## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 1/1/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date**
**Charity name: Bumble Hole Conservation Group Charity registration number: 1054674**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The Object of Bumble Hole**
**Conservation Group (BHCG) as outlined**
**in the Constitution is: For the public**
**benefit, to conserve, develop, and**
**enhance the flora, fauna and heritage of**
**Bumble Hole and Warrens Hall Local**
**Nature Reserves by educating and**
**informing visitors about conservation**
**and the heritage of the reserves, and**
**encouraging involvement in the care of**
**the reserves by being fully inclusive of**
**the local community and reflecting its**
**diversity.**|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**The Visitor Centre, located at Bumble**
**Hole, is the headquarters for BHCG.**
**The premises are provided by Dudley**
**MBC on a long-term rolling lease.**
**Activities on the Reserves are co-**
**ordinated from the Visitor Centre.**
**These include litter picking across the**
**site, landscape management, removing**
**fallen trees, planting wild flowers and**
**bulbs, weeding pathways and steps and**
**mowing towpaths as required.**
**There are established line of**
**communication with DMBC and SMBC**
**where issues beyond the capabilities of**
**the volunteers can be reported.**
**The Visitor Centre is open to the public**
**from 10-2 on Monday, Wednesday,**
**Saturday and Sunday and additionally**
**on Fridays during school holidays –**
**subject to there being sufficient**
**volunteers available to safely open the**
**Centre. Hot drinks and refreshments**
**are sold for fundraising purposes, along**
**with small souvenirs – key rings, canal**
**boats, calendars, Christmas cards etc.**
**There are several items of local history**
**on display and reference books for**
**members of the public to use.**|
|||**Membership at the end of 2024 was 443,**
**an excellent growth from 136 at the end**
**of 2023. This exceeded our**
**expectations and on the back of this, we**
**have recruited several new volunteers**
**from our membership base.**
**Members Only events were introduced**
**in the second half of the year including**
**quiz nights and tunnel walks. The Black**
**Country Boating Festival in September**
**once again was an exceptional**
**fundraiser for BHCG with sales of crafts,**
**cakes, toys and jigsaws. A donation**
**was made to BCBF as a community**
**event and also BUGS Ukelele Band’s**
**charity fundraising was supported by**
**BHCG.**
**Charitable events were held in the year**
**for Pepper Pet Rescue, MacMillan,**
**Wychbold Swan Rescue, The Royal**
**British Legion and ‘Amelia’s Fund’ –**
**raising funds for specialised cancer**
**treatment for local child.**|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**Trustees have regard to the guidance on**
**public benefit. The Visitor Centre is**
**open on a regular basis with the local**
**community enjoy using the Centre for**
**meeting up. Local walking groups,**
**canal boat owners, boat trips and Let’s**
**Fish events and Angling Academy**
**hosted by Canal and River Trust (CRT)**
**have all benefited from using the**
**facilities in the Visitor Centre.**
**Local schools and cubs groups have**
**used the centre. The Wildlife Trust and**
**The Birmingham and Black Country**
**Invertebrate Group were both welcomed**
**during the year.**
**Sustrans Bicycle checks have been**
**successfully supported at the Visitor**
**Centre and two Childrens Craft events**
**took place during the year.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**Without volunteers, BHCG would cease**
**to exist. The team undertake a variety**
**of activities. Outside on the Reserve**
**they litter pick, plant, weed and maintain**
**the site. Once they have received**
**training on power tools, they can use**
**the equipment purchased by the charity**
**for strimming, hedge trimming, mowing**
**etc. When there is a Trustee available to**
**lead activities, these occur daily from**
**10-12.**
**Inside the Visitor Centre, volunteers**
**make drinks, keep the centre clean, chat**
**with the visitors and provide**
**information on local heritage.**
**All volunteers are provided with**
**equipment needed, along with**
**protective clothing and footwear. The**
**uniform provided includes polo shirts**
**and fleeces.**|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**Tripling our membership in 2024 was**
**fantastic. The local community has**
**benefited from the regular opening of**
**the Visitor Centre with a real feeling of**
**friendship and camaraderie developing.**
**During 2024, the Visitor Centre was**
**tidied and the display boards updated**
**with more relevant information.**
**Out on the reserve in collaboration with**
**the Wildlife Trust, a wildflower meadow**
**was established just inside the Gads**
**Green entrance with thousands of seeds**
**and plug plants being planted.**
**Quarterly newsletters for BHCG**
**Members were introduced in 2024 to**
**provide feedback on charitable**
**activities, the Nature Reserve and to**
**advise on forthcoming events.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
||||
|---|---|---|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**At December 2024, the amount of**
