ANNUAL REPORT: April 1st 2020 to March 31st
Achievements and Performance
This annual report was prepared amidst the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic. The changes we have made to the Greenhouse over this period reflect a speeding up of our move away from the subsidiary company’s shop and café, driven by necessity. This frees up space and staff time to take greater advantage of our Gallery, and to tap into the significant increase in public awareness of the combined Ecological and Climate Change Crises.
"The only positive that could come out of the coronavirus pandemic would be if it changes how we deal with global crises: "It shows that in a crisis, you act, and you act with necessary force." Greta Thurnberg
After being closed since the first lockdown in March 2020, the Greenhouse will re-open on the 1st October 2021 and will publish a 'Culture Declares' statement to take forward 7,000[+] , our participatory art action. In the space previously occupied by the shop and cafe, we have created an environmental art gallery at street level. This will enable the Trust to promote public engagement with nature via the visual arts and art actions, but in a way that reflects the ongoing Covid uncertainty – with or without needing to open the building. The outdoor space has been reorganised to house hundreds of native tree saplings, ready for planting, recording and nurturing.
Responding to the Ecological and Climate Change Crises
Our original plans, created almost two years before the pandemic, sought to connect the legacy of the environmental art action - public sculpture 7,000 Eichen (Oaks) by Joseph Beuys, with the climate change challenge. In particular, through the planting and maintenance of trees in urban spaces.
"I believe that planting these oaks is necessary not only in biospheric terms, that is to say, in the context of matter and ecology, but in that it will raise ecological consciousness-raise it increasingly, in the course of the years to come, because we shall never stop planting."
Joseph Beuys - 1982.
7.000+ is the first exhibition to be presented in the new ground floor space. The show will take place during Norwich’s 'Open Studios' and invites artists to use the motif of trees, and the action of planting to connect with nature and the conceptual ideas promoted by Joseph Beuys.
“We must continue along the road of interrelating socio-ecologically all the forces present in our society until we perform an action which extends to the fields of culture, economy and democratic rights.”
Joseph Beuys, 1982
The Greenhouse - Gallery will continue to promot e ARTh
eARTh seeks to promote the vital role that soils play in managing our climate and in improving environmental and human health and promotes the Soil Association's campaign to increase organic matter in soils.
A 0.4% increase in global soil carbon would deliver annual carbon savings equivalent to the current total anthropogenic emissions of CO2. Though hypothetical, this illustrates how important soils are as a carbon store.
The Greenhouse Trust: History
In 1993, the Greenhouse Trust Fund was among the first UK educational trusts to be created with climate change science and policy at the heart of its educational objectives. With the support and involvement of hundreds of volunteers across more than two decades the Greenhouse Trust has successfully rebuilt 42-46 Bethel Street. The grade II* listed building the Trust operates from, is an award-winning exemplar of environment conscious design, highlighting how old buildings can be retrofitted for the climate of the 21st century.
The Greenhouse is equipped with triple glazing, solar hot water technology, photovoltaic (electricity generating) panels along with, 3.5 tonnes of rainwater storage capacity, The walls, floors and ceilings are heavily insulated with recycled paper, wool and cork, (within an internal, recycled timber frame). All these natural, low-embodied-energy materials reveal how old buildings can reduce their carbon footprint/running costs, improving the quality of life both for the inhabitants of the building and for future generations. It is widely acknowledged for decades that prioratising energy efficiency of the UK's building stock would cut more than £7-billion from UK energy bills and tackle the escalating fuel poverty crises,
Yet, with more than 1,500 listed buildings in Norwich alone, and many more unlisted energy wasting homes and public places, we remain just that – an exemplar - rather than common place. The failure of both central and local government simply cannot be over-stated. It is estimated that 80% of buildings standing today will still exist in 2050, and close to nothing is being done to address the fact that the vast majority will continue to contribute significantly to CO2 emissions.
We couldn’t do this without
The application of grants from the Paul Bassham Trust, Naturesave and The Geoffrey Watling Trust were all suspended as lockdown began. The Trust will now seek to reconnect these funds to future activities. We are extremely grateful to all our funders, not least for their patience during this period of transformation.
Sales of books, music and art continue to provide an important source of income. It would be hard to overstate our gratitude to the Trustees and volunteers who kept the online systems running during this year, despite the personal impact of the pandemic. As Margaret Mead is oft quoted: 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. '
Thank you all and everyone who supports the Greenhouse. Onwards.
Margaret Charnley - Chair of Trustees
Financial Review
Throughout the eighteen month period covered by this review the building was closed, our staff member was furloughed and volunteering reduced to a small number of people, who could observe the requirements of 'shielding'.
The Directors used this eighteen month period to re-design the structure of our organisation and prioritise the tasks our staff and volunteers do. The Trust's trading company, Green City Central Ltd., was wound up on 30[th] September 2021 and the assets have been transferred to the Trust. This report has been created to cover eighteen months and brings us up to the 1st of October.
