People Need Nature Financial Statements Year Ended 31st March 2025
Charity registration number: 1162187
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Page | |
| Charity Reference and Administrative Details | 2 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | 3-8 |
| Trustee Biographies | 9-10 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12 |
| Balance Sheet | 13 |
| Statement of Cash Flows | 14 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 15-21 |
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Charity registration number | 1162187 |
|---|---|
| Trustees | |
| Gary Roberts (Treasurer) - resigned 20/08/25 | |
| Lisa Schneidau (Chair) | |
| Matthew Shaw | |
| Sue Dancey – resigned 25/09/2024 | |
| Ian Hedley | |
| Chief Executive Officer | Miles King |
| Principal office | 91 South Court Avenue |
| Dorchester | |
| DT1 2DA | |
| Bankers | CAF Bank |
| 25 Kings Hill Ave, | |
| Kings Hill, | |
| West Malling, | |
| Kent, | |
| ME19 4TA. | |
| Accountants | CLIFFORD TOWERS |
| Chartered Accountants | |
| The Hall | |
| Priory Hill | |
| Rugby Road | |
| Wolston | |
| CV8 3FZ |
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People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
The Trustees of People Need Nature (“PNN” or “the Charity”) present their report and the financial statements of the Charity for the year ending 31st March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the Charity.
Trustees of the Charity
The trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are as follows: Gary Roberts (Treasurer) - resigned 20/08/25 Lisa Schneidau (Chair) Matthew Shaw Sue Dancey – resigned 25/09/2024 Ian Hedley
Mission Statement
To emphasize our responsibilities to nature: to value it, to safeguard it, to learn about it and to take decisions for its future
Objectives and activities
The objectives of the Charity are
a) To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity, and
b) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
People Need Nature exists to promote the value and need for nature in people’s lives. We work in three ways:
Research and evidence
We are collecting existing evidence, or commissioning new research, including public attitude surveys, to highlight the intangible value of nature. We focus on three strands: nature’s spiritual value; nature as inspiration; and how these ethics are applied to public decisions about nature.
Cultural projects
We develop innovative partnerships and collaborations with poets, artists, musicians, writers and arts organisations, to celebrate the sensory, emotional spiritual and inspirational values of nature, through projects performances, exhibitions and publications.
Advocacy
We advocate a different approach to how nature is valued and protected, particularly in relation to publicly owned land, public policy making and public expenditure. We aim to influence and drive new policy. We are particularly interested in promoting the intangible benefits that nature provides which are often ignored or undervalued by decision makers.
To achieve these charitable objects People Need Nature will:
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Promote the value and need for nature in people’s lives.
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Work to promote the value of nature through art, music, poetry, and literature.
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Inspire and create activities to celebrate the importance of nature and the need to protect nature.
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Gather evidence to highlight the value and importance of nature, and the risk to it.
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Create innovative partnerships with key stakeholders and influencers to raise awareness and celebrate the value of nature.
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Advocate a fresh approach to valuing and protecting nature, and to influence and drive policy through this fresh approach.
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People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
Public benefit statement
In shaping our objectives for the period and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘public benefit: running a charity (PB2)’.
During the year ended March 2025, People Need Nature continued to publicise its work via its website (www.peopleneednature.org.uk) and through the use of Social Media. The website contains information useful to the public for them to develop their understanding of the value of nature as a source of inspiration, for spiritual value and the value of nature in the public realm; and provides information about projects PNN is working on, and has been involved with. The website also contains a blog exploring topics and stories that inform its readership. Our social media accounts are used to provide information to the public about the value of nature, the work that PNN carries out; and to help them appreciate the value of nature in their own lives. We also distribute an occasional online newsletter to nearly 400 people and organisations who subscribe to it.
Introduction
During the year April 2024 to March 2025, People Need Nature continued to build on progress made in the previous five years, managing a number of nature areas within Poundbury, Dorchester. This is now formally known as the Poundbury Nature Project. In Ocrober 2024, PNN won a prestigious prize awarded by the Dorchester Civic Society, which gave the Poundbury Nature Project their Derek Beauchamp award for best environmental project.
