Clean Rivers
Trust
Registered Charity No: 1037414
Annual Report
And
Accounts
30[th] November 2024
(1[st] December 2023 - 30[th] November 2024)
73 Sir Harrys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UX
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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 0121 440 8046.
Founded 1990.
This document is produced and published using environmentally sustainable materials.
Legal and Administrative Information.
Trustees ; Rodney Gilmour, Peter Jones OBE, Laura Bishop, Lawrence van Kampen Brooks, Paul Southby, Dr Sally Little and Dr Matt Johnson.
Director : Professor Harvey Wood Dip AD, MA, PhD, FRSA, FRGS, FGS, FLS, LSDC
Trust Address : 73 Sir Harrys Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2UX Phone : 0121 440 8046
Web Site : www.cleanriverstrust.co.uk
Bankers.
Barclays Bank plc, Leicester.
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 2023 to 30[th] November 2024.
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Policies.
The Trust reviews its policies on a regular basis.
Current Policies:
COMPLAINTS POLICY CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY EMPLOYMENT POLICY VOLUNTEERING POLICY DISCRIMINATION POLICY EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY SAFEGUARDING POLICY SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY MODERN ANTI SLAVERY POLICY
Under development:
Banking and Investment Value for Money Projects Stakeholder Education
All the policies are being overviewed at the present time, rewritten, and edited for the acceptance by the Trustees in 2025.
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Directors Report.
This last year has seen the Trust busier than ever, research into pollutions, causes and solutions, talking with the public, local and national authorities, consultants, industry, and academics. Projects have continued managing and eradicating acid and other toxic materials. We have found many communities requiring support, both in the form of advice and outlines of solutions. Much of our work is finding solutions to difficulties that have been flagged up over the last 35 years
The country has taken pollution of rivers across the UK as an issue that can be construed as political: there have been two major demonstrations held in London as well as other protests across the nation demanding cleaner rivers and the end of pollution. These demands have seen us redouble our efforts to identify more new sustainable solutions and find more efficient or alternative ways of using older technologies.
Main Activities.
We have started to develop ways of economically removing some of the major problems for both the environment and the water industry. The most spoken about pollutants, PEFAS or for ever chemicals, endocrine disrupters that have effects on both male fish and humans and other pharmacological drugs both prescribed and recreational. The methods are simple in concept but complex in practise. There is still much work to be done.
Our groundbreaking work on acidic tar pits across the country have continued; the work in Derbyshire has demonstrated success with willow roots reaching down to more than 4 metres into the tar, which has broken down into a mix of leaf litter, compost, and other organic matter. Several interested parties including industries and consultancies are visiting the site to learn how this was achieved. Similarly, the acid lake is now a normal water quality with a pH7. Juvenile fish have appeared and a variety of water birds including geese, duck and grebe are present. The reed and rush beds around three sides of the lake have established themselves and the surrounding willows are growing well. Over the last two years we have been looking at fluctuations in the level of water within the lake to understand if it is a purely rain fed water body or if its main source is a feed from the local groundwater. The findings of our study are that the lake is fed by groundwater and acts as a flood water reservoir during limes of high rainfall.
The major minewater pollution of Whitehaven harbour continues to tax us, and the other groups and agencies involved. We, along with the Environment Agency, Network Rail, Harbour Commission, Coal Authority, and the local MP participate in a ‘Task Force’ to bring answers to the fore and find a solution to remove the pollution from the town. The problem is not the chemistry but how the clean-up is to be paid for. The last time such a pollution took place was at Gurvan in the 1980s when British Coal was ordered by the government sort out the problem. In that instance the situation was different in that the actual pollution could be dealt with in the country outside the town. In this case the pollution originates beneath the town.
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The concerns of residents and others regarding the ochre pollution of the New Bank Drain and concerns of possible flood bank breaches close by Hesketh Bank in Lancashire are continuing to be investigated. The residents and farmers of the area appear to have somewhat different views to some parts of the Civil Service who are considering managed retreat in certain parts of the English coastline.
Minewater research and remedial projects are continuing in the West Country, Wales, the Midland and Northern England. In Scotland and Northwest England, we are engaged with feasibility works considering the use of mine heat for use in heat network schemes. The concept we first brought to the UK in the mid-1990s and even now regulators and local authorities have trouble with bringing such projects to fruition. The use of such heat will allow for regional management of minewater and remove some pollutions to rivers.
In Cheshire we are helping a local authority to remediate an old and now abandoned waste tip that is polluting a number of local streams with PCBs and other toxic materials. The questions as to who owns the site and the attendant liabilities alongside the problems of the pollutants. Comparable sites are being examined in Bedfordshire.
Like last summer we were contacted numerous times with regard to possible sightings of pollutions across the country. Many of these events were caused by lack of oxygen, which in most cases were rectified by reoxygenation of the affected waterway or lake. Several other events though were more serious including a cyanide spill into a canal. All contacts that come to us are examined and the correct authorities are informed. Where needed we investigate further to ensure that there is no damage to the waterway is going unchecked.
Our work with universities and other educational establishments continues. The scope of interests and involvements ensures that the Trust has to be aware of many issues that may be brought to our notice. Allied to these areas of interest is the work a Duke of Edinburgh Award candidate is conducting for us, firstly they are examining the water of the River Lee and River Lee Navigation. Alongside this they are rewriting and bringing our Trust’s policies up to date in collaboration with the Trustees.
In the field of the arts, we have drafted a short paper for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow, on acid minewater. The museum is holding an exhibition of work by the artist Alicja Biala who has used acidic minewater to etch large metal screens. Some of her work she created in the UK after being in contact with us two years ago when she was at the Royal College of Art, London.
