Hyndbum Green Annual Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31December 2023 Reglstered Office: Charlty Name: Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum Queens Award for Voluntary Service Recipient. clo Hyndburn Borough Council, Willows lane Depot, Accrington Charity Registration Number: 1145700 Entrust Number EB136023 BB5 ORT Page | I Wo￿￿&1￿S•￿k• Trustees: Ms Cath Holmes Chair Mrs Yvonne Heap Vice Chair Ms Kimberley Whitehead Secretary Mr Gavin Crossley TreasL¢rer Authority Liaison: Councillor Steven Smithson Portfolio Holder for Parks & Leisure Mr Craig Haraben Deputy Director of Environmental Services Mrs Shirley Parkinson Parks Liaison Officer Website: WWW.h ndburn reens aces.co.uk Email. chair@hyndburngreenspaces.co.uk Message from the Chair None of the work we do each year would be posslble wlthoul the support of our volunteers and community groups who do so much to improve facilities for residents, and the funders whose generosity enables us to make community dreams into realities. We would also like to take this opportunity lo thank Hyndburn Borough Council in particular the Parks department, who advise and support us. Our aims and objectives Pur ose and vision Our charity's purpose is set out in tho objects in our constitution: For the benefit of the inhabitants of the Borough of Hyndburn, Lancashire and the surroundlng area to; Provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit without distinction of sex, or of political, religious or other opinions in particular but not exclusively by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of all green spaces within the Borough of Hyndburn. Our vision is to empower our communities and promote social action, so every resident has a voice and access to free, high quality open spaces. Our aims and objectives will be unchanged in the change of governanGe structure. Page | 2 Ensurin our work delivers our airns. The Forum works to a project plan approved in principle at the meetings. Proposed projects are discussed with the Deputy Director of Environmental services to priorilise slrategic need. The community can also approach the Forum for help with a project that they feel would benefit their community. These project proposals are then reviewed by Forum members to assess Gommunity value and whether the proposed project would meet our objecliv8S. All projects undertaken under the Forum's umbrella are evaluated at the end of the Gonstructionldelivery phase to look al Ihe benefits Ihat they have brought to the community. structure, Governance and Management Governin Document The organisation is a charity established under a constitution adopted 18 January 2011 Revised in February 2019 to enable meetings to be virtual when circumstances make it necessary. Recruitment and A ointment of Trustees Under requirements of our constitution, the trustees are elected to serve for a period of 12 months after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual General Meeting. They can put themselves forward, or be nominated. The nomination musl be seconded by another Forum member. In 2023, a virtual AGM meeting agreéd all the Irustees. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. The Trustees in 2022123 are.. Chair- Ms Cath Holmes Vice Chair- Yvonne Heap Secretary Kimberley Whitehead Treasurer- Mr Gavin Crossley Forum Member Grou -Re resentatives. Member Groups are Gomposed entirely of volunteers from the local areas. We value the local knowledge that they bring to our charity and the hours they spend on helping us meet our aims and objectives. We recognise the importance of their roles within our charity and have nominated them for various awards over the years. Each member group can appoint representatives to attend the forum meetings on behalf of their organisalion. Pagel 3 Each member groL(p is entitled to one vote on any issue and project submission. Each affiliated member group must be a community not for profit organisation, legally onstituled with their own constitution and bank account. Member groups can choose lo adopt the Forum policies (Health & Safety, Child Protection etc.). The new CIO structure will have a board of Trustees which will act on the decisions proposedl agreed by the members panel. The reason for the change in governance is so that th8 forum Gan enter into formal leases on behalf of its members. How our activities deliver ublic benefit Covid 19 has shown how vital good quality free to use open green spaces are for our mental and physical health. Hyndburn is a Borough where the majority of the housing stock is terraces without gardens front Dr baGk, making our open spaces, parks and recreation grounds all the more precious. All our charitable activities focus on engaging with Ihe 81.000 residents of Hyndburn inspiring them lo lake a more active role l ownership of the open space and leisure facilities within their community. We use Parks and Recreational activities as the meGhanism for delivering the following social benefits. Increase Physical Activily- improved communily health by.. Providing freely accessible playlsports facilities of a good quality. based on the 3 Free's- Free of charge- Free to come and go - Free to choose Providing opportunities to lake part in praclical environmental events. EncoLfrage community food growing projects. Increased Biodiversily & Access lo Natur6 - improved environmental understanding and its links to well-being by.. Improving access for everyone to some of Hyndbum's green spaces. Creating learning opportunities for residents to get close to and learn about nature. Improving biodiversily within the Borough to attract more wildlifa to ils parks & open spaces. Providing training and workshops to undertake wildlife suweys. Improved Community Cohesion - Impmving family and community relationships by.. Providing free opportunities, which allow differing