## **ANNUAL REPORT 2022**
Registered Charity Number: 1141038
Trustees (who are also committee members) :- Pippa Smith (Chair) Linda Austin (Secretary) Cliff Robinson (Treasurer from 1 September 2022) Juliette Bidwell Lucy Bundy Melanie Davis Alison Dean (Treasurer until 1 September 2022) Natalie Hall Kate Kirkham
Principal Charity address:
Flat 4, 44 Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BH
Bankers:
CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Road, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ
The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report and accounts for 2022.
## 1 Who We Are and What We Do
The Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens (FOSAWG) is an entirely volunteer-run group of people from the local community who care about their local green space. Elected Trustees and a range of other volunteers work together to fulfil the organisation’s objectives.
As at 31st December 2022, FOSAWG had 152 paying members, an increase of 27% from the previous year. Membership is currently a nominal fee of £3 for an individual and £5 for a family.
The FOSAWG Trustees work with our members, the wider local community and Brighton and Hove City Council to preserve the heritage and environment of the park and establish priority projects, a programme of events, and issues to work on. Trustees work hard to represent the diverse needs of the local community (including its wildlife and environment). We do this via regular consultation and information sharing, through frequent members’ newsletters, local press and community news, and social media. Our following on Facebook and Instagram reaches over 1,500 people, an increase of over 500 on the previous year.
FOSAWG often also acts as a first point of contact for members of the public who want to feedback ideas and concerns that they would like FOSAWG to consider to improve the park environment. This has included issues such as insufficient lighting in the park, anti-social behaviour, the replacement of an art-piece, issues with dogs, litter etc. Where necessary, FOSAWG is able to raise these issues with Council representatives or local ward councillors or sign-post to appropriate services/lines of communication (e.g. Brighton & Hove CityParks helpline, the police 101 service).
We raise funds through a variety of channels including project-specific trust funding, the local authority, donations from public, ticket sales to events and sponsorship. FOSAWG puts on a range of events each year which not only raise money to carry out its work but also promotes enhanced community-cohesion and reduced isolation, particularly important after Covid-19.
We are proud to be members of the Brighton and Hove Green Spaces Forum, Brighton & Hove Community Works, the National Council for Voluntary Services (NCVO). We also follow learning and advice from the national and regional organisations The Parks Alliance, the National Federation of Parks, the Royal Horticultural Society (South and South-East in Bloom), The Tree Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust.
## 2 Objectives and Activities
The charity’s objects are:-
“To promote the preservation, restoration, and improvement of St Ann's Well Gardens for the education and benefit of the public, by associating the local authority and local community in
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a common effort to provide facilities in the interest of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the lives of local inhabitants”.
## 2.1 Public Benefit
In shaping our objectives and planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have given consideration to the duties set out in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit. In particular, the Trustees have considered how the planned activities will contribute to the overall aims and objectives that they have set.
The Trustees believe that the following paragraphs relate in detail to the benefit that the charity provides to the public.
## 2.2 Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustee Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
All the current Trustees have taken all reasonable steps, which, to the best of their knowledge and belief they ought to have taken, to make themselves aware of any information needed by the Charity’s Independent Examiner for the purpose of completing the accounts and to establish that the Independent Examiner is aware of that information. The Trustees are not aware of any information which they understand would be relevant of which the Independent Examiner is unaware.
## 3 Achievements and Performance
2022 has been a very successful year for the Friends - we have undertaken some new projects and consolidated some pre-existing ones.
## 3.1 Green Flag
We are proud to announce that St Ann’s Well Gardens has once more received a Green Flag Award - the international mark of quality for parks and open spaces. We would like to thank all the Friends who have contributed to the many aspects of park maintenance and improvement which, along with support from many departments of the Council, have contributed to this achievement.
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- 3.2 South & South-East in Bloom Award
The Friends also achieved recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society in 2022. At the start of the Sensory Garden project, we were encouraged by Brighton & Hove City in Bloom to sign up for the Royal Horticultural Society South & South-East in Bloom “It’s Your Neighbourhood” scheme. Each year we have reported the work in progress and were awarded “Establishing” level in 2019 and a Certificate of Recognition in 2020. In 2022, at the assessor’s visit in late June, we were able to show the substantial hard-landscaping of 2021 (pathway, new surface and pergola) and the spring planting. We are delighted to report that the RHS have recognised our achievements as “Outstanding”
We would particularly like to thank the Council’s Gardeners and Rangers. The gardeners undertake many tidy up tasks outside their gardening remit and thanks to the Rangers our fences are replaced and maintained.