As a charity we find many organisations show interest in our activities and then attempt to emulate our research. We are happy that our research is followed but at times it would be pleasing to be credited with at least conducting initial research. As can be seen from the above it has been another fascinating year and as we go into our 35[th] year we anticipate a similar varied workload.
Harvey Wood.
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Director. December 2024.
Report of the Trustees.
The Trustees of Clean Rivers Trust are pleased to present their report on the governance of the charity for the last year (2023 to 2024). The activities of the Trust over the last year are outlined in the Directors Report. The Trustees met formally four times in the last year but other involvement by individual trustees is much more frequent.
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 Trustees ensure 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 Trustees are mindful that the Trust needs to demonstrate public benefit, ensuring funds received are used for the purposes that they are intended. The Trustees have adopted policies that are intended to ensure all works conducted are always both ethical and honest and regularly reviews them. The Trust does not lobby on behalf of any political, commercial, or ideological entity and has never done so.
The Trustees are pleased to report that the Trust continues to receive support from a wide range of experts and is able to call on specialists from most water, energy, engineering, mineral/mining, and conservation disciplines.
A continuous audit by the Trustees demonstrates the Trust to be satisfactory in all areas of governance. The accounting is conducted 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. The Trustees have expertise in many areas that are of considerable worth to Clean Rivers Trust and all areengaged in the work of the Trust.
The Trustees audit the satisfaction of those who contact the Trust, so ensuring that the advice and support received is fit for purpose and acceptable.
The finances of the Trust continued to be adequate over this last year which has allowed research and other activities which have been reported on in the Directors Report. The Trust has not spent any funds outside the UK in the last year.
As we enter our 35[th] year the Trustee are delighted with the organisation’s developments in treating complex pollutants sustainably. It will take some time to demonstrate a fully functional set of methodologies.
3[rd] December 2023
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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.
2024 2023 £ £ Receipts Unrestricted Grants and Donations 50,050 32,028 Restricted Grants and Donations 21,500 10,000 Fees 0 0 Gross income 71,550 42,028 Sales of assets/investments 0 0 Total Receipts 71,550 42,028
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| 20242023 | |
|---|---|
| £ £ | |
| Payments | |
Rent/utilities/insurance |
12,050 12,020 |
| Travel | 4,916 4,300 |
| Books/Library | 320 220 |
| Research | 29,696 33,864 |
| (Breakdown below) | |
| • Laboratory costs |
4,184 4,680 |
| • Field Work |
11,250 8,180 |
| • Education |
4,080 4,497 |
| • Materials |
2,230 1,180 |
| • Health and Safety |
885 809 |
| • Equipment |
1,268 1,521 |
| • Research Assistance 5,799 12,997 |
|
| Accounting/bookkeeping | 405 405 |
| Memberships | 660 540 |
| Bank Charges | 102 120 |
| Web/internet site | 580 550 |
| Sub Total | 48,729 52,019 |
Purchases of assets/investments 0 0 |
|
Total Payments |
48,729 52,019 |
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2024 2023 £ £ Cash funds at end of year In bank 1[st] December 41,556 18,735 Restricted Funds 0 0 Unrestricted Funds 41,556 18,735 Total available for Trust Purposes. 41,556 18,735 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
Notes:
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Most donations of funding to the Trust were unrestricted. Those funds that were restricted being for works in Derbyshire, and Devon which were duly ring-fenced.
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• There are no investment assets, nor were any investments sold or purchased during this accounting year.
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No funds were used for projects outside the UK.
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No funds have been received from outside the UK.
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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.
-
.
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Independent Examiner’s Report.
To the Trustees of Clean Rivers Trust (Charity Registration Number 1037414).
This is the fifth year that I have examined the accounts of Clean Rivers Trust.
The accounts and report for the year ending 30[th] November 2024; set out on pages 7 – 10 of the Annual Report and Accounts of Clean Rivers Trust.
As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
Responsibilities and basis
of report
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts conducted under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act and the Charity Commissions guidance for reporting and accounting 2016 as updated 14[th] June 2023.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to raise any issue.
I have no concerns and have come across no matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Howard Dodds
Examiner
1[st] December 2024
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Appendix.
Funders and Acknowledgements.
The following persons and organisations have contributed to the Trust to enable its work to develop. Each donor has been thanked either by email or letter. Some contributors wish to remain anonymous, others include: Robert Clutterbuck Charitable Trusts, MJ Camp Charitable Foundation, Mary Kinross Charitable Trust RG Hills Charitable Trust, GJW Turner Trust, Catherine Holden, Miss KM Harbinson Charitable Trust, Marsh Charitable Trust, Sackler Trust, Paul Bassham Charitable Trust, Sir Hugh and Lady Stevenson, Chapman Trust, Fort Foundation, Englefield Charitable Trust, David Family Foundation, Sir John and Lady Amery's Charitable Trust, William A Cadbury Charitable Trust, Blakemore foundation, Anson Charitable Trust, Aylesford Charitable Trust, Edward and Dorothy Cadbury Trust D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, CHK Foundation, Wilmcote Charitable Trust, Swire Trusts, Langdale Trust, The Lord Faringdon Charitable Trust and de Brye Charitable Trust.
The Trust thank the many people who have contacted us over the last year telling us of pollution or other environmental problem. We acknowledge the help of staff from the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Coal Authority, DEFRA, Natural England, Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council,
Individuals who have aided the Trust and helped in their particular specialist fields: Nathan Coop, Sophie Annable, Hugh Price, and Vic Johnson.
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