## **ABNEY PARK TRUST**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2024**
**CHARITY REGISTRATION No. 1005334 COMPANY REGISTRATION No. 02634036**
Independent Examiners Ltd
Unit 2 The Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham PO18 8NF
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## **ABNEY PARK TRUST**
## **CONTENTS**
|Page 3|Legal and administrative information|
|---|---|
|Pages 4 to 15|Report of the Trustees|
|Page 16|Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees|
|Page 17|Statement of Financial Activities|
|Page 18|Balance Sheet|
|Pages 19 to 24|Notes to the Financial Statements|
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## **ABNEY PARK TRUST**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**CHARITY NUMBER** 1005334 **COMPANY NUMBER** 2634036 **START OF FINANCIAL PERIOD** 1st April 2023 **END OF FINANCIAL PERIOD** 31st March 2024 **TRUSTEES AT 31 MARCH 2024** Tom Walker (Chair) Martina Girvan Carol Goldwag John McShane Elinor Roberts Nicholas Toner Brooke Louise McKinnis **In addition, representative of Hackney Council on the Board:** Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas **CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS** The South Lodge Abney Park London N16 0LH **GOVERNING DOCUMENT** MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 1ST AUGUST 1991 AS AMENDED BY CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION ON CHANGE OF NAME DATED 4 JUNE 2008, ALSO AMENDED ON 5 FEBRUARY 2012 **BANKERS** HSBC 312 Seven Sisters Road Finsbury Park London N4 2AW **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Independent Examiners Ltd Unit 2 The Broadbridge Business Centre Delling Lane Bosham PO18 8NF
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report – 2023/24**
4
**Abney Park Trust**
**Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24**
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
## Description of the charity
Abney Park Trust (the Trust) is a company limited by guarantee (registration number 2634036) and a registered charity (registered number 1005334). The Trustees are also Directors of the company.
The Trust is governed by its memorandum and articles of association and its registered office is The South Lodge, Abney Park, Stoke Newington High St, London N16 0LH.
The governance and management of the Trust is provided by the Board of Trustees elected by the members and operating in accordance with the articles of association.
The Trust advertises for new trustees when these are required. Between Annual General Meetings, potential new Trustees submit their CV and reasons for wanting to be a Trustee. They are then interviewed by two current Trustees, the Chair, and, if considered suitable, a recommendation is made to the rest of the Board who will then decide whether or not to appoint them. They are then formally put forward for election at the Annual General Meeting. Councillor Trustees are made by nomination from the London Borough of Hackney.
The Trust sends new Trustees an induction pack of documents relating to the Trust (including the governing document and the policies and procedures in place) and Charity Commission guidance on the duties of charity Trustees. The Trust also invites new Trustees to observe the meetings of the Board and spend time at Abney Park with staff members.
Abney Park is a 32-acre park in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney (Hackney Council). It was formerly a garden cemetery and includes densely wooded grounds based on a Victorian arboretum. It also contains operational buildings, listed historic monuments, tens of thousands of memorials, and a recently restored Grade II listed funerary chapel which is Europe’s oldest surviving non-denominational chapel. Abney has significant historical, religious, genealogical, museum/archival, ecological and architectural importance.
Abney Park:
- is a registered Historic Park and Garden, Brown Plaque site, and part of the Stoke Newington Conservation Area
- has a number of listed monuments and buildings
- is a designated statutory Local Nature Reserve, the first such reserve in Hackney and
- has received a significant National Lottery Heritage Fund grant to restore the premises and improve access to the park
The Trust occupies Abney Park under a Licence to Occupy from Hackney Council. The arrangement between the Trust and Hackney Council is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
## Trust management
Details on the Trust’s Board composition and staffing position are later in this report.
In the period covered by this report we have moved to one active subcommittee. Our committees are made up of Trust staff, Trustees and volunteers with expertise in relevant fields.
The subcommittees meet regularly and report to the APT Board at each meeting.
## **Events Committee**
Our Events Committee manages the Trust’s busy programme of events. They also discuss and coordinate any event proposals that come in from external organisations.
**Committee members for the reporting period:** Irena Goldwag (Trustee), Haydn Schaare (APT staff), Nick Toner (Trustee), Lorraine Tillett (Volunteer and former Trustee), Ellie Roberts (Trustee) and Martina Girvan (Trustee).
The second subcommittee, the Fundraising Committee, has been dormant in the reporting period.
## Risk assessment
A comprehensive risk register was introduced in 2021/22. The main risks during the year have revolved around:
- **Future role and purpose** - the success of the National Lottery Heritage Fund bid will change our operating model and will require new priorities. As in 2021/22 and 2022/23 this year has seen ongoing comprehensive work across the site with a change in the previous office premises, access to the park and an increase in general uncertainty. The work to establish a stable position with Hackney Council is progressing well. Towards the end of March 2024, a new steady state position was beginning to emerge.
