2025-12-31-accounts

The Chislehurst Society

Trustee’s Report 2025

The Chislehurst Society is proud to present its activities and financial report for 2025, showcasing the achievements and community efforts that have made a difference throughout the year.

£27,000 distributed to local projects

Funds Distributed This Year

Your support is vital! Join us in enhancing our community and preserving our heritage for future generations.

Join us for our annual meeting! Call us at 020 8467 0900

The Chislehurst Society

[e-mail] The Old Chapel www.chislehurst-society.org.uk Chislehurst, BR7 5AP

Trustee’s Report to Members 2025

The Chislehurst Societ y

The Chislehurst Society CIO, Registered Charity, No. 1166276, has its address at The Old Chapel, Queens Passage, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5AP and is established under a constitution adopted in April 2016.

The Trustees

Trustees of the CIO and members of the Board during 2025 and up to the date of this report were:

Joanna Friel (Chairman), Jennifer Dearing (Vice-Chair), David Ely (Hon Secretary), Christine Pearson (Treasurer), Jeremy Dwight (Resigned), Richard Green, Anne Lamb, Dale Malcolm, Ulanta Messeter, Denise Richmond, Nigel Rowe, Stephan Smith JP.

Objectives and Achievements

The Society exists to promote high standards of planning and architecture in Chislehurst, to educate the public about our local history, environment and built heritage, and to preserve, protect and enhance places of historic, environmental and public interest—thereby contributing to the cultural heritage of our community.

As freeholder and Lord of the Manor of Chislehurst and St Paul’s Cray Commons, we are represented by a trustee on the Board of Chislehurst Commons and also contribute to wider environmental stewardship through representation on the Petts Wood and Hawkwood National Trust Committee.

Our two Planning Panels review planning applications across Chislehurst, supporting individual members where requested and keeping everyone informed through The Cockpit magazine and our website.

The Old Chapel remained open throughout 2025 as our headquarters, a valued community meeting space and a source of income through lettings.

By the end of 2025, our membership had grown to 2,300 people, representing more than one ‑ third of BR7 households. We estimate that over 5,000 family members benefit directly from household memberships. Our Gift Aid campaign in 2025 was particularly successful, enabling us to claim a 25% uplift on two ‑ thirds of subscriptions at no extra cost to members. In addition, 36 local organisations are Society members.

Societ Activities in 2025 y

The strength of our Society lies in its membership. It gives us not only numbers, but influence — a respected convening voice that allows us to bring people together, champion shared priorities and make a lasting difference to Chislehurst. Our purpose is clear: to help ensure that Chislehurst remains a great place to live, today and for generations to come.

Over the past year, we have turned that purpose into action through grants, partnerships and practical support across the community. We continue to back the dedicated volunteers who care for Elmstead Woods station ‑ ‑ gardens, whose work has earned well deserved recognition in London wide competitions. On Chislehurst Commons, where we are custodians of the freehold, we have helped fund a new borehole to sustain Rush Pond, supported improved wildlife warning signage, invested in new railings and footpath repairs at Mill Place, and ensured the conservation of heritage marker stones dating back to the Festival of Britain.

2 | P a g e

Trustee’s Report to Members 2025

We have also supported projects that reimagine shared spaces and widen opportunities. A significant grant contributed to the transformation of the Hazelmere Underpass, creating a more welcoming and accessible gateway to the Hawkwood Estate — a project we were proud to celebrate alongside community partners and the Deputy Mayor. Our support for an outdoor bushcraft education programme on the National Trust estate ‑ ‑ reflects our belief in the power of place based learning and its long term benefits for young people.

Conservation and heritage remain central to our mission. This year, we supported Christ Church on Lubbock Road with a grant towards restoring the church tower clock faces, untouched since the 1960s. We continued our commitment to remembrance through significant funding for the Remembrance Parade and the poppies that line our High Street each November. To mark 80 years since the end of the Second World War, we curated a display of local memorabilia and helped fund the Union flags that brought our High Street together in shared reflection.

Through Old Chapel Books, our publishing arm, we continue to celebrate Chislehurst’s unique story — producing a new pub trail booklet with local artist Simon Clarke, and the second Exploring Chislehurst coffee ‑ table book with photographer Stephanie Chan.

As a charity, giving back to the community underpins everything we do. The Old Chapel Hall remains a vibrant hub for activities and weekly coffee mornings. We welcomed a new tenant, Robert Bicknell Jewellers, and ‑ through a new partnership saw them organise a much loved Santa’s Grotto at our Christmas Fayre. Monthly litter picks continue to grow in popularity, our talks are well attended, our planning panels meet twice monthly, and we have published three editions of The Cockpit while working closely with the National Trust on the future of Tong Farm.

‑ None of this would be possible without our volunteers. Our 12 Trustees, Road Stewards, planners, litter pickers, coffee ‑ morning hosts and Duke of Edinburgh assessors give their time generously. This year alone, we supported ten young people on their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

It is therefore fitting that two of our own were formally recognised in 2025: our Chairman, Joanna Friel, received the Mayor of Bromley’s Award for long  standing voluntary service, and Mrs Terry Slatter, a dedicated Road Steward and tireless supporter, received a community volunteer award at the Civic Offices.

As Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

That spirit defines this Society. Together, we are guardians of Chislehurst’s past, active partners in its present, and a confident, caring force shaping its future.

Financial Review

The following consolidated accounts show the results for the year. These have been agreed by the independent examiner. The figures will be available at the AGM. Our policy on reserves is unchanged. We maintain a level and range of investments to generate a regular income to supplement our modest subscription income and rental income. This enables us to acquire suitable assets and to give grants locally for activities that meet the society's objectives. You can see the year’s performance illustrated here.

This report was approved by the Trustees on 15[th] April 2026 and signed on their behalf by Joanna Friel, Chairman, and Dale Malcolm, Treasurer Elect.

Copies of the documents contained in this report and the Independent Examiner’s Report are available on our website. www.chislehurst-society.org.uk The Chislehurst Society CIO is a Registered Charity No. 1166276.

3 | P a g e

Trustee's Report to Members 2025 THE CHISLEHURST SOCIETY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2025 Rocelpts 2025 2024 Gèneral M8fflb8rs subscripbons GIftAid taxr8clairn8d 28.087 18.400 5.716 25,023 15,180 31,320 6,716 386 4264 24.704 14.167 32.370 11.089 1 225 Invesvnent Incomg Rentyi Incomg-(Id chap910￿¢ Rgntal Inwm&- Chapgl Hall QommDns Incom@In8ti Mlxellaneousinwme Bequests and donations CommuniryFuDd IHoatPumpl 13,603 CharaLIBActwknq8 P￿MotiOnal sal85 In@ti 5.189 2.159 142,838 86,381 Expenditure Gèneral Costofg&neralng fvnds Adrnkn16tratkn 7,947 2.938 cosls 39.193 27.503 Administrsbv@stsff 2.130 3271 Ststion8ry￿e1Pph0Tre1Iretc LÈgallAccountsnt 5.434 1,390 1,095 1,957 1,879 17.018 2.841 ¢ommunication$4avglopm8ntS matketing mi￿lIan￿ouS@xp@nS￿s 2.557 CharatrA•ACtfv￿az Grantsand sponsofship (Nob i) PlanningEnvironment Cons&DRiionkna R￿eW 27,140 36.555 Publications & local siudy Communiry 90th 8ithdayAcDviti95 Chn5trh8S Fayr (Nots 71 En￿ll)nMents1 Awa￿$ 6,136 2,960 8.074 2.946 3.728 77 5A10 2A51 1,881 101,996 Operatyonal SurplUWIDg￿1l> 40,64t 117,040 1 ln¥esVnent￿YaIvatiOn 20,227 eiBII SurplusI(Deficltl

