THE ANTONY DALE TRUST Registered charity number: 1124822 TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST CHARITY INFORMATION
| Trustees | Professor Gavin Henderson CBE | Chairman |
|---|---|---|
| Vaughan Rees OBE | ||
| Professor Anne Boddington | ||
| Dr Talia Rodgers | ||
| Jackie Fitzgerald | (Retired October 2024) | |
| Stephen E Neiman | ||
| Caroline Cowley | ||
| Support Personnel | Nick Dwyer, Gardner | |
| Clare May, Minute Secretary | ||
| Rebecca Evans, Volunteer Management | ||
| Siobhan Fitzerald, Catering | ||
| Charity Registration Number | 1124822 | |
| Principal Address | 129 Clive Road | |
| London | ||
| SE21 | ||
| Website | www.secetgardenkemptown.co.uk |
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 7 and comply with the governing document, statutory requirements and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2011 (SORP).
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is organised so that the Trustees meet to manage its affairs. There are currently six trustees who manage the charity. The Trust is also supported by volunteers who offer their services from time to time.
In selecting individuals for appointment as Trustees regard is given to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. New trustees are provided with the trust deed and latest report and accounts, and appraised of the application of the charitable objectives set, and of the essential duties of a Trustee. This includes an annual evaluation of risks facing the Trust in pursuit of its charitable objectives.
Risk Management
The Trustees have informally assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the exposure to major risks.
Objectives and Activities
The object of the charity is to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of English Gardens; to advance the education of the public in particular but not exclusively by promoting research into and the study and understanding of the English Garden; to promote for the benefit of the public by associating together the said public, the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and other leisure-time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the public; to or for such other charitable purposes as the trustees may from time to time determine.
Statement of Public Benefit
The Trustees regularly review the Trust's objectives in accordance with Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.
Financial Review
The Statement of Financial Activities are shown on page 5. The Trustees confirm that the charity’s assets are available and adequate to fulfil its financial obligations.
Review of the Year
The year in review has been notable for the exhibition of Sussex based sculptors , supported by the Behrens Foundation . The artists being : Julian Wild , Walter Bailey , Mike Pattison , Rosie Jones , Jackie Fitzgerald , Christian Funnell , Si Uwins ,Mark Stonestreet , and Helen Skelton with her students .
Behrens were particularly happy to be supporting such a strong feature of stone carving and lettering , as this was resolent of their very first grant giving activity . A happy inclusion was the work by Jackie Fitzgerald in her final period as trustee . The exhibition was featured within the Brighton Festival , Artists Open Houses and Kemp Town Arts Trail . Also featured in the Brighton and Hove Arts Council diaries , the magazines Rosa and Brightonian .
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Plus, several programmes dedicated to the Garden on Latest TV . All in all , some 7000 visitors made it to the Garden over the season of nigh on six months . Also included was a second visit from the Adur Concert Band giving a Midsummer’s night concert of wind band music .
Our sincere thanks go to Stephen Cockburn , chair of the Behrens Foundation , for their continuing commitment and support - primarily for the sculpture programme , but also for a significant one off grant which paid off the bank loan from Barclays towards the initial costs of restoration and development of the building fabric , as prelude to a substantial Heritage Lottery application .
Whilst the public and financial emphasis has been largely focused on the exhibition programme , the attraction of Siobhan’s Brighton Table catering has , as ever , proved irresistible ! With a vigorous on line following . So too . Nick Dwyer’s sustained care for the planting and nurture of the garden is exemplary . This has now achieved a real sense of maturity . Hard to believe that the ramp from the Bristol Gardens entry is a relatively new addition .
Sustaining the Garden is a constant challenge . We are fortunate that so much of the work is undertaken by volunteers , not least the trustees . The only person remunerated on a regular basis is the gardener . Crucial for sustainability is the wedding business , largely administered by trustee Stephen Neiman . This was triggered by the Lockdown imperative for outdoor facilities but has remained as an attraction ever since . None the less , upgrading of facilities in terms of disability access , improved kitchen and toilet arrangements , to encompass full licensing requirements will be essential for ensuring future stability .
During this period the Trust also made the garden available to the following charities: the Somerset Centre, providing a safe space for the elderly, the Downs Syndrome Development Trust, Martlets Hospice, and mental health charity Artspace. We also had three classes of primary school children from St Luke's School who came to draw the sculptures and explore the garden.
We have been fortunate over the last couple of years in having the expert voluntary support from Claire May - in terms of servicing the trustee meetings / agendas and minutes . So too Rebecca Evans in taking care of the volunteer coordination and management . Both have now stepped down . We thank them for their efficient and dedicated service . We also lose the immense contribution of Jackie Fitzgerald as a trustee of some eleven years standing , who retired in Oct ‘24 . Jackie was the inaugural volunteer coordinator ; she has helped Siobhan with catering , particularly the weddings , and more recently took on the lion’s share of exhibition management - as a nice conclusion she contributed to the recent Sussex Sculptors exhibition with a work of her own .
