2021-04-05-accounts - Coppicewood College

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Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 06/04/2020 to 05/04/2021

Charity name: Coppicewood College

Charity registration number: 1107250

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The Charity’s objects are 2: To advance education and training by developing and delivering a range of educational activities, courses and programmes in traditional rural skills and allied crafts and global environmental issues for the local community in the area of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and all Wales. To relieve financial hardship to those who through social and economic circumstances are in need and are unable to gain employment by promoting and supporting schemes where such people may receive training for employment in rural land based industries.
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 main activities are as follows: 1. Woodland Skills Course (October to March) for students able to devote 6 months at 2 days per week to engage in a comprehensive training in all aspects of traditional woodland management from planting to harvest and production. 2. Subsumed within that, 4-day courses in coppicing, hedge laying, charcoal making, green woodworking open to additional students able to devote this lesser amount of time. 3. A one-off grant-funded construction over 2 months in the summer, of a roundwood-framed new building, followed by fitting-out in autumn and winter, making economic use of locally-sourced timber unsuitable for commercial milling and providing training opportunities in traditional construction skills.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit at our meetings.

Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	500 recorded hours plus other unrecorded time in administrative tasks, preparing tools and materials for the various courses offered, in moving material and equipment to our new site at Pengelli Forest National Nature Reserve, and in the construction and fitting out of the training and storage building on the new site. Without this generous contribution it would have been very difficult to accomplish these tasks as efficiently and effectively as they were in fact done.
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	Despite the severe limitations caused by the Covid pandemic during this period of activity, but compliant with regulations: Following the order of Main Activities above: 1. 7 students followed the Woodland Skills Course during the period Oct 2020 to March 2021 and 1 student has gone on to regular employment using these skills (with Say it With Wood in Ledbury, Herefordshire). 2. Additional students joined for 4-day Introductions to Coppicing, hedge laying, charcoal making and green woodworking. 3. Around 30 individuals took opportunities to participate on their own account and as representatives of other organisations including The National Trust, Llais y Goedwig (the Welsh Government-sponsored organisation for community woodlands), Pembrokeshire Tree Wardens, The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, and the local community networking group Growing Better Connections. They were involved in the construction and fitting out of a timber building under the guidance of the Ty Pren Woodworkers Co-operative, which the Trustees wished to support and had thus engaged for the task, learning traditional and ecological timber construction techniques both for their own development, the benefit of their organisations and for wider dissemination. A similar construction guided by Ty Pren was later commenced by a local community organisation.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Despite the limitations caused by the Covid pandemic, we have been able to comply with all relevant Welsh Government and Forestry Industry Safety Accord regulations and advice, and have still delivered our first objective in training and learning opportunities in traditional rural skills as outlined above, to the benefit of some 40 individuals both students and volunteers, who may in turn disseminate their skills more widely. Our selection of the Ty Pren Woodworkers Co-operative was in line with our second objective. In the course of the year we received no direct bursary applications but assisted 2 students to obtain funding from the Welsh Government support organisation Focus on ForestryFirst.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	We raised over £23,000 in grants to support the construction of our new building.

Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Thanks to grant funding, the contributions of volunteers, and prudent management we have accomplished much with our resources and still hold funds in reserve.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	It was agreed at a meeting in 2018 to hold notionally £5000 in reserve in anticipation of a change of site and any unforeseen expenses that might arise. We hold reserves as identified below since the build is incomplete and costs are as yet uncertain, and the move of tools and equipment may not be concluded for some time, after which the policy will be reviewed.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£15484
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22	N/A
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24	Nil
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	No current uncertainties noted

