## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1 September 2020 Period start date To 31 August 2021 Period end date Charity name: Olden Community Garden** ## **Charity registration number: 1158105** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the CIO are to promote for
the benefit of those people living or working
in the London Borough of Islington a
community garden and associated facilities
to advance education and for the purposes
of recreation or other leisure time
occupation of individuals who have need of
such facilities by reason of their youth, age,
infirmity or disability, financial hardship or
social and economic circumstances or for
the public at large in the interests of social
welfare and with the object of improving
their condition of life.| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes**for the public**
**benefit,**in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|Olden Community Garden was created in
1986 when a group of residents
successfully campaigned to rescue a
derelict railway embankment and turn it
into a community garden. Over the years,
the site has become a significant asset for
the local community. Islington has less
green space than any other London
borough, and our garden and woodland
form an important wildlife habitat. Olden
Garden contains the largest area of
woodland in the Borough and is one of the
largest community managed open spaces
in north London. The Borough recognises
the importance of Olden Community
Garden to the area and has designated it
Grade 1 SINC (Site of Importance for
Nature Conservation).
Olden Community Garden is normally
open to the public at least 55 times a year,
though this was adversely affected by
Covid restrictions during the year under
review. We continued to be open to our
growing membership and their guests
from dawn until dusk every day. For much
of the year we suspended our volunteer
workdays and general openings to the| |||public due to government Covid19 social
distancing guidelines and advice from the
London Borough of Islington.
During the same period, we saw a
significant increase in membership and in
usage by members and their families and
friends.
Olden Community Garden is largely
maintained by volunteers, members and
non-members, with the support of two
part-time gardeners who are advisers to
the Committee. Members who have the
entry code can drop in at any time for
volunteer gardening or to enjoy the
garden and woodland. Our part-time
gardeners are present one day per week
to guide and encourage our volunteers. In
addition, our monthly volunteer gardening
Saturday attracts up to 25 volunteers who
come along to make new friends and
learn more about Olden Community
Garden.
From the significant increase in usage
during the year, it is clear that many more
people are benefitting from the
recreational aspects provided by Olden
Community Garden. Walking, sitting,
reading in the garden and woodland,
enjoying the peace and quiet, looking at
our flowers, are all much appreciated and
contribute to the wellbeing of local people.
Following the re-configuration of the lawn
we have a large area that is being re-
paved to provide us with a second
accessible patio.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees were satisfied that the
activities of Olden Community Garden met
the objectives as set out in the constitution,
and the requirement of public benefit. We
continue to be guided by the requirement of
public benefit as we plan our future
programme of work and activities in Olden
Community Garden.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making N/A Para 1.38 |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment||| |---|---|---| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Olden Community Garden encourages
volunteers to get involved in gardening to
help reduce isolation and improve
wellbeing. During the year some 50
volunteers supported the charity in many
ways, including working in Olden
Community Garden and with administration
of the Charity.| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the main
achievements of the
charity, identifying the
difference the charity’s
work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any
wider benefits to
society as a whole.|Para 1.20|During the 12 months of the review year, Covid
had a major effect on the lives of our local
community and on Olden Community Garden. It
created major challenges for us as a
community-managed open space, our
engagement with members and volunteers, our
fundraising activity, our relationship with
neighbours. We experienced a significant
increase in usage during lockdowns. We have
been a much appreciated resource for
individuals and family groups who have no
garden. We are hugely grateful to our Trustees,
members and volunteers for their support
during this challenging year.
A major achievement was to reconfigure the
bottom half of our lawn. We created a small
sleeper-based wall which has extended the
social area around the Garden House and has
taken the pressure of footfall from the lawn. We
raised the soil level behind the wall to flatten out
the slope and improve water retention. New turf
was laid with the help of volunteers and a new
rose bed planted. But we will need to combat
the deleterious influence of the eucalyptus tree,
its thirst for rainwater and its insidious leaves,
and be attentive to the lawn to make sure it
thrives. The reconfiguration has provided us
with a second accessible patio area which will
be paved in the coming year.
With the harvested water from the Roundhouse
roof and use of the irrigation system on the long
border, we have had no drought problems this
year. We produced much of our own compost
by sieving our annual leaf-fall and turning it into
cutting and seed compost. Other green waste| materials were incorporated into dead hedges and other eco-heaps. In the woodland we addressed the longstanding problem of dead and dying trees/saplings, several of which had fallen. Following inspection by an officer from Islington Council’s parks department, he gave us permission to arrange for The London Tree Company to fell over 20 dead and dangerous saplings. The officer also confirmed that the silver birch which gives concern to neighbours is in good condition and that we would not be permitted to lop the eucalyptus. With our greenhouse, Olden Garden continued to be a hub for community vegetable growing. Lynne and other volunteers continued their work on the vegetable terraces, encouraging and educating groups of parents and children, creating a source of seeds and plants for community groups throughout Islington, and providing pots to help families to grow plants on their window sills. They provided the inspiration for local people who want to make gardening and greenery part of the local scenery. This was another good year in our orchard, especially for apples, many of which we juiced, and for apricots; however, the plums and greengages were disappointing. In our meadow we found cowslips, ox-eye daisies and golden rod throughout their seasons. We invited local communities and individuals to take some of the small trees that we have been nurturing in pots since they were donated by the Woodland Trust through the Mayor of London’s tree programme. Other trees are being planted out in our woodland. The old leaky gazebo was taken down and a new wooden shelter built in its place. We are extremely grateful to Jill for her gift to Olden Garden. Post lockdown, volunteer gardening days resumed in April, on Tuesdays and on the third Saturday every month, with Covid safety measures in place. We appreciate the support of our regular volunteers and a few new ones, and hope soon to encourage others from the wider community to come and help our parttime gardeners. We were sorry, after ten years, to say goodbye to our part-time gardeners Laura and Andrew. We can’t thank them enough for all their hard work over the years and wish them well. We also saw some changes in the Garden’s trustees, with Susie and Gary stepping down. We also saw the retirement of Anna, after over 20 years involvement; she has been a true champion of community gardening and we have valued her education over the years. Our trustees have worked hard during the most difficult time in our history; we have survived and will bloom again over the coming year. At the end of August we had 370 members, our highest ever total. We appreciated their support in moving smoothly from cash to on-line payment of membership subscriptions. Through our new membership forms we enabled members to give us permission to claim Gift Aid on their donations/subscriptions; the extra income is much appreciated. The introduction of a pin code access, instead of keys, on the door has been a great success and we thank all our members for their cooperation. We appreciated the excellent response from our members who completed our on-line member survey, giving us useful information. The most liked aspects of Olden Community Garden are: peace and quiet, walking in the woodland, birds and birdsong, flowers in bloom. About half of our members brought children with them, while many brought people aged 75+. Our woodland and garden appeal to people of all ages. To keep our members updated, we send Newsletters via our Mailchimp database. In July, after many months of Covid restrictions, we starting accepting bookings for the Garden House, with nine events taking place by the end of August. Income from bookings was very low this year as a result, but we are very pleased that the increased income from member subscriptions and donations has more than compensated. To comply with regulations we arranged for electrical testing and certification of our electrical services, with further remedial works to continue into the coming year. Our well-maintained site, comprising 1.5 acres of woodland and garden, make a significant contribution to the biodiversity of the London Borough of Islington. We thank all our members, volunteers and neighbours for their continuing support. |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|The numbers benefitting, 2000 individuals,
exceeded expectations. Despite the
unpredictable Covid restrictions a small
group of members continued to volunteer in
Covid-safe way, maintaining Olden Garden.| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Due to Covid restrictions our normal public
open days and fundraising activities could
not take place.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|N/A| |Other||We were encouraged by the increase in
income from membership subscriptions and
donations which balanced out the loss of
income due to Covid restrictions on letting
out the Garden House.| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|At the year end, the charity’s financial
position was good. We have increased
our surplus this year, in order to give us
funds designated for further remedial
electrical works and further works to
repair the lawn, as well as work to
create a new accessible patio and
develop educational resources.| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Trustees’ policy is to hold in reserve a
minimum of three months running costs.
These are defined as: gardening services;
gardening supplies and equipment; garden
house and toilet facilities; and general
administration.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£4000| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**N/A**| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Our primary sources of income include
subscriptions and donations from members, and
income from lettings and fundraising events. Due to
Covid restrictions during the year, our income from
lettings and fundraising events was significantly
reduced.
We received the maximum grant available from
Islington Council’s Community Chest and we are
grateful for their continuing support. This grant was
used to secure the services of part-time gardeners
who advise the Trustees and guide the volunteers
in maintaining Olden Community Garden.| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**N/A**| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|We are supported in risk management by the
London Borough of Islington which owns the land
and retains responsibility for aspects of the
structural integrity of the site and maintenance of
the boundary fences and walls and has an advisory
role.
We have undertaken a full risk assessment of our
operation which is reviewed regularly, together with| |||the actions to mitigate the risks. We have public
liability insurance and regularly review our policies
including safeguarding children and vulnerable
adults. Copies of these documents are on public
display on site in the Garden House. Principal risks
are:
-
Loss of income from bookings
-
Loss of experienced and/or active Trustees
-
Unsuccessful grant applications| |---|---|---| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|
Para 1.25|The Constitution was agreed on 6 April
2014. Olden Community Garden gained
charitable status in August 2014.| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Trustees are elected by the membership at
the Annual General Meeting for a period of
three years and may be co-opted. There
are currently has six Trustees, including the
Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Under the
Constitution, the maximum permissible
number is nine.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|Information provided by the Charity
Commission is made available.
Trustees receive our Risk Assessment and
copies of our policies and procedures.| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|Olden Community Garden is managed by
its Trustees, currently six, elected by the
membership and meeting as the
management committee. Elected Positions
include the Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
Meetings are held monthly, except in
December. The charity has a simple
organisational structure, with no sub-
committee, though individual Trustees take
lead responsibility for different aspects of
running it.
Olden Community Garden works closely
with Islington Council which owns the land.
