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2022-03-31-accounts

Ironbridge Coracle Trust

Receipts & Payments account For the year ended 31 March 2022

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Ironbridge Coracle Trust

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1[st] April 2020 to 31[st] March 2022

Charity registration number: 1161685

Objectives and Activities

Purposes of the charity

The Ironbridge Coracle Trust (ICT) aims to advance the culture and heritage of the craft of coracles and coracle making in the Ironbridge Gorge and on the River Severn for the benefit of the public.

Summary of activities

The Old Coracle Shed, purchased by ICT in 2015, was the workshop of Eustace Rogers, a renowned coracle maker. Coracle uses on the River Severn included transportation of people and property, line and net fishing, laying eel lines, securing driftwood, rescuing people and animals, recovering cadavers, and poaching.

Set at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Conservation Area, and less than 70 metres from the base of the world famous Iron Bridge, the Shed is the only remaining physical reference to a coracle building tradition that dates to prehistoric times. The Shed forms an important and unique part of the view that any visitor can see when looking at the Iron Bridge for the first time from the Ladywood Car Park at the south end of the Bridge.

The Shed, built in the 1920s from timber reused from the reconstruction of Atcham Bridge, was owned by the Rogers family until the death of Eustace Rogers in 2003. ICT owns this heritage property and has been delivering a National Lottery Heritage Fund project to preserve and restore the shed, a viewable exhibition space for the display of coracles and associated equipment telling the story of coracles in Ironbridge.

ICT trustees have had regard to CC’s guidance on public benefit and have taken a decision that all its exhibitions and buildings will be freely accessible by the public, and that additional resources, when available, will be invested in running workshops and events to make the best use of the Trust’s buildings and exhibitions to benefit people with dementia and mental health issues.

The charity may charge for the provision of some services such as car parking, printed leaflets, guided tours and use of the Trust’s coracles.

Policy on grant making and social investment

ICT has not made any grants to individuals or organisations during the year’s activities and no investments have been made during the year.

Contribution made by volunteers

ICT relies heavily on its many volunteers and supporters to run the programme of events and activities throughout the year, not least the annual coracle regatta. Volunteers are also essential to the maintenance of the Old Coracle Shed, the exhibitions and interpretation materials used in the New Coracle Shed and elsewhere and to the running of the general business of ICT. During the year, volunteers gave an estimated 175 days of their time to support the work of ICT.

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Achievements and Performance

Whilst Covid-19 restrictions still impacted ICT’s activities during the year the overall effect was less pronounced than in 2020/21. The New Coracle Shed reopened to visitors in May 2021 albeit with volunteers providing welcome and visitor management support to ensure Covid-19 regulations were adhered to.

Though careful planning and management ICT was able to run the annual coracle regatta on 30[th] August. Additional signage, toilet facilities, hand sanitization stations and other measures were put in place to ensure all visitors had a safe and enjoyable day. The weather was very good which helped make the 2021 regatta very successful.

The projects made good progress in the year 2021/22, due to sterling work from the project team, volunteers and staff.

Staff

All staff work on a consultancy basis and are not employed by ICT. The project manager was joined by a volunteer co-ordinator from September 2021 to February 2022. In February 2022 a new part time role was created and filled. This position will provide support for the regatta, coracle making courses and other education activities.

The project team has continued to hold weekly meetings to review priorities and progress.

Capital works

There were no significant capital work during this financial year. Some minor work was carried out on the Old Coracle Shed. The whole capital project came in within budget and we are now in discussion with NLHF whether we can use some of the allocated inflation budget reserved for the project for use to further extend the steps behind the Old Coracle Shed to improve access to the river.

Activities & Events

Despite the resurgence of different strains of Covid and restrictions on access and numbers during these 12 months we undertook 60 different events and activities with more than 6500 participants. We successfully engaged with a wide range of different audiences specified in our Heritage Fund Project Activity Plan.

Some highlights include:

Ironbridge High Street Reopening - These was organised by Telford & Wrekin Council on 10 July. We launched our Colin in a Coracle children’s book and animation shop window display at the Bolthole. This was in place for the entire summer holiday and the business owner calculates that around 4000 people viewed the display and engaged with it taking photos and making purchases of coracle related merchandise and information.

Coracle Regatta – This went ahead on August Bank Holiday Monday under Covid restrictions, which meant that our costs were increased but we estimate around 1500 people attended. Our evaluation shows that participants welcomed the chance to socialise in the open air, felt safe and appreciated the measures taken to ensure their safety.

Secret Severn Art Trail - We displayed our embroidered fish wall hanging and other craft works inspired by the Coracle Collection in the New Coracle Shed. This was our contribution towards the Secret Severn Art Trail during the first week in September and kept them in place throughout the Festival of Imagination in late September.