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	• Grant funding • Course fees • Donations
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	Where possible we place reserves with ethical banking groups, and currently use The Co-operative Bank and Triodos.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	• Lack of students • Damage or loss of building and equipment
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Constitution, approved on 26/04/2006
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated association registered as a charity on 07/12/2004
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	The Executive Committee shall consist of not less than three members nor more than seven members elected at the annual general meeting who shall hold office from the conclusion of that meeting. The Executive Committee may in addition appoint no more than two co-opted members. All members of the Executive Committee shall retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re- elected or re-appointed. Nobody aged under 18 years shall be appointed as a member of the Executive Committee.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements	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	All Trustees are provided with electronic copies of Charities Commission doc CC3a and also of publications Charity Purposes and Rules, The Essential Trustee. Trustees are requested to consult the relevant Charities Commission information online when considering all matters pertaining to the Charity.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	Running of courses is delegated to 3 self-employed instructors engaged for the duration of the tasks. In practice, one or more trustees is usually present on at least part of each training period. At least one instructor present will hold a relevant first-aid certificate. Trustees meet formally 4 times a year and also consult with each other, instructors and advisers frequently to assure a collegiate approach and corporate responsibility.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	We were invited by the Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales to bring the work of Coppicewood College into Pengelli Forest National Nature Reserve, not only to advance our own objectives but to support their management of a nationally important reserve for wildlife.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name Coppicewood College Other name the charity uses N/A Registered charity number 1107250 Charity’s principal address Maes y Mor Moylegrove Pembrokeshire SA43 3BU

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Bruce Slark	Chair and secretary
	Martyn Williams	Membershipsec.
	Andrew Bowering
	HollyHarries

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name N/A

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name	Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity	N/A
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects	N/A
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets	N/A

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of	Name	Address
adviser

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

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)	Signature(s)
Full name(s)	Full name(s)Bruce Victor Slark	Martyn Stuart Williams
Position (eg Secretary,	Chair	Membership Secretary
Chair, etc)

Date04/02/2022	04/02/2022

THE INDEPENDEiYf EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS OF COPPICEII'OOD COLLEGE Charih. Number: 1107250 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 0510412021 The Charitv""s Trnstees ivho are resnsible for the preparation of the accounts consider that an audit is not reqiiircd under section 144 of the 'Chariti¢s Act ?0 I I" and that an independent examination is needed. The re5poDsibilitY of the independent examiner It is my responsibility lo'.- examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act. to follow the procedu$ laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Charitics Act.. and to slate whether particular matlers have come io my attention. Basis of the Independent Exgmin•tion My examination was carried out in accordance with generdl direclions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts prcsenlcd with those records. It also includes considcrdlion of any unusual items or disclosurcs in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such mallcrs. The procedures undettsken do not proi'id¢ all the cvideTrce that would bc required in an audit. Consequently. no opinion is gTven as to ivhether the accounts present a 'true and fair, wiew and the report is limited to those matters set out in thc statcmeni below. Independent Examiner's Ststernent In connection wiib my examination no tnatter has come to my attention l. which gives me rcasonable cause to believe ihai in any material respect the requirements:. to keep accounting ordS in aordanCe wilh section 130 of the Charities Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting requirements of the Charilies Act have not been meL or 2. 10 wh?ch in my opinion atlenlion should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of thc a¢¢ounls lo be rcachcd. Signed= Date:.... Professional Qualifications= Address.. riloi2y 6.nj 5Av3

Coppieewood College (charity number. 1107250) th Income and Expenditure Account for the Year Ended 5 April 2021 Ineome: Student fees Outreach income Membership subscriptions Donations Grants 20.986.00 1.288.00 loo.00 1,000.00 23 652.50 47,026.50 Less, Expenditure: Wages Insurance Equipment Outreach expenses Refunds New build 14.6(K).00 346.85 1.184.02 1,752.00 280.00 18 939.81 37 102.68 9 923.82 Excess Income Over Expenditure Represented by: Opening balances: Co-op bank Triodos 4.585.89 15484.11 20,070.00 9 923.82 29 993.82 Excess income over expenditure Closing balances: Co-op bank Triodos 14,509.71 15 484.11 29 993.82 Signed:....... Date-........4 lj.l3.3