry)
Trustees
- Angela Rose Smaridge
- Ashley Peter Rowe
- Christopher James Page
- David Lindsay Irving
- David Martin Sampson
- Gemma Louise Edwards
- Helen Ashcroft
- John Francis Tucker
- John Lowthian Bell
- Jonathan Mcinnes Skinner
- Kevin Scott Finch
- Nigel William Bunkum
- RICHARD VERNON HARTSHORN
- Reuben Alexander Saunders
- Robert Edward Hadley
- Tim Eustice
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/12/2025 | £180k | £167k |
| 31/12/2024 | £189k | £290k |
| 31/12/2023 | £205k | £238k |
| 31/12/2022 | £234k | £234k |
| 31/12/2021 | £199k | £214k |
Common questions
Is SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The charity reported a surplus of £13,200 for the year ended 31 December 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £554,934. The trustees' reserves policy aims to maintain sufficient funds to cover 12 months of running costs, a target which the current reserves significantly exceed. The accounts were subject to an independent examination rather than a full audit, with the examiner confirming no matters caused concern regarding the accounts' preparation or compliance. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE ADRIAN SWIRE CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £51k |
| ROYAL SOCIETY OF WILDLIFE TRUSTS | 1 | £356k |
| THE BADUR FOUNDATION | 1 | £242k |
| GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION | 1 | £200k |
| THE NISBET TRUST | 1 | £163k |
| THE DULVERTON TRUST | 1 | £35k |
| CONSERVATION COLLECTIVE | 1 | £24k |
| THE ANCHOR SOCIETY CIO | 1 | £24k |
Charities like this
- SOUTHDOWN SHEEP SOCIETY
- THE SUSSEX CATTLE SOCIETY (FORMERLY THE SUSSEX HERD BOOK SOCIETY)
- DEVON CATTLE BREEDERS' SOCIETY
- DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST
- SOUTHMEAD DEVELOPMENT TRUST
- DEVON BIRDS
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY | £180k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUTHDOWN SHEEP SOCIETY | £29k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE SUSSEX CATTLE SOCIETY (FORMERLY THE SUSSEX HERD BOOK SOCIETY) | £71k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| DEVON CATTLE BREEDERS' SOCIETY | £107k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| DEVON WILDLIFE TRUST | £7.5m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUTHMEAD DEVELOPMENT TRUST | £4.3m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |