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← Friends Of St Nicholas Fields

2024-03-31-accounts

Annual report 2023124 StNic The Green Heart of York

Contents

Message from the Chair of Trustees 3
CEO’s report 4
Our charity’s purpose 5
Significant activities 6
Key achievements in figures 8
Key achievements
- Reducing carbon, improving lives 10
- Green Corridors York 12
- Nature-based wellbeing 14
- Waste minimisation 16
Looking ahead 18
Who we are 19
Volunteers 20
Governance and risk management 20
Financial activities 2023/24 20
Thank you to our key supporters 21
Audited accounts 2023/24 22

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Message from the Chair of Trustees

I am delighted to reflect on a period of growth and collaboration, underpinned by our longstanding commitment to positive environmental impact. The past 12 months has seen our green heart in York beat ever stronger, and we are proud of how we continue to nurture both nature and people.

The charity sector has faced a wide array of pressures this year. Cost inflation and reduced funding opportunities have impacted many organisations, including ours. These financial constraints make it harder to deliver services and meet the rising needs of our community and our habitats. Despite these challenges, the need for the services we provide has grown. St Nicks has had to be agile and resourceful, to ensure our ability to offer environmental stewardship, mental health services, and sustainable living education continues to flourish. As public concern over climate change and biodiversity loss continues to rise, charities like St Nicks play an essential role in preserving habitats, reducing carbon footprints, and educating communities about sustainable living.

Our success is built on the strength of our partnerships and the generosity of our volunteers. We seek out opportunities for collaboration, for example when joining forces with local schools for tree-planting days and nature education workshops, identifying opportunities for expansion of our Green Corridors work, or via our involvement in the York Precious Plastics project, which tackles plastic waste head-on by transforming it into usable products.

We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of our funders and other external bodies, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and City of York Council. These partnerships help us expand our reach and enhance our capacity. We are delighted to be in the process of renewing our recycling contract with CYC, and our recycling service continues to receive national recognition.

In August 2023 we suffered a break-in at the Environment Centre which caused significant disruption to our operations. Thanks to the positive attitude, determination and resilience of our dedicated staff team, alongside the kindness of our wider network of supporters and volunteers in donating money and time to our recovery campaign, we were able to adjust, bounce back, and most importantly minimise the impact on our service provision. It served as a reminder than when plans get knocked off course unexpectedly, the power of our culture and our community is invaluable to us. We do not take this for granted and acknowledge the pressures faced when persevering during an uncertain crisis management phase. Nevertheless, we should be proud of how our people tackled adversity head-on and got St Nicks back up on its feet.

Finally – to continue this sentiment, a thank you. To everyone who has supported St Nicks over the past year – volunteers, staff, funders, and community members – for helping us grow and thrive. Together, we can continue to build a more sustainable future for York.

CEO’s report

This has been a difficult year for the charity sector – almost two thirds of charities have reported having to do more with less compared to a year ago as well as using reserves and asking funders for assistance with increased costs (Source UK Fundraising Jan 2024).

Research by Charities Aid Foundation suggests that 50% of charities now say they are at full capacity and cannot help anyone else, because of increased demand and sustained financial challenges. One in seven (15%) say they are having to turn people in need away. Charities are propping up government services by more than £2.4bn a year, according to a report by Think Tank NPC.

In the context of this challenging landscape and despite cost pressures and challenges in the availability of funding for core costs rather than projects, St Nicks has had a tremendous year, both financial in terms of grants and funding secured combined with making the very best of all our people and resources. We have not accessed our reserves and have seen continued growth in our income level, balancing costs to ensure we have finalised the year at a breakeven point.

Our strategy to focus on our areas of deep expertise, seeking larger, multi-year grants has seen successful results in the last year, with significant grants from National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery Climate Action Fund helping to secure both our Ecotherapy and Nature-Based Wellbeing programme for three years and enabling the extension of our Green Corridors pilot to include Urban Green Corridors across York.

That said, we feel the demand from the pressure being experienced by statutory services in the areas where we provide services. Staff burnout in the community sector is REAL – we have had to review and focus our internal support to ensure our teams and team members, though diligent, committed and creative, are not consistently going beyond what it is reasonable to expect them to deliver.

Unfortunately, the break-in and associated damage we experienced in August did not help, creating additional pressure, particularly on our recycling team due to the damage to our electric vehicles.

We intensified our focus on Mental Health and Wellbeing internally – signed up to the Mental Health at Work Commitment and we continue to work on how best to support all aspects of mental health across our teams knowing that this is needs to constantly evolve as our dynamics change.

In May, Sam Taylor, Waste & Recycling Manager, came in 21st of the “Hot 100” in Resource and Waste Management as an Architect of Change: “Her Tireless efforts in waste education truly inspire change”.

Just as the year closed Sam and her team submitted our bid for our ongoing partnership with CYC for residential recycling within the city centre, further cementing our presence within and across the city. With the support of our funders, we also became a Living Wage Foundation accredited employer, an achievement we have been aspiring to for some time, and one which few charitable organisations in our area have achieved.

In September we came highly commended in the Green Category of the BBC Radio York Make a Difference Awards.

As I leave St Nicks to move to a new role in the sector, I remain incredibly proud of the team here and what they’ve accomplished over the last few years. They are a testament to all that St Nicks represents and I have no doubt that this will continue under the new CEO.

Ellie Stead

Our charity’s purpose

St Nicks aims to:

We work to meet these aims in the following ways:

Reducing carbon emissions

We have continued to provide a free energy advice service for York residents who are either on a low income, or aged 65+ or experiencing a long term health condition or disability. This partnership between St Nicks and York Community Energy is funded through the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, and supported by Yorkshire Energy Doctor as well as other local partners.

We have continued to issue fuel vouchers on behalf of the City of York Council to qualifying York residents who need help with meeting their energy costs.