Our Green Social Prescribing Project, the Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing Project continued through this year weith the report being published after the year end (see below)
We continued to receive income from the Duchy of Cornwall through the year, to fund work carried out on the Poundbury Nature Project. During 2024 we also received funding from Dorchester Town Council for our work within the Poundbury Nature Project, for managing The Swale, part of the Poundbury Great Field.
The Trustees worked with chief executive Miles King through the year developing existing and new projects and building a network of organisations and individuals whose interests overlap with PNN’s. We continued to promote the sensory, emotional and spiritual value of nature for people, in a variety of different contexts.
Chief Executive Miles King continued to seek more effective treatment for Chronic Vestibular Migraine, a neurological disorder which limits his ability to work especially using IT equipment. With a focus on increasing the amount of time spent on practical conservation tasks, MK worked for 2 days a week for PNN for most of the year, although managing the Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing project meant much more time spent on computer-related work again. MK continued to be supported by the PNN trustee board, and also continue to organise the Poundbury Conservation Volunteers Group, which continued to provide useful support for practical work tasks.
Funding/Fundraising
People Need Nature continued to receive funding from the Duchy of Cornwall for our work with them on the Poundbury Nature Project at their flagship development at Poundbury. This work involved the creation of new urban wildflower meadows, wildflower enhancements of existing road verges and banks; advice on creating new wildlife habitats elsewhere in Poundbury; developing arts/nature projects; and working with the Damers first school on wildflower and nature/arts projects.
As of September 2024 People Need Nature received financial support from Dorchester Town Council. DTC had taken over management of The Great Field in Poundbury in January 2024. They recognised that PNN was the most appropriate organisation, with the right skills, to manage the area known as The Swale, which has particular management challenges and requirements.
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People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025 Projects
Poundbury Nature Project
During 2024-25, managing the various areas of the Nature Project offered a variety of challenges. In particular, the dramatic rains of July followed by consistently warm temperatures caused an extraordinary “extra Summer” of grass growth. With ground conditions too wet and our main contractor unavailable, it was not until October that some areas of grass were cut, but by then it was almost impossible to collect and remove the arisings, using cut and collect machines. Dealing with the arisings was made more difficult by the very wet late Summer and Autumn. Climate Change is already making urban grassland management more challenging, with the attendant risks of compaction caused by using heavy vehicles on waterlogged soils.
We are now managing or influencing the management of well over 20ha of land at Poundbury, ranging from areas where we take the lead on management, to areas where we oversee and work with other organisations’ ground staff, including Dorset Council and Dorchester Town Council. The latter formerly took on the management of The Great Field in January 2024.
During 2023 and early 2024 PNN CEO Miles King worked with local eco-school Damers First School and Dorchester Town Council, to create a wildflower meadow for Damers School children. In July 2024 a signboard was installed next to the meadow, designed in large part by the children from Damers’ School. MK continued to take the three Year 1 classes from the school on a nature walk to nearby Poundbury Hillfort in May.
Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing Project
During the year this project continued to provide activities to the referrals, with the last activities taking place in September 2024. In all, 100 sessions were provided, each of an hour and a half. 25 referrals were made, from local GP practices, local primary mental care facilities, and others.
Activities that were put on for participants included a variety of different art sessions; singing; nature photography and mindfulness; Tai Chi; Yin Yoga; storytelling; poetry; foraging; knitting; and looking after Poundbury’s wildflower meadows.
Participants, generally with mild/moderate mental ill-health, were referred by the NHS via a number of different referral pathways. The main pathway was via the Mid-Dorset Primary Care Network of GP practices. Steps to Wellbeing, a Local Primary Mental Healthcare organisation also referred participants, as did local charity Help and Care.