We celebrate a number of established and developing partnerships with statutory and voluntary and commercial organisations. Many of the activities listed below could not have taken place without solid and collaborative partnership working.
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## 3.3 A Sensory Garden for the Future
Our ambition is to make the Sensory Garden truly sensory once again and to provide an area of peace and solace particularly to vulnerable individuals and groups in our community.
During the Covid pandemic progress slowed but during 2022, we pushed ahead. With plants funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery grant, a combined team of Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens volunteers and City Parks rangers’ volunteers replanted the raised beds and climbing plants on the pergolas on a single volunteer day in early spring.
Our volunteers also installed new trellis on the south pergola, and above all kept the new plants alive through the summer’s heatwave by watering several evenings a week, a difficult task due to the distance of accessible water taps. Our volunteer gardeners, led by Carrie Lambe, have worked hard throughout the year to weed, prune and tidy,
In December 2021, we successfully applied for a grant from the Sussex Police Community Safety Fund for two further benches for the new pergola area which, together with two benches already funded by The Rampion Fund grant, would create a “conversation area”, encouraging more frequent use of the Sensory Garden, and discouraging ant-social gatherings. The installation of the benches and a water supply and tap by Brighton & Hove City Council for the Sensory Garden shelter has been delayed but are promised by spring 2023.
In November 2022, our search for an artist to make a kinetic sculpture for the Sensory Garden, in fulfilment of the Rampion grant, finally brought success. Local artist and blacksmith Jon Mills has been commissioned by the Friends to make a sculpture which will sit on the top of the Dovecote column. Work on the re-imagined Dovecote is in progress, and we are planning an official opening by the Brighton & Hove City Council Mayor on Saturday 13[th] May 2023.
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## 3.4 Events
Amongst our successful events in 2022 we can list four days of ‘Artists Open Houses ‘in which artists and crafts people come to the park to share their work during Brighton Festival.
Our Egg Hunt with eggstra arts activities was very well attended and much appreciated by local families. Similarly, our Pumpkin Trail at Halloween, designed and organised by our Brighton University volunteers was considered such a success that it may well become a tradition.
In partnership with the Garden Café we hosted an exhibition of photographs by the Brighton Camera Club and as always played host to a number of music and the theatre companies who we support in their use of the gardens, enabling them access to the shelter in the Sensory Garden and sharing their information with our Friends’ Network.
Our second Friends’ Night featured a riotous performance by committee member ‘Fake Bush’ (Lucy Bundy), delicious Greek Food and
the traditional quiz and raffle. Members commented that this event alone was worth their membership fee!
The year ended with a Christmas Arts Market in a large marquee, this event is now in its second year and with its free Santa and live music is becoming an annual tradition.
## 3.5 Spring Festival
This massive event, more or less single-handedly organised by committee member Natalie Hall, deserves its own paragraph. In 2022 – after a two-year enforced break due to Covid-19 - the event came back bigger and better than ever before! It was attended by over 15,000 people of all ages from the local community.
There was live music and DJs throughout the day, dozens of stalls and activities, Magic Mike and a Circus for young people and an arts market in the Sensory Garden.. As agreed with the Council the event stopped at
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7.30 pm and by 11am the following day the park was immaculate, helped by volunteer litter pickers. However, as with everything else, the prices of all aspects of this event have risen considerably and the collection taken on the day had to be used to contribute to the financing of the event itself.
Although a huge success, there were specific challenges which we faced in 2022. Post pandemic, costs had risen considerably when compared with previous years that we held the festival. There are two main reasons for this – the universal increase in costs such as fuel and food but also costs specific to events. As communities started up events across the City and county when Government restrictions lifted, there was significantly increased demand for events items which drove up the costs (eg. staging, lighting, staffing etc.). Rather than cancel this much-loved event, we adapted to this challenge by using donations taken on the day to contribute to the financing of the event itself.
Following the success of the 2022 festival and Natalie Hall standing down as the organiser, the Trustees have reviewed the size and associated risks of the event and decided not to continue to organise it by themselves. However, the Trustees understand how much the local community enjoy the event and will be considering its future in line with its strategic planning and strategic risk assessment.