- ● **The Abney Park site** - there are hazards that mean that the public could be at risk. Both Hackney Council and Trust have insurance covering this risk and we work closely with the police to help ensure safety. We maintain a crisis communications plan in case of serious reputational risk.
- **Grant funding and financial stability** - our major grants are secured annually, and this means we have to take a prudent approach to financing projects, particularly in a time of continued financial uncertainty including in the public sector. The ongoing restoration work has limited opportunities in the first half of the reporting year.
- **Safeguarding** - as a public site with some history of anti-social behaviour we maintain a high level of vigilance and adherence to safeguarding good practice, particularly for our in person events and those involving families. This includes regular liaison with the council and neighbourhood police.
- **Pressure on staff and trustees** - the Trust has a small but busy staff team, and a high reliance on volunteers and trustees. We have Trustee succession plans in place and offer staff regular opportunities to communicate their needs and challenges.
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**Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
## Objects of the Trust
The objects for which the Trust is established, as set out in its articles of association, are:
1. The conservation and restoration for the benefit of the public of the property known as Abney Park or Abney Park Cemetery (Abney) as an area of architectural and ecological significance, and historical and religious associations.
2. To promote the benefit of inhabitants of London and in particular the Borough of Hackney without distinction of race, gender, sexual orientation or of political, religious or other opinions by associating the local authorities, voluntary organisations and inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.
3. The advancement of public education by the establishment and display of a collection or collections of information literature manuscripts and artefacts concerning the history, development, associations and ecology of the cemetery.
## The work of the Trust
The Trust works to achieve the Trust’s charitable objectives, which includes promoting Abney as an inner-city heritage and community resource. This involves:
- Meeting with Hackney Council’s Abney Park Manager and staff regularly to discuss the management of the site and Trust activities.
- Meeting regularly on the sub-committees to consider and progress areas of the Trust’s work.
- Developing projects for improving the site and preserving its monuments.
- Organising events and tours for the public on site - both free and ticketed.
- Continuing to look for ways to involve more of the community in Abney and to make it more sustainable.
- Maintaining a programme for volunteers and actively promoting these volunteering opportunities.
- Carrying out grave searches and maintenance working closely with families and friends of those buried in Abney Park.
The Trust is also a member of the Abney Park Development Board set up by Hackney Council to secure funding for Abney through a National Heritage Lottery Fund bid and decide on the future development of Abney. That Board helps oversee the development of the project and was superseded by new arrangements in early 2024.
The Trust’s relationship with the Council is enshrined in a Memorandum of Understanding which was signed on 2 February 2024 and is available on our website.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
## Activities during 2023/2024
This has remained a transitional year for the Trust with considerable progress to a ‘new normal’ in the final part of the period with the conclusion of the restoration works.
The following activities were carried out throughout the year to achieve the Trust’s charitable objectives:
## _Events and engagement_
Our events and engagement continued ‘in person’ events in 2023/24 finally moving on from the shadow of COVID 19.
With the building works the site has continued to be more limited in terms of access and use. This has not inhibited the range of talks and walks we put on, but has meant that the larger events the Trust ran before 2020 have not yet been possible (for example the Summer and Winter Fayres and the summer theatre productions). At the time of writing we are beginning to do more of this in 2024/25.
Despite these restrictions – and thanks to our fantastic staff and volunteers – we have populated a wide-ranging programme of events.
There are key dates in the Abney calendar including celebrating the anniversary of Abney Park’s opening in May, inviting Hackney MP Diane Abbott to commemorate Bronterre O’Brien in Sept, and Remembrance Sunday in November. Alongside these we put on a range of regular tours as well as developing new collaborations and partnerships, including a series of women’s history tours with Sue Doe from Hackney Society, a cycle of seasonal walks with Nina Lovelace from Hackney Outdoors and hosting an experiential nature walk with the Walking Trees collective.
In terms of events, we held 55 events over the year, with a total number of attendees of 1638.
Category by category our events were as follows:
- History and heritage = 29
- Wellbeing, ritual and mental health = 8
- Ecology and nature = 13
- Community events and open days = 4
- Annual general meeting = 1
The first half of 2023-24 was a continuation of our programming to engage the local community with the heritage and ecology of Abney Park through outdoor events. In August, we appointed a new member of staff as Events, Community Engagement and Programming Manager. This enabled us to develop our programming, and begin work on the NHLF funded Activity Plan. In Feb 2024 we gained access to the Chapel and began programming events there.
We hosted six Chapel tours across one day in February, giving over 240 people the opportunity to see inside the newly restored Chapel for the first time. This began an ongoing series of monthly Chapel tours, including an Open House event with a book swap for World Book Day in March 2024 which attracted 340 visitors.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
Highlights from 2023-24 included:
- 17 different history tours (among several other history and heritage events), including 3 sold out after dark walking tours exploring Abney’s supernatural literary connections with our longstanding collaborator Alan Gartrell, and 3 new women’s history tours from Sue Doe.
