2021-12-31-accounts

FRIENDS OF YORK WALLS

TRUSTEES REPORT 2021

The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021.

1 Structure, Governance and Management

The Friends of York Walls was established in 2013. It is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation first registered on 20 November 2014, registration number 1159300. The charity was established with objects and powers, and is governed under the terms of its Constitution.

The trustees who served during the year were:

Bill Hill (Chair) Samantha McDermott (Honorary Secretary) Glen McGowan Simon Mattam Alan Fleming Emily Greenway

The trustees served on the Management Committee, which had in addition the following members:

Basil Jones Penny Heptonstall (Honorary Treasurer) Martin Hetherington (until October 2020)

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All the trustees guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.

2 Objectives and Activities

The objects of the charity as expressed in its articles/constitution are:

• 1 To educate the public in the history, natural history and architecture of the historic defences of York and its city walls.

• 2 To secure the preservation, protection and improvement of their features.

The Fishergate Postern Tower has been the venue for the regular activities of the charity along with the walls more generally.

The Friends of York Walls have the aims to:

1. Influence the management, care and presentation of York’s City Walls and Defences for the benefit of local residents and visitors.

2. Organise and undertake practical work and public events in cooperation with the City of York Council and other like-minded groups or individuals.

3. Encourage people generally to utilise the Walls as an amenity.

4. Identify opportunities for potential improvement of the Walls.

5. Establish links with local residents.

6. Monitor and act where appropriate to protect the historical views from and towards the Walls.

7. Act as a pressure group, when necessary, to maintain high standards of maintenance of York’s Walls and fortifications.

8. Identify opportunities for possible improved access, physical and intellectual.

9. Explore the potential of Fishergate Postern and the Red Tower.

10. Establish and reopen Fishergate Postern as a historical attraction.

11. Explore fundraising avenues such as grants and bequests.

12. Involve schools.

13. Create resource packages, leaflets and other material to help people appreciate the Walls.

14. Arrange walks and talks.

15. Participate in and foster local cultural events.

16. Support other like-minded organisations.

17. Consult with those interested in the Walls.

18. Develop the Friends website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

19. Communicate with members via email address and newsletters.

20. Raise the public profile of the group by generating local media coverage.

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.

3 Achievements and Performance in 2021

3.1 Opening Fishergate Postern Tower to the public

The tower was closed because of the COVID pandemic until May, but nevertheless was visited by 4,916 people over the remainder of the year. This compares with 3,281 in the previous year, a year also affected by COVID closures. We have set a target for visitor numbers in 2022 of 6,000.

The donations made by visitors to the Tower on Open Days are an important source of regular income to the charity and therefore need to be monitored. The income in 2021 was £2,869. The target for 2022 is £3,550.

3.2

Organising the Fourth York Walls Festival

This took place in August 2021 and included a number of new features, including:

• the creation of a grass labyrinth based on a Roman design;

• A guided tour of the ramparts with the City Ecologist taking in wildflower and bats;

• Night time opening of a section of the walls.

New partners joined the Festival, which continued to attract public interest and social media interchanges.

3.3 Planting wildflowers on the ramparts – Growing Greener Spaces grant

The Friends were awarded a grant of £1,500 from the Growing Greener Spaces scheme towards the cost of wildflower plants for the ramparts. This is a project which aims to:

• a) Increase the critical mass of pollinator friendly plants on the ramparts. b) Foster visitor interest in the ramparts as a result.

• c) Use the momentum thus created to increase pubic awareness of the historical importance of the ramparts.

A list of wildflower plants were agreed with the City Ecologist, plants which were native to the UK, non-invasive, and which were rich in pollen and nectar. A start was made on purchasing seeds and plugs from this list, ready for planting out in 2022.

Negotiations were initiated with the responsible sections of the local authority on how best to mesh wildflower planting with the practice of mowing the ramparts at intervals through the year.

3.4 Guided Walks

The charity’s profile in offering guided walks of the walls was increased, backed up by the preparation of display books with reference materials to provide in-depth information if groups wished it. The aim is to position the Friends as a provider of well-researched, accurate guided walks, but bespoke tailored to what visitors want.

3.5 Walled Towns Heritage Network

The Friends maintained contact with this network, but the proposed symposium in York was postponed because of the COVID pandemic. Similarly a Twins Diary project which was to be implemented by St George’s RC Primary School from March has been postponed until 2023.

4 Financial Review

In the year under review the national lockdown and precautions specified because of the COVID 19 pandemic meant that Fishergate Postern Tower was closed from January until May, reducing the income from donations.

However this was offset by COVID related grants received to help the organisation’s resilience over the period and as a result the charity is now in a stronger financial position.

At the end of the financial year the charity had unrestricted funds of £30,973, which included £10,000 earmarked by the trustees as a reserve to ensure that the charity continues in a robust financial position, and help build resources towards refurbishing the roof.

