nity Registered Charity No: 1163226 Annual Report Year Ending 2025
Notice of
Annual General Meeting
to be held at
Armstrong Centre Flemingate, Beverley
on
Thursday 13[th] November 2025 at 6.30pm
All Members Welcome
Refreshments
The Agenda
Welcome and Apologies Approval of minutes from last AGM
Chairperson’s Address
Presentation by Tony Henderson
Treasurer Report
Managers Report
Annual Statement of Accounts and Approval of Accounts (Auditor) Election of Trustees Any other business Close
CONTENTS:
AGENDA
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CHAIRMANS REPORT
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TREASURERS REPORT
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CHERRY TREE MANAGERS REPORT
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ADVICE REPORT
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PANTRY REPORT
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YOUTH HUB REPORT
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LITTLE GRUFFALOS REPORT
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BINGO REPORT
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CURRENT TRUSTEES
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT
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ACCOUNTS
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SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS THANKS
1. Chairmans Report
My Chairs report this year begins and ends with the successful completion of the long-awaited Youth Hub. For many years The Cherry Tree Community Centre has striven to provide an opportunity for young people in Beverley, and particularly the Cherry Tree area, to meet in a supervised, friendly, supportive and safe environment. Despite having no regular “home” the Youth team managed to maintain a weekly presence on the streets and park areas of Beverley, providing valuable contact, advice, recognition and direction to the young people.
And then thanks to an outline planning proposal to ERYC developed by Tony Henderson (Treasurer and trustee) and following an application by a volunteer Youth worker and acceptance by the TV programme DIY SOS.
This remarkable event saw hundreds of volunteers, tradesmen, television personalities, local politicians and planners descend on Mudhills park to create a brand new, state of the art building in just 8 long days and nights!
A triumphant combination of imagination, enterprise, cooperation, public relations, organisation and goodwill!
We now have the most amazing building in which we can hold a youth club five nights a week for young people aged between 10 and 18.
An enormously positive note to end an annual report on but for the fact that this amazing asset must be staffed, supervised, maintained, insured, supplied with electricity, water and connectivity means that we have a new project to find funding for. This, during a time of national financial restraint, sees local authorities struggling to make the Community tax ends meet.
Success, therefore, brings new challenges for the year ahead for the trustees and management of the Cherry Tree community centre.
I am happy to see the Little Gruffalo’s pre-school and out of school clubs are continuing to run so successfully by the dedicated staff to ensure the children leave with the necessary life skills to embark on their educational journey whilst still having lots of fun.
The pantry is still proving to be such a vital service to the community, and I thank the staff and volunteers who give up a great deal of time to ensure there is always a wide variety of food available for the members. A special mention must go to those who collect from the various supermarkets each evening, often after doing their fulltime jobs.
The advice service continues to be very well used both by appointments and the ever-popular Friday morning drop in session and the staff take pride in being help so many members of the community. I would like to end by thanking all the trustees, staff, volunteers and donors, without whom we would not have this vital service for our community, for their abilities, energy, compassion and dedication they give freely.
Jim Whitfield, Chair of Trustees
2. Treasurers Report
This is my report as a treasurer and it is with pleasure I present to you our results for the last financial year, April 2024 to March 2025.
The charity concluded the financial year to 31st March 2025 with net assets of £232,419 and cash resource of £222,822. This was enabled by closely monitoring staff hours budgets, and expenditure costs in our various services. Staffing hours are our largest overhead.
Total income for the year was £481,194 and expenditure was £422,851. The charity made a profit of £58,343.
Grants and funding bids increased from the previous financial year, in the year 2023-2024 our grants total was £251,300, in this year’s accounts we were successful in being awarded £272,023 from grants, funding bids and donations. This is an increase of £20,723. We will need to continue this progress for us to remain in a healthy financial position.
Our average wage bill per month for all our services this financial year was approx. £26,000 per month or £312,000 per year.
The services we deliver enable us to work with people as young as newborns and I believe the oldest person we are supporting is 98. We work with adults who are now grandparents and used to receive support from us as children and we now support their children and, in some cases, their grandchildren. We have evolved into a fluid wrap around service where someone can drop of their children, seek advice, access our food pantry and in many cases gain employment experience and attend a community group.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Trustees, Staff, Volunteers, people who have worked hard and those who have donated to the Charity.
