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