Ushaw Moor Action Grou Trustees Re ort 2024-2025 Introduction Ushaw Moor Action Group (hereafter UMAG) is a registered charity (Charity number: 115 7340), operating from The Hut, Chestnut Grove. Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LJ. This trustees annual report has been compiled by UMAG trustees for submission to the UK Charities Commission in accordance with UMAG'S status as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It covers the period of one year from 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025. UMAG'S mission and purpose UMAG is a small volunteer-run charity established to engage with the whole village community on issues of common interest by working together to encourage community spirit and promote citizen empowerment to make a difference locally (for exact constitutional wording please see below in section111). UMAG carries out this function primarily by offering spaces and opportunities for local people to meet, make connections and engage on local issues via two community sites: The Hut and Ushaw Moor Community Garden. This year has seen no changes made to the organisation's mission and purpose. The Hut The Hut is a local community building located close to the centre of the village, which offers an affordable local venue for parties, groups, clubs and other community-based events and gatherings including the local Youth Club, mother and toddler groups, the Bread and Butter thing, and more. The Hut also acts as a base for all UMAG operations. UMAG volunteers use this venue to host local events that support community wellbeing and reduce social isolation, especially for children and families. Ushaw Moor Community Garden UMAG'S community garden was estsblished around 2012 to improve local mental and physical wellbeing. Volunteers work to maintain the garden and develop their growing experience via volunteer sessions that are held every Wednesday and Saturday. The garden has also usually hosted an annual harvest féte and a program
of youth activities, acting as a resource for local schools to bring children to take part in growing and nature-based activities, as well as for local people seeking some more accessible green respite in the centre of Ushaw Moor, which is a hillside village. The garden is one of Ushaw Moor's last remaining accessible outdoor community venues. 11. UMAG'S governance structure and management A. Governance structure At the time of filing this report, UMAG and its activities were overseen by four trustees, as follows". Milena Kopowska Fiona Southward Marie-claire Moquln Amber Donovan Each trustee has an equal vote in the charity's decision making. Trustees provide oversight of UMAG operations and receive regular feedback from UMAG volunteers. UMAG'S day-to-day activities are supported and implemented by a dedicated group of volunteers. From an organisational perspective, UMAG'S volunteer Chairman (Jimmy Jamieson), Secretary (Rebecca Watt) and Treasurer (Ann Boll) are highly instrumental to implementing trustee decisions. Three of UMAG'S trustees also play an instrumental role in community gard8n operations. The year ending 31 October 2025 has seen no changes made to UMAG'S governance structure. B. Operational Management UMAG coordinates its operations primarily via open monthly meetings that take place in The Hut on the first Thursday of every month. Here, trustees and interested volunteers convene to discuss the operation of the Hut and the garden, receive updates on the charity's financial situation and raise issues or activities of relevance to UMAG and its mission. Between these monthly meetings, the day to day running of UMAG and its two venues is undertaken as follows.. The Hut.. A small team of volunteers (primarily UMAG'S Chairman and Treasurer) manage the bookings diary, payments, liaison with groups and access to the Hut, as well as communication with a local cleaner (engaged by agreement with the trustees) to ensure that the facility is maintained in good condition. In addition, this small team organises local family events and liaises with community stakeholders to coordinate the provision of emergency food bags, as needed.
Ushaw Moor Community Garden.. A small volunteer coordination team is charged with managing the day to day operations of the garden. This includes developing maintenance and growing priorities and drafting and implementing task lists that are carried out by garden volunteers. Garden volunteers take a variety of forms, including a small regular cohort of five volunteers who are often joined for periods or on an ad hoc basis by additional volunteers. Garden management takes place within the framework of periodic coordination meetings and volunteer check-inlupdate meetings during gardening sessions. The year ending 31 October 2025 has seen no changes made to UMAG'S operational management. C. Risk Management UMAG undertook a review of its risk management processes and procedures in 2022, and continues to revisit these arrangements annually to ensure their continued relevance and efficacy. AII UMAG'S operations are conducted in line with its constitution, as well as its policies and procedures. Copies of these policies are available to trustees and coordinators online, and to volunteers in hardcopy at each of UMAG'S physical venues. These policies include: Data Protection (GDPR) Policy Safeguarding Policy Health and Safety Policy Volunteer Policy Volunteer Charter Lone worker policy Whistleblowlng Pollcy These policies are supplemented by a number of additional documents and protocols to ensure their effective implementation, including risk assessment records, accidents books, volunteer induction protocols and more. Both the Hut and the community garden are regularfy assessed for potential risks to volunteers, users and other members of the public and, where identified, are discussed at UMAG'S monthly meetings. The year ending 31 October 2025 saw no changes to UMAG'S risk management processes or procedures. with only minor amends to internal protocols. D. Volunteer and trustee recruitment UMAG recruits volunteers to assist it in its activities via open calls on social media, as well as specific events designed to attract interest and engagement among the local community.