We have continued hosting Open Eco Homes events and drop-in discussions. Around a third of York’s carbon emissions come from the way we heat and power our homes. Making them much more energy efficient brings numerous benefits so we facilitate information sharing and understanding of energy saving home upgrades via our York Open Eco Homes events.

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Nature-based wellbeing

The Ecotherapy programme has continued with its roster of vital and oversubscribed nature-connectedness groups. Participating in these groups allows people with mental health challenges to improve their wellbeing through connections with nature. We host and facilitate seven year-round weekly activity sessions and four additional seasonal groups, as well as drop-in events to celebrate World Mental Health Day and at other points in the year.

In response to continued winter pressures and with the positive feedback received from the previous year, we continued to host a Warm Space with support from CYC between November and March.

Our monthly Nature Adventurer sessions continue, as well as holiday clubs during Christmas, Easter and summer breaks, enabling children to grow in confidence, skills and passion about the natural world.

Green corridors

While our reach has expanded significantly in recent years, St Nicks Local Nature Reserve remains the only site which we have the official responsibility for managing. As our original site, it has provided us with the learning ground to develop our habitat management and ecological surveying skills and experience. The site management is a collaborative effort with a diverse range of groups (Weekly conservation volunteers, Wildwatch group, St Nicks Ecotherapy group Bearing Fruit, Blueberry Academy, Student Action Group, school and business groups) all contributing. It is this same collaborative community approach, developed over time at St Nicks, which is now being replicated across the wider corridors.

Green Corridors York strives for “more, bigger, better and more joined up” greenspaces and initiatives. We successfully secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to scale up the Green Corridors York concept across the city. With partners, we’ve developed a sustainable plan to expand from 78ha (GRCF pilot) to 280ha of York’s special and often unique natural heritage, its rivers and floodplains. The total area of the corridors will cover 1950ha, which we will impact through wider stakeholder engagement work. To successfully deliver the project at this increased scale, we have developed 7 Community Corridor Hubs (St Nicks Environment Centre being the original). These are strategic bases for training, machinery and equipment, plant and tree propagation, engagement and delivering improvements across the corridors.

We have continued to develop Wild York, an online interactive map (initially developed during the pilot project) and the new online portal aims to make nature more accessible and democratise environmental decision making.

We’ve been developing our citizen science activities by supporting and training individuals, groups and landowners to have the biggest possible impact across the corridors. This includes bringing our rivers back to life through nature friendly management, protecting rare Tansy beetles by connecting and improving their specialist habitats, enhancing habitat for endangered water vole to boost their depleted populations and improving management to enhance floodplain habitats. We have also continued to develop and train citizen science volunteers in a range of self-led and peer-supported ecological surveys.

Recycling and waste management

We have continued to collect recycling from York central residents in line with our contract with City of York Council. Our commercial recycling service, for regular, one off and event recycling has also continued to grow. Thanks to an exciting new partnership with the Recycled Candle Company we have also managed to increase the number of types of material we can collected at the kerbside. York Pride was once again the biggest event we recycled from this year, but the Bishy Road Street Party, Poppleton Sports day and York Cycle Rally also benefited from our teams services and diverted valuable resources from general waste.

Key achievements in 2023/4

Ecotherapy

95% participants enrolled in 74 Ecotherapy 4,237 hours of 1:1 mentoring for mental health logged 403 with participants 412

of participants felt more connected to nature thanks to their time at St Nicks

participant hours logged at Ecotherapy activities

attendees at our holiday activities for children and young people

Minimising waste

578.2

tonnes of business and recycling waste collected and hand sorted

1049.19

kg of “difficult to recycle” materials recycled through TerraCycle, including over:

contamination rate so no materials are rejected by 0% reprocessors and incinerated public recycling points maintained, as well as monthly 12 drop-in sessions at St Nicks

kg of 310 pens kg of crisps, nut & 415 snack packaging kg of toothbrushes 229 & toothpaste tubes

ot. 7 a?

Green corridors

113 recovery new Community Conservation 5 Hubs developed

hectares worked across for nature recovery

1,500

m of the Foss and its tributaries where water vole populations were recorded

8

km of becks and rivers where St Nicks introduced nature-friendly management

In our Big Community Challenge 2023 in partnership with City of York Council, we held 45 sessions at 15 sites across York, supported by 556 volunteers representing 19 employers and the local community.

Autumn Fayre 2023

Key achievements: reducing carbon, improving lives

Energy Redress Fund

In May, our multi-year Energy Redress programme came to a close. The duration of this programme included significant and unprecedented changes to energy markets including significant price rises and suppliers going out of business. Despite sometimes struggling to keep up with demand, the programme made a positive overall impact on the lives of vulnerable residents who were struggling with energy bills and keeping warm.

Through installing energy saving measures in their homes and/or referring them for bigger works, we’ve also helped to reduce York’s carbon emissions.

We know that a number of referrals to other agencies have led to home repairs and installations of other measures - from draught-proofing in council houses to solar panels on private roofs or a new fridge replacing an ancient predecessor. Sometimes, even just having a friendly chat with residents worried about their bills, explaining how things work and what support is available, has had a big impact on their wellbeing.

“I am writing to express my appreciation to York Energy Advice. In particular I am impressed by your personable, caring professional ways. You have been more than helpful to me in these uncertain and stressful circumstances of keeping warm. The approach and advice by York Energy Advice have been consistently useful and down to earth. [The advisor] who visited is an absolute gem. He is not only good at getting on with the work, but great at explaining things in a friendly manner. I am sure that he puts lots of people at ease. I hope more people in the community can benefit from your most worthy and excellent work.”

Here are some of the key deliverables across the lifetime of the project:

Home visits delivered: 337

We’re confident the legacy of this project is a useful and well used local advice service, which is much needed in tackling both fuel poverty and the climate crisis.

York Community Energy (YCE) has secured continuation and expansion core funding for the service from the Shared Prosperity Fund administered by the City of York Council. This has allowed them to employ a new member of staff and secure a locally based office space. St Nicks will continue to work in close partnership with YCE on an ongoing basis.

These changes in funding and structure meant saying good-bye to Ivana as she moved to work exclusively for YCE in June 2023. Over an amazing 19 years working at St Nicks, Ivana took on a wide range of different roles within the charity and has seen it through an enormous amount of change and growth. Over this time Ivana has had a significant positive impact, sharing her passion for protecting nature and educating others on sustainability. We wish Ivana all the best in her role at YCE.

York Open Eco Homes

On Sunday 1st October, York Community Energy

in partnership with St Nicks ran their annual York Open Eco Homes Event. This allowed members of the public to visit eco-friendly homes and learn more about upgrading your home for energy saving, efficiency, lower bills and reduced carbon footprint.

Significant activities: Green Corridors York (GCY)

"Our vision is to seamlessly integrate our efforts with St. Nicks' Green Corridors York project, a strategic move aimed at enhancing and expanding green spaces throughout the city. This collaborative initiative holds immense significance in bolstering the environmental sustainability of our beloved city."

St Nicks LNR - Wildwatch

The St Nicks Wildwatch group have met weekly to record species on the nature reserve since 2011. As the species list grows (2,411 in March 2024), so does the enthusiasm by the group to record even more weird, wonderful and often unrecorded wildlife. The highlight of the year came in August, when Sam Buckton found Common Cudweed at the Hazel Court entrance. This wildflower is Near Threatened on both the Great Britain and England Red List (following IUCN criteria). In the same location Sam found several other interesting plants including Sticky Groundsel, Marsh Cudweed, Annual Pearlwort and Wall Speedwell, most of which are new records for the site.

One of the group’s favourite finds from the year was a spectacular troupe of Scarlet Elfcups (at least 32!) on a pile of dead branches near the Foss Islands Cycle Path entrance in February 2024.

In June, Amy Bowman had success in attracting Synanthedon pfoefrehrg (Currant Synanthedon tipuliformis Clearwing moths) to a pheromone lure in the Environment Centre garden, where they feed on the Redcurrant bushes. In September, Amy discovered a nest of Yellow Meadow Ants Lasius flavus NFR on the bank surrounding the Dragon Stones. This ant is an ecosystem Lasius flavus engineer, creating favourable grassland conditions for many other species.

Improved river management

York Consortium of Drainage Boards (YCDB) manage the majority of our rivers. They have traditionally been seen as a barrier to delivering joined up riparian projects due to differing habitat management priorities. With partners, we have developed a positive working relationship with the Consortium, leading to the potential habitat enhancement of over 100km of waterways to support fragmented and isolated species and habitats such as water vole, tansy beetle and floodplain meadow.

This includes a biodiversity trail by the Foss Internal Drainage Board where a range of different and sympathetic management methods are being tested along the lower reaches of the Foss.

Yorkshire water vole project

Water voles have suffered a catastrophic decline across Yorkshire in recent years, due to mink predation and habitat loss. Up to date survey data is essential to identify priority areas for mink control and habitat improvement works. (Kathryn Lillistone EA Project Lead). In 2023 we worked with the River Foss Society and the EA to survey for water vole and mink at sites in the Foss catchment. New positive records of water voles were recorded on the River Foss, Westfield Beck and at Strensall Common which is encouraging after few records in previous years.

Tansy beetle research project

In partnership with the Tansy Beetle Action Group we undertook a Natural England Species Recovery Programme funded project asking the research question: How do Different Riverbank Management Techniques Benefit the Tansy Beetle and Wider Biodiversity? The aim of the study was to understand the wider invertebrate and plant communities that are associated with tansy beetle habitat and how this can be optimised for biodiversity benefits in Yorkshire River corridors (Tansy Beetle Conservation Plan 2023-2027, Objective 1.3.1). This study has provided a good starting point for future research and potential benefits to wider biodiversity, but more robust research designs with larger numbers of sites are needed

to further understand specific management regimes and tansy beetle abundance. 2023 has been a record year for Tansy beetle along the river Ouse. The annual survey revealed a population estimate of 91,000 – nearly double the previous highest estimate of 46,000 back in 2016. This demonstrates how successful positive changes in riverbank management can be.

Wild York

The interactive map (initially developed during the pilot project) and new online portal aims to make nature more accessible and democratise environmental decision making. Further developments will include:

Significant activities: Nature-based wellbeing

Ecotherapy:

improving wellbeing through nature connectedness

The Ecotherapy programme, funded primarily by the National Lottery Community Fund and a Community Mental Health Team grant, continues to see a high level of demand. We work proactively with a variety of community organisations to manage new referrals, but have seen many groups remain full, with waiting lists. Last year a total of 74 adult participants attended 4,237 hours of activities across seven weekly and four seasonal activities. The regularity of group sessions, and the accompanying 1:1 mentoring, continue to offer

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a from Ecotherapy participants saw 95% say they felt more connected to nature through St Nicks, and 91% felt more connected to other people through participating in Ecotherapy activities.

Participants are integral to the community at St Nicks, and Ecotherapy provides a calm and supportive environment, where they can shift their focus from their mental health on to nature, creativity, and learning and sharing their skills. We remain committed to fostering a culture of coproduction, empowering and enabling participants to be involved in all aspects of decision making, building on their strengths and ensuring their voices are heard and rights are championed, with the goal being for them to self-advocate in time. “St Nicks genuinely saves lives. It is a sanctuary in and amongst the noise’’ “Always considered St Nicks life-saving but now its something more, something affirmative and positive. It’s a very supportive space in which to be damaged/broken and yet still find purpose. Other people make this place what it is and there are so many wonderful people here. Thank you’’ - Ecotherapy participants -_—. : 14

“The Ecotherapy programme at St Nicks has literally been a lifeline for me in helping me to manage anxiety and depression. The kindness, thoughtfulness, care and support I have received here is the most wonderful and most appreciated thing. Because of it I do not need to contact my GP and I am able to gradually rebuild my life after trauma and manage challenges that arise. I truly wish that more people are able to access this kind of therapy. I think it would make a huge difference to our society and our world. I really hope this programme can be expanded and used as a model for other centres and programmes to follow.” - Ecotherapy participant

Education and Outreach:

improving access and interaction with nature and St Nicks

Education and outreach work has continued to grow, with our youth mentor enhancing local partnerships to engage more children and young people with our Green Leaders scheme, holiday clubs and other educational activities. 118 young people took part in our Green Leaders scheme which aims to create a deeper interest in nature, develop resilience and self-confidence, and improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people. A local primary school, two alternative education providers, a scout group based at York Mosque, and the Traveller’s Trust were all involved. Our holiday club activities saw 428 children attend in total and were part-funded by City of York Council’s Holiday Activities Fund. Seasonal activities were shaped around participants interests and needs, and have included: bushcraft (den building, safe tree climbing, rope swings); nature crafts (willow weaving, natural dying, whittling), environmental projects (bug hotels, bird feeders, planting wildflowers); nature connection and exploration (mindfulness, observation/ID skills).

A teacher we worked with told us “It’s been so nice seeing the group progress over a period of months and how they have built up a connection with each other and seeing how they work together. They love spending time in nature and it has encouraged us to set up our own forest school area at school so children can go and spend time outside more.”

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Significant activities: waste minimisation

"I love it [the recycling service]! You guys are always on time and are very efficient" - Residential recycling customer —

Break-in and response

In August 2023 St Nicks was burglarised. Thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to our garden, outbuildings and our beloved vehicles. Doris, the bigger of our two vehicles was stolen, whilst Edith who the thieves could not get working was smashed up. To say our team was upset would be an understatement!

To be honest, this senseless act of destruction really shook us, we were doubting our place in the community and had no way of knowing if the criminals would come back to try and gain entry into the building or to cause further damage. We were unable to work the day we discovered the burglary as our entire garden, paths leading to it and environment centre were active crime scenes. All of our sessions and groups had to be cancelled at very short notice. It quickly became apparent that it would not only be our staff and volunteers that were hurt by this crime.

As we needed to communicate the closure of the site for the day news of the crime spread quickly. What we hadn’t anticipated was the outpouring of support, offers of aid both financial and physical and ideas for making the site more secure. We received almost £2000 in donations to support us in the clean up.

Complications with the recovery of the vehicles and insurance meant we would not see Doris back on the road within this financial year however our fantastic team have worked incredibly hard to ensure there was no drop in service for our residents or business customers. We wanted to take this as another opportunity to thank our incredible community for their support in what was for us a very trying time.

Garage, future plans & awards!

In December 2023 we finally got planning permission to erect a garage to store our vehicles. The build is due to happen in 2024, which will free up much needed space within our garden and storage units. This year our Residential Recycling contract with City of York Council also expires, we will need to go to tender to reapply for the contract. As part of that process we will include provision to become a living wage employer.

In May our recycling crew were awarded Collection Crew of the Year at the Awards for Excellence in Recycling and Waste Management! Part of their prize, which was awarded in front of industry experts at the Grosvenor Hotel in London was a trip away for the current members of the team. Thanks to our staffs pre booked commitments, six members of the team will have a long weekend away together in September 2024!

In 2023 we also rolled out the first UK kerbside collection of candle wastes. Candles are not commonly recyclable but working with The Recycled Candle Company we are able to collect wax, wax melts, tea light holders and glass jars from our residents and as part of our Terracycle collections. The Recycled Candle Company then recycles it all back into luxury candle products. We are thrilled that some of our Business recycling customers have now opted to stock Recycled Candle Company products, so maybe you’ll be buying back materials you’d sent to be recycled!

Looking ahead

Areas of focus for 2024/25 and future aspirations

Our Environment Centre, though leading edge and fit for purpose when it was built over 20 years ago, is now in need of a major retrofit and extension. The charity has grown substantially, and we are more aware of the limitations of the space we have for our teams, participants, volunteers, and community, so the design and layout of the building need a significant overhaul in order to help our space work better for everyone.

COVID significantly changed how the building was used, and we have now re-consulted all user groups and are working with Native architects on a revised design to submit for planning approval. Once a design is approved, we start the very significant task of securing major funding to undertake this, combined with the logistics of ensuring our activities continue to run smoothly throughout any building work.

Our commitment to the VCSE Collaborative continues, to ensure that we have a voice and representation in the provision of care and services through all channels including the Integrated Care Board.

We remain close to aspects of the relaunch of the Climate Commission in York and the various working groups, many of which interconnect and touch into work that we undertake.

Finally, we are keeping a very close watch on the progression of discussions around Natural Capital, and what opportunities this may hold for St Nicks in the longer term.

Who we are

Trustees

Beki Hagger, Green Corridors Officer Rachel Hall, Ecotherapy Officer David Hammond, Recycling Officer Charlotte Hanson, Recycling Officer Marc Hodgson, Recycling Officer Ivana Jakubková, Sustainability Officer (until June 2023)

Stuart Leslie (Chair) Jonathan Exon (Vice Chair) Emma Beddington Martin Crosby (from May 2023) Samuel Crutchley (from February 2024) Savannah Green Suzanne Fagence Cooper Adrian Lovett Jamie Sims

Chris King, Recycling Officer Freya Lovett, Green Mentor (until March 2024) Jane Mackay, Thriving at Work Officer Maeve Milliken, Green Corridors Trainee (from July 2023)

Patron

Kate Pickett

Eithne Philips, Project Officer Sam Taylor, Waste & Recycling Manager Eleanor Tookey, Ecotherapy Officer Nicola Ward, Green Corridors Officer - Ouse Staurt Watling, Recycling Officer Jo Young, Nature-based Wellbeing Manager