The charity's principal sources of funds and how these have supported the key objectives are outlined below:

Income raised through the Charity’s own activities

• Donations during the open days at Fishergate Postern Tower

• • Sponsored stones

• Other donations

• Sale of books, maps and other literature

• Grants.

5 Plans for the Future

The plans for the future are to focus on:

• a) Working with the local authority to bring about the refurbishment of the roof of Fishergate Postern Tower, installation of proper electrical circuits and improved lighting, and repointing of the interior with lime mortar to reduce spalling of the stone.

• b) Working with the Council and Historic England to implement wildflower planting on the ramparts in an area to be managed by the Friends of York Walls.

• c) Developing plans for interpreting the ecological aspects of the ramparts, including a nature trail.

• d) Continuing the ‘York Walls Festival’ as an annual event, but changing its timing to earlier in the year.

• e) Strengthening the capacity of the Friends to offer guided walks of the walls, supported by relevant resources.

• f) Building up resource materials on the geology of the walls, engaging with experts, leading to a geology trial for the walls and towers.

• g) Establishing a collection of art works using the walls and towers as their subject matter/inspiration, including images from the past and commissions to contemporary artists and designers. The aim is to enrich the visitor experience and provide stimulus material for people engaging in practical art classes based on the walls.

• h) Collect visitor feedback on a more systematic basis and use this to inform planning of the interior of Fishergate Postern Tower.

• i) Improve the quality of the displays in Fishergate Postern Tower, including the time-line, the maps on the top floor and redesigning the ground floor.

• j) Undertake a thorough survey of Fishergate Postern Tower to find as many Mason’s marks as possible and use the results as a basis for visitor information and academic study.

• k) Taking forward the development of school packs and other ways to engage young people in the heritage of the walls.

• l) Seeking grant funding for projects which engage local people in practical activities related to the walls and their heritage.

• m) Recreate a portcullis in the postern gate, supported by explanatory models.

• n) Build the profile of the Friends and the York Walls Festival on social media and the internet.

• o) Develop a programme of recruitment of volunteers and committee members.

Bill Hill Chair of the Management Committee October 2022

Friends of York Walls CIO

Treasurer’s Report: 2021

Overview

This report is split into two main parts.

The first part covers the core activities of the Friends of York Walls (FoYW) and is a good guide to our basic finances. It includes the operation of the Fishergate Postern Tower (FPT) and also external events, such as the annual ‘York Walls Festival’. The second part covers the externally funded projects, which are best looked at individually.

The combined finances of both parts are included in the attached Profit/Loss account and Balance Sheet. The overall outcome for the year was that we made a profit of £15,072 (mainly due to the ‘covid support grant’ from the City of York Council (CYC) and our total assets, as of Dec 31[st] 2021 were £30,970. Most of this reserve has been put aside with the roof repair project in mind as well as other improvements/repairs we have planned for the Tower. Given the current high rate of inflation the sooner we can (wisely) spend this reserve the better. It is already shrinking (in real terms) by about £3,000 per year.

The ‘balance sheet’ and ‘profit/loss account’ for the period are attached. A detailed listing of transactions is also available on request..

If you have any queries, please contact Richard Hanage [e-mail]

1.0 Operations

The ‘Operations surplus’, which is a measure of the basic health of the FoYW, was a loss of £885 (down £2,301). Although there were higher Open Day donations (£2,869) these were

Friends of York Walls is a registered charity No: 1159300. Contact: [e-mail]

offset by lower other donations (down £456) and HMRC gift aid (down £937). As all the 2021 open day donations are eligible for 25% gift aid the HMRC figure should be higher in 2022.

Operations expenses were up by £471 due to a large purchase of books and maps for sale, partially offset by less spending on displays in the Tower.

The 2021 Walls Festival cost £2,717, which was partially offset from income from activities (eg guided walks) and especially £788 from ‘Twilight Walls’ in the autumn. Note that Festival income in 2019 was not seperately identified.

2.0 Development Projects

Please note that project funding we receive is entered into the accounts in full in the year that it is received, along with any match funding we are committed to providing. Any unspent funding at the end of each year is carried over as a ‘Unspent project income’ on the balance sheet to the following year. When the project is completed any over/underspend is treated as operations expenses. In this way the projects do not impact on the normal profit/loss account until they are closed, and any annual unspent funding is treated a restricted asset.

Overview of projects

During 2021 we received a grant of £1,500 (York CVS) and committed to £1,500 match funding. In addition, £3,482 unspent funding was carried forward from 2020. Overall project spending was £2,564, and unspent funding of £3,978 was carried forward to 2022, an increase of £1,414. We appear to be better at attracting funding than spending it.

Sharing Heritage project (Heritage Lottery Fund: £10,000 plus FoYW matching : £2,000). During 2021 we spent £1,556 of the £12,000 total project funding. The remaining £986 was transferred to 2022, and the project was closed early in 2022. We are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for their grant of £10,000 for this important project.

Growing Greener project (York CVS: £1,500 plus FoYW matching: £1,500). Total spending in 2021 was £1,008, leaving £1,992 to be carried forward to 2022. We are very grateful to York CVS for their grant of £1,500 for this project

Twin Diary project . (Fishergate ward: £1,000)

There has been no spending on this project so the whole £1,000 is carried over to 2022.

Concluding thoughts

The FPT Open Days are a good steady earner, making at least £150/day. We need to ensure that we have the volunteers to sustain this, and perhaps increase the numbers.

We have a large surplus (£30,973) which needs to be (wisely) spent as it is eroding fast due to inflation. The inflation loss, at 10%, is roughly equal to all the Open Day donations.

The net cost of the Festival was £1,780. Do we want to try to reduce this by more fundraising events (such as ‘twilight walls’).

Penny Heptonstall & Richard Hanage 26 July 2022

Friends of York Walls is a registered charity No: 1159300. Contact: [e-mail]

11:15 AM 30/10/22 Accrual Basis

Friends of York Walls Profit & Loss Prev Year Comparison January through December 2021

Ordinary Income/Expense Income OPERATIONS INCOME CYC Covid Support Donations Donations - Buckets Donations - Contactless Donations - Other Donations - Publishing Donations - Stones Donations - Supporters Donations - Walks & Talks Total Donations HMRC Gifts Aid Income Interest Earned Product Sales Total OPERATIONS INCOME PROJECT GRANTS RECEIVED 2020 Growing Greener 2020 Twins Diary 2020 Youth Theatre Total PROJECT GRANTS RECEI... SPECIAL EVENT INCOME Festival Income Total SPECIAL EVENT INCOME Total Income Expense OPERATIONS EXPENSES Display/interpretation Electricity Equipment Health & Safety Insurance Expense Membership fees Miscellaneous Expense Office Expense Paypal Fees Phone & Broadband Product Purchase Project over/under spend. Publicity & Marketing Rent and Rates Repairs and Maintenance SumUp Fees Unidentified Loss/Gain Venue expenses Total OPERATIONS EXPENSES PROJECT EXPENSES 2019 Heritage Sharing 2020 Roof Repairs 2020 Twins Diary 2020 Youth Theatre 2021 Growing Greener Total PROJECT EXPENSES SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSES Festival Expenses Total SPECIAL EVENT EXPENSES Total Expense Net Ordinary Income Profit for the Year	Jan - Dec 21	Jan - Dec 20
	17,431.00 2,065.01 804.27 35.00 242.50 150.00 200.00 195.00 3,691.78 315.51 2.60 421.50 21,862.39 1,500.00 0.00 0.00 1,500.00 937.12 937.12	2,500.00 1,272.33 124.50 803.00 0.00 290.00 105.00 80.00 2,674.83 1,252.84 0.60 227.49 6,655.76 0.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 2,500.00 0.00 0.00
	24,299.51 200.23 14.59 55.00 230.69 157.00 0.00 59.23 55.81 6.74 300.00 1,183.50 0.00 869.25 204.80 15.86 12.75 -26.09 166.88 3,506.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3,000.00 3,000.00 2,716.74 2,716.74	9,155.76 1,206.71 12.39 0.00 0.00 143.64 10.00 -14.99 85.79 19.15 0.00 149.75 60.00 744.34 204.80 26.00 3.02 0.00 145.05 2,795.65 0.00 240.00 1,000.00 1,500.00 0.00 2,740.00 0.00 0.00
	9,222.98	5,535.65
	15,076.53	3,620.11
	15,076.53	3,620.11

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11:18 AM 30/10/22 Accrual Basis

Friends of York Walls UK Balance Sheet - Standard As of 31 December 2021

ASSETS Current Assets Cash at bank and in hand Cash HSBC Current HSBC SAVE PayPal NEW Paypal OLD Total Cash at bank and in hand Total Current Assets Current Liabilities Other Current Liabilities Unspent project income Total Other Current Liabilities Total Current Liabilities NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILI... NET ASSETS Capital and Reserves Additional Net Assets Initial Assets Profit for the Year Shareholder funds	31 Dec 21	31 Dec 20
	1.41 3,832.41 31,003.20 114.42 0.00	1.41 4,295.68 15,000.60 0.00 141.01
	34,951.44	19,438.70
	34,951.44 3,978.25	19,438.70 3,542.04
	3,978.25	3,542.04
	3,978.25 30,973.19	3,542.04 15,896.66
	30,973.19	15,896.66
	30,973.19	15,896.66
	4,055.06 11,841.60 15,076.53	434.95 11,841.60 3,620.11
	30,973.19	15,896.66

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