This will be my last annual review , as I shall be retiring as a trustee ,and founder chair, at the end of Sept ‘ 25 .It has been a remarkable time … over some fifteen years , in which time the Dale family’s gift has been secured for future generations . I am indebted to my fellow trustees , and especially Nick the gardener for bringing us thus far . I shall miss the family of foxes , who clearly believe that this is their garden !
Gavin Henderson , 30[th] August 2025
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Fixed Assets Current assets Bank 12,712 Creditors: amounts falling due within 0 one year Net current Assets Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Represented by: Unrestricted funds: General reserve Designated reserve Total funds |
2023 125,000 29,304 0 12,712 137,712 0 137,712 12,712 125,000 137,712 |
2024 125,000 29,304 154,304 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 154,304 | ||
| 29,304 125,000 |
||
| 154,304 |
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 30th August 2025
Professor Gavin Henderson CBE Stephen Neiman
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| INCOME Donations Café Income Weddings Wedding Deposits Hires Event Income EXPENDITURE Gardner Planting and Lawn Treatment Building Repairs and Materials Wedding Costs Accounting Software Insurance Bank Charges Bounce Back Loan Repayment Electricity BT Internet Garden Furniture Brighton Arts Council Exhibitions Website Events Volunteer Party Council Taxation Surplus/(Defcit) |
2023 £72,816 £ 1,217 £15,057 £ 2,103 £ 350 £ 800 £92,422 2023 £10,415 £ 300 £ 114 £12,477 £ 17 £ 0 £ 103 £32,177 £ 861 £ 548 £ 220 £ 60 £ 8,906 £ 0 £ 300 £ 60 £ 0 £70,398 £22,023 |
2024 £15,887 £ 1,229 £ 9,730 £ 1,250 £ 0 £ 376 £28,473 2024 £10,600 £ 456 £ 1,362 £ 7,179 £ 0 £ 332 £ 102 £ 0 £ 2,578 £ 606 £ 3,303 £ 60 £ 12,881 £ 343 £ 570 £ 116 £ 380 £43,190 £-14718 |
|---|---|---|
THE ANTONY DALE TRUST NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1 Principal accounting policies
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investments. The financial statements have been prepared in in accordance with the Charities Act 2011,Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities'.
Incoming Resources
Donations are accounted for on receipt, at the estimated value of property donated, or the actual value of cash donated. Voluntary income and donations, and any gift aid relief, and recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities
Resources Expended
Expenses and grants payable are recognised in the accounts when they are incurred by by the Charity
Property
Property is stated at the value when donated to the charity, and represents freehold property donated by the Estate of Ms Yvonne Dale.
Reserves
The charity holds reserves in order to fund future charitable activities and grants in furtherance of the charitable objectives.
2 Ancillary trading income
| Wedding hire Hire of gardens Sunday café income |
Unrestricted Total Total funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ 9,730 9,730 17,158 0 0 350 1,229 1,229 1,217 |
|---|---|
| 10,959 10,959 18,725 |
3 Charitable Costs
| 3 Charitable Costs Grants Gardening Garden items Exhibition costs Repairs and maintenance Operating Costs Charitable costs |
Unrestricted Total Total funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ 0 0 0 10,600 10,600 10,415 456 456 634 12,882 12,882 0 700 700 12,477 0 0 0 |
|---|---|
| 24,638 24,638 23,526 |
4 Other Expenditure
| Bank Charges Electricity Fundraising Insurance Interest Internet Planning and Architect Curation of Exhibits Software Repayment of Bank Loan Sundry Expenses |
Unrestricted Total Total funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ 102 102 103 2,577 2,577 861 0 0 60 332 332 0 1 1 548 605 605 0 2,323 2,323 3,840 12,881 12,881 8,906 343 343 17 0 0 32,177 0 60 |
|---|---|
| 19,164 19,164 46,572 |
5 Analysis of fund balances: movement in resources
| Unrestricted funds General reserve Designated reserve |
At beginning Incoming Outgoing At end of year resources resources of year £ £ £ £ 12,712 28,473 43,190 -2,005 125,000 - - 125,000 |
|---|---|
| 137,712 28,473 43,190 122,995 |
6 Registered charity
The charity is registered in England (No. 1124822) and as such is not liable to tax
Independent examiner's report to the trustees on the unaudited accounts of
The Antony Dale Trust for the year to 31 December 2024
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of 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
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and
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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
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the 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 to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
Benjamin Richards ATT FMAAT
293 South Coast Road Peacehaven BN10 7HX 31 August 2025