## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** ## **From 1 September 2022 Period start date To 31 August 2023 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 maintained by
volunteers, members and non-members,| |||with the support of part-time professional
gardeners. On our weekly Open Days, a
part-time gardener leads volunteers. In
addition, our monthly Saturday Open Days
attract up to 25 volunteers. All are welcome
to come along to make new friends and
learn more about the garden or just to walk
in the woodland or sit around the lawn.
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, exploring the
woodland, enjoying the peace and quiet,
looking at our flowers, are all much
appreciated and contribute to the
wellbeing of local people.
We completed the paving of our new
accessible patio, providing a welcome
new space for people with limited mobility.
Our successful application to
Groundwork’s Our Space Award provided
a grant for biodiversity enhancement, to
regenerate the damaged meadow and
create a butterfly garden. We began this
project during the year.| |---|---|---| |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|| |---|---|---| |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 over 100
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. Though our partnership with The BIG Alliance, groups of corporate volunteers have also helped in the garden. 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 another 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 usage
of the garden shows that our work is much
appreciated throughout our local
community and has reinforced trustees’
resolve to continue to deliver for Highbury
and beyond.
Maria, one of our two part-time gardeners,
leads our volunteer gardening and advises
the trustees, while Caroline guides our
Saturday volunteers.
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.
Our successful application to Groundwork’s
Our Space Award provided a grant for
biodiversity enhancement, to regenerate
the damaged meadow and create a
butterfly garden. We began this project
during the year. To meet the costs of a
major design change in the meadow path,
we provided additional funding from our
own funds, through the surplus from our
Chelsea Fringe music festival. Our
successful application to Islington Council’s
Community Chest provided funds to help
pay our part-time gardeners and to help
pave our new patio. Our successful
application to Local Giving’s Magic Little
Grants enabled us to start creating a
wildlife pond.
We maintain and enhance the biodiversity
of Olden Garden by creating habitats for
wildlife and encouraging pollinators, and| not using peat or chemicals. We encourage native species in the woodland and meadow. In parts of the garden, new planting is of drought tolerant species. We source plants locally. Through our partnership with The BIG Alliance, business organisations provide groups of corporate volunteers to help with gardening tasks. Through our greenhouse and vegetable patch, Olden Community Garden continued to be a hub for community vegetable growing. Regular 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 inspiration for local people who want to make gardening and greenery part of the local scenery. The orchard was not very productive this year because of the lack of rainfall in the growing season. Through our partnership, Highbury Roundhouse continued to provide us with water from their water harvesting scheme. We produced much of our compost from our leaf-fall. Other green waste materials were incorporated into dead hedges. Due to the age of the infrastructure the need for repairs increased; steps and some flower bed supports required repair. Wooden sleepers are deteriorating and the veg bed borders need to be replaced. And we need a new wooden door. There are signs of landslip on the Garden’s steep terraced site. Council staff have reassured us that the Whistler Street wall is fine and that the cracked wall behind the greenhouse poses no risk; they are also assessing what can be done to safeguard against further problems with that wall. In May, our community music festival in support of the Chelsea Fringe (the festival of gardening) was very successful. Over 500 visitors, including many families, enjoyed our musical entertainment, with music groups performing throughout the garden and woodland. The Mayor of Islington attended. Financially, the event was also a great success. In June, we participated in London Open Gardens, the annual event where over secret gardens open to the general public. We welcomed over 80 visitors. In September, we participated in London Open House, welcoming over 60 visitors, including families, to a craft day celebrating our meadow project. Our partnerships with local community groups are thriving. Partnerships with over 20 groups and organisations give us a vital community network. Islington Gardeners held a well-attended plant sale in Olden Garden. Our garden house remained popular with our local community for parties and meetings, During the year more than 40 such events took place. Income from bookings helped to pay our gardeners fees. 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. Forest School sessions brought small groups of primary and nursery school pupils. Islington social services teams and disability support groups used the Garden House. About 2,500 people visited Olden Garden during the year, including members, their families and friends, partner groups, and visitors to events and at parties. At the end of the year, we had about 300 families in membership, a reduction on the previous year. To keep our members updated, we emailed regular Newsletters via our Mailchimp database. The Newsletters were normally opened by over 75% of our members. Our website posted news items and information about events. We used Instagram and Twitter to promote our achievements. From our on-line survey, we know members appreciate the peace and quiet of the garden, 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. ## **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. With our planned
reserves, we ensured 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 reservesheld|Para 1.22|£8,000| |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 £3,000 from Islington
Council’s Community Chest, £4,000 from
Groundwork’s Our Space Award, and £500
from Magic Little Grants.| |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 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 seven, 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.| |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 (if**
**any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Charles Waddell|Chair||| ||Evelyn Thomas|Secretary||| ||John Croxen|Treasurer||| ||Jill McKeown|||| ||Wendyda Silva|||| ||TerryStacyMBE|||| ||Catherine Willmore||Appointed 12th
January2024|Management