## 3.6 Wildlife
We held a wider range of wildlife activities during 2022 than in previous years. We participated in the RSPB organised national Big Garden Birdwatch on the last weekend in January, which was enjoyed by all. In early May we had a well-attended Dawn Chorus walk. Due to their popularity, these two events have become FOSAWG traditions. We have also had a number of one hour ‘Birdwatch’ walks at different times of the year led by our knowledgeable Trustee, Alison Dean. The Friends’ noticeboard has become a useful meeting point for these and other events.
In addition, we made connection with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, who led a walk in August to look for butterflies, and one in September to listen and look for bats.
We are keen to develop events in other areas of wildlife expertise or interest and are seeking ideas from members and park users.
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## 3.7 Volunteers
The contribution of our volunteers, including the Trustees, is the keystone of our organisation. Our regular gardening volunteers, our volunteers who help organise our events, the writers and designers who produce our press and publicity materials, and the large number of volunteers who give their time on the day of our Spring Festival, total over 100. The number
of volunteer hours exceeded 5,000. Using the real Living Wage of £10.90ph, this equates to a value of £54,500 during the year.Our volunteer gardeners deserve special mention for their work throughout the year and especially during the drought. So do our two Brighton University Student volunteers, recruited through the CUPP programme, who have contributed hugely to our events and noticeboard. Colm O’Neill, in his new role of Graffiti Ambassador continues to battle vandalism within the park.
## 4 Financial Review
The Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing financial support that was provided by our members, sponsors and funding partners during the difficult period during which Covid-19 restrictions were in place. Their continued support provided a firm financial basis to allow us to progress a wide range of activities and initiatives during 2022.
We undertook a number of major projects in the Sensory Garden at a cost of some £15.5k funded from both restricted grant funds brought forward from previous years and from the Friends’ own accumulated designated funds.
The extensive series of events undertaken during the year, including the very successful Spring Festival, generated a surplus of some £4.4k once sponsorship monies brought forward from previous years and donations received on the day are taken in to account.
As in previous years careful control is maintained on all administration costs and in 2022 these were limited to less than £2k (less than 4.5% on turnover).
The overall position at the year-end 2022 shows that undesignated General Fund reserves stand at a healthy £8.5k allowing us to confidently move forward with our plans in 2023 and face the difficult challenges posed by inflation.
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## 4.1 Reserves Policy
Trustees consider the level of reserves that is prudent for FOSAWG to have on an annual basis, in line with the budgeting process. Consideration is given to ongoing running costs and any liabilities the organisation would have, were it to close. Currently it has been agreed that the level of undesignated General Fund reserves should be maintained at a level sufficient to fund the ongoing core costs of the organisation for a period of 12 months. The level has been set for the forthcoming year at a minimum of £2,500.
## 5 Structure, Governance and Management
## 5.1 Commencement of Activities Governing Document
The Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens was established by constitution dated 12th January 2011 (and amended on 21st March 2011).
## 5.2 Method and Appointment of Trustees
The management of the Board of Trustees is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of its constitution.
Unless specific skills are headhunted using existing networks, vacancies for Trustees are publicly advertised in local channels including the FOSAWG website, newsletter, noticeboard, social media and via Brighton and Hove Community Works. The Board is currently undertaking a skills audit to identify any gaps.
New Trustees attend working groups and sub-committees and meet with other board members on an individual basis so they can fully understand the background and activities of the charity. All trustees are offered ongoing training in governance from trusted providers including NCVO and Brighton & Hove Community Works.
## 5.3 Governance and Decision-making
The Trustees meet every 6 weeks - an agenda and pack of papers is circulated at least a week in advance of the meeting. Detailed notes and a list of actions are maintained. Trustees discuss and debate issues which are then voted on. In 2022, the Board met on 7 occasions, two of these meetings were held by Zoom.
To allow more structured focus on its activities, the Board has formalised the running of the Wildlife and Events groups which now have clear terms of reference and budget responsibilities.
Following a focus on strengthening governance, a Finance, Governance and Risk subcommittee was established in September 2022 to oversee these areas in more depth. This
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has included the development of a risk register, an audit and plan for the preparation of a suite of policies and procedures including the introduction of new internal financial controls. In 2022, this sub-committee met 3 times.
