2021-11-30-accounts

Clean Rivers

Trust

Registered Charity No: 1037414

Annual Report And

Accounts

30[th] November 2021 (1[st] December 2020 - 30[th] November 2021)

73 Sir Harrys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UX

Information.

This report is the legal annual report and accounts of Clean Rivers Trust, as lodged with, and submitted to the Charity Commission. Registered Charity Number 1037414. The Charity is based at 73 Sir Harrys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UX UK. Phone [phone].

This document is produced and published using environmentally sustainable materials.

Legal and Administrative Information.

Trustees ; Rodney Gilmour, Peter Jones OBE, Laura Bishop, Lawrence van KampenBrooks, Paul Southby, Dr Sally Little and Dr Matt Johnson.

Director : Professor Harvey Wood Dip AD, MA, PhD, FRSA, FRGS, FGS, FLS, LSDC [e-mail] . 07885 422428

Trust Address : 73 Sir Harrys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UX Phone : [phone]

Web Site : www.cleanriverstrust.co.uk

Bankers.

Barclays Bank plc, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Santander, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Solicitors.

BrowneJacobson LLP, Mowbray House, Castle Meadow Road, Nottingham NG2 1BJ

Meetings.

The Trustees convened four times in the financial period 1[st] December 2020 to 30[th] November 2021.

Web Consultant: Noreen Shears.

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Directors Report.

The last year has been challenging due to the pandemic: arranging meetings on sites, field work and funding for projects have all been affected. Meetings have nearly always been by online methods which have become the norm but are far from ideal. Visits to sites have been made but if accompanied by others social distancing has been the norm. For all the problems that Covid has brought this has still been a busy year with research carrying on alongside continuing field work, advising and giving support to individuals, groups and organisations across the country.

We have continued to be extremely busy throughout the year at the Tar Pits at Cinderhill in Derbyshire. The remediation aspect of our trial was reported on by the University of Nottingham, whose independent analysis of our work on the site continues to show remarkable remediation progress. The breakdown of carcinogens by natural means being amongst the most notable, alongside the removal of acidity and threats to the local watercourses in the area. We have also now seen new life coming to the site, species such as slugs and snails are found across the site. These previously would have dissolved on entering the area.

Papers are at present being prepared for publication in journals to both spread the word and engage the wider academic community to the possibilities. The Trust received an award for the research from the Brownfield Briefing Magazine, a journal of contamination and development of polluted sites in December, which was a pleasing accolade for the work at Cinderhill.

The Trust has been asked to look at one acid tar pit in the Northwest of England by a local authority. It is a vast expanse of flooded tar pit that will require a very special effort on the part of the Trust to achieve clean up, but it is an important site that drains into a large river system.

Our work at Cinderhill has further led to the Trust being asked for advice by local communities in South Wales, Hereford, Cheshire, Lancashire, Northumberland, and Lincolnshire regarding some highly noxious pollutions, including leachate discharges from landfill sites closed in the 1950s through to the 1970s, many of which were hidden by other pollutions such as those from mining, quarrying and abandoned minewater which have now been treated in those areas.

The work we are undertaking at Cinderhill, led to us being commissioned by Denby Pottery to stabilise and remediate their historic glaze pit. This was planned for early spring 2021 but has been delayed by the pottery’s owners till 2022 or 2023.

We continue to be working on projects regarding mine waste across much of the UK (including in Kent, Devon, Anglesey Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, and Fife) water from abandoned mines and the long-term care of tailings dam impoundments, both in the UK and globally. The Trust have advised on several projects taking place in other parts of

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the world. We have been involved in the establishment of three treatment schemes in the UK this year.

We continue to push for the use of minewater from the abandoned minefields of the country as a resource. The value to society of heat and water being made more obvious at this time of global climate concern.

The Trust continues to work with communities to help to develop flood protection schemes wherever possible. We have given advice to several parish councils and other local authorities.

The Trust continues in support of the archaeological research being carried out in the Trent Valley around Newark. We have also supported, and guided river restoration schemes being carried out by several River Trusts, Wildlife Trusts, and other conservation bodies across the UK.

The Trust has advised several out of country governments and organisations about water issues in several African, Asian and European countries over the past year. These consultations are carried out to foster international co-operation, best practise, and good will. No costs have been incurred by the Trust.

Much of our work aiding the Environment Agency on arsenic and other pollutants in Derbyshire is being held back due to the pandemic.

It is with regret that the Trust notes the death of Patricia Wood, one of the original founders of the organisation in 1990 when it was known as Clean Rivers Campaign and carried on her involvement into the new millennium.

Harvey Wood. Director

1[st] December 2021

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Report of the Trustees; Including Public Benefit.

The Trustees of Clean Rivers Trust present their report of the Charity and its activities to outline their due diligence with regard to the demonstration of Public Benefit, and to show that the works that have been undertaken are in line with the registered aims and objectives of the Trust. The Clean Rivers Trust was founded as an organisation in 1990 and is governed by a Deed of Trust registered with the Charity Commission in 1994.

The objects of the Trust being ‘to advance the education of the public by research and dissemination of any findings regarding the care of inland and estuarine waters and to benefit the environment of rivers and inland waters by the research and the implementation of such research findings.

The Trust has developed its governance by agreeing a set of policies which are published. A continuous audit of the Trustees abilities demonstrates it to be satisfactory and all areas of governance are represented by the composition of the body. The accounting is carried out according to directions of and as outlined by the Charity Commission.