Committee| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| 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**|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**|Charles Waddell (approved by
email)|Evelyn Thomas (approved
by email)| |---|---|---| ||
Hamish Charles Keith Waddell|Evelyn Kaye Thomas| ||

Chair|Secretary| |||| ||11 June 2024|14 June 2024| |**Olden Community Garden**||**1158105**| |---|---|---| |**Receipts andpayments accounts**||| |01-Sep-22
**For the period**
**from**|**To**|31-Aug-23| **CC16a** |**Section A Receipts and payments**|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,360**
**4,386**
**1,748**
**4,786**
**3,600**
**1,321**
**418**
**-**

**22,619**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**22,619**
**10,404**
**2,555**
**1,946**
**1,934**
**482**
**1,147**
**712**
**207**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**2,110**
**-**
**-**
**3,563**
**422**
**25,482**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**25,482**
**- 2,863**
**-**
**13,467**
**10,604**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**3,000**
**4,000**
**500**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,500**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,500**
**2,580**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**3,059**
**143**
**121**
**420**
**-**
**6,323**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**6,323**
**1,177**
**-**
**121**
**1,298**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**3,000**
**4,000**
**500**
**6,360**
**4,386**
**1,748**
**4,786**
**3,600**
**1,321**
**418**
**-**
**30,119**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**30,119**
**12,984**
**2,555**
**1,946**
**1,934**
**482**
**1,147**
**712**
**207**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**5,169**
**143**
**121**
**3,983**
**422**
**31,805**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**31,805**
**- 1,686**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**| |Islington Council CommunityChestgrant|**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**5,000**| |Groundwork's Our Space Award|**-**||||| |LocalgivingFoundation Magic Little Grants|**-**||||**500**| |Corporate donations|**6,360**||||**740**| |Individual donations|**4,386**||||**1,560**| |Members subscriptions|**1,748**||||**5,925**| |Garden House bookings|**4,786**||||**3,150**| |Fundraisingactivity|**3,600**||||**2,678**| |Gift Aid|**1,321**||||**890**| |Miscellaneous|**418**||||**6**| ||**-**||||**-**| |**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|
**22,619**||||**20,448**| ||||||| |**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**|||||| ||**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**||| ||**-**||||**-**| |**_Sub total_**|**-**||||**-**| |**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**|||||| ||||**-**||**20,448**| ||||||| |Gardeners fees for services|**10,404**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**||**8,067**| |Plants, materials, equipment|**2,555**||||**1,748**| |Repairs, Improvements, & maintenance|**1,946**||||**1,402**| |Events and fundraising|**1,934**||||**1,399**| |Office supplies,admin,website, postage|**482**||||**371**| |Insurance|**1,147**||||**488**| |Electricity|**712**||||**348**| |Electrical testingand remedial works|**207**||||**945**| |Lawn refurbishment|**-**||||**1,903**| |Occasional labour|**-**||||**450**| |Woodland maintenance|**-**||||**2,040**| |Meadow Regenerationproject|**2,110**||||**-**| |Wildlifepondproject|**-**||||**-**| |Bird nestingboxes|**-**||||**379**| |New accessible patio
Miscellaneous
**_Sub total_ **|**3,563**||||**-**| ||**422**||||**-**| ||**25,482**||||**19,540**| ||||||| |**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_**|||||| ||||**-**||**19,540**| ||||||| ||**- 2,863**||**-**||**908**| ||**-**||**-**
**-**|**-**
**13,588**|**-**| ||**13,467**||||**-**| ||**10,604**||**-**|**11,902**|**908**| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 14/06/2024 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**|**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**10,604**
**-**
**-**
**10,604**
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**10,604**
**-**
**-**
**10,604**
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**1,298**
**-**
**-**
**1,298**
OK
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**1,298**
**-**
**-**
**1,298**
OK
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||OK| ||||||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||||**-**||**-**||**-**| ||**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
Charles Waddell(approved byemail)||**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Hamish Charles Keith Waddell||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**Current value**
**(optional)**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**-**| ||||||||**When due**
**(optional)**| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||| ||||||||Date of
approval| ||Charles Waddell(approved byemail)||Hamish Charles Keith Waddell||||12-Jun-24| ||||||||| CCXX R2 accounts (SS) 14/06/2024 2 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Se¢iion A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustee81 nx*mb•r8 of Olden Cornmunity Garden On accounts for the year •nded 31.8.2023 Charlty no Irf any) 1158105 Sot out on pagw I rerxjrt to the tru51888 ￿ my exaMInat￿Th of th8 8ccounts ol the above charity l.the Trusfl forth8 y88r ended 3110812023. Ro8pon81bllMl•s and As Ihe charity trustees of the Trust, you are reswnsiUe for the preparation ba515 of roport of the ac(x)unts in a¢cordanco wth th8 requir8ments of the char(t￿ Aet 20111.the Acr'i. I report in respect of rny exarninatlon of the Trust's accounls carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in Carrying out my examinaiion, I have followed the apJirAbl8 Direcuons given by th8 Ch&rity Commts&c under section 14515llbl of the Act. I havè cornplet8d my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention In ￿lneCtiOn with th8 8xarnin*￿n wh5d) give5 m8 cause to believ8 that in, any material respect.. acra)unting r6eord5 wer8 not kept in a{￿[(1￿nCe wrth secth)n 130 01 the Act or Ihe acrywnts do Th)t al￿Ord with Ihe act4)unting ￿COrdS Ind•p•ndtrnt oxamlngr's Statgm•nt I h8ve no CA)n￿mS and hav8 come across no other matters in (x￿ne¢t￿)n with th8 examinatv)n towhith attention should be draym in order to enabb a proper unders¢andlrKJ of thè accounts lo be ￿a¢tted. Slgned: 27.5.2024 Nam•: Philip David hAI(kJleton Rel•vant professfonal quallft¢atlonl81 or body Ill any): Addr•ss: 77 HighbLtry Hill London N5 1SX S¢ction B Disclosure Only wtnplete if the examinpr need5 to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Ind8P8ndent examination of charity aceounts.. diredKJns and gUWJan￿ for exarninersl. IER Octobèr 2018 hore brlof dots118 01 any Items that the mlnw wlshes to dl8¢108e. IER O¢tober 2018