2024-09-30-accounts

Sustainable South Brent 2025 Annual Report to the Charity Commission

Chair’s Introduction

Thanks to the efforts of our amazing volunteers and members, it’s been another momentous year for Sustainable South Brent (SSB), one in which much has been achieved:

• Ambitious new projects have been launched. · Existing projects continue to provide much-needed services and activities.

• Connections with other groups and organisations have been deepened.

At a time when climate and ecological concern is at all-time-high, SSB continues to demonstrate just how much can be achieved when concerted community effort unites behind the shared ambition of creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives.

Hayden Gabriel, Acting Chair [e-mail]

Trustee meetings: are currently on the second Tuesday evening of every month at the Old School Community Centre. Members are encouraged to bring ideas/feedback to the Trustee meetings, but please let us know you’re coming in advance. Contact: [e-mail]

Company Number 7309926 Registered Charity No. 1145553

School House, Totnes Road, South Brent TQ10 9BP

PROJECTS’ PROGRESS

Community Fridge and Tuesday Fair Share

Community Fridge volunteers collect surplus and end-of-line food from supermarkets and local businesses who would otherwise be disposing of it. The food then goes into the Community Fridge, based at the Old School Community Centre. It’s open 24/7 for anyone to come and take what they wish. Local residents can also add spare food they may have (a list of what the Fridge is able to accept is next to it).

In the last year, the amount of surplus food coming into the Fridge increased from about 150-200kg per week to 400-550kg per week, thanks to 5 new suppliers. Food now arrives at the Fridge nearly every day of the week (every 2-3 weeks on Fridays). Often it barely has time to hit the shelves before the Fridge is emptied by eager users.

The Tuesday Fair Share (TFS). is a new element of the Community Fridge Project. It runs every Tuesday from 2.30-4pm at Palstone Park Recreation Ground. It gives local residents a chance to access affordable, good quality, surplus (in date) produce. And, just like the Fridge, it helps save food waste and money. Perishable food that’s not taken at the Tuesday Fair Share goes into the Community Fridge, so nothing is wasted. In just 6 months since last autumn, the TFS has received a whopping 3,561kg of produce; 250kg is currently delivered every week.

The Tuesday Fair Share is open to all. For a suggested donation of £3.50 (to cover the cost of transport and rent), you get at least 10 items of food and groceries, from a selection of good quality produce that changes every week. It includes fresh fruit, vegetables and store cupboard essentials. There are often free hygiene products and free seasonal surplus field vegetables. Volunteers also serve free delicious home-cooked refreshments in a friendly, relaxed, child-friendly space. Customers love the atmosphere at TFS and since it started in July, numbers have doubled to 40+ shoppers supported by around 14 enthusiastic volunteers.

SSB’s food projects provide multiple benefits, including:

• Helping those on tight budgets to get affordable, fresh food.

• Saving about 50-75 tonnes of CO2 , by diverting the food from going to waste.

• Encouraging a sharing economy based on food grown or available in the village, contributing to a more resilient future.

Thanks are due to all those who make this possible: the fantastic Community Fridge and Fair Share volunteers; all the food suppliers who donate the food; to the national charity FareShare (much of the produce comes via them); and to Hubbub and the Co-op Community Fund, for donating the funding necessary to run the projects.

Contact: Eva Stephens, Community Fridge Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail] Contact: Penny Wainwright/Caroline Grundy, Tuesday FairShare Co-ordinators: [e-mail]

Community School Garden

Set up in South Brent Primary School in 2009, SSB’s Community School Garden continues to flourish. The project’s group of volunteers run weekly on-site gardening sessions with

several groups of pupils from every class, sowing, planting and growing fruit and vegetables. The produce is then enjoyed by the children in the garden, with any excess given to school families.

The Garden informs many areas of the curriculum, such as Science and Art, including outdoor craft sessions. A wildlife area, complete with pond, is also maintained for the students’ enjoyment and education.

Many thanks to the school for their continued support and to the project’s wonderful group of volunteers - more are always very welcome.

Contact: Helen Hall, Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

The Luces Garden

The Luces is a long strip of land alongside the road above Hillside, near the centre of South Brent. The long term aim is to develop the land to include a range of sustainable activities, including a variety of protected habitats, using rural skills and with peaceful places to stop, sit and rest.

Already there are areas with fruit trees, bushes, scrub, thickets and meadow. The garden path is regularly used by visitors, with wooden benches available. If you haven’t visited yet, do drop in next time you’re passing.