Staff

Ellie Stead, CEO

Mark Claridge, Caretaker (until January 2024) Nicola Ward, Green Corridors Officer - Ouse Jonathan Dent, Green Corridors Manager Staurt Watling, Recycling Officer Eliza Fergusson, Charity Support Manager Jo Young, Nature-based Wellbeing Manager Abi Gibbons, Community Engagement Officer (until March 2024) Maria Gill, Green Corridors Officer - Foss "I feel that our team celebrate each other’s contribution. This is due to the caring and appreciative environment created by our manager and shared by each other" - Staff survey response , 2023 ~~|~~

Volunteers

We would like to thank our volunteers for their efforts, energy and enthusiasm: across educational activities, green corridor sites, park rangers, citizen scientists, eco-crafters, helping events to run smoothly, corporate groups... the list goes on and we are so grateful for every single person who generously shares their time and skills to help make York a place where people value wildlife, the environment and each other equally to sustain a rich and healthy life for all.

Governance and risk management

The Friends of St Nicholas Fields is a registered CIO (charity number 1153739). In line with our Constitution, the Board of Trustees may appoint up to twelve trustees, who are ratified by our members at the Annual General Meeting. Trustees are selected and appointed based on the skills they bring to the charity.

The Board of Trustees and senior management team regularly review our risk register in order to govern effectively and mitigate any identified risks. In relation to some of our higher scoring risks, we have made good progress in addressing potential issues around securing continuity of funding (financial), economic and political changes (external), and succession planning (governance).

Overall, the Board of Trustees of St Nicks have given consideration to the most significant risks to which the charity is exposed and satisfied themselves that appropriate and proportional systems and procedures are in place to mitigate those risks.

Financial activities 2023/4

In 2023/2024 St Nicks generated income of £655,526 against £582,172 in the previous year. Total expenditure amounted to £654,883 (2022/2023 £617,228). The net result of the charity for the year is a surplus of £654 (2022/2023 deficit £35,056).

This virtual breakeven position is exactly as planned for the year end.

We are in the process of securing our partnership contract with City of York Council for a five-year period for residential recycling.

We remain thankful to all our funding partners this year, whose recognition of the value we provide has enabled us to be accredited as a Living Wage Employer. Thank you to all our members, supporters and hard-working volunteers as well as the fantastic team at St Nicks for a record year of results and outcomes.

2023-24

2022-23

Thank you to our key supporters

Better Connect Brelms Trust City of York Council Department for Work and Pensions Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme Energy Savings Trust Environment Agency Ernest Cook Trust Groundwork Heworth Ward Committee Hey Smile Foundation Hull Road Ward Committee Joseph Rowntree Foundation Natural England Natural England Species Recovery Fund Seed Corn Fund Neighbourly Persimmon Homes Spark Fund

Tang Hall Big Local The National Lottery Community Fund The National Lottery Heritage Fund Two Ridings Community Foundation York CVS York St John University Yorkshire Water

Organisations donating funds or other support: Latimer York CVS York Cares River Foss Society GoodGym North and East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Foss Internal Drainage Board

Friends of St Nicholas Fields

(Charity Registration Number 1153739)

Trustees Annual Report & Financial Statements for the year ended

31st March 2024

Charity accounts preparation & independent examination service

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Pt

I report on the accounts of: Friends of St Nicholas Fields

for the year ended 31st March 2024

which are set out on pages 23 to 36.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the "2011 Act") and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. 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 in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of The Chartered Institute Of Management Accountants.

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

have not been met; or

Date: 7th November 2024 LO

Frlends of St Nlcholas Flelds (Chanty Registratson Numbef 11537391 Statement of Flnan¢lal Aetlvltles for the year ended: 31 March 2024 Unrestrlclod funds Rostrlcted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Note Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading acb"vitses Investments Other 33.727 178.752 72,525 1,835 5.545 33,727 541,777 72,642 1,835 5,545 20.474 506,290 51.100 285 4.023 363.025 117 Total Income 292,384 363,142 655,526 582,172 Expendlture on: Raising funds Charitable activit￿9 457 291.284 28 363.114 485 654.398 3.579 613,649 Total expendlture 291,741 363.142 654,883 617,228 Net Incomel(expendlture) 643 643 135.0561 Gross transfers between funds 160) Nel movement In funds 583 60 643 135.0561 Total funds brought forward 132.465 297.e66 430.331 465.387 Total funds carrled forward 133,048 297,926 430,974 430,331 24

Frlends of St Nlcholas Flelds {Charty Registration Number 1153739) Balance Sheet as at: 31 st March 2024 Not• 2023 2022 Flxed assets Tangible assets 298,793 295,645 Total flxed assets Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 154,886 206,013 72,007 Debtors & prepayments Stock 68.133 Total current assets Current Ilabllltles: amounts falllng due wlthln one year Creditors and accruals 10 (90,838) 132,181 (143.334) 134,686 Net current assets Not Assets 430,974 430.331 Funds of the Charlty Unrestricted Funds (General) 11 133.048 132.465 Restricted Funds 297,926 297.866 Total Funds Carrled Forward 11 430,974 430,331 The flnanclal statements were approved by the trustees on: And sl8ned on thelr behalf by: Stuart Leslie, Chair of Trustees 25

Friends of St Nicholas Fields Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended: 31st March 2024 Total 2024 Total 2023 Cash flows from operating activities Net Incomel(expendlture) for the year Add: Depreciation for the year 643 5.748 (35,056) 3,918 Worklng ¢apltal ¢hange8 Ilncrease}Idecrease in stock (Increase)Idecrease in debtors Increasel(decrease) in creditors 3,874 (52,496) (25,669) (30,807) Net cash provided byl(u5ed in) operating activitie5 42,231 87,614 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of fixed assets Disposal of fixed assets 8,896 1,000 8,896 1,000 Change In cash and cash equivalents in the year (51.127) (88,614) Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2020 206,013 294,627 Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2021 154,886 206,013 26

Friends ol St Nicholas Field¥ (Cawty Regstrm 11537391 Notes to the accounts for the year ended: 31st March 2024 1 81818 ol preparatlon 1.1 Basis of a¢¢ountlng The financial statements are prepared under the historTrcal cost cOnVentK￿ and the Accounb"ng and Reporting by chant￿s. Statement of Recommended Pract￿e applicable to chantses Pfepamg their accounts In accofdance wth the Financial Repornng SLyKlard applKable m the UK and Repubhc ol Ireland (chant￿ SORP IFRS 102)). 1.2 Chan£e of ba$ls of a¢¢ountlnz There has been ￿ chan9e to the accountry Fdicies {vahjaIK￿ nles metlv)ds of accountsng) snce last year. 1.3 Chang• to pr•vlous accounts There has been some recaiegonsatK#) of income and expendrture from last ￿ar . Thts does fK)l affect the lotsl figures . 2 Accountlng pollcl• Income and endowments R•cognltlon of Incom• These are Included in Ihe Slatement ol Fin￿¢•al Activrties (SOFA) when: - Ihe chanty becomes entitled lo resources; - receipi of the resources Is wobable", and - Ihe monelary value can be measured with suffic￿1 re￿a￿lty. Incomlng r•sourc•s wlth r•lat•d •xp•ndilur• Where Incoming resources have relaled expeTrJrture. the inc(xnmg reS0￿S and related expendrture are reported gross in the SOFA Grants and donations Granls and donat￿nS are orty incI￿jed in the SOFA Ththen the chanty has evKlence ol entrtlement to the re%￿rCeS and ￿ce￿I ts rrfobable. Volunt••r h•lp The value ol any voknntsry hety> received is included in the accounts but is desuibed Wi the trustees, annual Inv•sthi•nt Incom• This ts included in the accounis vthen receivable. 27

Expenditure and Liabilities Expenditure Raising funds Cost of raising fijnds comwise those costs associated with attracting voluntary income. Charitable a¢tivi1188 Charilable activities expenditure comprises tIN)se costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its actiwties and services. It includes both costs Ihat can be allocated directly to such athvities and those costs of an Indirect nature necessary to support them. Liability r8cognition Liabilities are recognised as SO￿ as there is a legal or constructive obligats'on commith'ng the charity to pay out resources. Assets Tangible fixod a$9ets for use by tho charity These are capitalised rf they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £20CQ. They are valued at cost or. if grfted, al the value to the charity on receipt. less depreciat￿n. Depreciation Is provided at rales to write off the costs less eslimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life as fdlows" Office equipment Project equipment Computer equipment Adventure playground equipment 25% 250A 33.33% 25°/4 straight line basis straight line basis straight line basis straight Ine basis Envlronment Cenlre Depreciation is on a straight line basis in line wlh the lease length. Fund accounllng Unrestricted funds are funds vthich are available for use at the discrets'on of the trustees In furtherance of the general o*ectFves of the chanty. Restricted funds are funds ¥thlch can only be used for parts'cular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restridions arise when specrfied by the donor. 28

Friends of St Nicholas Field5 (Charty Registra*on Number 11537391 Notes to the accounts for the year ended: 31 March 2024 3 Income and endowments 2024 2023 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Unrestricted 2024 funds Restricted funds Total 2023 3.1 Donations and legacies Donations Legaoes Gift Aid Grants 13,22S 13,225 7,346 3.108 7,348 3,106 15.502 33.727 15.502 33.727 10.022 20.474 10 022 20.474 3.2 Charitabl• actlvltl•$ Grants Wasre minim8lisalion Recycling scheme Recycling credits Local Nature Reserve SLA Habitat ¢ontra¢t work 3S9.744 359.744 12.422 114.560 13.643 23.008 18.400 349.589 349,589 12.422 111.279 13.643 23.(KJ8 18.400 3.281 108.038 25.655 23.￿8 108,038 25,6SS 23,008 178.752 363.025 541.777 156.701 349.589 506.290 3.3 Other tradlng a¢llvltl•s Educational. lettings & rentals Membership fees Eéucalional events General sales Shop salos 2.815 1.453 3.287 64.938 117 2,932 1.453 3287 64.930 1.339 Z25 1.584 8DO 4.082 44,594 60 51.100 2.944 44.594 60 49,737 1.138 72.525 11 72.642 1.363 3.4 Investments Bank Interost 1.835 1.835 1.835 1.835 285 285 285 285 3.3 Olher Other sundry in¢om• Open University- Bran¢hing ¢xrt JRS furlough granl 1.645 1.645 123 3,WO 123 3,900 4,023 Total Income 292.384 363,142 655.526 231.220 350.952 582,172 29

4 Expènditure Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Unrestricted 2024 funds Restricted funds # Total 2023 4.1 Raising funds Marketing & publKty Gosts Purchases lor resale 100 357 457 28 128 357 1.150 2.114 3.264 315 1.465 2.114 3.579 28 315 4.2 Charitable a¢tiviti•s Salaries St#ff training & other ￿$ts Volunteer training & oth•r Msts Rent & rates 21JO.708 125 245.017 3.410 445.725 3.535 $34 433 2.302 14.982 2.050 9.498 3.920 13.863 1.883 9.040 24.277 22.010 67.S17 18.840 404 3.032 2.841 2.164 5.748 654.39 191.019 4.873 668 810 2.111 5.189 1.532 2.143 1.697 13.129 2.707 4.745 11.973 3.450 4.021 12.011 150 1.197 224.355 4,528 1,180 282 415.374 9.401 1.828 1.092 2.957 5.813 2.206 4.357 2.404 15.070 3.793 15.456 28.932 33.430 49.033 16,830 211 1.529 344 1.653 14.225 1.557 6.721 2.753 8.609 1,352 587 6.747 956 20.448 13.528 332 3.032 2.641 839 1,325 4.127 1.621 291.284 ￿114 89 Cleaning. repairs & renewals Heallh and safety & security Telephone. IT & communrAtKyn$ Postag& & Ststionery Insurance Memberships & subscTiPtKJn$ Lègal & professional l••s Resources & equipment Proie¢l supp Other project costs Accountancy fvs Bank Charges Event costs Svndry expenses Bad d•bts & balances wrtten off Deprea&t￿n 757 493 2.777 1.167 5.254 531 8.453 17.530 21.054 47.069 5,312 72 624 674 2,214 707 1,941 1,086 10.711 16,959 29,980 45.012 4,819 61 332 12 2.796 266.233 15 3.918 613.649 1.122 347,416 Total expendlture 291,741 363.142 654.883 269,497 347,731 617.228 S Exponsos & foes No truslees received a remur*ralThM lor services rendered during the ￿ar. nor w•r• any trU￿8e$. out of pocket expenses reinbursed. 5.1 Fees for examlnallon of the accounts 2024 2023 Independent Examinerfs fees for reporting on the accounts 750 6 Staff costs and emoluments 6.1 Staff costs Gross salar￿S Employers National Insuranee Pension contribubons 2024 2023 411.774 25.780 8.171 384,481 23.659 7,254 415374 6.2 Average number of full time equivalent employees by department 2024 2.00 10.27 0.50 2.00 14.T7 2023 2.00 10.45 o.so 2.00 14.95 Fundraising Charitable acts'vilies Govemance Other Total No employee received remuneralion in excess of £60,01)012023:Nil} 30

7 Flxed assels 2024 Leasehold Office Environmenl equipment General equipment Cornputer equipment Tolal 7.1 Cost or valuation 8alan¢¢ blfwd 324.111 64.820 388.931 Additions 8.896 8.896 Disposals {63,820 1 8alanc• clfwd 324 111 9.896 397.827 Depreelatlon Balance blfwd 29.466 83.820 93.286 Charge for year 3.274 2.474 5,748 Dlsposals (63.820 1 Balan¢• clfwd 32,740 2.474 99,034 Net book value 31 March 2024 91,3 2023 Leasthold Offi¢¢ Environment equipmenl G¢neral equipmenl Computer equipment Total Cost or valuation Balance blh¥d 324.111 83.820 387,931 Additlons 1.01)0 1,000 Dispo$al$ Balance elfwd 324.111 64.820 388.931 Depreciation Balance blfwd 20.192 63.176 89,368 Charge for ￿ar 3.274 3.918 Dlsposals Balance clfvid 29.466 63.820 Nel l)ook value 31 March 2023 294.645 1.000 95,645 31

Unrestricted Restricted Tolal 2024 2023 8 Cash at bank and in hand Current bank account CAF Cash account CAF Gold account Triodos Virgin money givng Go cardless Cashplus business debit card Flagstone Group Ltd PayPal account Soldo Other cash in hand 32.380 84,055 20,095 67,124 103 1117) 14,996 40.345 14,996 40.345 <30) <30) 98.538 142 575 320 154.886 98.538 142 575 320 154.886 1.017 737 619 206,013 9 Debtors and prepayments 2024 2023 Debtors and prepayTnents Trade debtors Other debtors Prepayments and a¢ewed inc¢m• 45.238 415 22.480 36,947 472 34.588 72.007 Total 10 Cr•dltors and accruals 2024 2023 Amounls falling due within one year Trade creditors Deposits held A¢¢ruals and deferred ineome Tax and social securty 9.794 202 70.417 10.425 13.274 202 113.965 15.893 143 334 Total 32

11 Movement of funds 11.1 Movement of major funds 2024 Fund name Balance Incoming bllwd resources Outgoing resources Balance clfwd Transfers Unrestricted funds (General) General unrestri¢led funds Waste minimisalion 124,714 7,751 132.465 279.962 12.422 279,962 291.741 {601 112.875 20.173 133.048 291.741 60 Restricted funds Environment Centre Grants Central Energy redress Kickstarter Big Give Grants Waste minlrnisatlon Precious plastic Grants Green Spaces Brelms Trust Green recovery HR Park York urban becks Yor* urfoan becks 2 Yorkshire water National lottery heritage NE Seedcorn New lo nature Rawcliffe lake Grants Nature & wellbeing Green influencers scheme National lottery communsty lund BLF2 JRCT CMHT TRCF Green leaders Deciding together Two Ridings COL Thrlving al wt)rk 294.645 294.645 11.945 11.945 (601 7.340 7.340 3,281 3,850 3.850 3.281 4.505 894 15.471 3,459 46.528 3.964 49.036 13,7SO 16,329 2.063 4.505 894 15.471 3.459 46.526 49.036 13.750 16.329 2.063 9.143 111.328 8.335 6.379 13.974 9.830 11.630 7.570 5.821 363 142 9.143 111.328 8.335 6.379 13.974 9.830 11.630 7,570 5.821 363 142 297 866 60 297 926 Total Funds 43 43.104 54.8 ,974 Transfer of funds The kickstarter fund has now finished and 8 Iransler has been made to dear the balance. 33