Activities were led by volunteers and contractors. Local charity Art in Poundbury organised a variety of different artists to run sessions voluntarily, which ranged from painting with acrylics, watercolour, collage, monoprinting, drawing with charcoal, and ceramics. Singing sessions were led by Hannah, a nurse from the County Hospital who also runs choirs. Local foraging expert John led the foraging sessions. One of the referred participants enjoyed the art sessions so much that she led a session (supported by an Art in Poundbury volunteer) herself, which was very well received by the other participants.
Contractors included Yoga and Tai Chi teachers from the Dorchester Yoga Centre, storytelling expert and PNN trustee chair Lisa Schneidau, Poet Louisa Adjoa-Parker, knitting and folk song expert Alastair Simpson; and local meditation and nature photography expert Colin Tracy.
In early 2025 MK drafted the project report, with help from Professor Haleema Shakur-Still, an expert in clinical trials, who also ran one of the art sessions. The report was published after the year-end.
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People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
Young Poets Network
Our sixth PNN/Young Poet’s Network challenge on nature and soundscapes was written by poet Polly - - - Atkins. received 350 poems from around the world. https://peopleneednature.org.uk/sixth young poets network-people-need-nature-poetry-challenge-soundworlds-and-songscapes/
Communication and Advocacy
Communications
During the year MK continued to write quarterly articles about the Poundbury Nature project and the Nature for Wellbeing project, for the Poundbury community magazine, produced by the Poundbury Community Trust charity. The magazine is distributed to all Poundbury residents and businesses every quarter. These articles have helped greatly in informing the Poundbury residents about the project.
During 2024 MK continued to postin regularly on the Poundbury Community Facebook page, with the aim of informing the residents about work being done (and the reasons behind it) and also nature sightings, which are a good way of showing how the Nature Project is working.
An occasional newsletter is mailed to nearly 400 individuals and organisations using Mailchimp. One newsletter was mailed, during the Summer and 2024.
MK provided information (from a Freedom of Information request) for a story by Patrick Barkham in the Guardian on the number of new Sites of Special Scientific Interest being designated by Natural England https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/12/england-wildlife-watchdog-failing-to-protect-crucialsites-say-campaigners
Partner Organisations
During the Summer of 2024 MK led a series of guided walks as part of Dorchester Town Council’s Hillforts and Henges festival; at Maumbury Rings, Poundbury Hillfort and Maiden Castle. Our partnership with Art in Poundbury continued to flourish, with several AiP volunteers running activities for the Nature for Wellbeing project.
MK provided advice to English Heritage regarding a wildflower meadow and area of chalk downland at Maiden Castle, which had suffered in the wet late Summer/ early Autumn weather. As a result of restoration management, these areas are now looking much better.
After the Year End
The Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing Project report was finalised and published in April 2025. Copies were posted to a range of organisations and Government Departments. A presentation display was created and taken to Dorchester Town Council events and the fifth Harmony Project conference in Bournemouth.
MK took three Year 1 classes from Damers’ School on a nature walk to Poundbury Hillfort. He also led or co-led three walks as part of the Dorchester Walking Festival. MK made a presentation to the 10[th] anniversary conference for the Moor Meadows project. The Poundbury Nature Project continued to provide high quality wildlife habitat for the people of Poundbury, Dorchester and visitors to the area.
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
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Financial review
In 2025 the Charity had a deficit of £6,743 (2024 surplus £5,451). The Trustees have determined that it is not yet necessary to have a Reserves Policy.
Investment Policy
People Need Nature continues to be a small charity with limited income. Accordingly, the Trustees have concluded that it is not necessary to have an investment policy. When PNN has sufficient funds that they would benefit from investment, the Trustees will agree an investment policy. At present PNN’s funds are held with CAF Bank and PNN has no fixed assets.