Sponsored Coracle Drift & Festival of the Imagination – This took place on September 18[th] when 20 coraclers paddled the 7 miles (4.5 hours) from Cressage Bridge down to Ironbridge as part of the Festival of Imagination. They received a warm welcome from Ironbridge visitors along the Wharfage and ranged across the Iron Bridge.

Volunteer training - Our volunteers undertook a range of planned training sessions, both online and face to face, these included Dementia Friends training, Oral History Training, Collections Management and Archival search skills.

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Telford Kids Festival – on the 26[th] -27[th] February we participated in the Telford Kids Festival which attracted more than 8000 children and their carers from across Telford and the wider midlands region.

Talks and presentations - We are getting increasing number of requests to provide talks and presentations to groups that are now meeting face to face. The talk to Bridgnorth U3A attracted an audience of 85.

Coracle Crafts - Our coracle craft activities in the New Coracle Shed for families and cubs/scouts have proven very popular. A regular group is now meeting on Fridays to create coracle inspired crafts.

Engaging with care leavers - From February onwards we have focussed our attention on providing activity opportunities (including have a go at paddling coracles, and coracle-related crafts) for young care leavers and others within the care system, who would not otherwise have this opportunity. This will remain a focus from February until the end of the Heritage Fund project.

Coracle making skills - Finally, we have recruited individuals to take part in free coracle making courses, net making course, paddle making and hide coracle making. We anticipate several of these individuals acquiring the skills to become the coracle making trainers of the future, to ensure this endangered craft continues.

Social Media and Communications

A new website has been a priority for the charity. Work has commenced on this and the new website will be launched in 2022. Our current web site has attracted 3200 visitors in the last year in 4200 sessions with an average duration of 2minutes and 19 seconds.

Communication with project supporters has mainly been through our Facebook page. We are planning to try and reach a younger audience using Instagram and Facebook and also to drive more interest in content on our website.

There are currently 1150 followers for our Facebook page and 1021 likes. During the past year we achieved a Reach of 35,192 accounts. Our audience is consistent with around 62% women and 38% men, in the 25-54 age group. Facebook remains our most effective way of interacting with our followers and promoting events and activities. Our Instagram account is growing steadily with 643 followers and a reach of 1076 in a slightly younger age profile. We have recruited younger volunteers to try and grow our Instagram reach.

Google Maps has attracted well over 3,000 visitors to view associated images. The number of people seeing the Google Maps location for the Old Shed and the new shed are 325,946 and 12,107 respectively.

Performance against objectives

The Trustees’ objectives for 2021/22 were:

Whilst the Covid-19 restrictions in place during much of 2021 had an impact on ICT’s ability to meet some of its objectives it made huge progress on the NLHF project and managed to run a successful coracle regatta.

In January 2022 ICT received the interim evaluation report for the NLHF which includes the following quote:

“ICT’s project engagement totals are very impressive considering the physical restrictions caused in 2020 and 2021 by flooding and the Covid-19 emergency.

The New Shed’s daily visitor average of 17 during summer/autumn 2021 is strong in comparison to average numbers scored during the same period by comparably-sized heritage attractions known to the evaluator.”

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Transition planning

The trustees embarked on a transition planning process, which began with a consultant led session to shape the future direction of the trust when the NHLF project is completed in 2022. This process will be ongoing through 2022 as the project winds up.

Financial Review

The charity aims to hold sufficient funds in hand to cover one year’s activities (£2500 for insurance cover and the regatta outlay). These are not held as separate reserves, but retained as cash in the main bank account.

For this year (21/22) the charity had a balance of £7903.32 at the start of the year.

The opening balance was boosted by several sources of income during the year, ending with a balance of £13188.55.

Total project funding expended on the Arts Council and NLHF project was £80905.21.

The charity is run entirely by volunteers, so as long as there is sufficient funding to cover insurance costs the charity is not putting any person or other organisation at risk. The project manager, interpretation and evaluation consultants are funded through the project grants and are self-employed.

Risks to the charity include trustees leaving or retiring, financial procedures not being followed, or grants being wrongly used or claimed. And also, as we now know, from being scammed!

Additional risks include breaches of Health & Safety regulations which are reduced through careful Risk Assessment, including Covid Risk Assessments; Reputational risk which is controlled by a process of signing off media; and GDPR compliance which is monitored by our GDPR policies.

We haven’t had any significant grants this year but we should thank our partners and local businesses who have given us some support in particular:-

The trustees require guidance and assistance with financial procedures and JHP Shrewsbury has been employed as financial advisors to the board.

Risk Management

The charity is run entirely by volunteers, so as long as there is sufficient funding to cover insurance costs the charity is not putting any person or other organisation at risk. The project manager and evaluation consultants are funded through the project grants and are self-employed.