- A new series of ‘Wheel of the Year’ tree walks which wove together seasonal traditions and folklore with herbalism, ending with crafting with natural materials. These brought in a younger, more diverse audience and we had positive feedback from people enjoying connecting with nature and each other.
- A sold out botanical drawing event, which we have developed into one of our activity plan events in the community room for 2024-25.
- More programming for young people with a fully booked outdoor family forest school event, and storytelling in the Chapel for local families and nurseries as part of the Activity Plan.
- Over 100 attendees for our Remembrance Day memorial service in November with music from two local choirs.
- A fully booked New Year’s Day nature connection walk to promote wellbeing.
- Breeding birds training to support ongoing surveys of our bird population as well as dawn chorus bird walks and a family event for Bird Watch weekend in January.
- Tours for 510 children and teachers from William Patten Primary school to mark International Women’s Day in March 2024.
Underpinning all this is the work of the Events Committee which met regularly.
## _Online and digital presence_
We have continued to update a microsite with a repository of key information about the National Lottery Heritage Fund restoration project. This includes key documents and, where available, information for the public about the works.
We also continued to use social media actively both to promote the park, engage the community and forge new collaborations. We have made many new links this way and get interest from across the UK, and occasionally from abroad.
We produce a regular short email bulletin which is sent every 6 weeks or so to over 2,000 subscribers. Since September 2021 it has included an update from the Trust Chair and these updates are included in the news pages on our website.
In total we received 68,282 users to our website in this period which is a percentage increase of around 9.8% versus the same period last year. This increase was welcome and likely reflects the renewed interest in the park as a result of the restoration.
## _Grave searches_
One of our most important roles is offering a grave search facility for those looking for relatives, friends or historic figures. Our team responds to these questions with dedication and compassion.
Abney Park Trust received in the region of 149 enquiries about grave searches and burial records from relatives of those buried in Abney Park in 2023/24. Approximately 49 of these, where the records allowed, led to a full grave search. Although we do ask for a grave search fee, if people are unable to afford the service, or are able to give a smaller donation, we will still carry the search out. It is important for APT to carry out this service and grave search appointments help us to give people further information about their family member’s burial and how Abney Park was as a working cemetery. As well as this, we also learn about the people buried in Abney Park.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
The grave search includes APT members of staff physically locating the grave site and either supporting the family to view the site or providing pictures and a copy of the burial records kept by the cemetery. This is never a straightforward process given the nature of the site and the often haphazard approach to burials during the 1960s and 70s.
If the grave cannot be found APT staff will provide whatever information is available as well as background about the development of the site as a cemetery.
The African Caribbean community in Hackney is predominantly represented in burials during the 1960s and 70s - reflecting the local community at that time, when the site was nearing the end of the period as a functioning cemetery.
## _Monument maintenance and restoration_
We have remained focused on promoting the history and stories of Abney Park.
During the reporting year we maintained our commitment to cleaning and maintaining the Commonwealth War Graves on the site, working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). We maintain both individual Commonwealth War Graves and also the Commonwealth War Memorial at the heart of the park. We are very grateful for the grant funding we receive from the CWGC to support this work.
We have continued contact with the CWGC throughout 2023/24 and planned the Remembrance Day memorial service on the War Memorial, at which Cllr Bramble gave an inspiring speech, local choirs sang and the Last Post was played. Staff and volunteers pay particular attention to the war graves during May and November and work hard to ensure every grave looks as good as possible.
In relation to listed monuments in the park, we have prepared a preliminary assessment of work needed to maintain or repair a dozen listed monuments. We hope in the medium term to secure funding for these monuments.
## _National Lottery Heritage Fund Restoration project_
In January 2020 Hackney Council secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a major programme of restoration work for the park and its amenities. This is a huge opportunity for the park and we are grateful for many of our predecessors who campaigned over many years to protect and save the park.
Although the Trust is not directly accountable for the project we are hugely impacted by it and have worked actively with Hackney Council to make it a success.
In this reporting period, the work continued on site, completing in early 2024. This is a profound change to the park and has seen a visible impact, for example:
- Closure and removal of existing offices and site clearance
- Entrances closed at different points over the year, limiting access
- Ground works, leading to major construction of new community facilities
- Full restoration of the chapel
- Reopening of the Church Street entrance in December 2022
- Reopening of the restored chapel early 2024
- Full access to both entrances permanently restored in early 2024
- Reopening of offices
- Completion of new buildings and café awaiting occupation March 2024
This year we have participated fully in negotiation with the council (for example in sitting on the tender panel for the café operators) and we have provided information to the public about what is happening on site, using #AbneyRestoration on social media and our own microsite pages.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
This is and has been a fantastic opportunity for Abney Park to become a major London landmark when the works are completed.