Structure, governance and management
People Need Nature is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) formally registered with the Charity Commission on the 15[th] June 2015. People Need Nature adopted a standard Charity Commission constitution as a CIO whose only voting members are its Trustees – it is not a membership organisation. This constitution forms People Need Nature’s governing document. As a CIO, People Need Nature has a Trustee Board comprising a minimum of 3 Trustees. When the Charity was registered in June 2015, 3 Trustees volunteered to form the Trustee Board. The PNN Constitution states that the initial Trustees were appointed for a period of four years (Keith Datchler), three years (Al Anstey) and two years (Norman Crighton) and could be subsequently reappointed. The Constitution enables existing Trustees to decide when to appoint other Trustees (up to a maximum of twelve Trustees), based on the skills and experience they can bring to the Board. The Trustee Board currently comprises four Trustees.
The Trustee Board take responsibility for the overall governance of the charity, its activities and strategy, financial planning, fundraising, risk management and overall performance. They are committed to raising awareness of the charity and its purpose, in order to promote its goals and vision.
The Trustees are committed to meeting at least four times a year (plus an AGM) and correspond regularly between meetings either by phone or email. All decisions about the charity are made collectively and with all Trustees’ agreement. The CEO is responsible for the day to day running of the charity, and reports to the Trustee Board. Trustees are proactive in supporting the CEO with the work of the charity.
All People Need Nature Trustees give their time freely and receive no remuneration for their work. Trustees may claim out of pocket expenses for activities related to fulfilling their duties and responsibilities – no Trustees claimed expenses during the year. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and notify the chair of Trustees and in accordance with the Trust’s policy, withdraw from any decisions where there may be a conflict of interest.
Under the Constitution the Trustees have the power to invest monies of the Charity, which are not immediately required for its own purposes.
Recruitment of additional Trustees will be carried out as necessary to maintain and develop a Trustee Board with a diverse range of skills to oversee the work of the Charity. New Trustees will be inducted onto the Trustee Board and provided with all the necessary information and guidance on the roles and responsibility of being a Charity Trustee.
The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Its only voting members are its charity trustees. It is governed by its constitution dated 15[th] June 2015.
Risk Review
The Board of Trustees has been monitoring the progress of the Charity against the “People Need Nature Business Plan 2015-2017” which was drafted by the Board prior to the formal establishment of the Charity in June 2015. Within that document a number of risks were identified and addressed including the following;
Governance Risks – the Trustees regularly review the composition of the Board. The current Trustees and CEO have a broad range of skills necessary to oversee the operation and finance of the Charity.
Operational Risks – The CEO (and Trustees) follow best practice with regard to Health & Safety advice and the Business Plan includes a Health & Safety Policy. The CEO and Trustees have a broad range of skills and are aware that training will be available in any aspect of their role they feel needs additional support.
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
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In February 2017 the Board agreed that the Treasurer would construct a Risk Register, which was constructed during Spring 2017. This is a live document enabling the Trustees to identify and monitor risks, ensure they were appropriately managed, and ensure compliance with necessary legislation.
Financial Risks
The Trustees regularly review the financial health of the Charity at the Quarterly Trustee meetings and in frequent email and telephone communications.
The Treasurer controls the bank account and approves all payments.
The Treasurer has access to the bank accounts over the internet and can monitor all cash flows in and out of the accounts.
Cheques issues by the Charity must be raised by the CEO and signed for by two of the Trustees (Gary Roberts and Ian Hedley). Bank Payments must be raised by the CEO and authorised by one other Trustee (Gary Roberts or Ian Hedley).
The Board is aware of the risks associated with the early stages of any enterprise and are taking steps to ensure the financial stability of the Charity over the medium to long term.
External Risks
The perception and reputation of the Charity is of fundamental importance to the CEO and the Trustees. The Board monitors the Charity’s profile on social media as well as the various publications from the CEO, including blog posts on the PNN website, conference presentations and submissions to Parliamentary Inquiries. Political risk – the Charity is apolitical and seeks to work with all political persuasions to fulfil its objectives.
