Lettsom Gardens Association Trustees Annual Report 2024-2025
Summary
This is the Trustees Annual Report relating to the year 2024-2025, the tenth trading year since Lettsom Gardens Association became a CIO.
The Accounts
Lettsom Gardens Association generated its revenues from three sources as is usual:
-
Subscriptions & Keys
-
The Summer BBQ
-
The Bonfire Party
Subscriptions
There were 757 subscriptions received in the year. The campaign, started in 2017 to chase up standing orders has reduced the percentage of nonpayers, as can be seen by the improved subscription revenues, up 7.5% at £5899.
BBQ
Attendance was lower than usual for the annual summer BBQ. This was related to the poor weather and attraction of England playing an important match in the European Championships. Both food and drink sales were down on the previous year.
Bonfre
The Bonfire was well attended and deemed a huge success by all. Additional volunteers were instrumental in delivering a great evening.
Volunteers
Within this year we did not have significant volunteer events, though regular gardening days are planned through 2025
The Wall
Discussions continue with Southwark Council over the repairs to the central feature of the Gardens. It now seems likely that the wall will not be replaced due to the excessive costs involved and constraints on local authority funding.
Schools
The forest schools programme continues, and local primary schools continue to make wider use of the gardens, alongside the previous private nurseries. Cycle Proficiency training also in delivered in a safe environment for the local school children. Seasonal Information Boards are prepared and display to provide information on the Nature that is to be found in and around the Gardens
Other events
The Carol Concert was held to raise funds for St Christophers Hospice and this raised £1800 and attracted 150 people
Below are Treasurer’s accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025. The LGA made an operating surplus of £4970 (£2974 FYE 24) on the year. This surplus was thanks to a successful Bonfire night, increased subscriptions and a reduction in maintenance costs this year. Cash in the bank is a healthy £38828 which will allow the Association to further increase its investment into the garden’s infrastructure.
Lettsom Gardens Association Accounts 2024-25
| Expenditure | Income | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Bank | £ 33,176.12 | ||
| Opening Cash | £ 882.24 | ||
| Totals | £ 34,058.36 £ 34,058.36 | ||
| Schools | £ 400 | ||
| Subscriptons | £ 5899.01 | ||
| Keys | £1604 | ||
| Letsom Allotment Events | £ 2816.02 £ 2816.02 |
||
| Totals | £ 2,816.02 £ 10,719.03 £ 7,903.01 |
||
| Events Costs | £ 5625.62 | ||
| Events Income | £ 6,114.32 | ||
| Totals | £ 5,625.62 £ 6,114.32 £ 488.70 |
||
| Maintenance | £ 243.02 | ||
| Donatons | £ 200.00 | ||
| Keys | £ 2,320.00 | ||
| Membership refund | £ 38.00 | ||
| Insurance | £ 292.45 | ||
| Web/Email/Mtg costs | £ 267.66 | ||
| Bank Charges | £ 60.00 | ||
| Totals | £ 3,421.13 £ --£ 3,421.13 |
||
| Total expenditure | £ 11,862.77 | ||
| Closing Bank | £ 38828.94 | ||
| Closing Cash | £ 200.00 | ||
| Totals | £ 39,028.94 £ 39,028.94 |