Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 September 2021 Period start date To 31 August 2022 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 was open to the general public on 60 days during the year. We were also open to partner community groups, members and their guests during daylight hours every day during the year. Olden Community Garden is largely maintained by volunteers, members and |
| non-members, with the support of part-time gardeners who advise the Committee. Members who have the entry code can drop in at any time for volunteer gardening or to enjoy the garden and woodland. A part-time gardener is 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. It is clear that many families and individuals 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. |
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| 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 |
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|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | N/A |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | N/A |
| 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 volunteer gardening in Olden Community Garden, and helping at our public events 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 | This was a successful year for Olden Community Garden. We are one of the largest community-managed open spaces in north London. Our engagement with members, community groups and volunteers, our fundraising activity, our relationship with neighbours and the general usage of the garden has shown us how well thought of we are in the Islington community and reinforced trustees’ resolve to continue to ensure we deliver for Highbury and beyond. We welcomed two new gardeners, Maria who joined us as lead gardener, to run the Tuesday volunteer days and to provide general guidance on the garden and advice to the trustees, and Caroline, who joined us to run the Saturday volunteer days. They have generated enthusiasm and new ideas, increasing involvement in our garden. Tuesdays have seen volunteer numbers average about ten each session. Half of these are core regulars and garden members. Diversity of people using the garden is improving which Trustees are pleased with; there are more BME participants and younger people are joining in. Our maintenance of Olden Garden as a Borough Grade 1 Site of Importance to Nature Conservation ensures its contribution to Islington Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan. We aimed to maintain and enhance the biodiversity of Olden Garden by creating habitats for wildlife, and not using peat, petrol machinery or chemicals in the garden. We aimed to encourage native species in the woodland and meadow. In other parts of the garden new planting is drought tolerant, with pollinators for all the year and we are sourcing plants locally. The re-turfed lawn survived the summer drought and as it was in its first year we |
had to water regularly, using harvested water. We secured a partnership with the BIG Alliance (Businesses for Islington Giving Alliance, set up to strengthen links between businesses and community organisations and educational institutions across Islington). Our large collection of bricks is being repurposed as Victorian leaf composters. In the woodland we addressed the longstanding problem of dead and dying trees/saplings - after several years when there was no maintenance of the woodland. Following inspection by an officer from Islington Council’s parks department, and with the Council’s permission, we obtained the services of tree surgeons to fell about 20 dead and dangerous saplings. We had to bear the significant costs of these major works. Another challenge was the fencing along the railway line which is the responsibility of Network Rail. We maintained a dialogue, informing them of any damage, and several times requested them to repair the gate. Work was required to repair our steps, many of which suffered from deterioration during the year. There are several signs of landslip and subsidence on the Garden’s steep terraced site. The wall along Whistler Street is cracked, while several struts and wooden sleepers holding up our terracing have fallen. Islington Council is responsible for looking after the wall and the structural integrity of the site. With the harvested water from the Roundhouse roof and use of the irrigation system for the long border and the lawn, 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. With our greenhouse, Olden Community Garden continued to be a hub for community vegetable growing. Regular volunteers continued their valuable 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. The orchard was not very productive this year. In May, our community festival of music in support of the Chelsea Fringe (the festival of gardening) was the first for three years and a really great success. Over 350 visitors came along to enjoy our musical entertainment, with music groups performing all afternoon throughout the garden and woodland. In June, we opened the garden for London Square Open Gardens, the annual event where over 100 secret gardens throw open their gates to the general public. We welcomed over 60 participants who had bought tickets for the weekend’s events. Also in June, we participated in ‘Have a Grow Day’, an initiative of Social Farms and Gardens. Visitors were able to help our gardener Caroline with the day’s volunteer gardening tasks and were invited to sow a pot of herb seeds to take home with them to promote healthy eating. Visitors could also see the food we are growing in the greenhouse. And we offered visitors an edible gardening advice sheet to encourage them to try some food growing at home. Our partnerships with local community groups are now thriving, following their revival during the past year. These partnerships – currently 20 groups and organisations – give us a vital community network. Bookings for the Garden House were back to pre-covid levels, raising over £3,000. During the year, the Garden House was booked by individuals and organisations who made 29 bookings, mostly for one-off parties or meetings. Other bookings enabled groups to come for multiple (weekly or monthly) sessions in Olden Community Garden. We offered free membership to local children’s playgroups, enabling them to