Risks to the charity include trustees leaving or retiring, financial procedures not being followed, or grants being wrongly used or claimed.

Additional risks include breaches of Health & Safety regulations which are reduced through careful Risk Assessment, including Covid Risk Assessments; Reputational risk which is controlled by a process of signing off media; and GDPR compliance which is monitored by our Data Privacy policies.

The trustees require guidance and assistance with financial procedures and JHP Shrewsbury has been employed as financial advisors to the board.

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Structure, Governance and Management

ICT is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only members are its Trustees. It is registered with the Charity Commission no. 1161685.

The constitution allows for up to 12 trustees, and there are currently 8.

The posts are Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Company Secretary, Minutes Secretary and Press & Social Media officers.

If there are vacancies these are widely publicised prior to the AGM, with any specific requirements made clear (ie, local resident, legal or financial background, coracle builder).

Trustees are selected by open invitation at the AGM. Prospective trustees are requested to send in details before the AGM which are made available to existing trustees to check if they are eligible.

If elected at the AGM, the secretary will contact new trustees with information about their duties and responsibilities and requesting information to enable their registration as new trustees, including their relationship with any related parties. This includes a link to the Charity Commission guidance on good trusteeship and the existing policies of the charity, within a new trustee handbook.

During the year, Trustees reviewed and strengthened its policies to provide strengthened financial governance and improved data privacy controls. ITC Trustee Board regularly reviews its policies and procedures.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

There have been no new appointments to the board in this financial year.

Trustees for the year 21/22 responsible for approving this report

Trustee Office
Mary Lewis Chair
Bruce Watson Vice-chair
Julia Tinker Treasurer
Kath Petty Minutes secretary
Grant Foden Company Secretary
Terry Kenny
Peter Twibill Press & Social Media Officer
Jude Pilgrim

Declaration

The trustees above declare they have approved the annual report above for 2021/22 Signed on behalf of the trustees

Signature …………………………………………………………………….. Mary Lewis .

Position: Chair

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IRONBRIDGE CORACLE TRUST

(Registered Charity Number - 1161685) RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2022

RECEIPTS
Grant Income
Heritage Lottery Fund
Veolia
Gorge Parish Council
Donations & Contributions
Received
Other
Heritage & Regatta Events
Financial Ombudsman Claim
Interest re Claim
EXPENDITURE
Insurance
Coracle Shed Expenses
Trust Collection Expenses
Coracle Purchases
Project Management
Volunteer Co-ordinator
Heritage & Regatta Events
Accountancy
Training
Sundry Expenses
Input VAT claimed
Licenses
RECEIPTS LESS EXPENDITURE
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
Bank Balances Brought Forward
Bank Balances Carried Forward		 Year
Ended 31-
03-2022
Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
£48,912
£0
£48,912
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£984
£0
£0
£4,183
£0
£2,730
£0
£2,730
£0
£411
£411		 Year
Ended 31-
03-2021
Restricted
Unrestricted
Total
£119,625
£0
£119,625
£0
£973
£973
£0
£1,000
£1,000
£0
£29
£29
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£51,642
£5,578
£57,220
£1,418
£0
£1,418
£13,840
(£95)
£13,745
£1,527
£0
£1,527
£3,267
£299
£3,566
£28,720
£0
£28,720
£4,170
£0
£4,170
£18,384
£0
£18,384
£900
£0
£900
£4,752
£0
£4,752
£316
£84
£400
£2,397
£5
£2,402
£1,214
£0
£1,214		 £119,625
£2,002
£121,627
£0
£1,240
£1,240
£79,966
£0
£79,966
£1,775
£0
£1,775
£0
£0
£0
£18,350
£0
£18,350
£0
£0
£0
£2,585
£0
£2,585
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£0
£54
£54
£15,149
£0
£15,149
£0
£0
£0
£80,905
£293
£81,198		 £117,825
£1,294
£119,119
(£29,263)
£5,285
(£23,978)
£0
£0
£0
£25,667
£7,903
£33,570		 £1,800
£708
£2,508)
£0
£0
£0
£23,867
£7,195
£31,062
(£3,596)
£13,188
£9,592		 £25,667
£7,903
£33,570

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Independent examiners report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiners Report

Report to the trustees/members of Ironbridge Coracle Trust
Charity Number (if any) 1161685
On the receipts and payments account for
the year ended		 31 March 2022
Set out on page 7

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 March 2022

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”)

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have

Examiners statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which give me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the

examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: Name: Rob Humphreys Relevant professional James, Holyoak and Parker Limited. qualifications or body: Chartered Accountants

Address:

1 Knights Court, Archers Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury SY1 3GA

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