communities to connect and interact with each other around a positive similar aim. Good quality, open space and free leisure facilities enables the most vulnerable families to spend quality time together. Page 14 Encouraging all lo value and appreciate others views, whilst creating strong positive friendships, work practices and forming interest clubs, event days and sharing Ihis within our Borough and beyond. CapaGlty building within the community - Improved skills and community ownership by.. Giving residents the Gonfidence that they can make a differenGe within their community. Providing a mechanism for resid8nts lo have a voice. Including opportunities to learn new life skills. The Charity is continulng to seek funding to improve the following facilities: To install a Musa gameslfilness area at Cutwood Park. To increase the amount of community engagement within parks by the appointment of two community engagement officers. Provide a visitors centre for Peel Park the Largest Nature Reserve in Lancashire. Help Ihe Hyndburn Parents and Carers group lo raise the funds necessary to build a very special Public SEND Playground for young people with Special Educational Needs. The redevelopment of Gatty growing facilities. Many of the projects above are carried over from a prevlous yearls. Consultation and fundraising is still ongoing. Once again our activities have been varied within the community. Trainin There have been no tralning events organised this year by the forum, but groups were made aware of a training opportunities organised by other organisations. The Future We will continue to.. Work with member groups and partners on improving the Borough's biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Increase the level of community engagement taking place within Parks and Open Spaces, through increased events and activities. We will continue to work with the communily and IoGal authority to improve the remaining parks to Green Flag standard. We will work in partnership to improve the playl sport and leisure provision within the Borough, Financlal Inforniation Princl al Fundin Sources Funding secured by the Forum is often on behalf of a community group and is projeGt specific. Our day to day operational costs are currently al zero thanks to the generosity of the Trustees who do not take any remuneration from the charity and Page | 5 the generous support from Hyndburn Borough Council in the form of a free room for meetings or training courses, secretarial minute support. photOGopying. The Forum also tries to be as paper free as possible corresponding 90 °/0 of the time electronically. This allows us to use every penny raised by the Forum to meet our aims and objectives. The Forum accounls rijn from the 1 January to 31December each year. In addition lo the funds, the Forum has raised directly, the Forum has supported many of its members groups to secure funding for their individual projects over the last few years. The proposed changes will result in an increase in operational costs. The Year In View Knuzden Recreation Ground The funding required for improvements lo Knuzden Recreation ground which included a new playground and a multi games area was secured at the end of 2022 and finally became a reality in 2023. Following extensive consultation with the local community, including nearby St Oswald's Primary School, the improvements have been tailored to meet the demands and preferences of the residents. The new play area features inclusive play equipment, acGommodating children of all abililies. Moreover, a variety of age-appropnate play slruclures has been incorporated to ensure engaging experiences for children of different age groups. In responsè to the expressed need for expanded recreational opportunities, the project also includes a mulli-use games area. This versatile space will cater lo a range of ball sports, including football, basketball, netball, and even the popular Ghoice of dodgeball, as voted by the local children. Additionally, the games area will provide opportunities for other activities, bringing a diverse array of options for both struclured and spontaneous play. Page | 6 The project, which aims to Gater to the diverse needs of the communily, is set to transform the recreational space into a vibrant hub of active play and leisure. The Knuzden communily has eagerly participated in the development process, with an oVe￿helmIng response to the online questionnaire, which received 136 submissions. The valuable insights and preferences shared by local residents and st Oswald's Primary School have greatly InflUen￿d the final proposals for the play area and multi-use games area. The modernised play area which features swings, a basket swing, a trampoline, a net pyramid, a hide and slide climbing frame, and a seesaw, among other playful accessories. These installations have been carefully chosen to encourage active play, foster social interaction, and provide inclusive opportunities for individuals of all ages and physical abilities. The vibrant colour scheme of the equipment aims to create an inviting and joyful atmosphere for everyone visiting the park. The Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum secured a grant of £30K from the Lancashire Environmental Fund for this project. The collaborative efforts of these stakeholders have made Ihis transformative project a reality. Events This year we have seen several events take place al premises Ihat we have helped to improve, led by Hyndbum Leisure Trust. These events were part of the lets-move- Hyndburn initiative which has been very successful. https.l￿.hyndbUrnle1Sure.Co.Uk1cOMmUnltY/1eIS-move-hYndbuMIto create Lowerfold Park- where residents were able to take part in ter)nis and bowling Mercer Park and Milnshaw Park, also hosted an array of activities. Page 18 Mercer Park Event Evaluation FollDwln9 Tht. success of