Compliance with the Law and Regulation – The CEO and Trustees regularly receive the Charities Commission News in order to ensure that the Charity in fully compliant with the latest regulations and best practice.
Trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material
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departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume
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that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
On behalf of the trustees
Lisa Schneidau, Chair
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025 Date: 7.10.25
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Biographies
Miles King (CEO)
Miles King has worked in nature conservation for 35 years, including leading the conservation work at The Grasslands Trust, Plantlife and Buglife. He has expertise in conservation policy and leadership. Miles has written and contributed to many reports, notably the Biodiversity Challenge series, England’s Green Unpleasant Land and Nature’s Tapestry. He also co-authored Arable Plants: a field guide; and The Nature of God’s Acre.
Gary Roberts (Treasurer) – resigned 20[th] August 2025
Gary Roberts is a professional fundraiser and has worked in senior roles in a wide variety of different organisations, mostly in the voluntary environmental sector. Gary is Charity Manager of the Biodynamic Association UK.
Lisa Schneidau (Chair)
Lisa Schneidau is a storyteller and environmentalist based on Dartmoor. She seeks out, and shares, traditional stories about the land and our complex relationship with it.
Lisa is the author of four books including Botanical Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland (History Press, 2018), Woodland Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland (History Press, 2020). She tells stories at events, nature reserves, arts centres and schools, including performance storytelling, training and storytelling development within education. There’s more information about Lisa’s storytelling performances, projects and writing at www.lisaschneidau.co.uk
Lisa trained as an ecologist and has worked in British nature conservation for over twenty years, mainly for Wildlife Trusts in roles as diverse as farm advisor, lobbyist and conservation director. She works for Devon Wildlife Trust managing the Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area, a landscape-scale initiative across the Torridge and Taw river catchments working with farmers and communities.
Matthew Shaw (Trustee)
Matthew Shaw is a Dorset-based composer, musician, author, artist and film producer. Matthew spent 20 years as a senior manager at Lush Cosmetics and is the arts programmer at Sea Change Festival.
Sue Dancey (Trustee) – resigned 25[th] September 2024
Sue grew up appreciating Wiltshire country lanes and has had the good fortune to work in environmental education for over 40 years. She worked with the Field Studies Council (FSC) for 80% of her working life mostly leading one of their larger field centres in Shropshire. She has also worked in agriculture, as a county surveyor and volunteered in teacher education in Africa. Her work has kept her well networked with established movements throughout the UK, including government agencies, groups such as the Floodplain Meadows Partnership (FMP), a long serving member of the Botanical Society for Britain and Ireland’s (BSBI) training and education committee and she became an honorary member of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) in 2018. She is an advocate of evidence based conservation and to this end qualified in biological recording with an MSc and has run events with the National Forum for Biological Recording.
Now retired, she is spending more time exploring how people connect with nature and how this can be explored to the benefit of both the environment and people’s mental health. She maintains her botanical skills through her local recording society. She is interested in islands of conservation, particularly churchyards through the Caring for Gods Acre project and is a keen follower of rewilding and appropriate reintroductions of iconic and keystone species. Her experience has been used through volunteering as a Treasurer and committee member locally, and contributing thinking to groups such as the BSBI, Field Studies Council, Floodplain Meadows Partnership and others including the Linnean Society of which she has been a fellow since 2013.
People Need Nature Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
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Ian Hedley
Ian started his career as a maths teacher but quickly moved into special educational needs, working in a secondary modern school in Poole. He then spent almost thirteen years as head of a pupil referral unit in north Dorset, working with young people who were unable to access mainstream school.
Seven years ago Ian had a complete change of direction and now runs a guest house by the sea in Weymouth. He also developed his art and, as well as exhibiting his drawings across the southwest and in London, he has been working with adults to use art to help them improve their well-being. Ian enjoys combining his love of nature and the outdoors with art to help people boost their mental health.