All sub-committees/groups report to the Board of Trustees at each meeting.
## 6 Plans for the Future
We look forward to an exciting year in 2023, building on the achievements and strengths of 2022. This will include:
- 6.1 Continuing to implement our plans for an enhanced Sensory Garden with a revised project plan and fundraising to bring this to fruition. This will include developments to the space including:
- a new tap in the shelter that our gardeners and community groups can use
- the provision on 4 new benches under the new pergola, to provide a “conversation area” for group use
- more Sensory planting
- a new sensory sculpture.
- 6.2 Working with Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) to deliver improvements to the wider park environment including:
- significantly improved grassed area on the old bowling green
- agreed actions from the Green Flag plan and visioning work.
- 6.3 Delivering a programme of wildlife events so that members of the public understand and enjoy the rich fauna and flora of the Gardens.
- 6.4 Putting on a programme of events (and working with outside events providers such as Brighton Festival) to enhance the lives of local residents and to raise funds for FOSAWG.
- 6.5 Continuing to maintain our popular wall-mounted Book Swap Box to encourage a reading culture among park users of all ages.
- 6.6 Continuing to work with BHCC CityParks to create a join vision for the future of the park, including widespread consultation with user groups so that our work accurately reflects the needs of those in the community.
- 6.7 Investing in professional support to help Trustees develop a strategic plan and further strengthen governance so that the charity is more resilient in the future.
- 6.8 Developing our ability/capacity to recruit volunteers for our projects and activities and to create rewarding and supported volunteering opportunities.
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IIYDEPENDF.iYr EXAMINERS, REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF ST ANN'S WELL GARDENS
I rew)rt to the charity tnjstees on my ex¥minalion of the accounts of St Ann's Well Gardens for the
year ended 31 December 2022.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As th¢ charity, truceS of the Trust you are resw)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordanc¢ with the requ1mentS of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I reFrt in respect of my examination of thc Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the
2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by
the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of ihe Acl.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my exarninalion. I confirm thai no malerial matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kepi in res1 of the Trust as required by section 130 of the
Acl; or
2. the accounls do noi accord with those records. or
3. the accoun15 do not comply with Ihe applicable requirements concerning the forn) and
content of cOUnt8 set out in the Charities (Accounls and Reports) Regulations 2008 other
than any requiremeni ihat the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independenl examinalion.
I have no conccms and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to
which attention should be drawn in this reFx>n to enable a prOr understanding of the accounts to
be reached.
C R 1.yler FCA DChA FCIE
F I CRT l.imited
Chartered Accountant
Flat 24, Wellingtonia Court
Laine Close
Brighton
BNI 6TD
Date:
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FRIENDS OF ST ANN'S WELL GARDENS ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2022
## **Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2022**
|**Income Receipts**
Events
Open House
Xmas Fair
Spring Festival
Garden Party
Dawn Chorus
Easter Egg Event
Film Night
Friends' Supper
Grants
BHCC Councillors
Sussex PCC
Donations
Hire Fees
Fundraising
Gift Aid
Membership
Sales - Books & Pictures
Bank Interest|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total 2022**
£
£
£
3,140
3,140
6,030
6,030
21,220
21,220
42
42
107
107
423
423
30,962
0
30,962
2,400
2,400
455
455
100
100
5,950
5,950
533
533
100
100
67
67
**38,167**
**2,400**
**40,567**
6,450
8,700
15,150
45
150
195
296
296
6,791
8,850
15,641
27,176
3,000
30,176
400
400
4,621
4,621
50
50
73
73
310
310
32,630
3,000
35,630
178
178
24
24
**202**
**202**
158
158
173
173
100
100
176
176
492
492
428
428
195
195
46
46
46
46
**1,814**
**1,814**
**41,437**
**11,850**
**53,287**
**-3,270**
**-9,450**
**-12,720**
16,254
15,650
31,904
**12,984**
**6,200**
**19,184**|**Total 2021**
£
1,320
5,110