Our Services
The reception; I’d like to thank Jane for all her hard work, I know that no day is the same and you have to face some ‘interesting’ days
In this financial year we supported approx. 125 families a week through our Food4families social food pantry. The Food4familes pantry is a place of magic, full of characters who donate their time to support members of the public. I’d like to thank you all for the work you do, I’d also like to thank Helen, who runs the pantry for all your hard work. Thank you.
We averaged 30 funded children a week who attended Little Gruffalo’s Pre-school, the staff work very hard in the preschool and out of school and we are very proud of the staff, without their hard work. We generated approx. £190,000 in income for this financial year, without these funds most of the other charity activities would not happen. Thank you.
Our advice service was as busy as ever supporting the community, our head advisor shared some interesting numbers with me, through our advice service, we generated £315,918 in the last quarter, which equates to £105,306 per month. We currently receive £1250 per month in funding from ERYC. In terms of social value, this means ERYC receive around £840 value for
every £1 they grant to us, all this money is coming into our area and spent in the local shops and services. I would say that is value for money.
The Renaissance Housing Project – we have provided 3 people a home since we began, the service runs itself and we will soon own both properties which will allow us to purchase further property using the rental income. We have recently been successful securing further funding and are about to sign for a third property which we are all excited about.
The Youth Hub – I would like to thank everybody involved in the Youth Club. All the Youth Club Staff for their hard work getting us this far. At the beginning of the year we met with the BBC DIY SOS Team, led by Nick Knowles and we now have a Youth Hub, it’s been a very challenging, emotional journey over the last 5 years but we did it, we delivered a Youth Hub for Beverley. Thank you to everyone involved.
There are some unsung heroes I have not mentioned.
Firstly, I could not do my role as Treasurer without my accounts clerk Claire, thank you Claire.
There is a lady who never stops and has been an amazing support to me and Jo, thank you Jacqui, big thanks to Barbie our trustee who supports the pantry and runs community groups.
The BUG team who helps manage the outside space of the Youth Hub. There is a lady called Karen Simpkin who has a flower box donation project where she donated funds to our Youth Club, her work will be going towards the cost of running a Friday night Youth Club for the young people in Beverley. Karen has raised approx. £2000 for us, Thank you to you for your support.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the Manager for all her hard work and support, and for looking after all the staff and keeping me motivated, thanks Jo.
Priority targets for this financial year are to secure funding through renting the Youth Hub out during daytime hours. Secure funding for the Advice Service and further funding for the Social Food Pantry.
The full breakdown has been shared in the Accounts which accompany the reports sent ahead of the AGM.
Tony Henderson CTC Treasurer
3. Cherry Tree Community Centre Managers Report
Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre is an integral part of the community in which it is based, and many thanks go to all those who are part of CTC. Without them we would not be able run and manage the numerous services that we offer to the local area.
The preschool and out of school club have been delivering services to the community for many years and are now supporting parents that used to attend when they were children. A big thank you must go to Alison and Angie and the Little Gruffalos team for your commitment and dedication to give our children the best start in life, having an Ofsted rating of Good for the preschool, to school readiness and holiday clubs.
The community pantry changes and moves with the ever-constant constraints of the cost-ofliving crisis and the high rising food costs. Helen, you manage to steer the ship to support the many members that use the community pantry. The volunteers, individuals and businesses that support the pantry, without you we would not be able to provide such a successful service to help feed the families that need our assistance.
We continue to review all aspects of the charity and continue to change and adapt with the challenges of the external environment including the continuation of the cost-of-living crisis and increasing economic uncertainty.
Our long-standing partnership work with ERYC with regards funding, Beverley Town council and their partnership grant, Reckitts and Key Fund currently supports the vital work that continues, especially with regards the ever-changing uncertainty in the current economic and social environment (cost of living, energy prices, war in Ukraine and the National debt).
This is, however, a constant challenge for our Treasurer, who through risk management and the scrutiny of outgoings vs income, has successfully put in place robust financial processes and monthly monitoring to ensure our vital services continue to run as seamlessly as possible.
The Trustees continue to be extremely supportive to me, especially this year with the new Youth Hub and all the challenges it brought.
The Charity has gone from strength to strength with the amazing team and fantastic committed volunteers that CTC have and without this we would not be able to function and provide the quality of service that is so desperately needed in our area.
I particularly would like to thank Tony Henderson for his continued support in managing the budgets, his connections and his commitment to the Youth hub building
Finally, I would just like to say a huge heartfelt thank you to everyone involved and for making the Cherry Tree Community Centre the success it is.
Jo Ramsay Centre Manager
4. Advice Report
We recognise more than ever the significant challenges that our community faces. By providing a free, independent and confidential advice service, we aim to empower people to self-help by increasing their knowledge and confidence. In all aspects of our work, we are committed to ensuring equal access to advice and encouraging people to seek advice early and tackle difficulties as they arise. We believe that by working together we can achieve more, share ideas. Knowledge and experience to solve problems.
Our advice standards certification was reviewed, and I am pleased to confirm we have been granted this until May 2026. From April 2024 to November 2025, we completed 1609 advice sessions which is an increase of 218 sessions from April 2023 to April 2024.
The top issues we have dealt with are benefits, housing, financial capacity, utilities and debts.
Housing has now become the second biggest issue facing our clients which is due to a large increase in them been given notice to leave private rented accommodation as landlords look to get ahead of any changes in legislation and we would expect this to continue to rise over the coming months.
Demand for support in applying for health-related benefits remain high. As more and more applications have been refused we have seen a large volume of requests for mandatory reconsiderations and appeals.
Throughout 2024/2025 we have continued to provide fortnightly outreach advice sessions at Driffield foodbank. There is undoubtably a need and the sessions are well attended.
We now have monthly advice sessions from Yorkshire Energy Doctors. They offer face to face support and make energy and water trust applications on clients’ behalf. Sadie Brownlie from Pepperell’s solicitors has also been providing a monthly legal advice clinic for family law related issues and these sessions are always filled.
As part of our obligations to ERYC in 2025 we have been tracking anticipated income into the community. From 1[st] January to 31[st] March the figure stands at a staggering £315,918. This would indicate a projected income of over £1,000,000 for the year.
We also monitor indirect outcomes using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale which shows the impact of advice for our clients through questionnaires and feedback. Over 80% of clients report an improvement in these areas.
Sustainable funding for advice continues to be a challenge despite the overwhelming evidence of the difference to the community we are making. We are extremely grateful to our supporters and for the individual donations from clients. It has been said many times before but without our amazing team of staff and volunteers none of the above would be possible. They continue to go the extra mile to deliver a high-quality service, and we thank them for their hard work and dedication.
Lisa Vause Senior Advisor
5. THE PANTRY REPORT
Throughout 2025 we continue to have a high demand for the pantry with a membership currently at 154 families. With an average of 110 attending weekly, we are feeding over 1,000 people per month.
Our donations have reduced, mainly due to the cost of living, but are still receiving tremendous support from local businesses and individuals. A huge thank you to:
The Gym Group Grahams Ltd Glen Wilson Ltd Karen from Flowerbox Minster WI Lewis Thorburn Lifestylers Ethan, Theo and Jad from Swinemoor primary school and Lifestylers Ayela and Aliya from St Marys primary school.
We continue to receive regular donations from One Stop Flemingate, Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Tesco, M&S and Morrisons which we rely upon to help feed the community.
We were thrilled to receive so many incredible donations to fill our shelves with a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables as a result of Harvest Festivals held across the East Riding this autumn.
Many thanks to:
St Johns primary school All Saints church Routh St Nicholas primary school Walkington school All Saints church South Cave Ellerker church Norwood Methodist church Swinemoor primary school
A huge thank you must go to our 44 wonderful volunteers without whom we would not be able to run such a successful Pantry. They give up their time to help as well as providing kindness and support to fellow volunteers and customers alike. Keep up the good work!
COMMENTS FROM PANTRY MEMBERS
“Great people really helps thank you”
“I enjoy my visits and the staff are friendly and caring”
“As long as I make good choices this has been a lifeline for me and my family”
“Its good value for what you get and everyone is friendly and with no judgement”
Helen Rawdon Pantry Supervisor
6. Youth Hub Report
Since the beginning of the year the CTC Youth Club has been on an amazing Journey. In January we met the production team for the TV show DIY SOS. For the first 3 months we went through a selection process where the production team visited us and scrutinised all our services. The discussions where around if the TV show was going to help us convert 2 rusty old shipping
containers into a youth club. In March the TV presenter, Nick Knowles, visited Beverley, but before he visited, we organised approximately 50 people to volunteer and clean and litter pick the park. The containers were stored on a local business site, the owners agreed to store the containers on there for free.
During Nicks visit he revealed to us and around 50 of the Youth Club Children that the TV show had decided to help us create a new Youth Hub. The build would be taking place at the end of May. Between March and May Youth club staff liaised with 100’s of people to create a volunteer network of trades people, business’s, community minded people, colleges, artists, garden centres, special educational needs facilities, Councillors, ERYC, police officers and young people. By the time the TV crew arrived to film the event, there where over 200 volunteers involved in the project.
Over a period of 8 long days and nights a Youth Hub was created, built from the ground up. The entire town got involved and helped with many people stating it was the best experience they had ever been involved with.
Since the Youth Hub has opened, we have engaged with approx. 150 young people per week. We have
liaised with the businesses and trades people who were involved with the build and have delivered workshops to the youth club members, for example, Kcom have been in and delivered workshops on social media identity, stay safe online, phishing, password creations, social media privacy and career pathways. Local artist Emma has worked with the Youth Club on a group and 121 bases teaching our members how to create art using different techniques, one of the sessions was around using spray art and our members are now taking part in a community art project in a local skate park. Future workshops planned soon will be delivered by building contractors, college lecturers, CAMH’s, the Police, Substance services, trades people and ex-army. We now have a safe space to offer to young people; we have recruited new staff and are currently interviewing volunteers. We have apprenticeships from local businesses that want to support our young people.
Strong partnerships have been formed, and we regularly attend youth partnership meetings local councillors, Humberside police, community alcohol partnerships, youth workers, the youth offending team and the crime commissioner’s staff. The local town council have committed to regular grants to support the vital youth work. We have a great relationship with Beverley Wombles, and our young people will be litter picking at the park with the wombles. Bug is another group of volunteers who care for the garden at the hub and surrounding area and they want to work with the young people and show them how to grow vegetables and fruits.
7. Little Gruffalo’s Report
This year a few staff members have left to follow new career paths, as well as saying a fond goodbye to Kim Williams who has retired. We wish her a happy retirement and a huge thank you and gratitude for your dedication for the past 30 years.
Last year we learnt about the importance of Remembrance Day, and we went to Beverley Minster where the children met the Mayor who they thought was a pirate!
In December, staff and children wore Christmas outfits every day. We had a Christmas party, Santa (Chair of trustees Jim Whitfield) and Kayleigh (from One stop) who dressed up as Santas helper. The Mayor of Beverley also attended and assisted Santa in handing out presents to the children, which he thoroughly enjoyed. The children had a lovely party and were delighted with their presents which were provided by Barbie (a trustee) who fundraised at the regular bingo sessions. It was very much appreciated.
The children had lots of fun at the pre-school throughout the year. They learnt about people who help us and the community police visited, the children learnt about growing vegetables in the different seasons. WE bought some caterpillars which the children cared for, all 5 survived and we were able to release them outside and watched as they flew away.
The Out of School club was busy last year with up to 20 young people attending on a Tuesday and Thursday.
We received £1400 from Christopher Eden Trust and we used it to purchase 3 new, much needed tables for the setting, a bookcase for the room (the old one is now outdoors in the reading corner). We also had enough funds to purchase new childrens aprons, craft items, outdoor mirrors and a tough tray for sand and water. Thank you so very much!
We also received £500 from TK Maxx which paid for our 13 school leavers to go on an outing. We were able to hire the Community lift bus to take us to Sewerby Hall, pay for a ride on the land train and each child enjoyed an ice cream before getting back on the bus. It was a lovely day, and everyone really enjoyed it. Thank you, TK Maxx,
The old artificial grass, which was a magnet to the local cat community, was replaced over the holidays by Jim, Jackie and Barbie so thank you all. Thank you also to Jackie for helping get ready for the new term.
To conclude, we continue to provide a supportive, happy space as well as helping them to reach their milestones. We are regularly getting enquiries for available places and our numbers are good.
Alison Smith Little Gruffalo’s Manager
8.Community Bingo Group Report
The Bingo group has now been running for 4 years and is continuing to thrive as a vital part of what Cherry tree community centre represents to the local community. Through attendance at the weekly Bingo sessions members
The sessions were originally started to support those in the community who were feeling a sense of loneliness, of social isolation and struggling to make friends.
There has been an average number of 25 people attending the weekly sessions at the Beverley Baptist Church (formerly Armstrongs centre) since March 2025.
The Bingo now starts at an earlier time of 1.30pm so the attendees could get home in the winter before it became too dark.
As well as enjoying an afternoon of bingo and social interaction the members have been on a number of outings which are self-funded. These have included:
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In April the group enjoyed a trip to Papas for fish & chips.
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For VE day there was a cream tea.
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In September they visited Langlands garden centre.
A Christmas party and Christmas meal are also being organised for December.
I would like to thank all my volunteers, members and everyone that has supported this venture both now and in the future.
Barbie Middleton-Parsons
Trustee and Bingo Group Leader
9. The present Management Committee Trustees
Jim Whitfield – Chair
I moved to Beverley in 1978 to teach Design and Technology at Beverley Grammar School. I was elected to Beverley Town Council in 1999 and was elected to be Mayor of the town in 2003/2004 and 2007/2008. I am also a trustee of the local charity Beverley Community Lift and the Chair of Go Kids Go, a wheelchair skills training charity. My hobbies include athletics, cycling and DIY. I joined the committee by invitation and strive to ensure its ongoing success in assisting the local community.
Pat Crouch – Vice Chair
I have been associated with Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre since 2006 and was Chair of the Trustees for nine years. I have always been very active within charities and community groups in Beverley. I volunteered at British Red Cross for several years. My hobbies include spending time with my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, taking holidays within the UK and further afield. I also regularly attend Beverley Baptist Church. It has been a privilege to watch CTC blossom and flourish over the years, to become the place it is today.
Jim Sharp - Secretary
I am a founder member and have been involved with the centre since 1986. I live in Beverley, and before retirement worked as a structural engineer with the local authority. I am actively involved with several other charities including Beverley Against Poverty and Churches Together. I have recently been made a Freeman of Beverley. My hobbies include golf and spending time with family. I am also involved with HEY Credit Union and play the piano in care homes.
Tony Henderson – Treasurer
I grew up in the area around CTC. I have held various roles within the NHS, including my current role with the SMASH team within schools in East Yorkshire. My role as treasurer includes ensuring robust and effective financial controls are in place, reviewing the charity’s financial performance and writing and reviewing policies for finance and investment. I enjoy spending time with my family and travelling. My hobbies include football, cooking and gardening.
Marie Ramsden
I have been a trustee at CTC for over 14 years. My original role was as a mentor/practice assessor for social work students on placement with the Advice Centre. CTC was an excellent for students, exposing them to the many complexities of the Welfare Benefits system and the problems and anxieties experienced by claimants. I am passionate about fighting poverty.
Barbie Middleton-Parsons
I live in Beverley, close to CTC and joined as a trustee five years ago after volunteering for a number of years. I have always been passionate about volunteering and have run a successful arts and crafts group locally for a number of years. I was an active member of the Friends of St Mary’s School, organising fundraising events. I currently run a busy social community group at the centre. My hobbies include arts and crafts and spending time with family.
Alyson Calvert
I grew up in Beverley attending Swinemoor primary school and Longcroft, then worked within the finance sector for a major Banking group. I joined the local WI to meet new people, then set up Minster WI, supporting CTC. I began as a volunteer advisor and then joined as a trustee, hoping my knowledge would be of benefit and support to the rest of the Trustees and more importantly the centre manager, staff and volunteers, without whom would not be able to run as successfully as it is on such a tight shoestring.
Independent examiner’s Report to the trustees of Beverley Cherry Tree Community Centre (CTCC) for the year ended 31st March 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of CTCC for the year ended 31st March 2025
Responsibilites and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CTCC 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 CTCC’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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The accounts did not accord with these accounting records; or
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The accounts did 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.
ANTHONY WHITLEY ACMA 7 Chestnut Avenue HESSLE HU13 0RH 18-10-2025
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Dog & Duck Inn Latimer Church St Nicholas Church Rotary Club All Saints Church South Cave Primary Humberside Police Minster WI Flowerbox Beverley Athletics Club Salon 55 Unison Gym Group Riverview Autos Hays Travel Dunelm Claremont House Beverley Tangent
…plus many others
A BIG thank you
to all our volunteers
Without each one of you the centre would not be able to offer the range of services it does