2023 Fund name Balance blfvid Incorning resources Outgoing resources 8alanre clfwd Transfers Unrestricted funds {General} General unrestrided funds Waste minimisatson 1 $3,950 231.220 269,497 9.041 7.751 16,792 124,714 7.751 132.465 153,950 231.220 269.497 Restricted funds Environment Centre Waste minimisatK)n TEWV 2 Grants Central Energy redress Kickstarter Building Capacth'es Grants Waste rninimisation Precious Plastic Guildhall & binslore proied Grants Green Spaces 8relms Trust CYC Fishergale ward Green recovery HR Park York urban beek$ Heworth Ward Yorkshire water Grants Nature & Wellbeing Green influencers scheme National lottery communty lund HAF Nature for all Green social prescribing NRN seed ¢¢)m Decidin9 together Multiply Thriving at wo 302.299 7,751 1.387 7.654) (7.751) (1.387) 294,645 21.135 8.340 21.195 8.340 8.364 60) 4.814 1,700 1.533 1.700 3.281 6.012 1.300 66.626 59.447 3.258 8.012 1.300 66.626 S9,447 3.258 15.586 15.586 18.563 64.670 8.847 9.950 9.768 8.857 6.867 4.560 24.198 350.952 18.563 84.670 8.847 9.950 9.768 8.857 8.867 4.560 24.198 347 731 311.437 297.866 Total Funds 465.38 582.172 617,228 430.331 The wasle minimisalion fund has been recognised this year as a deshjnated fund and not restrbcled as it is UDdeTspend thal has been set aside for 'rainy dal spending. The TEWV surplus has been Iranslerred to unrestricted as Ihere was an error reSu￿1n9 in underallocation in previous years. This fuThg has now been spent with no further reports'ng required by the fvrKlers. 34

11.2 Dotalls of Funds Held Unreslricled Funds (General) The General fund is unrestricled and available for Ihe general purposes of the Organisation. Restricted Funds The restricted lunds are onSy available for the purposes specified for each fund. whth are: Environment Centre A fund used towards building of the centre to provide envir(fftmental educational facilities. Energy redress Partnership proje¢t pr¢viding qualty advice diTe¢tty to h(yJ$eh¢lders in vvlnerable $ituatK)n$ underpwined by a Ivhole house. approach. Big Give Funding provided for bmprovement Wiyks to our environment centre Precious plasli¢ To set up and lest ow own in house recycling System for plastics thich will be used at events and worf(shops Brelms Trusl Part fund salary of Natural Habitats Manager Green recovery National Lottery Heritage fund to kick start the creation and restoration of more. bwger. better and more joined up habitats across three landscape scale corridors and 22 sites across York Local Authofty Area. including floodplain meadow. hedgerows. woodland and riparian habitat of the Cfili¢alty endangefed tansy beetle HR Park Environmental Agency funding to restore natural processes of Osba1th￿Ck 8eck through Hull Road Park York urban becks City of York Council funds to undertake e¢dog1￿1 surveys of Hull Road park and the WKler O$balthYrck beck. York urban becks 2 City of York Council lunds to undertake ecdogical surveys of Hull Road park and the wider OsbalthYTrck beck. Yorkshire water Restore and enhance habilals along urban rea¢hes of Tang Hall and Osbaldwi¢k 8ecks National lottery herilage Green CorrKlors York Rivers and Floodplains - 3 s*ar pfoject connecting habitats arrfl communrties for nature fecovery across York's nvers and floodplain$ NE Seedcorn Natural England seed Com fund to test oul methods to ervJa9e more arbd wthr range of people in natural ¢onservation acTOSS Fulford Ing$ corridor New to nature Funding from Groundwork for a Green Corridors York trainee for 12 months. Trainees are paid a competitive wage for 12.monlhs while gaining valuable handS￿n expenence in the environmental sector. This not only allows them to support themselves but also oflers a stepping sl¢)ne towards a fulfilling career. Rawcliffe lake Funding from Yorkshire Water 8iodNersty Fund to enhance habitats around Rawcltffe Lake Green influencers scheme Two Ridings Communty Foundation funding which funds ¢)ur Green Mentor to wn oryanised Green Influencer group$ wilh schools and other youth organisations National lottery community fund Funding over 5 years {May 2018-May 20231 to fund the Ecotherapy Programme BLF2 Big Lottery FurKI - Used to fund our Ecotherpay programme JRCT funded expansion of trfo additional wèekty groups. Diseover Nature arKI Discover Nature Cbser Lt)ok. alongslde additional staff time and fv40 trips for the group participants. 35

CMHT NHS commi58•oned fijnding for the Making Tracks proiECt that tOP8 up our Ecotherapy provision. Covering Fos8 Park allotment seS￿ons, Making Tracks conservatson se8￿nS. and a WOPOTbon of Ecotherapy Officer IGreen Corridors) and Ecotherapy Officer IAdministratw)nl staff hour¥. TRCF Green leaders An extension of the Green Influeneers s&*me facilrtaling Green Leaders groups at local prwnary ￿h0O19 aimed at Year S and 6 (ages 10-111. one with Pupil Referral Unit aimed at Years 64 lages 11-131. and also engaged wrth York Mosque S¢outs. Green Leaders aim was for groups to leam al)out types of enwronmenlal and ¢onservalion actw. while building skills, ¢onfiden¢e. and independence. Deciding together Via Two RKling Communty Ft)undation. this funding provided for a pilot for nueasing partnership work around nature ¢onnecledness and mental wellbeing across York Two Ridings COL Warm Spaces provision last year. offenng a wami space with food and hol drinks available, games to play. and referrals to loodbanks rf needed. The wami space was open to all th• eommunty Thriving at work Govemmenl fvnded programme whi¢h allows us to ddiver mental heamh awareness arKI resilien¢e to smalumedium •nlerprises and ￿diVudals in work. 12 Net assets between funds Unre$tri¢led Restricted Funds Funds Total 2024 Balances at 31 st Mareh 2024 Fixed assets Current assets Current liabiliti'•s 4,148 149.668 20.768 294.645 73,351 170.070 297.926 298.793 223.019 190.838 430.974 133.048 Umstrlcl•d R•strlcled Fund• Fund• Total 2023 8•￿n¢￿ •t 31•1 M•r¢h 2023 Fixed assets Currènt assets Curnenl babdi'lies 295.645 278.020 143.334 274.799 143.334 3.221 132,465 297.866 430,331 36

Report published in October 2024 by St Nicks (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered as Friends of St Nicholas Fields, charity no. 1153739) 01904 411821 | info@stnicks.org.uk | www.stnicks.org.uk St Nicks Environment Centre, Rawdon Avenue, York YO10 3FW Connect with us on social media: