Clifton CIO
Charity No:1165894
Report of the Trustees for Year ended 31st March 2024
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP).
Objectives and Activities
The Charitable objectives for the Clifton CIO Charity are as follows:
‘To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of public life by the maintenance of parklands, woodlands, green open spaces and local amenities in the Fylde Coast Region of Lytham St. Annes, in particular the Clifton District’.
Since its formation, the Charity has successfully helped Local Charities and Volunteer groups focused on the Clifton District of Lytham St. Annes, having worked and help the following groups:
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Lytham Hall Volunteers, managed by Heritage Trust Northwest.
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Friends of Ansdell in Bloom.
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Friends and Volunteers of Ansdell Station, in co-operation with Network Rail, in maintaining the gardens and open spaces for public benefit.
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ParkView4You and the Volunteer groups, working closely with the Trustees of that charity and Fylde Borough Council.
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Lytham in Bloom
The Charity has used its financial resources to provide tools and equipment to aid Volunteers to complete pre-approved tasks.
Work at Lytham Hall has been conducted with approval of the Management Team, tending to woodlands and 78 acres of parkland for public benefit and enjoyment, improving access to all, by building pathways and managing the woodlands with the help of Volunteers.
The Hall is a Grade 1 List Building and in need of continued renovation, surrounded by Park Land and Gardens in need of regular upkeep and maintenance.
ParkView4U CIO and Clifton CIO Trustees work closely with Fylde Bourgh Council, assisting to maintain play areas, lawns, providing grass cutting and power tools to keep tidy the kitchen garden, sand and water play areas, visited by thousands of families throughout the year.
Finance
The Charity has opened a business bank account with Barclays to monitor; its income and expenditure having insured its Trustees against Public Liability claims during their duties as Trustees in representing the charity in its Voluntary work for Public benefit.
The Trustees have applied and been granted credit card facilities for the management of their income and expenditure, held with Barclays Bank
To further its aims, the charity has registered its fund-raising activities with HMRC to be able to re-claim tax relief on Gift Aid donations.
In setting out its activities the Charity always has regard for the Charity Commissions’ guidance on Public Benefit activities.
Insurance of tools and the use of equipment by Volunteers is in place, provided by our local Insurance Brokers.
Achievement and Performance
The Charity with the approval of Lytham Hall management has installed two containers for equipment storage, in a secured area, which has limited access to the public on Health and Safety grounds. Volunteers are given access to tools and equipment, donated for the benefits of numerous local charities and Friends Groups, working as Volunteers to improve public parklands and open spaces.
Sponsorship donations have enabled Clifton CIO to purchase mowing equipment, tractors, grass cutting decks and forestry tools. Clifton CIO has been the third largest contributor towards costs of maintenance, of the Lytham Hall Grounds during the last 5year period to 2024.
Events and activities
Our range of events and activities has continued to expand offering many opportunities for the public to join in activities that provide opportunity for education and learning new skills, partaking in physical exercise and developing friendships with other people who attend. This year’s activities included:
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Lytham Hall maintenance.
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Prospects on the North, South, East and West sides of the main house have been maintained as well as the Paddock area, paths, and road verges.
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A new westerly woodland path has been created to gain access to wildflowers i.e. snow drops, blue bells and campion, as well as closer access to wild animals, birds and fauna.
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The existing car park has been expanded to accommodate a further 120 cars on site, which is generating new additional income for the up-keep and maintenance of the Hall and its grounds managed by HTNW.
Financial Review
The Charity has ended the financial year in a positive financial position, having reclaimed tax relief from HMRC Gift Aid donations.
Structure, Governance and Management
Governance Document The charity is controlled by its governing document, as approved by the Charities Commission in March 2017.
Trustees
The Charity’s constitution contains the terms with regards the appointment of Trustees, these are summarised as follows:
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Trustees are appointed by the Charity in a general meeting.
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The Trustees can appoint any person who is willing to act as a Trustee but seek individuals with professional qualifications to assist with the running of the charity to a high standard.
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Each of the Trustees shall retire with effect from the conclusion of the annual general meeting next after his or her appointment but shall be eligible for re-election at that general meeting.
Management Structure and processes
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered Charity Number – 1165894
Barclays Bank A/c Clifton CIO
Principal Address: 9 Abbots Row, Lytham, FY8 4FW
Trustees: Christopher John Blackburn Emma Lever Stephen Mark Williams
Plans for Future Periods
Looking ahead into the 2024/2025 financial year the focus of the Trustees of the Charity is to continue to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Charity. To maintain the heavy-duty equipment purchased to aid Volunteers in their tasks combining H&S training. To seek funds for the purchase of a new Tractor and Grass Mowing Equipment sponsored via Gift Aid and Interest Free Loans for an initial period of 10 years. Acquire a reconditioned JCB 8014 Excavator and Flail to open the South Boundary for fence maintenance (1mile in length) and clear areas of woodland high in brambles for the planting of Giant Redwoods which are now part of the National Collection. To assist with Open Air Musical Concerts and Theatre events throughout the summer months. Process Timber from fallen and felled trees suffering from disease or danger to the Public. Keep clean ditches and dykes to maintain land drainage.
This report for the financial year ending 31[st] March 2024 is approved by the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Christopher J Blackburn
Chairman and Trustee
Date: 25[th] August 2025
Charity Name No (if any) Clifton CIO 1165894 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 4/1/2024 3/31/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ A1 Receipts Gift Aid Donations(4000) 13,000 HMRC Tax Claims(4801) 3,250 HTNW Maintenance Contributuions 166 - - - - - 16,416 A2 Asset and investment sales - Loan Note Interest Free - Sub total- Total receipts 16,416 A3 Payments Tools and Equipment 7450 6,174 Materials 7452 62 Repairs and Servicing7500 2,224 PropertyRepairs damage 7503 3,000 Insurances 7604 2,659 Bank Charges 96 Sage Accounting 473 New Equipment Container charges - Sub total 14,688 - - Sub total - Total payments 14,688 Net of receipts/(payments) 1,728 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 3,004 Cash funds this year end 4,732 Unrestricted funds Sub total(Gross income AR) A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 13,000 3,250 166 - - - - - 16,416 - - - 16,416 6,174 62 2,224 3,000 2,659 96 473 - - 14,688 - - - 14,688 1,728 - 3,004 4,732 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| - - - - - - - - - |
13,000 | 16,000 | ||
| 3,250 | 4,000 | |||
| 166 | 307 | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | - | |||
| - | ||||
| 16,416 | 20,307 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | 82,000 | |||
| - | 82,000 | |||
| - | 16,416 | 102,307 | ||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
6,174 | 2,407 | ||
| 62 | ||||
| 2,224 | 496 | |||
| 3,000 | ||||
| 2,659 | 2,098 | |||
| 96 | 106 | |||
| 473 | 432 | |||
| - | 98,260 | |||
| - | 728 | |||
| 14,688 | 104,527 | |||
| - - - |
- | |||
| - | ||||
| - | - | |||
| - | 14,688 | 104,527 | ||
| - | - - - - |
1,728 | - 2,220 | |
| - | - | - | ||
| - | 3,004 | 5,224 | ||
| - | 4,732 | 3,004 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Barclays Details Loan Note (10yrs) interest free Equipment Details Details Ford 1920 Tractor + Attachments Stiga Titan Cutting Deck Westwood Lawn Tractor Kubota M5 Tractor Amazone Flail STHIL machinery - Chainsaws Strimmers Details Signature CJBlackburn Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 4,732 - - - - - 4,732 - OK OK Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - 82,000 - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Christopher John Blackburn Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) | |||
| Date of approval | |||
| CJBlackburn | Christopher John Blackburn | 26th August 2025 | |