The Trustees are aware of the need for a wide base of expertise and talent within the management structure of the organisation and act as Trustees of the Trust. Those who are at present Trustees all have expertise in areas that are of considerable worth to the organisation and do not just function as a body for meetings.

The Trustees undertake to ensure that the organisation is compliant of its Trust Deed and its stated aims and objectives. The Trust does not lobby on behalf of any political, commercial, or ideological entity and has never done so. The Trustees ensure that no staff or volunteer does so either in the name of the Trust. The Trust does not endorse and has never done so any product or action and in its reports to industry or other organisations: its recommendations have always been advisory and as such the Trust has project managed other; usually larger, commercial organisations to carry out project implementation.

The Directors Report outlines the activities the Trust has been involved with over the last year.

The Trustees can report the Trust continues to receive support from a wide range of experts and is able to count on specialists from most water, energy, mineral/mining and conservation disciplines.

The finances of the Trust have been adequate over this last year. This has allowed further research activity which has been reported on in the Directors Report. The natural pragmatism of the Trustees is to protect the moneys earned by the Trust to ensure the long-term research plans. The Trust has not spent any funds outside the UK in the last year.

December 2021.

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Accounts.

The following section contain the receipts and payments accounts of Clean Rivers Trust, as set out by the Charity Commission in their letter of September 2015.

2021 2020 £ £ Receipts Fees 6,000 16,250 Sales of assets/investments 0 0

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2021 2020 £ £ Payments Rent/utilities/insurance 9,790 14,950 Travel 1,304 1,555 Books/Library 1,960 4,280 Research (Total £26,623 £41,560) • Laboratory costs 1,900 2,500 • Field Work 9,253 10,570 • Education 5,582 8,250 • Materials 1,109 6,230 • Health and Safety 1,250 1,150 • Equipment 1,029 2,985 • Research Assistance 6,500 9,875 Accounting/bookkeeping 250 250 Memberships 680 530 Bank Charges 87 119 Web/internet site 400 400 Sub Total 41,094 63,645 Purchases of assets/investments 0 0 Total Payments 41,094 63,645

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2021 2020 £ £ Cash funds at end of year In bank at 1[st] December 26,584 30,218 Restricted Funds 6,000 14,000 Unrestricted Funds 20,584 16,218 Total available for Trust Purposes. 26,584 30,218 Research expenses due to the Trust under agreement with funder 0 0 Research fees due to Trust 0 0 Outstanding moneys owed by Trust 0 0

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Notes:

• Most receipts of funding were unrestricted. Those funds that were restricted being for works in Derbyshire, and Devon were duly ring-fenced.

• There are no investment assets, nor were any investments sold or purchased during this accounting year.

• No funds were used for projects outside the UK.

• Research costs included the operation of the trust’s own laboratory, commercial laboratory analysis of water and other samples, health and safety arrangements, procurement of samples, growing media, tools, and other related items.

• The library is valued (estimate 2021) for replacement at £174,000. The valuation of books being a difficult subject today due to the availability of many rare texts on-line.

Independent Examiners Report.

To the Trustees of Clean Rivers Trust (Charity Registration Number 1037414).

This is my third year I have examined the accounts of Clean Rivers Trust.

The accounts and report for the year ending 30[th] November 2021; set out on pages 6 – 10 of the Annual Report and Accounts of Clean Rivers Trust.

Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The responsibilities of charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under trustees and examiner section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Charities Act and more recent guidance and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under relevant sections of the Charities Acts 2011 and 2016 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) and its amendments up to and including those published in October 2018,

• to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under the Charities Act, and the Statement of Recommended Practice).

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s 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

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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 The Examination has been carried out in line with the Charity Commission’s Statement of Recommended Practice.

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:

2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

4. have not been met; or

5. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Howard Dodds

Examiner. 4[th] December 2021

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Appendices.

I

Funders and Acknowledgements.

The following persons and organisations have contributed to the Trust to enable its work to develop. Each has been written to and the Trust’s thanks expressed. Some organisations who contributed to Clean Rivers Trust over the last financial year wished to remain anonymous, others include: the Aylesford Trust, Langdale Trust, GJW Turner Trust, Russell Trust, Fort Foundation, Hoare Trust, Woodroffe Benton Foundation, Oakdale Trust, Charlotte Marshall Charitable Trust, Tory Family Foundation, David Uri Memorial Trust, Marsh Christian Trust, Blakemore Foundation, Percy Lea Charitable Trust, Harbinson Charitable Trust, Michael Marks Charitable Trust and William Dean Countryside and Educational Trust.

The Trust acknowledges the support in time and practical assistance to the following people and organisations; Noreen Shears, Eur Ing Victor A Johnson, Nathan Coop, Sophie Annable, the Coal Authority, Shaun Walters, Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Natural England, and many others who have given their expertise.

II

Statement of Ongoing Social and Environmental Care.

The Trust continues to be committed to lessen its negative environmental impacts and continues doing all it can to encourage others to do likewise. It has a non-discriminatory attitude to the sexuality and religion of all who it works with.

The Trust complies with all statutory requirements and has published its policies on care and protection of children, venerable adults, anti-slavery, and many other issues.

III

Library.

The library has grown over the years to be of importance to both the organisation and outside researchers alike. It holds reports dating back to the 18[th] Century and its comprehensive river related documents from the 1990s produced by the National Rivers Authority and Environment Agency are the most complete in the UK.

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