In 2024-2025, these events included several litter picks in Ushaw Moor village, which saw some good attendance when weather was conducive. Volunteer recruitment is undertaken in line with UMAG'S volunteer policy. Engaged volunteers undergo more in depth induction training and sign UMAG'S volunteer charter. All UMAG'S volunteers are supported to access training that is deemed necessary for the effective carrying out of their functions (e.g. health and safety, first aid, funding etc). UMAG actively recruits trustees from its own existing volunteers and users of its facilities to ensure that trustees have some working knowledge of UMAG operations. However, it also seeks to attract trustees from the wider community in order to ensure that it can benefit from a broader range of perspectives and talents from a managerial perspective. Trustees are recruited by UMAG through public calls for trustees via social media, as well as requests for expressions of interest among UMAG'S networks, volunteers, users and trusted members of the Ushaw Moor community. Over the reporting period, UMAG secured the assistance of some new volunteers in the community garden on a regular and ad hoc basis, including skilled craftsmen and women who have helped to address maintenance issues and contributed to the renovation of the space. 111. UMAG'S activities and objectives throughout 2024-25 In accordance with its constitution, UMAG'S charitable purpose is to "engage with the whole village community to address issues which affect us all as residents ,by working together to encourage community spirit, implement improvements and promote citizen empowerment to make a difference in a Ushaw Moor.. (Art.3, Ushaw Moor Action Group Constitution). Throughout the reporting period, UMAG has continued to pursue its charitable purposes in seeking to promote a sense of togetherness and community by offering local people a space and schedule of events at which they can meet and interact, as well as supporting more vulnerable members of the local community. This has been done via the following activities: Providing the community with affordable venue to hire. Providing space for local groups and clubs to run private and open activities. Maintaining the community garden as an open space for the public, providing opportunities for local people to grow food, and sharing the vegetables grown in the community garden with local residents and visitors to the garden. Organisation and delivery of a Kids Christma5 paty 2024. Organisation and delivery of a Kids Easter party 2025.
Coordination of food bags for vulnerable households (supply, facilitation of collection or delivery) in coordination with a local primary school and NHS doctors. Garden infrastructure repair and restoration, including renovation of the garden space to ensure accessibility and suitability for village users. Organisation and delivery of a Kids Halloween Party 2025. Community litter picks around different parts of Ushaw Moor. All events were provided free of charge to ensure maximum participation. Beneficiaries of UMAG-organised events have included: Local families, especially those on low incomes and with restricted access to transport, who were given an affordable local venue in which to host parties and gatherings, as well as a chance to access emergency food bags, when needed. Local individuals, families and children, who were given a chance to come together, socialise and enjoy some free local entertainment. Local people experiencing isolation, who have an opportunity to attend regular volunteer as well as ad hoc events. The local community, which was given an opportunity to connect and a venue from which to base their activities, including Baby and toddler, baby sensory and Yoga sessions, and a sewing group. Other local charities, including the Bread and Butter Thing, NHS, Family hub, Women's institute and the local Youth Group, who benefitted from a local venue in which to host events. Local small businesses and interest groups and their patrons, who were given an affordable venue in which to hold their own events and meetings, including Bur185que chair dancing and yoga. Local schools and youth groups, who collaborated with the local community garden to foster a greater appreciation for nature and food growing. IV. Financial review Having started the financial year with £14,843.94 in its account, UMAG'S incoming receipts over the period 2024 to 2025 totalled £31,118.85. The principal sources of this income have be8n The Hut hire, grants and donations. With a sum total of £17,851 .09 in payments over the year, this has seen UMAG in possession of a closing balance of £28,111 .70p in its account. That sum comprises the following: £6,484.96 in working capital; £11,694.86 in restricted funds (as per funder T&Cs); £3,931.88 in designated funds; and £6,000.00 in reserve funds.
UMAG'S funds are allocated to children and family events held in The Hut and Community Garden, supporting community groups,continued provision and running of The Hut and renovation of UMAG'S community garden space. A sum of £6,000 has been set aside as a financial contingency reserve to ensure that the charity would be able to withstsnd any future emergency expenditure, such as unexpected major structural repairs, legal costs or coverage of the charity's running costs in the event of a sudden loss of income. Conditions for expenditure in these circumstances have been discussed and the £6,000 sum reflects an estimate of the greatest possible repair cost that the Hut might ever be expected to incur (e.g. a major roof repair). Funds held as a custodian trustee UMAG holds no funds as a custodian trustee. This report was endorsed by the undersigned trustees on 1011112025. Milena Kopowska (Trustee) Fiona Southward (frustee) Marie-claire Moquin (Trustee) Amber onovan (Trustee)
Ushaw Moor Action Group- Financial Report 01 NOVEMBER 2024 - 31 OCTOBER 2025 Income To Date Hire of Hut Grant Funding Donations Total Income 8.374 21.895 850 31.119 Expenditure Consurnables Electric Gas Garden Insurance Intemet Ground Rent Garden Project Cleaning Services Water Equipment Check Website Events Food Bank Hut Maintenance Local Donation Music License YAProject Hut Equipment Hut General Admin Total Expenditure 75 431 893 513 1224 453 50 8629 1618 461 279 119 2405 337 170 160 35 17851
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT ON Accoumrs REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF USHAW MOOR AcfioN GROUP on accounts for the ar erMlinB 31 ottober 2025 Charity Number 1157340 I have no concems and have come aLToss no other matters in connection with the examlnation to which attention should be drawn. "gned Date Name RÈleYant professional qualtfi(ationlsl or body lif artyl