Contact: Rowan Wylie, Acting Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Hope Wood and Community Market Garden and Orchard

Around 300 people came together on a cold January morning to plant the first 2,500 trees, in a joyful celebration of South Brent’s new Hope Wood. The land, owned by South Hams District Council, will be fully planted with around 25,000 trees over the next two years, to help tackle the climate and biodiversity challenges. Leader of the Council, Julian Brazil,

praised SSB as “ a fantastic partner” and the support of South Brent’s volunteers as “incredible”.

Continuing to grow food on the site is very much part of the plan, with part of the 65 acre site earmarked for a Community Market Garden and Orchard. This new project is being developed under the auspices of SSB and has already attracted a keen group of volunteers to help get it up and running.

Contact: Parklife, Hope Wood volunteer coordinators (for tree planting activities): [e-mail]

Joanna Rothon, Community Market Garden & Orchard Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

The Marsh Community Compost Group

The Marsh Composting Site, just next to the South West Water site on Exeter Road, is open on Sundays from 10am-1pm to receive local garden waste and produce compost for local collection and use. Community composting continues to be in great demand, and the site is operating at full capacity. A new Home Composting Demonstration area has also been opened, in a collaboration with Sustainable South Hams.

All this has taken its toll on the site, which now badly needs resurfacing. Work to improve the site will start shortly. It’s fantastic that the £26k costs have been fully funded, thanks to South Hams District Council, South Brent Parish Council, Parish Councillors Guy Pannell and David Hancock and County Councillor Dan Thomas.

Contact: Stuart Saunders, Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Hedges and Woodland Group

The Hedges and Woodland Group continues to help sustain local woodland habitats, to harvest woodfuel, learn new skills - and to enjoy themselves!

This year, they have continued Devon hedge laying and undertaken traditional coppicing in an ancient oak woodland.

They assisted the Woodland Trust with the management of Penstave Copse and ran a very popular guided walk there. And they still found time for a fungal foray, bird watching and visiting the SW Green Scythe Fair.

Check out ssb.org.uk for details of all their activities and how to join in.

Contact: Robin Toogood, Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Repair Café

Another fantastic new SSB project started this year - South Brent’s very own Repair Café. Thanks to the great support of nearly 50 volunteers, the project has already helped over 100 people, checking over 115 items, of which 78 were repaired. Many useful/cherished things were saved from going to landfill - over 100kgs’ worth!

The Repair Café runs on the second Saturday morning of January, March, May, July, and September plus a flexible day in November. Anyone is welcome to bring along an item in need of repair. Full details can be found on our website: ssb.org.uk/projects/repair-café/

Contact: Jude Bishop, Project Co-ordinator: repaircafé@ssb.org.uk

The Hub

The Hub is all about community, conversations and collaboration. It’s a result of a great partnership between 3 key South Brent charities. And many new volunteers have become involved with SSB because of conversations started in the Hub. It really does help bring happiness to people in our community.

At evenings and weekends, SSB has continued to run a great range of events at the Hub in the Old School Community Centre. During weekdays, the Hub is run by South Brent and District Caring, offering a Warm Room and various activities. The Hub is available for use by all SSB projects and potentially other organisations with a sustainability focus (e.g. the Seed Swap Collective).

The Hub also partners with ShareShed, to provide a locker for collecting/leaving borrowed items when SSB volunteers are present. The volunteers are in the Hub to answer SSB queries and give information from 9.30-11am on Mon/Wed/Fri.

Many of the events held in the Hub are educational, helping people learn more about climate issues and how to make positive changes in their lives. Other activities are practical, such as workshops to make wax-wraps or cleaning products, and crafting with junk.

All of these things bring people together, raising awareness of the climate emergency and building a resilient, strong, networked community. One where people know they can rely on each other when needed. In South Brent, we’re lucky to be building from a great base.

You can find out about Hub and other SSB events on SSB’s website ( ssb.org.uk) , via posters around South Brent, by dropping into the Hub or by signing up for our newsflashes (via [e-mail] )

Contact: Eva Stephens, Hub Co-ordinator: [e-mail].

Energy

Lots of ‘wins’ this year! Much work has been done on progressing the installation of photo-voltaics at South Brent Primary School. Thanks to the funding provided by South Brent Community Energy Society and the support of South Brent Primary School/Ventrus Multi-Academy, the solar panels are due to go up in the summer holidays.

We’ve run several training sessions and made home visits for the loan of SSB’s thermal imaging cameras

(available free to use by SSB members). These have helped identify cold spots (and enabled early warning of leaks in a couple of cases).

With the support of members of the Energy and Hub Projects, regular energy advice sessions have been run by South Dartmoor Community Energy (SDCE) in the Old School Community Centre. SDCE also gave 2 well-attended talks in the Hub, one on retrofit measures for properties and another on Solar PV.

These activities led to SDCE visiting 22 homes and supporting 8 properties through South Hams District Council’s Home Upgrade Grant Scheme (HUG2). As a result, residents in the South Brent area are now benefiting from combined HUG2 financial support of over £100k. This will help them have warmer homes and, crucially, reduce their carbon emissions.. SDCE also helped a resident in a lengthy battle with their energy supplier to clear an incorrect fuel debt of £3k.

If you have any energy-saving ideas and/or would like to join our small team, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Contact: Hayden Gabriel, Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Brent Bees, Bugs and Butterflies (4Bs)

4B’s continues to help improve the environment across various sites in South Brent, for people, plants and wildlife. You can see the difference they’re making, with more wildflowers on roadside verges and in the playpark, and the fruitful orchard at the Health Centre.

If you’d like to help make space for the rest of nature, new volunteers are always very welcome. You can even try your hand at scything!

Contact: Kitty Ford, Acting Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Youth Liaison

The wonderful collaborations with SSB’s Young Adult Ambassador and Dartside Explorer Scouts have continued. In particular, swift nest-boxes have been built and installed around the village. The provision of hot drinks by the Scouts at the recent Hope Wood tree planting was also very welcomed.

Further work was curtailed due to lack of volunteers to help run this project. This is a particularly rewarding area of work, so if anyone is interested in helping to engage our young people, or would like to be a Young Adult Ambassador, please get in touch.

Contact: Hayden Gabriel, Project Co-ordinator: [e-mail]

Other SSB activities/resources

Cycling and the Bike Bank: You can find the Bike Bank at the Old School Community Centre. There are 3 hybrid bicycles with helmets, panniers, puncture repair kits available for free loan for up to 7 days at any one time. All bikes are regularly serviced. Full Information about how to use the Bike Bank can be found on the website: ssb.org.uk/projects/cycling/

Litter Picks: These take place every other month, helping to keep South Brent clean, tidy and safe for wildlife and children. Check out our events calendar on ssb.org.uk for the latest details.

Planters : SSB volunteers continue to provide a beautiful, continuous display of flowers, herbs and vegetables, which can be picked by anyone passing, in the Ruth Noble memorial planters at the Old School Community Centre.

Resources: There’s lots of useful information on SSB’s website, including all sorts of resources at ssb.org.uk/resources

Keeping up with the News

You can always find out about the latest SSB events by checking ssb.org.uk/events; and by keeping an eye on the SSB noticeboards in the Old School Community Centre (in the Hub and by the Community Fridge) and by the village shop. You can also check us out on social media: Facebook, X and Instagram .

We currently email a brief ‘newsflash’ twice a month to over 370 subscribers, plus produce an annual printed and digital newsletter, quarterly articles for the Parish newsletter and the odd press release. Do you have a flair for writing, love to communicate and would like

to write any or all of these publications? Or maybe change the way we communicate (eg frequency could be different)? We need one or more volunteers to take over providing SSB’s written communications from April. There’s an established process for receiving information from projects, so there’s no need to ‘chase’ anyone for news. If you’re interested in contributing in this way, please contact Kim at: [e-mail].

Fund-raising/Income Generation

As ever, the support of all our donors/funders over the last financial year has made much of our work possible. Many, many thanks to everyone who has made a donation, large or small.

Of course, we could achieve more with additional finance. In particular (if any Fairy Godmothers out there are reading!), some way of funding paid administrative support would be hugely helpful. If you have an income-generating or fundraising idea, or would like to make a donation to SSB, do please get in touch, either via the email below or speak to one of our Hub volunteers, who will put you in touch with the right person to talk to.

Contact: [e-mail]

Membership Report 2023-24

At the end of December 2024, SSB membership had increased to 310 paid-up members. Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership for 2025. Our membership support is tremendously encouraging! It provides the core income for SSB, and is also a key factor when we apply for grants to help run SSB projects.

The introduction of an online application process has helped make it easier for members, and our large number of annual Standing Orders is also a great asset - particularly appreciated by the Membership Secretary!

If you haven’t renewed yet, or you’re not yet a member, do join us if you can. It’s just £6 per adult (over 16), or £3 if affordability is an issue. Family members under 16 can be added for free. The easiest (and preferred) way to join is via our website: ssb.org.uk/join/ . Or you can pay by cash at some SSB events or in the Hub at the Old School Community Centre (during Post Office hours - just make sure the right name(s) is/are noted on your receipt). Or you can complete a paper application form (available in the Hub) and pop it in an envelope (addressed to the Membership Secretary) into the SSB post box on the wall of the building at the entrance to the OSCC car park.

We look forward to seeing you at any of our events and/or project activities. Members can, of course, vote on any motions that are put to a vote at the AGM. We really value all our Members’ support - thank you!

Contact: Alastair Cuthbertson, Membership Secretary [e-mail]

Treasurer’s Report 2023-24

INCOME: £47,275 SURPLUS: £1,483

CASH: £49,757 RESERVES: £36,992

For the financial year October 2023 to September 2024, SSB achieved an increase in income to £47,275 (from £24,990 in the previous year) with a surplus of £1,483 (£6,415 in the previous year).

Income was boosted by a £27,000 grant from South Brent Community Energy Society to support the provision of solar panels for South Brent Primary School. Further grant funding of £4,607 was also received from Hubbub, supporting the operational costs of the Community Fridge and providing a springboard with which to launch the Tuesday Fair Share. Continued receipts from the Marsh Composting centre, together with membership income and some generous donations from members of the community have also helped to support the charity in the last year.

Total costs in the 2023/24 financial year were £45,792 (£18,575 in previous year). The increase in costs is attributable to the onward grant for the primary school solar PV panels (£27,000), together with a £1,200 onward grant to support the development of the South Brent Primary School Garden. Aside from these two grants, operating costs of the charity were in line with the prior year (£19,075 versus £18,575).

Total cash held by SSB at the end of the financial year was £49,757 and Charity Reserves were £36,992. In line with recommended good practice, SSB aims to keep reserves in excess of £5,000 to support running costs in the unlikely event of reduced receipts, and therefore are achieving that aim. Furthermore, SSB aims to keep at least £3,000 of available reserves in its Sustainability Fund, to support local community projects, with priority going to SSB projects.

The full end of year accounts will be presented at the AGM, after which they will be available on the SSB website.

Steve Wills (former Treasurer)

Statement of Charity Purposes

The objects of the Charity are to promote the benefit of the public and the inhabitants of South Brent and its environs (the “area of benefit”), and in particular to:

• (a) advance the education of the public in matters concerning the benefits (social, economic and environmental) of sustainable development (‘sustainable development’ being that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs);

• (b) conserve and protect the physical and natural environment by the initiation, promotion and delivery of actions, projects and initiatives that encourage the participation of the public and ensure the long term sustainability and character of the area of benefit;

• (c) undertake such other charitable purposes as the Board of Directors shall in their absolute discretion determine.

Throughout their work promoting these objects, the trustees have at all times given due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

Structure, Governance and Management

Sustainable South Brent is a private company limited by guarantee, established solely for charitable purposes. The Charity is regulated by The Articles of Association that allow for up

to 13 trustees elected by the Members, one nominated by South Brent Parish Council and up to 4 co-opted trustees appointed by the existing trustees.

Trustees

The following stood down during the year: Steve Wills, (Treasurer), in April 24; Andy Harker, (Chair) in December 24 and Pat Armstrong in Feb.25. Two Trustees are retiring (not standing for re-election ) and a further two are stepping down at the 2025 AGM.

Current Trustees:

Hayden Gabriel: Acting Chair (from Dec.24); Vice-Chair, Lead Trustee - Youth Liaison; Energy; Link Trustee - Hedges and Woodland Group; Luces & 4Bs; The School Garden; (stepping down at 2025 AGM)

Kim Howard: Lead Trustee: Written Communications; Policies and Procedures (stepping down at 2025 AGM)

Joanna Rothon: Lead Trustee - Community Supported Agriculture

Jane Nichols: Lead Trustee - Hub/Engagement; Link Trustee - The Hub (retiring at 2025 AGM)

Ross Kennerley: Link Trustee - The Marsh; Food @SB;The Community Fridge; Tuesday FairShare (retiring at 2025 AGM)

Treasurer: (vacant) Richard Walters (Co-opted)

Richard Fone and Sue Astal-Stain -: Link Councillor (jointly) with South Brent Parish Council

Non-Trustee members who play an important (esp.admin) supporting role include:

John Severn, Company Secretary; Alastair Cuthbertson, Membership Secretary;Alan Lewis: IT support; and John Rawlinson: Website

Project Co-ordinators: Eva Stephens, Caroline Grundy, Robin Toogood, Stuart Saunders (+ Joddy Chapman & George Link), Helen Hall, Penny Wainwright, Hayden Gabriel, Jude Bishop, Kitty Ford, (Acting); Rowan Wylie (Acting), Nick Cape (standing down).

Take a Bow

SSB is powered by all its amazing volunteers - Trustees, project co-ordinators and everyone else.

Special mentions to those who’ve stepped down/about to step down from specific roles (but most will continue to be involved in SSB):

Pat Armstrong: a Trustee with a wealth of local knowledge and the key person behind The Luces project.

Nick Cape: Fridge Project Co-ordinator - a key ‘mover and shaker’ behind the Community Fridge.

Hayden Gabriel: a considerably determined Trustee whose tenacity and attention to detail has ensured great progress in energy and youth engagement, amongst various other key areas, including being Vice-Chair and Acting Chair. Andy Harker: a calm, thoughtful Chair, patiently ‘steering’ the Board well at all times.

Kim Howard: a skilled, swift and diligent minute-taker and communications specialist producing regular newsflashes, media output and this newsletter, also overseeing and keeping updated all SSB’s policies.

Jane Nichols: a visionary Trustee, the inspiration and energy behind re-vitalising the Board and setting up the Hub, amongst many other contributions.

Ross Kennerley: a Trustee with great ambition for SSB, full of ideas and enthusiasm, taking action in so many areas, including being the ‘spark’ behind Hope Wood. Eva Stephens: Project Coordinator extraordinaire – who put so much warmth and welcome behind the Hub and many other SSB endeavours.

Steve Willis: our former esteemed Treasurer, who continues to provide vital financial support, especially in the absence of a replacement Treasurer.

Our collaborators and funders:

So many, we can’t list them all, but they include: South Brent Parish Council; South Brent and District Caring (SB&DC); Old School Community Centre; Dartside Explorer Scouts; Beavers; Brent Birders; Devon Birds; SB Primary School; Dartmoor National Park Authority; South Brent Community Energy Society; Devon Wildlife Trust; Sustainable South Hams; Woodland Trust; Seed Swap Collective; South Hams District Council; Devon County Council; South Dartmoor Community Energy; Network of Wellbeing: Shareshed Locker; Fare Share; Palstone Park Recreation Assoc.; The Village Shop; Bid Foods; Tescos; Co-operative Food; Hubbub; Devon Communities Together ; Dame Hannah’s; CAG Devon; Parklife; Plymouth & South Devon Community Forest; Charles Russell Speechlys LLP (Community Market Garden & Orchard solicitors); and all the wonderful speakers at events and activity providers.

If we’ve inadvertently missed anyone out, please know that we really do appreciate everyone who helps make SSB deliver our projects and helps us reach our vision of:

Creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Hayden Gabriel Acting Chair of Trustees Date: 22nd April 2025

Registered Number 07309926 SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BRENT Micro-entity Acc(bunts 30 September 2024

SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BRENT Registered Number 07309926 Micro-entity Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2024 Note.Y 2(124 2()23 Fixed Assets 9.947 l2,654 Current Assets 52,296 24,386 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets (liabilities) (25,251) (1,532) 27,045 22,854 Total assets less current liabilities 36,992 35,508 Total net assets (liabilities) 36,992 35,508 Reserves 36.992 35,508 For the year ending 30 September 2024 the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Conipanies Act 2006. Tlie directors acknowledge their responsibilities for coinplying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accouiiting records and the preparation ot. accounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the rnicro-entity provisions and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. Approved by the Board on 22 April 2025 And signed on their behalf by: Dr Sarah Hayden Gabriel, Director

SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BRENT Registered Number 07309926 Notes to the Micro-entitv Accounts for the period ended 30 September 2024 Employees 2024 202_1 Average number of employees during the period This document was delivered using electronic communications and authenticated in accordance with the registrar's rules relating to electronic forrn, authentication and manner of delivery under section 1072 of the Coinpanies Act 2006.

SUSTAINABLE SOUTH BRENT REGISTERED CHARITY NO 1145553 COMPANIES HOUSE NO 0730 9926

YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

Independent Examiner's Report

I report on the accounts for the above year as set out on the financial statements:

1. Statement of Income and Expenditure for the year ended 30 September 2024 showing a total surplus of £1,483

2. Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 30 September 2024 showing Net Funds of £36,992

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by Sustainable South Brent and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and I have sought explanations where necessary and appropriate.

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 below,

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

• (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the need: (a) to keep reasonable accounting records, and,

• (b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records,

have not been met, or,

• (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

………………………………………………………………………… Sarah Reynolds ICB Member No. 434886

2 June 2025 Date: