Section A
Trustees' Annual Report for the period
Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 1 Jan 2023 To 31 Dec 2023
Reference and administration details
Charity name Other names charity is known by
Pope’s Grotto Preservation Trust
Registered charity number (if any) 1162424
Charity's principal address 75 Radnor Road Twickenham Middlesex Postcode TW1 4NB
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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Cornwell | Chair | Until May2023 | ||
| Mr Michael Cherry | Secretary | |||
| Mr Robert Youngs | Treasurer | |||
| Prof Judith Hawley | ||||
| Ms Dawn V Culmer | ||||
| Mr Geoff Pope | ||||
| Angela Kidner | ||||
| Ms Nicola Pickering |
||||
| Catherine Lawson | Chair | From May2023 | ||
| Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) | ||||
| Name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |||
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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 |
||
| Hon Secretary | Mr Michael Cherry | 75 Radnor Road, Twickenham TW1 4NB |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Type of governing document
The constitution is that of an unincorporated association of Trustees
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
The Trust is governed by a constitution dated 13 December 2013. A copy How the charity is constituted has been provided to the Commissioners. (eg. trust, association, company) New Trustees may be invited by the current Trustees. Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
-
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
-
relationship with any related parties;
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trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C Objectives and activities
The objects of the Trust are to: Support the restoration, conservation and maintenance of Alexander Pope’s grotto in Twickenham; Summary of the objects of the Promote interest in and knowledge of the Grotto and its significance in charity set out in its local and national history; governing document Raise funds in support of the above objects.
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| Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit) |
The activities of the Trust have all been directed to supporting and achieving the objects of the charity as set out in Section C. The grotto itself is of unique historic interest being a grade 2* listed structure and the only extant building in Twickenham related to Alexander Pope. As such, the Trustees have regard to the Commission’s guidance on public benefit: by ensuring that access to the grotto is provided commensurate with its location within a school; and by providing information to the public about the grotto, and about Alexander Pope’s local and national importance as a poet, writer and a leading exponent of 18thcentury landscape design. The Trust was able to continue a range of activities after the restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but work in the grotto and lobby to complete the preservation project had to take place in the school holidays thus restricting public access at those times. Additionally, work to consolidate and protect the fragile brick floor uncovered in the central chamber required a report from the conservation consultants and a specialist report from archaeological consultants. The timing of these reports and the time required for work to be carried out meant that it could not be undertaken in 2023. The condition of the floor meant that only small groups could visit the grotto. Work continued on fitting out the lobby area to provide interpretation panels and a projected video loop from ‘A Virtual Arcadia’ by Professor Paul Richens to recreate the view of the Thames from the grotto entrance. A grant of £21k was received from Historic England. The Trust held a special opening event on 26 April so that donors and a wide range of contributors and supporters of the project could see the transformation that the preservation project had brought. A programme of ‘Landscape Tours’ in conjunction with Strawberry Hill House was arranged allowing small groups of visitors to see the grotto. The grotto was open for ‘Open House’ on 9 September for small groups of visitors. A number of private visits by small groups with specialist interests in Pope and the grotto were arranged. Waldemar Januszczak visited the grotto on 18 May to film for his series on Mannerism. The Trust continued to actively promote Pope and the preservation project: - A symposium ‘Re:Creation’ on digital technology and interpretation was held in Conway Hall, London on 21 February with 76 attendees - Talks on the preservation project were given to the York House Society, and as part of the Borough’s ‘Know Your Place Festival’ - A further series of online lectures – the ‘London Luminaries’ were organised with the Trust’s partners at English Heritage, Marble Hill and other local heritage organisations and were well supported. |
|---|---|
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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
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policy on grantmaking;
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policy programme related investment;
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contribution made by volunteers.
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Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
Following a visit to the grotto in January to inspect the work of the preservation project, Historic England confirmed that the grotto would be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register. This was formally announced in November.
The Trust continued to meet approximately every 2 months.
The grotto restoration project was a finalist in The Georgian Group Architectural Awards 2023.
The Trust held a Fundraising Awayday on 27 September to plan for the longer-term financial requirements of the grotto.
Victoria Northwood continued as Project Manager until the end of May 2023 having very successfully steered the project through considerable difficulties caused by the pandemic and the unavoidable restrictions of working in a school environment. She produced a Management and Maintenance plan as a basis for the Trust to take forward its work.
Sorcha Ni Foghluda completed her work on the interpretation panels for the lobby area.
The Steering Group, comprising Trustees and local heritage representatives and experts, met in March 2023 when it was agreed that the Group should be convened as and when appropriate and would include a wider range of representatives.
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Section E Financial review Brief statement ol tho charity's policy on reserves All funds raised by the Trust will go towards Ihe cost of preservation of the grotto and activitss direcuy iyjntributing to that obFctive. Details of any fvnds matsrialty in d•flclt Further flnanclal r•vknv det•tls (Optional infomwllon) You may choo80 to indude additional infomiation. where relevant al)out'. the charity's principal sOUrS of funds (induding any fundraising)., how expenditure has supported the key objeth'ves of the charity., investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration Tha tru8t8es declaro that they have approvod the trustses, report above. Slgn•d on behalf of tho charity• trwt•es Slgnthrels) Full nanels) Position (og Socr•tary. Chair. Chair Date TAR 2012
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES PoDe's Grotto Preser¥atton Trust 1162424 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from 01101r2023 To 3111212023 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment funts Tolal funds Last y•ar trllhe nearESt£ trjfhe neare5t£ totbe rwrest£ tothe ¥05t£ A1 Receipts Pewn¥ Donabons Tzx redaimed by GrftAd Grants Books, C8fds ar rAcwres SJ Ticket sale5 Bank account intwest Transfws from restricbl fvnds Mis¢dlarEQ 811 1.736 67 111,870 179 142.079 142,079 126 126 3,7(Y) 107 17,412 107 17,412 338 Sub total(Gross income for AR) 21571 141D79 164.656 118,702 A2 Asset and investment sales. (sèa table). Sub total 142,079 /164.656 118,702 A3 Pa)erts pnts9 and wrthase ofwbitstirK Bank charge$ and Insurdrte Publicity and neWetter5 PrOfesorraI fEes IT ar websitecosts FundraisirvJ expenses Grotto restorati Vdunteers. expenses Miscellanous expenses Trdnsfersto LnreSkn¢j fijrwj 824 13.220 378 53,193 5,170 225 99,094 1.7T4 2,175 378 97,653 T16 TT6 1,857 17.412 157.134 17,4f2 84,421 Sub total 161071 A4 Asset and investsnent purchases, Isee table) Sub total 27,287 157.134 1844121 162,071 Net of reCwP[PaYmentsj A5 Transfers betsveen fLSnd5 A6 Cash fund$ last yèar end Cash funds this yearend 4,710 15.055 19.765 43,369 46.380 41.671 66.445 46.680 109.814 66,445 5.010 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI C*IO8r2024
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to neawt£ Restricted fund$ to n¥rest£ Endowment funds to noarest£ Categortes Detsils 81 Cash funds 41.671 5.010 Totsl cash funds J5,0ID s}1 Unre5triet•d funds to nearest£ Restricted funds to near8st£ Endowment funds to nearest £ Details B2 Other monetary assets Fund to which asset belon Details CL)St loptionall Currentvalue onal B3 Investment assets Fund iowhich Details ¢05t loptkn411 Curretrtvalue B4 Assets retained for tho charity's own use FurKI to ¥thich rpL3te5 Amountdue onal When due onal Details B5 Liabilities Signed by one or ttwo ttustees on behaff of a11 the trustees SbJnature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 a(nts ISSI 0610812024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Pope's Grotto Preservation Trust On accounts for the year ended 31 st Dmber 2023 Charity no (rf any) 1162424 Set out on pages 1and2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Charity fthe Trusf) for the year ended 3111212022. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Tnjst. you are responsible for the basis of report preparation of the accounts in accordance wtih the requirements of the Charibes Act 2011 {Ihe Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs 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. I have completed my examinaknon. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination vthich gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: accounting rerA)rds were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or. the accounts do not accord wtth the accounting records. Independent examiner's statement I have no concems and have wme across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawm in order lo enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Signed: /rf Date: Name: mauri Pary-lmngfield Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (if any): FCA Address: 11 Montpelier Row Twickenham TW12NQ IER August 2024
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of cOnM (see CC32, Independent examinab.on of charity accounts". directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any itsms that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER August 2024