People Need Nature Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31" March 2025 10
People Need Nature Independent Examiner’s Report Year 31[st] March 2023
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st March 2025 , which are set out on pages 13 to 22.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Simon Towers FCA CLIFFORD TOWERS Chartered Accountants The Hall Priory Hill Rugby Road Wolston CV8 3FZ
Date: 7[th] October 2025
People Need Nature Trustees, Annual Report Year Ended 31" March 2025
People Need Nature Statement of Financial Activities Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total funds | Total funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and | ||||||
| endowments from: | ||||||
| Donations | 698 | - | - | 698 | - | |
| Charitable Activities | 12,464 | - |
2,425 | 14,889 | 23,845 | |
| Bank interest | 12 | - | - | 12 | 16 | |
| 13,174 | - | 2,425 | 15,559 | 23,861 | ||
| Total income and | ||||||
| endowments | ||||||
| Expenditure on: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | 2 | 13,012 | - | 9,330 | 22,342 | 18,410 |
| Total expenditure | 13,012 | - | 9,330 | 22,342 | 18,410 | |
| Net gains / (losses) on | - | - | - | - | - | |
| investments | ||||||
| Netincome/(expenditure) | 162 | - | (6,905) | (6,743) | 5,451 | |
| Transfers between | - | - | - | - | - | |
| funds | ||||||
| 162 | - | (6,905) | (6,743) | 5,451 | ||
| Other recognised gains / | ||||||
| (losses): | ||||||
| Other gains / (losses) | (677) | - | 677 | - | - | |
| Net movement in funds | (515) | - |
(6,228) | (6,743) | 5,451 | |
| Reconciliation of | ||||||
| funds: | ||||||
| Total funds brought | 10 | 2,618 | - | 6,228 | 8,846 | 8,846 |
| forward | ||||||
| Total funds carried | 10 | 2103 | - | - | 2,103 | 8,846 |
| forward |
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
People Need Nature Statement of Financial Actvities Year Ended 31[st] March 2023
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People Need Nature Statement of Cash Flows Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Note Current assets Debtors 8 Cash at bank and in hand Current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets Charity Funds Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total charity funds 10 |
2025 2024 £ £ - 24 2,715 9,434 |
|---|---|
| 2,715 9,458 612 612 |
|
| 2,103 8,846 |
|
| 2,103 2,618 - 6,228 |
|
| 2,103 8,846 |
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 7[th] October 2025 Signed on behalf of the board of trustees
Lisa Schneidau, Chair
The notes on pages 15 to 21 form part of these financial statements.
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People Need Nature Balance sheet Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
| Note Cash flow from operating activities 12 Net cash flow from operating activities Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at 31st March 2024 Cash and cash equivalents at 31st March 2025 Cash and cash equivalents consists of: Cash at bank and in hand Cash and cash equivalents at 31st March 2025 |
2025 2024 £ £ (6,719) 6,254 |
|---|---|
| (6,719) 6,254 |
|
| (6,719) 6,254 9,434 3,180 |
|
| 2,715 9,434 |
|
| 2,715 9,434 |
|
| 2,715 9,434 |
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
1 Summary of significant accounting policies
(a) General information and basis of preparation
The Charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Its only voting members are its charity trustees. It is governed by its constitution dated 15[th] June 2015.
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. In addition policies have been included which the trustees expect to become relevant as the charity grows.
(b) Funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
(c) Income recognition
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the Charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.
For donations to be recognised the Charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the Charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
Donated facilities and donated professional services are recognised in income at their fair value when their economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably and the Charity has control over the item. Fair value is determined on the basis of the value of the gift to the Charity. For example the amount the Charity would be willing to pay in the open market for such facilities and services. A corresponding amount is recognised in expenditure.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).
For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the Charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies may be notified to the Charity however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy would be treated as a contingent asset and disclosed.
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
(c) Income recognition (continued)
Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the Charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
(d) Expenditure recognition
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
Costs of raising funds;
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Expenditure on charitable activities; and
-
Other expenditure represents those items not falling into the categories above.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.
