## **ANNUAL REPORT 2024**
Registered Charity Number: 1141038
Trustees (who are also committee members) Pippa Smith (Chair) Linda Austin (Secretary) Cliff Robinson (Treasurer) Juliette Bidwell Melanie Davis Alison Dean Annie Mitchell Helen Snowden
Bankers: CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Road, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ
**“The Friends of St Ann's Well Gardens” was set up in November 2007 to promote, enhance and conserve the wellbeing of St Ann’s Well Gardens and to assist with the planning and delivery of the centenary celebrations in 2008.**
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The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report and accounts for 2024
## 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.
The Friends of St Ann's Well Gardens had 230 paying members at 31[st ] December 2024, a 30% increase. There are over 2500 followers of the Facebook page and Instagram, and specialist training early in 2024 has enabled us to increase the number of Instagram posts and link these with our Facebook page.
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.
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 signpost to appropriate services/lines of communication (e.g. Brighton & Hove CityParks helpline, the police 101 service).
Alongside shaping our objectives and planning our activities for the year, we raise funds through a variety of channels including project-specific trust funding from our local authority, donations from the 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.
We are proud to be members of the Brighton and Hove Green Spaces Forum, Brighton & Hove Community Works and 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.
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## 2. Objects and Activities
## 2.1. Objects
Our 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 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.”
## 2.2 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.
## 2.3 Statement of Public 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
## 3.1. Sensory Garden
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.
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## 3.1.1. Corporate Sponsorship and Grants
In October 2023, we were given a £2500 cheque by Martin Investment Limited. The Company is building the Gradino flats on Davigdor Road and they appreciate how much the Gardens will come to mean to their new residents.
The money has been used to create an accessible information board for the Sensory Garden which was finally installed in October. The same information will be used as one of the sound buttons on the Sensory Bench, purchased via Brighton & Hove City Council and due for delivery shortly. We hope this new source of illustrated information together with other signage will encourage people to explore the plants in the Sensory Garden with touch, smell and even taste.
## 3.1.2. Garden Volunteers
Our volunteer gardeners, led by Carrie Lambe, have also been very active. Committee members and others have donated plants for the herb bed, with more to be added. Carrie and her team pruned back hard the Buddleia and Lilac in the autumn, and these are now flourishing and should give plenty of beautiful, rich, purple flowers later in the year. Extensive weeding and propagation has been done throughout the gardens.
We would also 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. To join the Gardening group or find out more about it, email gardening@fosawg.org.
## 3.1.3. RHS South & SouthEast in Bloom “It’s Your Neighbourhood” Awards 2024
We again took part in the S &SEiB Awards. The RHS assessor looks for achievements in three
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different categories: Community Participation, Environmental responsibility and Gardening Achievement.
On the day of the assessment, Committee Members met the assessor in the Sensory Garden and talked through the categories, with input from one of the Friends’ volunteer gardeners. We were again awarded “Outstanding”, although the assessor was somewhat critical of the lack of planting variety in the Sensory Garden and of the lack of progress on the repainting of the guide rails. We expect to have addressed these by the time of the next assessment in June 2025.
## 3.1.4. Sensory Garden Gate
In autumn 2024, we commissioned Jon Mills, creator of the Dovecot sculpture, to create a decorative gate for the entrance of the Sensory Garden. This part of the project is funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund.
The gate will allow for the garden to be enclosed for events and cater for the needs of people with dementia or neurodiverse conditions.
At the time of writing, work is progressing well and an event is planned for 20th March to officially open the gates.
## 3.2. Events
## 3.2.1. Art in the Park
Our Artists Open House Event . Art in the Park, took place over the weekend 18th & 19th May, offering a range of arts and crafts from pottery and prints to textiles and jewellery. Despite less than clement weather on the Saturday, artists and the general public enjoyed live music and dance outside the Garden Café, particularly the inspirational Three Score dance company.
We are pleased to be building up a relationship with a number of the artists and
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makers who are now regular participants in Art in the Park and also in our new programme of exhibitions in the Garden Café.
## 3.2.2. Children’s Activities
2024 saw an expansion in our events for local children. In addition to the now traditional Egg Hunt at Eastertime and Pumpkin Trail at Autumn Half-Term, our Christmas Crafts event in the Garden Café attracted over 40 children who made cards and decorations, and were thrilled to have a visit from Santa!
## 3.2.3. Social Evenings
Our three Social Evenings were very successful, attracting members and their guests, and helping to raise the profile in the local community.
Our first, in April, was a talk by local wildlife expert Michael Blencowe, on butterflies. This was enthusiastically received and helped attract more interest for the butterfly walks arranged later in the summer.
October’s social featured KC Sally Smith talking about her life in crime-writing. Sally’s first book was a biography of Edward Marshall Hall, KC; her second – a crime novel, a Case of Mice and Murder. The usual quiz, raffle and tagine meal added up to a lively evening.
At the Christmas Party, local early film expert, Frank Gray, talked about George Albert
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Smith, and showed some of his early films, including the first examples of editing. The evening was completed by singers, a Festive Quiz, a buffet and a raffle.
Members have contributed greatly to the development of an events programme through membership of the Events Working Group. This groups meets prior to each event to make practical plans and determine who will carry them out. To join this group or find out more about it, email pippa@fosawg.org.
## 3.2.4. Partnerships with Other Organisations
We were excited to be asked by BARCO (Brighton & Hove Black Anti-Racist Community Organisation) to help them put on their Brighton BASH Carnival on 27th July in the Gardens.
This fabulous day brought a new vibe to the Gardens and the start of a new partnership that will carry on into 2025 with a planned Wellness Day in the Sensory Garden on 22nd June.
## 3.3. Wildlife
## 3.3.1. Wildlife Group
Our Wildlife Group is a subset of members with a particular interest in wildlife and conservation. The Group met five times during 2024 and had a range of discussions and made plans for events and activities. If you want to join this group or find out more about it, please email alison@fosawg.org
## 3.3.2. Wildlife Activities
Following on from previous events, we have increased the number and range of activities that we organise. We started the year with the Big Garden Birdwatch, with family groups and other birdwatchers, experienced and inexperienced contributing to the task of counting the birds in the Gardens. They were rewarded with sightings of our “star” birds, the greater-spotted woodpeckers, nuthatches and a treecreeper. Throughout the year we ran eight birdwatching walks, one of which focused on bird song. The Dawn Chorus walk on 5th May was well attended as always.
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In February, a volunteer group from the Sussex Wildlife Trust joined us to clear excessive bramble growth from the north-east corner of the gardens. In March, along with our Ranger, we did conservation work in the wildlife area by the bird identification board.
In April we held a Nature Challenge, where people were invited to come to look for and identify different species of flora and fauna.
Following this theme of the social event talk in April on butterflies, we organised two butterfly walks, but the June one was cancelled because of bad weather.
Sussex Wildlife Trust led a bat walk in September and we hope to do more of these in 2025.
Our new initiative was to plan a tree walk around the park, following the tree trail on the TiCL mobile phone app. Sadly we had to cancel this because of bad weather, but we hope to do more in 2025. We advertised the photographic competition which was part of the city tree festival in May. Following the festival the framed competition entries were on display in the Garden Café.
Events were advertised to members, and to the public on the noticeboard. Some events had limited places, and these were advertised to members first. If places remained, then it was opened to the public. Events were well attended, though sometimes impacted by the weather!
- 3.3.3. Working with the Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust
We continue to have a good working relationship with the Sussex Wildlife Trust and have engaged with our local council employed Ranger, who is supervising and advising on some activities. One of our Trustees attends the council’s Green Spaces Forum, which links us into a city-wide source of ideas and information.
## 3.4. Tidy Up
We held a one-hour litter picking session on the first Tuesday every month through the year. We have an active group of more than twenty volunteers, with ten or so attending each session.
Volunteers often go for coffee together afterwards. Members of the public are very pleased to see us at work.
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## 4. Volunteers
The contribution of our volunteers, including the Trustees, is the keystone of our organisation. Our volunteer gardeners deserve special mention for their work throughout the year. Our Events volunteers have helped us to increase the number and range of events, as do two Brighton University Student volunteers, recruited through the CUPP programme. Colm O’Neill, in his new role of Graffiti Ambassador continues to battle vandalism within the park.
## 5. Financial Review
The Friends of St Ann’s Well Gardens remain incredibly grateful for the continued financial support that was provided by our members, sponsors, and funding partners during 2025. Their continued support provided a firm financial basis to allow us to progress a wide range of activities and initiatives during the year.
We continued to implement a series of major projects in the Sensory Garden at a cost of some £10.6k. These were funded primarily from restricted grant funds received from Brighton & Hove City Council and the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner but also from generous donations received previously from Martin Investment Ltd and the Imex Group.
As in previous years careful control was maintained on all administration costs and in 2024 these were again limited to less than £2k. We were also able to raise additional funds to support the Friends’ charitable activities through arranging an extensive series of small successful events generating a healthy surplus of some £1.5k.
The overall position at the year-end 2024 shows that undesignated General Fund reserves. stand at a healthy £14k allowing us to confidently face the difficult financial situation expected in 2025.
## 6. Financial Reserves Policy
Trustees consider the level of reserves that is prudent for FOSAWG to hold 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 continues to be set for the forthcoming year at a minimum of £2,500
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## 7. Structure, Governance and Management
## 7.1.1. 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).
- 7.1.2. Method and Appointment of Trustees
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.
- 7.1.3. Governance and Decision-making
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.
The Trustees met 6 times in 2024 - 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. We have one Sub-Committee – Finance, Governance & Risk which meets in line with the Board’s meetings, working on finance oversight, a suite of policies and procedures and a risk register. We also have 3 working groups – Events, Gardening and Wildlife who meet as needed. All subcommittees/groups report to the Board of Trustees at each meeting.
## 8. Future Plans
We look forward to an exciting year in 2025, including: -
- Continuing to bring improvement to the Sensory Garden, by the addition of a gate, a sound bench, other signage including Navilens signage for those with sight impairment, and additional planting to make greater sensory impact
- Continuing to feed into with Brighton & Hove City Council CityParks
Development Plan for St Ann’s Well Gardens.
- Liaising with other local parks in order that we can mutually support each other in
achieving the very best for Green Spaces in the City.
- Putting on a programme of events (and working with outside events providers
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such as Brighton Festival, the St Ann’s Spring Festival and BARCO) to enhance the lives of local residents and to raise funds for FOSAWG.
- Delivering a programme of wildlife events so that members of the public understand, enjoy and protect the rich fauna and flora of the Gardens.
- Developing our ability/capacity to recruit volunteers for our projects and activities and to create rewarding and supported volunteering opportunities.
- Continuing to work with our volunteer gardeners, tidy up and wildlife conservation teams and with our community to develop a broad, exciting and educational range of park-based activities.
- Increasing committee membership to bring in new skills and to reflect age and diversity of park users.
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS9 REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES
ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF THE FRIENDS OF ST ANN'S WELL
GARDENS
I report to the charity trustees on my examin8tion of the accounts of Th¢ Friends of St Ann's Well
Gardens for the year ended 31 Ikcernber 2024.
Responsibiliti¢8 and of rew•rt
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are rc4x)nsible for the preparation of the accounts in
accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I report in SpeCt of my cxamination of the Tft,s accounts Carried out under section 145 of the
2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by
the Charity Commission under section 145(5Xb) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. l confirm that no malerial matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination givin8 mc ¢8use to believe that in Any material respect:
accounting rec4Jrds were not kept in resp1 of the Trust as required by stttion 130 of the
2. th¢ COUnts do not accord with those records: or
I have no conccrns and have ¢ome acros9 no oth¢r rnatters in connection with the ¢xomination to
which attention should be dra] in this rekx)rt to enable a proFr understanding of the accounts to
be reached.
C R Tyler FCA DChA FCIE
FI CRT Limited
Chartered Ac¢ountsnt
Flat 24, Wellin8tonia Court
Laine Clos¢
Brighton
BNI 6TD
Date:
## **The Friends of St Ann's Well Gardens Annual Accounts 2024**
## **Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2024**
|**Income Receipts**
Events
Open House
Dawn Chorus
Easter Egg Event
Butterfly Walk
Pumpkin Trail
Friends' Suppers
Friends' Xmas Event 2024
Other Events
Grants
Sussex PCC
Brighton & Hove City Council
People's Postcode Lottery
Donations
Fundraising
Gift Aid
Membership
Sales - Books & Pictures
Bank Interest|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total 2024**
£
£
£
1.705
1.705
46
46
219
219
63
63
69
69
1.020
1.020
480
480
92
92
3.694
0
3.694
4.200
4.200
19.896
19.896
1.500
1.500
25.596
25.596
100
100
612
1.250
1.862
1.578
1.578
672
672
274
274
492
492
**7.421**
**26.846**
**34.267**
344
3.152
3.496
7.000
7.000
109
109
344
10.261
10.605
928
928
50
50
21
21
45
45
15
15
1.112
1.112
34
34
121
121
2.326
2.326
80
80
170
170
167
167
417
417
562
562
0
0
0
0
158
158
0
0
67
67
165
165
0
0
55
55
106
106
19
19
90
90
1.222
1.222
**4.308**
**10.261**
**14.569**
**3.113**
**16.585**
**19.698**
10.380
2.500
12.880
489
-489
0
**13.982**
**18.596**
**32.578**|**Total 2023**
£
2.363
45
123
0
36
1.262
405
108|
|---|---|---|
|||4.342
0
0
0|
|||0
141
2.500
253
622
55
229|
|**Total Receipts**||**8.142**|
|**Payments**
**Direct costs**
Sensory Garden
Sensory Garden Projects
Gates
Sculpture
Gardening Works
Events
Xmas Fair 2022
Open House
Dawn Chorus
Easter Egg event
Butterfly Walk
Pumpkin Trail
Friends' Suppers
Friends' Xmas Event 2024
Other Events
Other Direct Costs
Wildlife
Graffiti Removal
Gardens maintenance
**Central administration costs**
Website
Zoom Costs
Printing & stationery
Insurance
Bookkeeping/Accountancy Fees
Marketing
AGM
Training
Subscriptions
Bank charges
Volunteers Expenses
General Admin||3.275
5.306
488|
|||9.070
745
50
19
27
1.074
314
27|
|||2.256
43
118
154|
|||315
297
29
154
0
492
237
120
1.207
55
97
47
71|
|||2.805|
|**Total Payments**||**14.447**|
|**Net receipts (payments) for the year**
Balance of Funds Brought Forward
Transfers Between Funds||**-6.304**
19.184
0|
|**Balance of Funds at 31st December 2024**||**12.880**|
The Friends of St Ann's Well Gardens Annual Accounts 2024
Statement of Assets and Uabllltles as at 31st December2024
2024
2023
A55ets
CAF Gold account
CAF Current account
PayPal Account
30.663
1.866
49
12.138
701
41
32.578
12.880
Non- Monttary Ass•ts
Debtors.. amounts re[vable wsthin one year
217
1.578
Total Current Assets
32.795
14.458
Llabllltles
Creditors.. amounts falling due withln one year
-1.008
-176
Net Assets & Ll•bllltlés
31.787
14.28Z
Funds
General Fund5
13.982
10.380
Restrlcted Funds
18.596
2.500
32.578
12.880
Approved by the Trustees on .
li
. %. and signed on behalf of the Trustees by P, kn", 4k Qkn.t-
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2024**
## **1. Debtors - amounts receivable within 1 year**
A Gift Aid claim was agreed by HMRC in January 2025 for the Tax Year to 5th April 2024 in the sum of £216.61.
## **2. Creditors - amounts falling due within 1 year**
A creditor has been included in the 2024 accounts relating to an outstanding invoice awaited in respect of an Xmas event held by the Friends in December 2024. Additionally provision has been included for the costs to be incurred in respect of the Independent Examination of these accounts.
## **3. Movement in Funds**
|**Restricted Funds**
Martin Investment (Gradino Building)
Imex
BHCC - Sensory Garden Gates
Sussex PCC - Wardley Project
People's Postcode Lottery
**Unrestricted Funds**
General Fund
Designated Funds - Swift Boxes
Designated Funds - Sensory Garden|**Balance 1st**
**January 24**
**Receipts**
**Payments**
**Transfers**
**Balance 31st**
**December 24**
£
£
£
£
£
2.500
2.500
0
1.250
762
-488
0
19.896
7.000
12.896
4.200
4.200
1.500
1.500|
|---|---|
||2.500
26.846
10.262
-488
18.596
8.839
5.844
3.964
-750
9.969
750
750
1.541
1.578
344
488
3.263|
||10.380
7.422
4.308
488
13.982|
||**12.880**
**34.268**
**14.570**
**0**
**32.578**|
## **Martin Investment (Gradino Building)**
This donation was received in 2023 from the developers of the Gradino Building to fund the provision of improved signage in and around the Sensory Garden. Permission was subsequently received from the funder to utilise these resources more generally for projects in the Sensory Garden, including for the purchase of a Sound Bench.
## **Imex**
This donation was agreed in November 2023 alongside that made by Martin Investment. The funds were similarly donated in order to contribute to the development of the Sensory Garden.
## **Brighton & Hove City Council - Sensory Garden Gates**
The Friends successfully bid to the Council's Shared Prosperity Fund for a significant grant to install a set of commemorative gates at the entrance to the Sensory Grant. The work to fabricate and install the gates has been commissioned for a local metalwork artist, Jon Mills
## **Sussex PCC Community Safety Fund- Wardley Project**
The Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner has agreed to provide a grant to the Friends specifically to run an innovative gardening project working with the Wardley Hostel to facilitate engagement with the local community.
## **People's Postcode Lottery**
A grant has been received from the People's Postcode Lottery to enable the Friends to work collaboratively a partner organisation to put on an event during 2025 that will attract a more diverse audience to visit the park.