bring under-5s to the Garden, and to Drayton Park Primary School, to enable pupils’ nature walks with a teacher. Forest School sessions, organised by Urban Outdoors, brought small groups of primary and nursery school pupils. Islington social services teams and disability support groups used the Garden House. By providing use of our greenhouse and vegetable patches, we were a hub for other community groups. And we had links with allotment groups and Islington Gardeners. About 2,500 people visited Olden Garden during the year, including members, their families and friends, partner groups, parties and other events. Garden usage and partnerships were crucial in seeking grants, as there is a myth that the garden is closed except to members. At the end of the year, we had 330 members, a reduction on the previous year’s high of 370 during Covid. To keep our members updated, we sent regular Newsletters via our Mailchimp database. Our website regularly posts news items and provides information about events. We encouraged use of Instagram and Twitter to promote our achievements. The garden door access using a pin code worked well during the year. Our Newsletters were normally opened by over 75% of our members. We appreciated the excellent response from our members who completed our online 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. 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 comply with best practice we arranged for remedial works to our electrical systems.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
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 had a planned surplus, to pay the contractor for paving our new accessible patio, to pay our increased insurance costs, and to ensure funds would be available for paying our part-time gardeners. |
| 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 | £5000 |
| 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 |
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 included subscriptions and donations from members, and income from bookings for the Garden House and events, together with grants. 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 help fund the services of part-time gardeners who advise the Trustees and guide the volunteers in maintaining the 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. During the year there were seven 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 may 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. The fencing along the boundary with the railway line is the responsibility of Network Rail. 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. |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 charityuses | |
| Registered charity number | 1158105 |
| Charity’s principal address | 15 Sotheby Road, London N5 2UP |
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TerryStacyMBE | Chair | |||
| Evelyn Thomas | Secretary | |||
| John Croxen | Treasurer | |||
| Jill McKeown | Trustee | |||
| Wendyda Silva | Trustee | |||
| Anjali Krishnan | Trustee | |||
| Charles Waddell | Trustee | Appointed 20thMarch 2022 |
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– 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 |
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| Gardener | Maria Papoui | 62 Landseer Road, London, N19 4JP |
| 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 |
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|---|---|---|
Hamish Charles Keith Waddell |
Evelyn Kaye Thomas | |
Chair |
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| Olden Community Garden | 1158105 | ||
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| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||
| 01-Sep-21 For the period from |
To | 31-Aug-22 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - - 740 1,560 5,925 3,150 2,678 890 6 14,948 - - - 14,948 3,067 1,748 - - 1,402 - 1,399 371 488 348 945 1,903 450 2,040 - 14,161 - - - 14,161 787 - 12,680 13,467 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 5,000 500 - - - - - - 5,500 - - - 5,500 5,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 379 5,379 - - - 5,379 121 - - 121 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 5,000 500 740 1,560 5,925 3,150 2,678 890 6 20,448 - - - 20,448 8,067 1,748 - - 1,402 - 1,399 371 488 348 945 1,903 450 2,040 379 19,540 - - - 19,540 908 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Islington Council CommunityChestgrant | - | 5,000 | ||||
| LocalgivingFoundation Magic Little Grants | - | - | ||||
| Corporate donations | 740 | - | ||||
| Individual donations | 1,560 | 2,683 | ||||
| Members subscriptions | 5,925 | 6,990 | ||||
| Garden House bookings | 3,150 | 1,262 | ||||
| Fundraisingactivity | 2,678 | 109 | ||||
| Gift Aid | 890 | 535 | ||||
| Miscellaneous Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
6 | - | ||||
14,948 |
16,579 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 16,579 | ||||||
| Gardeners fees for services | 3,067 | 7,344 | ||||
| Plants and materials | 1,748 | 894 | ||||
| Materials,wood,compost,etc | - | 793 | ||||
| Gardeningtools and equipment | - | 936 | ||||
| Repairs, Improvements, & maintenance | 1,402 | - | ||||
| Volunteer work days | - | - | ||||
| Events and fundraising | 1,399 | - | ||||
| Office supplies, website,postage | 371 | 291 | ||||
| Insurance | 488 | 320 | ||||
| Electricity | 348 | 313 | ||||
| Electrical testingand remedial works | 945 | 781 | ||||
| Lawn refurbishment | 1,903 | 1,619 | ||||
| Occasional labour | 450 | 215 | ||||
| Woodland maintenance | 2,040 | - | ||||
| Bird nestingboxes | - | - | ||||
| 14,161 | 13,506 | |||||
| Sub total Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
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| - | ||||||
| 13,506 | ||||||
| 787 | 121 | - | 908 | 3,073 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 12,680 | - | - | 12,680 | 9,607 | ||
| 13,467 | 121 | - | 13,588 | 12,680 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
14/02/2023
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 B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets CCXX R2 accounts (SS) |
approved byemail Signature approved byemail Details Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details ~~2~~ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Restricted funds to nearest £ |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,394 | 121 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | ||||
| 10,394 | 121 | - | ||||
| OK | ||||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
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| 14/02/2023 | ||||||
| 14/02/2023 |
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| ~~14/02/2023~~ |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)