Trustee's Report to Members 2025 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 2￿5 3024 78.194 21 841.784 884.104 ¢trd$ghurstCommDnslND31 3￿￿J0 800,000 ros&fjYingy 18n74 116.7351 fld Chapel IN041 8gS.QQO 695WJ HethgtartlNol8 51 H￿1 WOPWIN¢BI Debty)rt&wpgymn 307 VAT¢Tthr 16M9YI 15.100 1 13581 HO11 12,7$8 1 1223361 172221 IW250 1.885.929 2035 2024 lJfftd•shT•t•d I￿31￿57 iJoe.096 352.93 379M33 1,884250 1M85.929 1>ontsapproved th￿)￿￿￿1n(lUdOf0w￿(emP￿lOIl￿¢0Th￿n5P0￿ HolP￿￿￿.￿? PetsWoo&&DThknL R8￿dentsA5$o(Ia￿n Mural, wik1iwolthe Chr￿ChUr dockdk31s.Thewo¢￿c0knCha￿tyJuTrI¢I s￿5￿craft I PrDgrtffffiwaThlth@Chi¥ehu¢ommnswTrldfw1 Prodon Bannpr. Aoranlwas￿￿¥¢￿trQ￿th& Community Funo roith8 InY3llatiDn oiaH¢Pury Thpdon8oonof£10.ODU lomCord&no ha5 rogerbEd broiArtlalk)catyon Z02fj 2 ￿￿5￿T￿￿￿h￿dl￿gSofCcUAkn￿slIrn￿t￿nd￿. 4 Thè(JdCh&pelwg¥pfoknIDn￿WV3IUFd irt 2021. W•wjll revw8nnualtytsTWOknranYtutlW￿Utt￿ln1. Thèyar•VaI￿ ￿1[x)eL Thef￿2￿&d ¢Ith¢a￿e$5dnve.0(IL￿D￿O￿ Road.ChI¥ehurstk4bo￿￿ retsined Indefin￿y￿refflvkQm￿Tr￿I 0 I¢0￿n$￿￿￿￿￿e eDtsrt¢mentOfa￿￿g1edYI￿lwfÈS￿¥e(¥fv&rtIoffl land PTEw¢uIy￿￿Od byfv Sodety The uPd)¢￿￿￿1ndUde5 E25kbÈing f8nlre￿￿d ￿ gthanc•r202Sbrth•oknaiwtbh•CdChapvl hall.and E1.5k fègc0nKr￿y￿)T￿P￿trOlSD￿H￿?. 8 Thè(>anb Fund Th¢s•ac￿￿￿￿WerOaPPfWd byth•TN¢$ and*iyn¢dtyiththrbehutsby JD

Trustee’s Report to Members 2025

Notice of 2025 Annual General Meetin g

The AGM will be held on Monday 18th May 2026, 7:30 pm in an open forum at St Patrick’s Hall, Albany Road, Chislehurst BR7 6DB

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) provides an opportunity for members to ask questions and receive feedback. If, having read the Annual Report, you wish to raise any immediate questions or observations ahead of the meeting, please email [e-mail] , clearly stating your name and address , or leave a written note in the Society letterbox at the Old Chapel. We will respond as soon as possible.

Agenda

• Minutes of the AGM held on 24 April 2025

• Presentation of the Annual Report to Members and overview of Society activities by the Trustees

• Consideration of the accounts and election of an Independent Examiner

• Election of Officers and Trustees

• Short presentation on volunteering by Trustee Jennifer Dearing

• Members’ questions

Please note: only members of the Society are entitled to speak or vote at the Annual General Meeting.

The Officers of the Society and approximately half of the Executive Committee are elected annually. Under the Charities Act 2011, individuals elected must be eligible to serve as Trustees. Nominations for Officers or members of the Executive Committee must be made in accordance with the Society’s Constitution. While it is convenient, it is not essential for nominations to be submitted using the standard forms.

These forms are available from the Honorary Secretary at:

The Old Chapel, Queens Passage, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5AP Email: [e-mail]

6 | P a g e

THE CHISLEHURST SOCIETY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2025 Recolpts 2025 2024 Gènbral Members sUb￿p￿"0ns 28,087 18,4fK) Giftmd lax r8dalm8d 5.716 25,023 15,180 31,320 6,716 396 4264 24,704 14.167 32.370 11,0891 225 Inveslment Income R8nlal inwme- Chapel Office Rentsi In(r>me- ad Chapel Hall Commons Income Ineti Mi5cellaneou5 In(X)ft Bequè$tsand donauons CommL+nity Fund IHealPumpl 11,408 13,603 1.192 CharAable Acdvlilos Promobonal sa588 Inetl 5,189 2,159 142ts38 96.391 Expondlturn G•n•ral Cost ofgenerating fund5 Athilnktratltsn 7.947 2.938 Premises wsts 39.193 27,603 Adminstrative stsff 2.130 5,434 1290 1.095 1.957 1079 3.271 17.018 2.641 1.147 2.557 1.149 slafjonery￿É1aph0naATetc L8gallAccountant Oepreuation CotrimunitAtionsdev8lopmenl & mart8Ung Miscellaneousexpenses Charltable Gr8nts and 5ponsor5hip INots 11 PlanningEnvironmenl ConseTration Area Review Publi(ation$ & l¢)tal skndy CornmuTrity 90th &'rfhday A¢tivile$ Chri5trnas Fayre Heritage EnMroftm8ntsi Awards 27.140 36.555 1.156 771 14.828 1 8.074 2.946 3,728 6.136 2.960 1,621 77 5.410 1081 2.451 101.996 113.431 CeratioThal SuwpIu￿De￿C1tI 40.641 117,0401 Investhntr8¥aluaOon 142,320 1 20227 IknTall Surplu51lDefi(¥ll 11,6791 3,187

BALANCE SHEEf AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 A88ots 2025 2024 C8sh and shortmi depo￿ts 78,194 12.606 Investments INots 21 841,784 884.104 Chislehutst Commons (Note 31 300.000 300,000 FIN￿re5 & filts'ngs e 18,074 18.074 Les8depredation 116,7331 115.637 1 Cld Chapol Bulldlng INote 41 695.000 695,000 H￿￿age art (Note 51 1.959 1.959 Herltage pwty (Nokn 61 Debtors & prep8ym8nt8 307 VAT Cr8dltor 16.8991 135B I Hall depo￿1$ held Cthef crediknrn (Note 71 15,100 1 12,758 1 122,336 1 17,222 1 1,884250 1.885.929 RepToignt•d by.. Undo•lgnat•d Genergl fvjnd D••lywt•d Fur Gran¢B frjné INots 81 2025 2024 1531.557 1,506,098 352.693 379.833 1.884.250 1.885,929 M2t•• Grants approved Ihl8 year Include repl)cm8nt olth• CoTrrnn8 Bor8 Holo Puryy. tho Patt8 WcJd & 01sts1a Resident8Assod&lon Mural. reglldlng Ollhe Chrlsl Church cloth (Ji41s, Tha Woodc)b Charfty Junlor 8u•h¢r8ft 1 Progr8mrne and the ch1￿$hur$I Commns Wlldfowl Protection B8nner. A gr8ntwas to(lved from ihe Cornmunity Funij for the Installab'on ola Heal Purnp. Th• donatyon olE10.000 from CordBnO IntemaVoTral ha8 baen re8erved for gr8nl alloc8bon In 2026. 2 knv881rnon¢8 aro holdlngs ol CCLA knvestynenltunda. 3 Tho Common$ were prof8ssonallyv81Lbgd in 2021. We wlll r￿eW annuBlly the need for afty Jrthgr ¥alua¥on8. 4 The ljd Chapol was prol888ion4lly valtJ•d In 2021. We will rewew8nnu8lly th• noed br any frJrther volualons. H$rilag8 Art cover5 8 numbor ofp81nOngs relating Town8hend f&mily rl8vantto Ihe history ofCh181ehursi. They are valued 81 ￿81. The fr8oh¢)kl of accssdrf¥o, off Lvbboca Road. Chi51ohurnlls balng retained ind8fin¢telyfrJvenironnntsl 6 reasonsto enable t￿￿￿tr￿Men¢ ofa Wngle ¢Jwolllng r681rtcOv8 covenonion18nd pre¥lov￿yOw￿ea bythe Soclety. Thè Trustees place no financlal valu6 on11. The uedltor8figur• Indud8$ amounts for the alr souw* heatpurrp, and a tlonaoon Ihatha5 been deglgnatsd br sp8Uficp￿Ie￿. 8 The &ants Fund represents r￿rtey eamwrked fOrfu￿r0 grants br Ioc81 ch8ritsble purp08e8. These acwuntsw8r8 approved by the Tw$tsesoTh 1£ and ￿gned on thgir b8halfby. J D Friel. Chaim)an D Malcolrn, Treasurer

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Chislehurst Society I report on the accounts for The ChislehuTSt Society for the year ended 31 tk¢ember 2025. Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner As the Society's trustees you are responsible for the prepardtion of accounts. You consider that an audit is not required under Section 14412) of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to examine lh¢ accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 follow the proceduTeS Specified in the General Di￿tIOn given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 145(5Xb) of the Act state whether any particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Report My examination was carried oul in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Society and a comparison of the accounts presenied with those records. It also includes considerdtion of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanation from you as the Committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as io whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view. and the report is limil¢d io those malters s¢1 oul in the slalem¢ni below. Independent Examiner's Statement In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe thaL in any material respecL the requiremenls lo keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 ACL and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to compty with the accountinB requirements of the Act. have not been met. lo which. in my opinion, attention should be drawn in Order lo enable a proper understhnding of the accounts to Ix reached. Signed: Date.. 2fj- I- 2026 Derek Dobson & Co l O Sturges Field Chislehurst Kent BR7 6LG