Grants payable to third parties are within the charitable objectives. Where unconditional grants are offered, this is accrued as soon as the recipient is notified of the grant, as this gives rise to a reasonable expectation that the recipient will receive the grants. Where grants are conditional relating to performance then the grant is only accrued when any unfulfilled conditions are outside of the control of the Charity.
(e) Support costs allocation
Support costs are those that assist the work of the Charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs, and administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.
Fund-raising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
The analysis of these costs is included in note 3.
(h) Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost (or deemed cost) or valuation less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.
Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life.
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
(r) Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Charity has an obligation at the balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount can be reliably estimated.
(v) Tax
The Charity is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.
(w) Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the Charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
2 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities
| Activities | Support costs |
2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| undertaken | Total | Total | ||
| directly | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Activities | 18,564 | 3,778 | 22,342 | 18,410 |
| 18,564 | 3,778 | 22,342 | 18,410 |
3 Allocation of support costs
| Charitable Activities 2025 Total 2024 Total £ £ £ 2,374 2,374 2,079 1,404 1,404 1,204 |
|
|---|---|
| Governance | |
| Administration | |
| Total | 3,778 3,778 3,283 |
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
4 Governance costs
| Trustees remuneration Independent examiner’s remuneration |
2025 2024 £ £ 6 - - 5 600 600 |
|---|---|
5 Independent examiners remuneration
The independent examiner’s remuneration of £600. (2024 £600)
6 Trustees' and key management personnel remuneration and expenses
The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the period. The key management personnel of the Charity is the Chief Executive Officer whose total employee benefits were £14,045 (2024 £11,083).
7 Staff costs and employee benefits
The average monthly number of employees and full time equivalent (FTE) during the period was as follows:
| 2025 | 2024 | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number Number FTE FTE 0 0 0 0 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0 0 0 0 |
||||
| Raisingfunds | ||||
| Charitable activities | ||||
| Governance | ||||
| 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 |
||||
The total staff costs and employees benefits was as follows:
| Wages and salaries Social security |
2025 2024 £ £ 14,045 11,083 - - |
|---|---|
| 14,045 11,083 |
No employees received total employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000.
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
8 Debtors
| ebtors | |
|---|---|
| Accrued charitable income Other debtor |
2025 2024 £ £ - - - 24 |
| - 24 |
9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| reditors: amounts falling due within one year | |
|---|---|
| Accruals and deferred income Taxation and social security |
2025 2024 £ £ 600 12 600 12 |
| 612 612 |
10 Fund reconciliation
| Unrestricted Restricted |
Balance at 01/04/2024 Income Expenditure Transfers Gains / (losses) Balance at 31/03/2025 £ £ £ £ £ £ 2,618 13,174 13,012 (677) - 2,103 6,228 2,425 9,330 677 - 2,103 8,846 15,599 22,342 - - 2,103 |
|---|---|
Fund descriptions
-
a) Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the Charity without further specialised purpose and are available as general funds.
-
b) Designated funds are funds which are set aside to meet essential future spending, such as funding a project that could not be met from future income
-
c) Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The funds are as follows:
Poundbury Nature for Wellbeing Project. This project is funded by a variety of sources. The Poundbury Waitrose donation has been allocated to this project, as part of the match funding to the College of Medicine and Integrated Health grant.
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People Need Nature Notes to the Financial Statements Year Ended 31[st] March 2025
11 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 Total £ £ £ 2,715 - 2,715 - - - (612) - (612) |
|
| Cash and current investments | |
| Debtors | |
| Creditors | |
| Total | 2,103 - 2,103 |
12 Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Net income for period | (6,743) | 5,451 |
| (Increase)/Decrease in debtors | 24 | 791 |
| (Decrease)/Increase in creditors | - | 12 |
| Net cash flow from operating activities | (6,719) | 6,254 |
13 Related party transactions
There were no such transactions during the year.
14 Going Concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months in authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the Charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
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