Although the work is very disruptive for the Trust, we have continued to meet our charitable objectives with real determination and flexibility.
In this period, we have also ramped up our preparations for the delivery of the “Activity Plan”, mainly through regular meetings with Hackney Council staff to refine the plans and develop a thorough understanding of our audience engagement objectives.
The Activity Plan complements the capital works that have gone on in the park by providing funding from the NLHF to help bring new audiences through the doors and into the newly restored spaces. It’s a series of events, workshops, programmes and other work due to be delivered over a period of around two years, and covers everything from community celebrations to arts, craft and life skills. It sits alongside our regular programme of events.
In this reporting period the Plan was just getting underway and the activities included birdwatch surveys and school visits. We look forward to a busy year for the Activity Plan in the next reporting period, including further interesting events reaching diverse audiences – plus accessibility improvements for our website.
## _PSPO Consultation_
Hackney Council launched a borough wide consultation about dog behaviour and access to public spaces. Launched hurriedly in early autumn 2023 the consultation proposed that as a local nature reserve and cemetery that dogs should be required to be on a lead to access Abney Park.
This proved to be hugely controversial.
The Trust supported the proposals in the consultation and sought to publish reasons and evidence for the proposal. The issue mobilised significant concerns on all sides of the debate and a very strong campaign against the proposal. In February 2024 the council decided to drop the proposal noting that the issues that had led to the proposal (damage to the site) were of real concern. The Trust looks forward to working with the council to find ways to address those issues, recognising that elected politicians have to balance evidence and opinion in the community. The work of our ecology volunteer group is updated below.
## _Staffing_
In terms of staffing, we employed two part-time members of staff throughout the year.
In August we appointed a candidate into the role of Events, Community Engagement and Programming Manager, a newly shaped role. Given the unpredictable environment and the desire for a qualified self-starter the Trust found a balance between the salary and available hours. We were pleased to receive some very strong applications and that we were able to offer the role to a talented and passionate local resident. They started in post in August 2024. This means we have a team of two part time individuals who both devote considerable discretionary effort beyond the contracted hours to deliver for the Trust.
Our team have continued to work very closely with Hackney Council’s full time on site manager with further appointments to be made including to manage the chapel as an events venue and a volunteer coordinator. The Trust has been pleased to be part of the recruitment processes involved in key Hackney Council appointments, as well as the tender process for the new cafe and premises management.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
## _Volunteer support_
We rely on volunteers to support the maintenance of the park and the work of the Trust. We are pleased that our volunteering work has continued. This includes:
- A monthly litter pick arranged with Abney Park User Group
- Grave plot maintenance – working with Commonwealth War Grave Commission
- General landscape volunteering – working with Hackney Council
We have a steady number of volunteers across these activities:
- There is a small group of volunteers for Commonwealth War Grave maintenance, who provide a rotating core group of 2 -3 people to carry out the work on a regular, weekly basis. This group has been particularly successful in maintaining the 150-plus Commonwealth War Graves in Abney Park Cemetery and building on the strong relationship the Trust has with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- Litter picking sessions can attract up to 20 people, including families and groups of friends. Numbers can be smaller when the weather is less favourable.
- Landscaping volunteers (every Thursday morning) has a regular attendance of 6 volunteers each week. This represents a continually evolving group of around 20 people - as people’s individual commitments and availability changes over time.
We also continue to support Hackney Council on Abney Unearthed - the project to re-map Abney Park. This aims to create an online searchable map, add missing information to the burial records, research the various residents of Abney Park and bring their stories to light. The project was funded by NLHF and Hackney Council and is now part of the Activity Plan which sits alongside the wider restoration project as described above.
Volunteer numbers have averaged around 12 - 16 people per week, as they have in previous years. Abney Unearthed has now checked the burial details of almost 87,000 people, adding 860 missing entries. They have also corrected the details, such as incorrect spelling of names, of over 1500 people. Abney Unearthed mapping has enabled approximately 12 successful grave searches for graves that were previously unmapped.
Abney Unearthed has focused on the number of common graves on the site and the headstones of approximately 790 people buried in common graves have been noted. The precise number of common graves in Abney Park Cemetery is currently unknown, although the information available is steadily increasing.
## _Ecology Volunteers_
Our Abney Park Nature Volunteers has over 50 members led by Kirsten Foster and supported by Trustee Martina Girvan. As a group they support training, facilitate and undertake surveying, reporting back into national databases and generally increase the awareness of the Park for nature and healthy ecosystems.
Between the Trust and the Abney Park Nature Volunteers groups we have delivered a great annual programme of nature events and surveys.
