Mayor of Merton’s Charitable Trust
Trustees’ annual report for the period 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021
Reference and administration details
Charity name – The Mayor of Merton’s Charitable Trust Registered charity number – 1149209
Names of the charity trustees Sally Kenny 15.09.20 onwards John Dehaney 15.09.20 onwards Edith Macauley 24.06.19 onwards Oonagh Moulton 24.06.19 onwards Janice Howard 13.05.19 onwards (Chair from 15.09.20) Ed Foley 13.05.19 to 15.09.20 Mary Curtin 30.07.18 to 15.09.20 (Chair from 13.05.19 to 15.09.20)
Structure, governance and management
Type of governing document – Trust deed adopted by meeting of Merton Council on 11 July 2012. A supplemental trust deed, approved by the trustees on 13 May 2019, restated the original trust deed and provided for an increase in the number of trustees from three to five.
How the charity is constituted – Trust
Trustee selection methods – the trustees are appointed or re-appointed annually after the Annual Meeting of Merton Council at which the Mayor is elected. There is an understanding that each year the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and the previous year’s Mayor will become Trustees. The appointments are noted by a meeting of the Council in June/July each year. The Trustees elect the Chair of the Trust Board at the first Trust Board meeting following Annual Council.
Objectives and activities
Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document The Trust Deed states that the charity's objects are any purposes currently recognised as charitable and any new charitable purposes which are similar to another charitable purpose. The purpose of the Trust is to collect and distribute charitable donations for the benefit of the residents of the borough. The focus will shift from year to year so that each year the Trust can support specific organisations and/or themes such as young people, sport, the arts etc.
Each year the Mayor of Merton nominates a charity or charities for whom fundraising activities are carried out during the year to meet a specified
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purpose for the benefit of the residents of Merton. Additional small donations may be made to local charities and or individuals.
The Trustees consider the public benefit requirement prior to issuing funds to any organisation or individual. When providing financial donations the Trustees will in every event place specific stipulations as to the use of those funds to ensure that the use is in accordance with the charity’s objects and charitable purposes as well as complying with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects
Fundraising activities undertaken over the past year were planned so that a wide range of people from Merton’s diverse local communities could participate, particularly those people who had not previously had any contact with the mayoralty.
Achievements and performance (summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year)
Fundraising activities
Fundraising highlights in the 2020/21 year included:
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Two charity auctions (Mayor of Merton’s First virtual auctions). The
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impact of the covid-19 pandemic meant that the 2020 Mayor’s Charity Ball scheduled for Saturday 25[th] April 2020, was cancelled. In lieu of the Ball, Cllr Janice Howard disposed of her prizes by holding two highly successful virtual auctions. Both auctions, which were held in July and August 2020, raised in excess of £6,000.00. Additionally, guests agreed to donate their ticket prices (in full or a percentage) resulting in further earnings in excess of £17,800.00.
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Annual sponsored swim by one of Merton’s councillors and trustee, Cllr
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Edith Macauley – 50 lengths of the pool at David Lloyd Sports Club in Wimbledon.
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Sponsored litter picks in Morden, Wimbledon and Mitcham;
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Sponsored Movember moustache/walk, November 2020. The Leader
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of the Council, Leader of the Merton Park Ward Independent Residents Group, the Council’s Chief Executive, and a representative from the Charity – Morden Little League grew moustaches and/or beards, or walked in excess of 60km to raise money for the Charitable Trust.
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Two Mayor’s sweepstakes (November and February);
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Virtual raffles and an auction
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The sale from the production of a Christmas song by students from the Cricket Green School,
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The sale from a mayor’s 2021 calendar sale,
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A virtual ride to Hanoi (9000 km 6000 m approx)
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Three virtual bingo events (October, January and May)
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A virtual balloon race
Community outreach
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Silver Sunday: The Mayor, Councillor Sally Kenny sent letters of good
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wish to Care/Residential Homes in the borough.
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A stand out achievement was the creation of the COVID-19 Community Awards as a way of recognising those who have supported their neighbours, helped their community or shown a community-minded approach during the pandemic. Altogether, just under 1,000 local residents, schools, doctors’ surgeries and community groups received a COVID-19 Community Award certificate – many of which were given in socially distanced visits from Councillor Kenny when it was allowed.
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Engagements
As a result of the disruption caused by the pandemic, Councillor Kenny recognised from the outset that much of her role as Mayor would have to move online, and over the course of her term she has attended more than 80 community and formal events on behalf of the council, many of them virtually.
Away from her charity work, Councillor Kenny carried out her civic duties with great dignity. She paid tribute to fallen servicemen and servicewomen by leading the local services on Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday. Her poignant reflections on the theme of ‘being the light in the darkness’ opened up a moving Holocaust Memorial Day virtual Civic commemoration event. On the announcement of the death of Prince Philip Councillor Kenny, on behalf of the council, led tributes to Her Majesty the Queen, and flower laying activities in the borough.
- Grant making
In the 2020/21 financial year the Trust made two grants of £40,000 each to support local community organisations for the benefit of Merton residents:
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Macmillan Cancer Support Merton - to support its local fundraising project for a new Macmillan Support Worker to assist the breast cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at St Georges Hospital. Macmillan Cancer Support’s goal is to offer care and support to everyone living with cancer. They train specialists in cancer care and, from the moment of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond, they offer emotional, practical and, at times, financial support to patients.
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Faith in Action – Merton Homelessness Project : to support its work as a multi faith charity looking after the Homeless in Merton. Providing a drop-in centre two days a week, offering meals, showering, laundry, change of clothes, haircuts, food parcels, sleeping bags and help with benefits and job applications. Faith in Action relies on local volunteers who dedicate their time, support and skills to help the most vulnerable people.
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Financial review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves:–
All cash balances are held as unrestricted funds. All funds are held for the purpose of donations to the Mayor’s chosen charities or cover the costs of further fundraising. We do not have a policy of holding a minimum reserve, other than to not go into deficit.
Independent examiner’s report on the accounts
Separate PDF document
Receipts and payments accounts
Separate PDF document
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London Borough of Merton. Mayoral Accounts as of 31st March 2021
900004-9216-
| 900004-9216- | 900004-9216- | 900004-9216- | 900004-9216- |
|---|---|---|---|
| b/fwd Current |
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| Mayor Howard 2019/20; 00000871 Income 91004 Expenditure 91003 Total Other- transfer(from '869) Other -( GiftAid)not yetin |
2019/20 (89,830) 15,055 |
2020/21 (14,129) 85,313 |
Total to Date (103,959) 100,368 |
| (74,775) (890) |
71,184 1,336 |
(3,591) 446 |
|
| Amended Total | (75,665) 72,520 (3,144) |
||
| b/fwd Current |
|||
| Mayor Kenny 2020/21; 00000872 Income 91004 Expenditure 91003 Total Other- transfer(from '869) Other -( GiftAid)not yetin |
2019/20 0 0 |
2020/21 (17,677) 480 |
Total to Date (17,677) 480 |
| 0 0 |
(17,197) | (17,197) 0 |
|
| Amended Total | 0 (17,197) (17,197) |
||
| Wmbdlon Ticket Holding | (3,447) (2) (3,449) |
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| Net total | -79,112 55,321 -23,791 |