**income over expenditure stood at**
**£25,324.35. For the same period in 2023,**
**the figure was £12,664.81. The Trustees**
**were delighted that engagement with the**
**local community was continuing to be**
**demonstrated by the strong**
**performance of sales and membership**
**take up.**|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**All funds held within the BHCG Bank**
**Account are classed as reserves. No**
**individual Trustee can sanction any**
**expense in excess of £200 without**
**obtaining full agreement from all**
**Trustees. We still remain on a rolling**
**lease and therefore there is still a strong**
**likelihood that DMBC will change the**
**lease to a fully-repairing lease and the**
**charity will then be wholly responsible**
**for the building and its maintenance A**
**level of reserves will need to be**
**ringfenced to cover any emergency**
**repairs, for example roof leaks and**
**electrical faults.**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£86,911.79**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**Not applicable**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**Not applicable**|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**None**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**In addition to the sale of refreshments,**
**snacks, souvenirs etc BHCG hold raffles**
**at Spring, Summer and Christmas, Craft**
**Fayres (2 in the year) and using locally**
**sourced materials from the Reserve our**
**volunteers create Christmas Trees**
**which are very popular.**|
|---|---|---|
||||
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|---|---|---|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|**Constitution**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**Unincorporated**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**Trustees are appointed by the Members**
**of BHCG at the AGM. Existing Trustees**
**must resign and put themselves forward**
**for re-election at each AGM. Additional**
**Trustees can be appointed by the**
**Trustees – again these Trustees must**
**resign at the next AGM.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Bumble Hole Conservation Group|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|N/A|
|Registered charity number|1054674|
|Charity’s principal address|Visitor Centre
Windmill End
Netherton
Dudley
DY2 9HU|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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0|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Brenda Myers|Chair|1/4/23 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
||Jayne Walker|Vice Chair|1/4/23 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
||Ann Horton|Secretary|1/4/23 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
||Maureen Tierney|Treasurer|19/10/23 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
||Tess Phillips-Silk||1/4/23 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
||Paul Herbert||26/3/24 – 31/12/24|Membershipat AGM|
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Additional information (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|
|**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**|||
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
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## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Ann E Horton **Full name(s)** Ann Elizabeth Horton **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary **Chair, etc) Date** 14 October 2025
## _**Independent Examiners Statement**_
_In connection with my examination of the books no matters of concern have come to my attention. Therefore I believe that the Statement of Accounts is a true and fair representation_
_of the finances of Bumble Hole Conservation Group for the year ending 31st December 2024._
_**STATEMENT of ACCOUNTS**_
_**FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st December 2024**_
_Neil Roberts 95a St Peters Road, Netherton, Dudley. DY2 9HN 30th January 2025_
_Reg. Charity Number 1054674_
_**STATEMENT OF INCOME and EXPENDITURE**_
## _**BALANCE SHEET**_
## _**12 Months to 31st December 2024**_
## _**at 31st December 2024**_
## _**RECEIPTS**_
Takings and Items Resold 45645.24 Memberships 2072.00 Donations 4537.68 External Donations 3659.90 Canal & River Trust 274.41 Charity Events 2498.20 Community Events (BUGS & BCBF) 202.50 **TOTAL RECEIPTS £ 58889.93**
|Balance at 1st January 2024|61587.44|
|---|---|
|Plus Income over Expenditure|25324.35|
|Balance at 31st December 2024|**£ 86911.79**|
## _**BALANCES IN HAND at 31st DECEMBER 2024**_
## _**PAYMENTS**_
|Items for Resale
|15870.21|
|---|---|
|Donations|4632.00|
|Utilities|2920.12|
|Phones and Technology|382.06|
|Insurance|659.24|
|Office Equip, Stationery and Sundry Expenses|3329.77|
|Outdoor Expenses and Maintenance
|2776.63|
|Uniforms|989.39|
|Training|55.20|
|Community Events (BUGS & BCBF)|1027.50|
|Sum Up Card Charges|226.51|
|Dudley MBC|696.95|
|**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
|**£ 33565.58**|
|**Amount of Income over Expenditure**
|**£ 25324.35**|
Balance at Bank 86651.79 Cash in Hand 260.00 **£ 86911.79**
## _**Independent Examiners Statement**_
_In connection with my examination of the books no matters of concern have come to my attention. Therefore I believe that the Statement of Accounts is a true and fair representation_
_of the finances of Bumble Hole Conservation Group for the year ending 31st December 2024._
_**STATEMENT of ACCOUNTS**_
_**FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st December 2024**_
_Neil Roberts 95a St Peters Road, Netherton, Dudley. DY2 9HN 30th January 2025_
_Reg. Charity Number 1054674_
_**STATEMENT OF INCOME and EXPENDITURE**_
## _**BALANCE SHEET**_
## _**12 Months to 31st December 2024**_
## _**at 31st December 2024**_
## _**RECEIPTS**_
Takings and Items Resold 45645.24 Memberships 2072.00 Donations 4537.68 External Donations 3659.90 Canal & River Trust 274.41 Charity Events 2498.20 Community Events (BUGS & BCBF) 202.50 **TOTAL RECEIPTS £ 58889.93**
|Balance at 1st January 2024|61587.44|
|---|---|
|Plus Income over Expenditure|25324.35|
|Balance at 31st December 2024|**£ 86911.79**|
## _**BALANCES IN HAND at 31st DECEMBER 2024**_
## _**PAYMENTS**_
|Items for Resale
|15870.21|
|---|---|
|Donations|4632.00|
|Utilities|2920.12|
|Phones and Technology|382.06|
|Insurance|659.24|
|Office Equip, Stationery and Sundry Expenses|3329.77|
|Outdoor Expenses and Maintenance
|2776.63|
|Uniforms|989.39|
|Training|55.20|
|Community Events (BUGS & BCBF)|1027.50|
|Sum Up Card Charges|226.51|
|Dudley MBC|696.95|
|**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
|**£ 33565.58**|
|**Amount of Income over Expenditure**
|**£ 25324.35**|
Balance at Bank 86651.79 Cash in Hand 260.00 **£ 86911.79**