We have received training for undertaking butterfly transects from the Big City Butterflies conservation group run by Steve Bolton and Breeding Bird Surveys by David Darrell Lambert of Birdbrain Britain. [GM3]
We run an annual programme of events. In 2023 we surveyed the Park’s habitats using the National Vegetation Classification system and created an Abney Park Plant Spotter. We undertook a series of butterfly transects throughout the summer including our annual participation in the Big Butterfly Count 2023, building upon the training by Steve Bolton. We hosted a botanical drawing workshop in June followed up by a Loddiges tree survey and a bat walk in October. We have welcomed what appear to be breeding sparrow hawks into the Park this year.
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## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
On New Years Day 2024 we delivered an Ecology Talk, focusing on the complex ecosystems supported by Abney Park with over 40 attendees on site, where we also promoted and participated in the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI’s) New Year Plant Hunt. At the end of January, we partook in our annual RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, our annual fungal survey, followed by Breeding Bird Survey training in March.
We are looking forward to inputting into the Woodland Management Plan being written by Hackney Council. We continue to raise awareness that the Park is a Local Nature Reserve that hosts some very rare invertebrate and fungal species as well as being a critical refuge for all sorts of wildlife in what is an extremely urban environment.
The quality of the habitat is also critical to the amenity value of the Park and the other ecosystem services it delivers such as passive cooling and carbon sequestration, although this quality element may not be directly measured or noted it is absolutely perceived and does make a difference to the resilience of the Park. For the Park to remain a quality and resilient habitat its management must be invested in to secure this invaluable refuge for the future.
## _Fundraising_
The Trust remains incredibly grateful to everyone who has contributed financially to its work. This includes generous donations from across our community.
We have maintained our CAF donation page, initially started in May 2020, and we have received a steady stream of small donations throughout the year. This has totalled £3,918.75 over the year for one-off donations, direct debits and gift aid.
The Trust has not sought additional fundraising in this period for projects or new initiatives. From early 2024 we have been able to begin planning events dedicated to fundraising in the new premises.
## _Board composition_
The Board remains very strong and with less transition this year than in the previous periods. A recruitment campaign for new Trustees began in February 2024. Four new Trustees were recruited to commence their work with the Board in 2024/25. As with previous recruitments these have brought in new skills and experience.
The Board will grow in size, that will enable us to have core resilience on the Board.
- More capacity to dedicate to focused committees or projects
- A range of new skills including fundraising, charity administration, engagement and governance
- Greater ‘volunteering’ capacity, for example to steward a growing programme of events
## Looking ahead
Writing in mid-summer 2024, we are able to look ahead with some confidence after four years of disruption and transition.
We have new premises, a welcoming environment and access to the community space and chapel to put on events. The park itself should become self-financing with revenues from weddings and other Hackney events ringfenced for the park’s use. New businesses now occupy the workshops, the café is open and being run by an independent provider and London Green Wood have returned to the site.
We are confident about those opportunities and the role Hackney Council sees for The Trust. Our advantages as a small charity mean we can mobilise community input and funding that is complementary to taxpayer investment. We have already opened up the chapel to hundreds of people and run new events with new collaborators including some brilliant fundraising events in May 2024.
13
## **Abney Park Trust**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for 2023-24 (Continued)**
If budget allows, we will bring in a further team member or expand the hours available to our team and allow us to operate at full speed.
We will also continue to push for a greater focus on the park’s ecological status and we are optimistic that the council will take steps to do more here, balancing all the different demands on the park as part of the management plan. The PSPO consultation has been a reminder of how the park is seen by different user groups and the need to find a balance.
We also look forward to working with the newly refreshed and reformed Abney Park User Group.
The Trust had hoped to review the articles and membership model of the Trust to modernise and simplify them, and to broaden our base of supporters and help ensure the Trust is representative in its work. This is a work in progress and an update will be provided to the AGM.
## FINANCIAL REVIEW
## Finance
The Trust continues to manage its finances effectively. Overall, the Trust has maintained good progress towards becoming self-financing.
Non-core income this year represents 47% of the overall income of the Trust, down 8% from 55% last year. Sources of income other than the London Borough of Hackney core grant are:
Charitable activities: 17% of income (up 12% - see note 2 for a breakdown)
Trading activities: 3% of income (same as prior year percentage - see note 2 for a breakdown)
Donations & legacies: 16% of income (down 22% - see note 2 for a breakdown)
Other grants: 10% of income (up 1% - see note 2 for a breakdown)
The staff time required to raise non-core funds continues to be significant. The cost of fundraising represents 36% of our total expenditure, double the prior year percentage, with the remaining 64% spent on charitable activities, a decrease of 17% of expenditure spent on charitable activities in comparison with the previous year.
## Reserves policy
Our reserves remain healthy. The Trust retains reserve funds sufficient to finance core activities for three months and other exceptional costs including redundancies if existing income streams were to cease.
Reserves are held in an interest-bearing deposit account.
14
ABNEY PARK TRUST
Trustees. Annual Report for 2023-24 {Contlnued}
Stat•m•nt ot Truste, respon$lbllltl•s:
The trustees (who are also the dlrectors of Abney Park Trust for the purposes of company law) are responslble for preparfng
the trustees, report and the financial statements In accordants with appllcable law and Unlted Klngdom Accounting Standards
(United Klngdom Generally Accepted Accountln9 Practice), Indudlng FRS 102 'The Flnancial Reportlng Standard applicable In
the UK and Republlc of Ireland..
Company law requlres the trustees to prepare flnanclal statements for each flnandal year. Under company law the trust
must not approve the fTftancial statements unless they are satlsfled that they glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affèlrs of
the charltable company and of the incomlng resources, Includlng its income and expendlture, of the charltable Company for
that perlod, In prepadng these flnan¢lJl statements, the trustees are requlred to:
.) select sultable accountlnq pollcles and apply them eonslstantly*
b.) observe the methods and prlndples In the Charities SORP..
c.) make ludqements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent..
d.) state whether appllcable accountlng standard comprlsln9 FRS 102 and statements of recommended practlce have been
followed, subjert to any material depathres dlsclosed and explalned In the flnanclal statements.. and
e.) prepare the flnanclal 5tstements on the golng concem b4515 unless It Is Inappropdate to presume that the charlty wlll
contlnue In operatlon.
The Tnjstees a responslble for keeplng proper accountlng records that can dlsclose with reasonable accuracy at any tlme the
flnanclal posltlon of the charltable company ènd enable them to ensure that the flnanclal ststements comply wlth the sertlon
476 of the Companles Art 2006. They are also responsSble for safeguardlng the assets of the charftable company and hence for
taklng reasonable steps for the preventlon and detectlon of fraud and other Irregularltle5.
Thls report has been prepared taklng advantage of the small companles, exemptlon of sectlon 415A of the Companles Act
2006.
Sm•ll companlu provl•lon Jtat•m•nt:
Thls report has been prepèred In accordancè w5th the small companles reglme under the Componles Art 2006.
The flnanclal statements were approved by the trustees, also dlrectors of the charlty on:
Date
,Z1 O&hW/ Lfjz
Slqned on behalf of the 8oard
Name . Tom Walker, Chalr of Abney Park Trust
15
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS**
Report to the trustees/ members of Abney Park Trust on the accounts for the year ended 31st of March 2024 set out on pages 17 to 24.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Zita Derbak Sign: Independent Examiners Ltd Unit 2 The Broadbridge Business Centre Date: 30.10.2024 Delling Lane Bosham PO18 8NF
16
## **ABNEY PARK TRUST STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
Incorporating income and expenditure account
|Notes
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2a & 10
Charitable activities
2b
Other trading activities
2c
Investment Income : Bank interest
2d
**TOTAL**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising Funds
3 & 4
Charitable Activities
3, 4, 10
**TOTAL**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE**
**INVESTMENT GAINS/(LOSSES)**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
Transfers between funds
10
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**
Total Funds Brought Forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
10,661
22,000
32,661
41,246
7,266
-
7,266
2,343
1,236
-
1,236
1,288
450
-
450
114
**19,613**
**22,000**
**41,613**
**44,991**
14,723
-
14,723
15,413
4,385
22,000
26,385
29,718
**19,108**
**22,000**
**41,108**
**45,131**
**505**
**-**
**505**
**-140**
**505**
**-**
**505**
**-140**
-
-
-
-
**505**
**-**
**505**
**-140**
52,063
-
52,063
52,203
**52,568**
**-**
**52,568**
**52,063**|
|---|---|
Movements on all reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above. All of the organisation's operations are classed as continuing.
The notes on pages 19 to 24 form part of these financial statements.
17
A8NEY PARK TRUST
COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 02634036
BALANCE SHEEr
AS AT 31 MARCH 2024
Unrnstrict•d R•gtrlct•d 31-Mar-24 31-Ma23
Fundg
Fund*
Total
Totsi
Note
Flxed Assets
Tanglble assets
264
Currént A•••ts
Debtors
Cash at bank and In hand
Total Curr•nt A•sets
182
54,527
182
54,527
54,709
69
53,056
53.125
Credltor*: amounts falllng due wlthSn one year
2,141
2,141
1,326
NEf CURRe14T ASSETS
52,568
52,568
51.799
TOTAL AsseTS less current Ilabllltles
52,568
51568
52,063
NEf ASSErs
52,568
52,568
52,063
Funds of th• Ch•rlty
General Funds
Restrlcted Funds
io
io
52,568
52.568
52,063
fotsl Pund•
52,568
52,568
52,063
For the year endlng 31st March 2024 the Company was entitled to exemptlon from audlt under sertlon 477{2) of the
Companles Act 2006 relatlng to $rnall companles.