The changes that have taken place have allowed us to cover our administrative overheads during closure, and enabled the redesign of both the physical space and the opportunity to refine the focus of our response to the climate change challenge.
Two grants from central government, along with a reduction in Council Tax enabled the Trust to maintain its small cash reserves. The Trust remains a going concern, despite the many challenges that the pandemic generated.
Signed on Behalf of the Board of Trustees
Margaret Charnley Chair of Trustees
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The principal objectives of the Trust are to: -
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Raise the public’s awareness in all aspects of energy and resource conservation particularly in relation to Climate Change.
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Advance the education of the public in the efficient and effective use of energy, land resources, water, transport, waste recycling and other environmental issues.
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Conserve and protect the environment in the United Kingdom and particularly in Norfolk
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Activities
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The maintenance and development of the Greenhouse building as a working exemplar of environmental design.
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The creation and promotion of information to promote sustainability.
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Working with artists, scientists and artists in order to develop educational and cultural responses to Climate Change and associated environmental matters.
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Public benefit
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The Trustees are aware of the legal boundaries which charitable trusts are required to operate within and access the activities of the Trust accordingly. The board is confident
that the creative visual arts and educational work promoted and organised by the Trust are right for the organisation and well within the range of public benefit activities as determined by the Charity Commission.
In order to deliver its charitable objectives, the Greenhouse organises:
- Public events and exhibitions in the Greenhouse and other venues as appropriate, in partnership with other arts and environmental educational organisations.
Structure, governance and management
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The Greenhouse Trust is governed by a Trust Deed.
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The Greenhouse has a board of Trustees.
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The Trust Deed determines the process of appointment for all Trustees. The board reviews the role of its members at meetings and invites new members to join the board. Similarly, the board considers and reviews the status of each member during the discussion of future plans.
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Given the small size of the organisation, Trustees are inducted using a similar procedure to staff induction. This enables both management and governance issues to be dealt with efficiently.
| Trustees: | Margaret Charnley (Chair) |
|---|---|
| Frankie Abel | |
| Kathryn Amos | |
| Alex Ives | |
| Roger Leaton | |
| Greg Smith | |
| Patrons: | Lady Joffe |
| Bruce Kent | |
| Dr Mick Kelly | |
| Marchioness of Worcester | |
| Secretary: | Tigger |
| Charity number: | 1037992 |
| Registered office: | The Greenhouse Trust |
| 42-46 Bethel Street | |
| Norwich | |
| NR2 1NR | |
| Independent Examiner: | Peter Ellington FAIA |
| Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited | |
| The Enterprise Centre | |
| University of East Anglia | |
| Norwich Research Park | |
| Norwich | |
| NR4 7TJ | |
| Bankers | Co-Operative Bank PLC |
| PO Box 101 | |
| 1 Balloon Street | |
| Manchester | |
| M60 4EP |
Charity No. 1037992
| Greenhouse Trust | Greenhouse Trust | Greenhouse Trust | Greenhouse Trust | 1037992 31/03/2021 |
CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts and payments accounts | ||||||
| For the period from | 01/04/2020 | To | ||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Grants received | 10,000 | 13,211 | 23,211 | - | ||
| Donations and Legacies | 4,076 | 4,076 | 13,656 | |||
| Charitable activities: | - | |||||
| Earth Education | - | **1,764 ** | ||||
| Other income | 7,738.90 | 7,739 | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
21,815 |
13,211 | - | 35,026 | 15,420 | |
| - - - 21,815 |
- - - 13,211 - - - - - 13,211 - - 13,211 |
- - - 35,026 1,054 - 462 1,344 20,078 906 6,690 - 30,534 - - - - 30,534 - 4,492 - 756 5,248 |
||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments Raising funds Charitable activities: Climate education Greenhouse Building Support costs Governance costs Cost of sale **Sub total ** |
||||||
| - | 15,420 | |||||
| 1,054.47 | - | 658.22 | ||||
| - | ||||||
| 462.00 | - | 1,419 | ||||
| 1,344 | - | 2,501 | ||||
| 20,078 | 16,780 | |||||
| 906 | 2,997 | |||||
| 6,690 | 51 | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| 30,534 | - | 24,406 | ||||
| - - - 30,534 - 8,719 - 756 - 7,963 |
||||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| - | 24,406 | |||||
| - 8,719 | - | - 8,986 | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 756 | - | - | ||||
| - 7,963 | - | - 8,986 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
27/09/2021
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Land and Buildings Fixture and Fittings Stock Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 5,248 - - - - - 5,248 - Agreement Error ~~Agreement~~ Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 302,454 - 1896 - 12994 - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name M Chamley |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| M Chamley | 06/10/2021 | ||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
27/09/2021
2
Greenhouse Trust Fund
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the year ended 31 March 2021
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
• to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Peter Ellington FAIA Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited The Enterprise Centre University of East Anglia Norwich Norfolk NR4 7TJ 30[th] September 2021