## 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 

admin@chislehurst-society.org.uk 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. 

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## _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. 

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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
Char*aLIBActwknq8
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$4avglopm8ntS matketing
mi￿lIan￿ouS@xp@nS￿s
2.557
Char*atrA•ACtfv￿az
Grantsand sponsofship (Nob i)
PlanningEnvironment
Cons&DRiionkna R￿eW
27,140
36.555
Publications & local siudy
Communiry
90th 8ithdayAcDviti95
Chn5trh8S Fayr
(Nots 71
En￿ll)nMents1 Awa￿$
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$ghurstCommDnslND*31
3￿￿J0
800,000
ros&fjYingy
18n74
116.7351
fld Chapel IN0*41
8gS.QQO
695WJ
HethgtartlNol8 51
H￿1* WOPWIN¢*BI
Debty)rt&wpgymn
307
VAT¢Tthr
16M9YI
15.100 1
13581
HO11
12,7$8 1
1223361
172221
IW250
1.885.929
2035
2024
lJfftd•shT•t•d
I￿31￿57
iJoe.096
352.*93
379M33
1,884250
1M85.929
1>ontsapproved th￿)￿￿￿1n(lUdOf0w￿(emP￿lOIl￿¢0Th￿n5P0￿ Hol*P￿￿￿.￿? PetsWoo&&DThknL*
R8￿dentsA5$o(Ia￿n Mural, wik1iwolthe Chr￿ChUr* dockdk31s.Thewo¢￿c0knCha￿tyJuTrI¢I s￿5￿craft
I PrDgrtffffiwaThlth@Chi¥ehu*¢ommnswTrldfw1 Pro*don 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 rev*w8nnualtytsTWOknranYtutlW￿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•C*dChapvl
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 **admin@chislehurst-society.org.uk** , 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: **admin@chislehurst-society.org.uk** 

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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$tsand donauons
CommL+nity Fund IHealPumpl
11,408
13,603
1.192
CharAable Acdvlilos
Promobonal sa588 Inetl
5,189
2,159
142ts38
96.391
Expondlturn
G•n•ral
Cost ofgenerating fund5
Athilnktratltsn
7.947
2.938
Premises wsts
39.193
27,603
Admin*strative stsff
2.130
5,434
1290
1.095
1.957
1079
3.271
17.018
2.641
1.147
2.557
1.149
slafjonery￿É1aph0naATetc
L8gallAccountant
Oepreuation
CotrimunitAtionsdev8lopmenl & mart8Ung
Miscellaneousexpenses
Charltable
Gr8nts and 5ponsor5hip INots 11
PlanningEnvironmenl
ConseTration Area Review
Publi(ation$ & 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
C*eratioThal SuwpIu￿De￿C1tI
40.641
117,0401
Investh*ntr8¥aluaOon
142,320 1
20227
IknTall Surplu51lDefi(¥ll
11,6791
3,187

BALANCE SHEEf AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
A88ots
2025
2024
C8sh and short*mi 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
M*2t••
Grants approved Ihl8 year Include repl)c*m8nt olth• CoTrrnn8 Bor8 Holo Puryy. tho Patt8 Wc*Jd & 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$rilag8 Art cover5 8 numbor ofp81nOngs relating Town8hend f&mily r*l8vantto Ihe history ofCh181ehursi.
They are valued 81 ￿81.
The fr8oh¢)kl of acc*ssdrf¥o, off Lvbboca Road. Chi51ohurnlls balng retained ind8fin¢telyfrJven*ironn*ntsl
6 reasonsto enable t￿￿￿tr￿Men¢ ofa Wngle ¢Jwolllng r681rtcOv8 covenonion18nd pre¥lov￿yOw￿ea bythe Soclety.
Thè Trustees place no financlal valu6 on11.
The uedltor8figur• Indud8$ 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