500
703
104
371
30|
|---|---|---|
|||8,138
905
311
50
832
461
185
3|
|**Total Receipts**||**10,885**|
|**Payments**
**Direct costs**
Sensory Garden
Sensory Trust plans
Garden Plaque
Gardening Works
Events
Spring Festival
Open House
Xmas Fair
Garden Party
Dawn Chorus
Easter Egg event
Friends' Supper
Other Direct Costs
Graffiti Removal
Gardens maintenance
**Central administration costs**
Website
Zoom Costs
Printing & stationery
Insurance
Bookkeeping/Accountancy Fees
Training
Bank charges
Volunteers Expenses
General Admin||12
331|
|||343
674
2,523
889
50
270|
|||4,406
218
182|
|||**400**
112
158
171
455
55
142|
|||**1,093**|
|**Total Payments**||**6,242**|
|**Net receipts (payments) for the year**
Balance of Funds Brought Forward||**4,643**
27,261|
|**Balance of Funds at 31st December 2022**||**31,904**|
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FRIENDS OF ST ANN'S WELL GARDENS ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2022
## **Statement of Assets and Uabllties as at 31st December 2022**
||**N**|**ZOl**
**£**|**ZOl**
**£**|**21**
**£**|**21**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A**||||||
|**CF Gold accont**
**CF Curnt account**||**16,187**
**2,978**||**26,398**
**5,30**||
|**PayPal Account**|||**19**||**197**|
||||**19,18**||**31,9**|
|**Nn- Mnr A**||||||
|**Debtrs: amounts receivable within on yar**|**1**||**395**||**0**|
|**Tol Curt A**|||**19,579**||**31,9**|
|**UbiH**||||||
|**Creditor: amounts flling due within one yar**|**2**||**-1,299**|**-13,653**||
|**N A & Uab**
**ie**|||**18,28**||**18,251**|
|**Funs**||||||
|**General Funds**|**3**||**12,984**||**16,254**|
|**Restricted Funds**|**3**||**6,20**||**15,650**|
||||**19,18**||**31,9**|
|**A by the Tron .!}k-pnd - onbhalf o the Tr by**||||||
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FRIENDS OF ST ANN'S WELL GARDENS 2022ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2022
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2022**
## **1. Debtors - amounts receivable within 1 year**
Preliminary Gift Aid Claims for 2020-21 and 2021-22 have been prepared and work is currently underway to identify any further donations that might be eligible. These claims will generate a minimum of £287.
Additionally donations of £108 were received at the December 2022 Xmas Fair via GiveStar. These were not received until January 2023.
## **2. Creditors - amounts falling due within 1 year**
Creditors included in the 2022 accounts relate to an agreed contribution due to BHCC for planting in the Sensory Garden (£780) and to invoices outstanding in respect of the Xmas Fair held in December 2022. Additionally provision has been included for the Independent Examination of the charity's 2022 accounts.
## **3. Movement in Funds**
|**Restricted Funds**
Dementia Action Alliance
Sussex Community Foundation
Brighton & Hove Council Community Fund
Individual Donation
Spring Festival
Sussex PCC
**Unrestricted Funds**
General Fund
Designated Funds - Sensory Garden|**Balance 1st**
**January 22**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
**Balance 31st**
**December 22**
2,500
2,400
100
10,000
3,900
6,100
2,000
2,000
0
150
150
0
1,000
1,000
0
2,400
2,400
0|
|---|---|
||15,650
2,400
11,850
6,200
5,052
38,167
34,646
8,573
11,202
6,791
4,411|
||16,254
38,167
41,437
12,984|
||**31,904**
**40,567**
**53,287**
**19,184**|
## **Dementia Action Alliance**
This funding was paid over to BHCC to contribute towards the costs of a central seating area in the Sensory Garden area. It is being designed specifically for people with mobility needs (including Dementia), as well as their families and carers, to improve access.
## **Brighton & Hove Council Community Fund -**
The BHCC grant was originally provided to fund a zero waste project at the Spring Festival 2020. This had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions. By agreement with the Council these funds were carried forward to fund a similar project at the 2022 Festival.
## **Sussex Community Fund**
This grant was received as a contribution towards the ongoing renovation of the Sensory Garden, to include planting and kinetic sculptures . A sum of £3,900 was passed to BHCC in 2022 to fund the removal of a planter and other renovation works. of the 2022 Festival
## **Spring Festival**
Agreement was obtained to carry forward certain sponsorship monies received in 2020 and 2021 to contribute towards the financing
## **Individual Donation**
A donation of £150 was received in 2021 to contribute to the costs of replacing a steel plaque. Payment for this was made in 2022.
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