Dlr•ctor•' r••pon•lblllty:
l. The members have not r¢qulred the company to obtsln an audlt In accordance wlth Sertlon 476 of the Componles Act 2006;
and
2. The dlrectors acknowledge thelr responslblllty for complylng wlth the requlrements of the Companles Act 2006 wlth respect
to accountlng records and for the preparatlon of accounts.
These flnanclal statements have been prepared In accordance wlth the $peclal provlslon$ appllcable to Companles subjert to
the Small companles, reglme wlthln Part 15 of the Companles Act 2006.
The flnanclal stetment5 on pages 17 and 18 were approved by the dlrector5, and authorfsed for Issue on:
Date..
LI OG tu ll- Zo I
Signed and approved by on behalf of all the Dlrectors
Prlnt name
18
## **ABNEY PARK TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **1. 1 Statutory information**
Abney Park Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office address and principal place of business is The South Lodge, Abney Park, Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 0LH.
## **1.2 Basis of preparation:**
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The trustees have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. The trustees have reviewed our forecasts and concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The Charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
## **1.3 Income**
Income is accounted for when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
## **1.4 Expenditure**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
## **1.5 Stock**
Stock is measured at the lower of original purchase cost and net realisable value at the balance sheet date. Stock is excluded from the balance sheet, as the year end balance is immaterial.
## **1.6 Fixed assets and depreciation**
Assets are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000. Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
Stage: 33% Straight line Office equipment: 25% Straight line Furniture and fittings: 25% Straight line
## **1.7 Debtors**
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
## **1.8 Creditors and provisions**
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
## **1.9 Financial Instruments**
The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
With the exception of any prepayments and deferred income, all debtor and creditor balances are considered to be basic financial instruments under FRS 102.
19
## **ABNEY PARK TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
## **1.10 Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Association and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are funds to be used in accordance with the specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.11 Employee benefits**
## _**Short Term benefits**_
Short term benefits including holiday pay are recognised as an expense in the period in which the service is received.
## _**Employee termination benefits**_
Termination benefits are accounted for on an accrual basis and in line with FRS 102.
## **1.12 Irrecoverable VAT**
Irrecoverable VAT is written off as incurred.
## **1.13 Areas of critical judgement & estimation**
There are no key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
## **1.14 Volunteer time**
The Charity works with a number of volunteers who help conserve and improve the landscape at Abney Park. The contribution of this time has not been included in income in the financial statements as the value of this time cannot be reliably measured.
|**2. ANALYSIS OF INCOME**
**a) Donations and Legacies**
Donations including Gift Aid
**b) Charitable Activities**
Grave search & maintenance
Guided tours
**c) Other Trading Activities**
Other Income
Shop Income
**d) Investment income**
Bank interest
London Borough of Hackney
Legacies
**Commonwealth**
War Graves Commission|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
22,000
22,000
20,214
-
-
-
5,000
4,000
-
4,000
4,000
6,661
-
6,661
12,032
**10,661**
**22,000**
**32,661**
**41,246**
2,021
-
2,021
748
5,245
-
5,245
1,595
**7,266**
**-**
**7,266**
**2,343**
118
-
118
34
1,118
-
1,118
1254
**1,236**
**-**
**1,236**
**1,288**
450
-
450
114
**450**
**-**
**450**
**114**|
|---|---|
20
## **ABNEY PARK TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
## **3. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE**
|**CURRENT YEAR**
Raising Funds
Charitable activities|**Direct**
**Support**
**TOTAL**
**costs**
**costs**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
11,317
766
2,641
14,723
16,167
2,297
7,922
26,385
**27,483**
**3,062**
**10,563**
**41,108**
**Direct Staff**
**costs**|
|---|---|
Support costs are detailed in Note 4 and are allocated on the basis of direct staff costs.
|**PRIOR YEAR**
Raising Funds
Charitable activities|**Direct**
**Support**
**TOTAL**
**costs**
**costs**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
10,514
2,024
2,876
15,413
15,020
6,071
8,627
29,718
**25,533**
**8,095**
**11,503**
**45,131**
**Direct Staff**
**costs**|
|---|---|
|**4. SUPPORT COSTS**
**_Governance costs:_**
Independent examination
**_Other support costs:_**
Staff costs
Telephone and internet
Website
Insurance
Small IT equipment
Other office costs
Subscriptions & Legal fees
Accountancy
Marketing
Depreciation
Bank charges
Transaction fees|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
600
**600**
4,850
563
576
523
393
556
-
1,107
812
264
68
251
**10,563**|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
555
**555**
4,506
532
543
2,373
305
272
95
942
815
264
127
174
**11,503**|
|---|---|---|
21
## **ABNEY PARK TRUST NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
## **5. EMPLOYEE AND KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL**
The key management personnel of the Charity comprise the trustees ("Directors" for the purposes of the Companies Act) and all members of staff. The total amounts paid in respect of the key management personnel of the Charity (including employer's National Insurance contributions and employers pension contributions) were £32,333 (2023: £30,092).
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year or the previous year. One trustee was reimbursed expenses in the year of £388 (2023: 1 trustee was reimbursed expenses totalling £120).
|**The aggregate payroll costs were:**
Wages and salaries
Employer's pension contributions|**2024**
**£**
31,391
942
**32,333**|**2023**
**£**
29,501
538
**30,039**|
|---|---|---|
There were no employees earning over £60,000 in the year or the previous year.
## **Particulars of employees:**
The maxiumum number of employees in the year was 2.(2023: 3)
## **6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2023
Disposals
At 31 March 2024
**Accumulated depreciation**
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
Released on disposal
At 31 March 2024
**Net book value**
At 31 March 2024
At 31 March 2023|**Stage**
**Short**
**Office**
**Furniture**
**Total**
**Leasehold**
**Equipment**
**& Fittings**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
3,000
17,323
7,079
5,000
32,402
-
-17,323
-6,024
-5,000
-28,347
**3,000**
**-**
**1,055**
**-**
**4,055**
3,000
17,323
6,815
5,000
32,138
-
-
264
-
264
-
-17,323
-6,024
-5,000
-28,347
**3,000**
**-**
**1,055**
**-**
**4,055**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**264**
**-**
**264**|
|---|---|
|**7. DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**
Prepayments
**8. CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Cash at bank and on hand
Total|Unrestricted
Restricted
Fund
Fund
£
£
182
-
**182**
**-**|**Total**
**Total**
**31-Mar-24**
**31-Mar-23**
**£**
**£**
182
69
**182**
**69**
**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
54,527
53,056
**54,527**
**53,056**|
|---|---|---|
22
## **Abney Park Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **9. CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
|Accruals
Independent Examiners Fees
PAYE & Pension Liability|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
**Total**
Fund
Fund
**31-Mar-24**
**31-Mar-23**
£
£
**£**
**£**
620
-
620
-
1,200
-
1,200
1,110
321
-
321
216
**2,141**
**-**
**2,141**
**1,326**|
|---|---|
|**10. FUNDS**
**Restricted funds:**
London Borough Hackney
**Total restricted Funds**
**General Funds**
**Total funds**
London Borough Hackney
Mrs Graham fund
Hello Again Hackney
**Total restricted Funds**
**General Funds**
**Total funds**
**Restricted funds:**
LB Hackney:|Balance
Balance
31-Mar-23
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31-Mar-24
£
£
£
£
-
22,000
-22,000
-
-
**-**
**22,000**
**-22,000**
**-**
**-**
52,063
19,613
-19,108
-
52,568
**52,063**
**41,613**
**-41,108**
**-**
**52,568**
Balance
Balance
31-Mar-22
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31-Mar-23
£
£
£
£
-
20,214
-20,214
-
-
-
5,258
-5,258
-
-
2,500
-
-2,633
133
-
**2,500**
**25,472**
**-28,105**
**133**
**-**
49,703
19,519
-17,026
-133
52,063
**52,203**
**44,991**
**-45,131**
**-**
**52,063**
**PREVIOUS REPORTING PERIOD**
**CURRENT REPORTING PERIOD**|
|---|---|
Hello Again Hackney - this grant from the London Borough of Hackney is to offer free cultural events to Hackney residents who are experiencing financial hardship or are on low incomes.
## **11. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS**
|**CURRENT YEAR**
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total at 31**
**March 2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
-
52,568
-
52,568
**52,568**
**-**
**52,568**|
|---|---|
23
## **Abney Park Trust NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024**
## **11. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS - Continued PRIOR YEAR**
|Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total at 31**
**March 2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
264
-
264
51,799
-
51,799
**52,063**
**-**
**52,063**|
|---|---|
## **12. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - PRIOR YEAR**
|**INCOME**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments: Bank interest
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
Raising funds
Charitable Activities
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
Net income / Net movement in funds
Transfer between funds
Balances brought forward
**Balances carried forward**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
15,774
25,472
41,246
2,343
-
2,343
1,288
-
1,288
114
-
114
**19,519**
**25,472**
**44,991**
15,413
-
15,413
1,613
28,105
29,718
**17,026**
**28,105**
**45,131**
**2,493**
**-2,633**
**-140**
-133
133
-
**49,703**
**2,500**
**52,203**
**52,063**
**-**
**52,063**|
|---|---|
## **13. RISK ASSESSMENT**
The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
## **14. RESERVES POLICY**
The trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity's needs. This is based on the charity's size and the level of financial commitments held. The trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The trustees will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.
## **15. PUBLIC BENEFIT**
The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the Trustees report. The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
24