Islington Council is responsible for aspects
of the structural integrity of the site and for
maintaining the boundary walls and fences,
and has an advisory role.
Olden Community Garden has partnerships
with local community groups, to some of
which we give free membership, including
local children’s playgroups and community
support organisations.
Olden Community Garden normally
participates in the Chelsea Fringe festival
and in the London Square Open Gardens
Weekend.| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|We are supported in risk management by
the London Borough of Islington which
owns the land and retains responsibility for
aspects of the structural integrity of the site
and maintenance of the boundary fences
and walls and has an advisory role.| |---|---|---| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Olden Community Garden| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charitynumber|1158105| |Charity’s principal address|Opposite no22 Whistler Street
Highbury
London
N5 1NH| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Terry Stacy MBE|Chair||| ||John Croxen|Treasurer||| ||Wendy da Silva|Trustee||| ||Anjali Krishnan|Trustee||| ||Jill McKeown|Trustee||| ||Evelyn Thomas|Trustee||| ||Susie Burrows|Trustee|Resigned 18thMay 2021|| ||Gary Smith|Trustee|Resigned 5 April 2021|| ||Anna Sullivan|Trustee|Resigned 18thMay 2021|| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity **Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year** ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |Gardener|Laura Arison|107 Arlington Road, London, NW1 7ET| |Gardener|Andrew Smith|24 Peckett Square, Highbury, London, N5 2PB| |||| ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** We have no staff. ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** |**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**
**Position (eg Secretary,**
**Chair, etc)**
**Date**|Terry Stacy (approved by email)|Evelyn Thomas (approved by
email)| |---|---|---| ||Terry Stacy|Evelyn Thomas| ||

Chair|Secretary| ||12 April 2022|| ||12 April 2022|| |**Olden Communityn Garden**||**1158105**|| |---|---|---|---| |**Receipts andpayments accounts**|||**CC16a**| |01-Sep-20
**For the period**
**from**|**To**|31-Aug-21|| |**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,683**
**6,990**
**1,262**
**109**
**535**
**11,579**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**11,579**
**2,344**
**894**
**793**
**936**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**291**
**320**
**313**
**781**
**1,619**
**215**
**-**
**8,506**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**8,506**
**3,073**
**-**
**9,607**
**12,680**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,000**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**5,000**
**-**
**-**
**2,683**
**6,990**
**1,262**
**109**
**535**
**16,579**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**16,579**
**7,344**
**894**
**793**
**936**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**291**
**320**
**313**
**781**
**1,619**
**215**
**-**
**13,506**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**13,506**
**3,073**||**Last year**
**to the nearest £**| |Islington Council CommunityChestgrant|**-**|||||**3,000**| |Islington Councilgrant|**-**|||||**748**| |Corporate donations|**-**|||||**-**| |Individual donations|**2,683**|||||**407**| |Members subscriptions|**6,990**|||||**4,424**| |Garden House lettings|**1,262**|||||**1,015**| |Fundraisingactivity|**109**|||||**-**| |Gift Aid|**535**|||||**-**| |**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**11,579**|||||**9,594**| |||||||| |**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||| ||**-**|||||| ||**-**|||||**-**| |**_Sub total_**|**-**|||||**-**| |**_Total receipts_ **
**A3 Payments**||||||| |||||||**9,594**| |||||||| |Gardeners fees for services|**2,344**|||||**7,959**| |Plants|**894**|||||**-**| |Materials,wood,compost,etc|**793**|||||**846**| |Gardeningtools and equipment|**936**|||||**-**| |Repairs, Improvements, & maintenance|**-**|||||**3,633**| |Volunteer work days|**-**|||||**-**| |Events and fundraising|**-**|||||**-**| |Office supplies, website,postage|**291**|||||**50**| |Insurance|**320**|||||**-**| |Electricity|**313**|||||**315**| |Electrical testingand remedial works|**781**|||||**-**| |Lawn refurbishment|**1,619**|||||**-**| |Occasional labour|**215**|||||**-**| |Miscellaneous expenses|**-**|||||**73**| |**_Sub total_ **|**8,506**|||||**12,876**| |||||||| |**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||||||| ||**-**|||||| ||**-**|||||| |**_Sub total_ **|**-**|||||**-**| |**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||||| |||||||**12,876**| |||||||| ||**3,073**|**-**||**3,073**||**- 3,282**| ||**-**|**-**||**-**||**-**| ||**9,607**|**-**||**9,607**||**-**| ||**12,680**|**-**||**12,680**||**- 3,282**| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 29/03/2022 1 ## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period** |**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B1 Cash funds**
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)|**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Approved byemail
Signature
Approved byemail
~~2~~|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**12,680**||**-**||**-**| |||**-**||**-**||**-**| |||**-**||**-**||**-**| |||**12,680**||**-**||**-**| |||||||OK| |||||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**-**| |||||||**When due**
**(optional)**| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||Date of
approval| |||||||| |||||||| |||||||~~29/03/2022~~| CCXX R2 accounts (SS) ~~29/03/2022~~