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## ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21
A review of our activities and achievements, and our priorities for the year ahead
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Registered Charity No: 1166358 Registered address: 84 Ferndene Road, London, SE24 0AA
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## The Friends of Ruskin Park (FoRP) has been operating as a community group since 1996. We established a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in 2016.
This annual report relates to the charity’s accounting year from 1st September 2020 to 31st August 2021.
## CONTENTS
|**Our objectives and aims**|**3**|
|---|---|
|**Review of 2020-21**|**4**|
|**Thank-you to our volunteers**|**8**|
|**Treasurer’s report**|**9**|
|**Achievements and priorities**|**11**|
|**Structure, governance and**|**16**|
|**management**||
|**Financial statements**|**17**|
|**Independent Examiner’s**|**24**|
|**Report**||
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“The Friends of Ruskin Park is established to protect and promote the enjoyment of Ruskin Park (a public park situated on Denmark Hill in Camberwell, London) for the benefit, now and in the future, of all park users.”
## OUR OBJECTIVES AND AIMS
1. To work collaboratively with the park’s landlord, Lambeth Council, and its tenants, to help their management to as maximise all aspects of the quality of Ruskin Park, desired by park users and within available resources.
2. To engage park users and the wider community in maintaining and improving the park for their own health and wellbeing, for now and in the future, and balancing their different interests.
3. To run, sponsor or support (a) events and specific desired activities for and with park users and (b) capital projects for improvement of physical assets, that would not otherwise happen.
4. To ensure we have the resources to achieve the above aims – financial, people, communications and governance.
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“The Trustees would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the work and wellbeing of Ruskin Park this year – a year of immense uncertainty for us all.”
## REVIEW OF 2020-21
This was a year of great challenge and uncertainty for everyone due to Covid 19.
We came out of lockdown at the start of the year and restrictions continued to varying degrees until the end of the year. We have also had several changes in committee members and we remember with gratitude and sadness David Benson, our treasurer, whose life was curtailed suddenly in May.
and that has given greater recognition to all those who work for the park in many different capacities. Our dedicated park keeper, backed by the operations team, has made a huge difference to the park feeling more loved and cared for. Since Covid started, the footfall and number of activities in the park has increased.
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“I love this park – it’s been my sanctuary over the past year”
Park user - April 2021
## REVIEW OF 2020-21 (cont.)
We are most proud of our appeal for volunteers giving a surge in gardening volunteers who have, together with our stalwart litter pickers, added so much to the care and enhancement of our beautiful park. Their efforts have been well organised and supported Lambeth’s parks team. Together, they have given joy again to the labyrinth garden, surrounding beds and many other areas and new friendships have been made.
Much of our work continued in partnership mainly with Lambeth Landscapes, to whom we are a ‘critical friend’, along with other partners. There has been progress on many fronts, and our highlights are set out on the following pages.
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## REVIEW OF 2020-21 (cont.)
- We consider ecological resilience to be a high priority for the park and work with Lambeth’s tree officer and others on planting plans.
- future for the historic stable block when the proposed use by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust did not work out.
- for the paddling pool was no longer fit for purpose, we formed a collective effort with Urban Village to raise money for a necessary refurbishment before the 2022 season. It was an ambitious target and the response surpassed our expectations. We managed to open the pool for part of the summer.
- New heritage landmarks have appeared in the park - a fine restored sundial commemorating Mendelssohn composing Spring Song here, a splendid unique bench made pro bono from a 100 year old fallen ash tree by a local resident, and several more new memorial benches donated by individuals with their personal messages.
- Minor work has started on enabling the Hut and surrounding garden to be used for community activities
- The pond remained under vigilant eyes and the water levels held up.
- We have been successful this year in fundraising, both for specific projects through grants and thanks to the generosity of individual donors. The challenge of spending money wisely on new and sustainable projects remains a priority.
- We spent unexpected time and energy listening to the community and then challenging (successfully) Event Lambeth’s intention to give an inappropriate concession to the Open Arms for entertainment and food and alcohol sales in the park.
- Towards the end of the year, it was clear our hopes were becoming real for significant investment in the park’s neglected infrastructure and improvement schemes (as guided by a joint strategic ‘masterplan’ finalised in 2019/20). This is after many years of lobbying by FoRP. Nearly £1 million has been pledged together with project management resources over the next couple of years. Now the focus will be on communication and engaging the community as plans are finalised and implemented.
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## REVIEW OF 2020-21 (cont.)
The Summer Fete (postponed from June to September) and bandstand concert programme were even bigger and better this year after the unavoidable cancellations the year before. The enjoyment was evidently precious and the work of the performers and volunteers who made them happen against the odds should not be taken for granted. Unfortunately, we were not able to run a photography competition last year, but would welcome volunteers to help organise one in the future.
We had a stall by the bandstand to talk to park users in April. Otherwise, it has been hard to have as much face-to-face engagement with users and stakeholders as we would want, and have had before. We have, however, used more electronic communications and social media. The number of clicks, posts and chats through various channels has shown how much interest people have in our activities. Since June 2021, there has been a significant jump in the number of followers on each of our social media platforms by at least 10 per cent. In total, across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, FoRP now has approaching 4,500 followers. Of course, different people prefer different communication channels and we use a range in our engagements.
We have made progress in many of the objectives we set out for FoRP in the last annual report, but there is always more to do. Please see below from page 8 the areas on which we intend to focus in the year ahead, depending as always on volunteer skills and capacity to make our intentions happen. We will also be open to new opportunities if they arise.
lead baton smoothly next year, as FoRP continues to strive to serve the community of park users.
**Chair**
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“The work of Friends of Ruskin Park would not be possible without the commitment and passion of our trustees, volunteers and partners.”
## **Thank-you to our contributors**
## **Volunteers**
- Trustees
- Paddling pool group
- Events teams and volunteers
- Litter pickers
- Gardeners
- Walk leaders
- Tree group
## **Funders, partners and donors**
- GoodGym volunteers
- Events performers
- Urban Village
- ● Urban Canopy
- Lambeth Council
- Postcode Local Trust
- Heritage of London Trust
- ● London Community Foundation
- Virgin Media O2 and Neighbourly
-
- UK Power Networks
- Herne Hill Forum
- ● Herne Hill Society
- Steel Warriors
- GoodGym
- Paddling pool donors
- ● Member donors
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## Treasurer’s Report
This has been another unusual year for FoRP as we adapt to COVID-19, and this is reflected in our financial results. As ever, we are very grateful for the generous donations we receive from the users of the park and other supporters as well as to the bodies that have provided us with grants in the past year.
|
provided|
provided|
us with grants in the past year.|
us with grants in the past year.|
us with grants in the past year.|
us with grants in the past year.|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||2019/20||
|||2020/21||||2019/20||
|||Unrestricted funds|Restricted funds||Total|Total||
|||General fund|Grants fund|Paddling
pool fund||||
||Income|17,806|12,210|520|30,586|37,983||
||Expenses|(4,951)|(15,854)|(1,212)|(22,017)|(29,755)||
||Retained|12,855|(3,644)|(692)|8,519|8,228||
|Reserves|Reserves|45,012|5,327|9,124|59,463|50,944||
|||||||||
increase in donations to our unrestricted general fund. This includes increased regular donations from our members as well as one-off donations in memory of our late Treasurer, David Benson. It also reflects the growth in our bench donation scheme and a contribution from UK Power Networks in respect of disturbance to the park as a result of works carried out in recent years.
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we will be able to fund more improvements in the park in coming years.” Treasurer’s Report (cont.)
The timing of grant income and associated expenditure continues to overlap financial years. In this year we completed delivery of activities funded by the Postcode Local Trust for improvements to the Community Garden. We received new grants from Lambeth Council for the Summer Fete, Neighbourly for our Bandstand concerts, and London Community Foundation for our volunteering programme.
The paddling pool operated again this year for a reduced season, with some donations continuing. Paddling pool expenditure was reduced due in part to a historic water bill no longer being due. In the forthcoming year we expect significant fundraising and expenditure related to a full refurbishment of the pool.
more improvements in the park in coming years. As well as contributing to the refurbishment of the paddling pool, we expect to fund tree planting and gardening projects, building on recent investment in the Labyrinth Garden and surrounding beds. We also expect events income and expenditure to return to normal levels following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
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## Achievements and priorities (1)
**Working in Partnership with Lambeth Landscapes and others**
## Achievements last year
## Future Priorities
**Partnership Board** Liaising regularly with Lambeth through the Partnership Board and Lambeth Parks Forum on strategic and operational issues.
Partnership Board and Lambeth Parks Forum met regularly through the year, inputting to Lambeth’s policies for parks, e.g the Green Flag Management Plan, the 2020 strategic masterplan, and Health Parks pilot.
Ensuring project management, partnerships, funding and communications are in place for the first phase of capital works. Respond to support operational issues. Ensure that **ecological resilience** is integrated into strategic direction and part of any decision making.
## **Park improvements**
Improvements sponsored or managed by FoRP, additional to larger improvements funded by Lambeth.
Funding allocated to tree planting, flower beds. 4 new benches installed this year with more on order. Progress on other improvements affected by Covid 19.
Continue to invest through our discretionary fund and work to deliver more items guided by the strategic masterplan, e.g.
noticeboards, picnic tables. Align with Lambeth’s S106 spend.
## **Paddling pool**
Fundraising to enable Lambeth to refurbish the pool and volunteering to keep the paddling pool operational. Partnership with Lambeth.
Volunteer group managed a limited opening in school holidays in 2021, pending necessary refurbishment works. Works specified, put out to tender and funding plan started, appealing to the community to help meet the costs.
Funding secured and chosen contractor completes the work by summer of 2022. Volunteer-led operations to restart for full summer opening.
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## Achievements and priorities (2)
**Working in Partnership with Lambeth Landscapes and others**
## Achievements last year
## Future Priorities
## **Stable Block**
Restore to bring the heritage stable block back into use, with clear community benefits.
Working with Lambeth to try to prevent further short term dilapidation while also working on a longer term plan for the restoration and use of the building **.**
Work with Lambeth to take forward the short-term repairs to the building as early as possible in 2022 **.** Continue to push for a long term plan.
## **Other Heritage Items**
Engaging park users with the varied heritage of the park looking at the past and the future.
The Mendelssohn sundial, commemorating Spring Song being composed here, was restored and moved to a more suitable position. This was led by the Heritage of London Trust, supported by Lambeth and FoRP. Also, a splendid and unique bench was completed by a local resident, pro bono, recycled from a 100 year old felled ash tree.
We always look for opportunities to extend the accessibility of the park’s heritage through landmarks, signage and activities.
## **Old Depot Area**
This area is unused after the lease with Trees for Cities was ended earlier this year. The potential long term plan for its use is for a cafe.
Starting to work with Lambeth on agreeing the longer term options for bringing this area back into use and reincorporating it in the park.
Some of this area will be opened up by Lambeth Landscapes to connect to other public areas, while retaining the smaller, fenced area for ‘meanwhile’ use at low cost.
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## Achievements and priorities (3)
**Activities initiated by the Friends of Ruskin Park**
## Achievements last year
## Future Priorities
**Green volunteering programme + Community Garden** Saturday gardening sessions and projects. Wednesday litter-picking/ volunteering.
Sessions have thrived, with increased numbers interested in gardening volunteering during lockdown.
Increasingly taking on gardening projects, e.g. wildlife garden and flower beds. Priorities agreed with Lambeth Landscapes. New
grant funding found until 2022. Closer links formed
Continue to support and build the session groups as funding for facilitators may not be available in future.
Bring FoRP and the Community Garden even closer together and increase access to the Community Garden.
between FoRP and the Community Garden, helped by the Postcode Lottery grant.
## **Workshops, Activities and the Hut**
Affordable workshops and activities in the park for adults, children and patients from the hospitals.
Past activities include: • Working with Community Garden to organise gardening workshops • Supporting the SLaM gardening groups • Bat Walks with Iain Boulton from Lambeth • Plant Folklore Walks with South London Botanical Institute • Mindful Walks. The Hut is becoming useable for some indoor community activities.
and/or partners to lead and plan workshops and activities. To encourage Lambeth to complete necessary low cost adaptations to the Hut to make it more useable, such as reinstatement of the toilet.
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## Achievements and priorities (4)
**Activities initiated by the Friends of Ruskin Park**
Achievements last year
## Future Priorities
**Summer Fete and seasonal events** Our big summer community fete. Other ad hoc seasonal/themed events.
Though we postponed the Summer Fete from June to September, we were delighted it went ahead so successfully.
We plan to hold a dog show in May 2022 and the Summer Fete again in June.
**Bandstand Concerts** Programme of summer music at the bandstand
We were delighted to host a full and successful programme last summer, despite the challenges of taking mandatory Covid precautions. We collaborated with the Herne Hill Music Festival.
We plan to hold a bandstand programme in 2022.
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## Achievements and priorities (5)
**Running the charity of Friends of Ruskin Park**
## Achievements last year
## Future Priorities
**Communications, and User Engagement** Engaging the diverse range of park users and members, particularly to understand their needs and to connect with Lambeth Council.
Continuing to deliver regular communications about our and other significant park activities, online in several modes, and with posters. Took an active role in channelling the interest taken by the community which was generated by the event application by Open Arms to enable Lambeth to make an informed decision. Held ‘have your say’ in the park, ad hoc and at our events.
To secure the skills and capacity from our supporters to continue regular and effective communications and user engagement. After a success at Herne Hill market, to hold stalls as a presence at other market or festival events at other venues such as Carnegie Library.
**Governance and Membership** Holding good governance as a membership organisation, i.e. policies and procedures for FoRP as a charity and for efficient and effective delivery of activities, thus complying with the Charity Commission.
Improvements in membership management have continued. With a recent change of trustees and other committee
members, governance has been maintained, but not reviewed this year.
To ensure committee members have the skills and capacity to review and share out the responsibilities for ensuring effective governance, following best practice. Succession planning.
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## Structure, Governance and Management **Trustees**
We have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 11 trustees. They are elected at our AGM for 3 year terms, with a third of trustees standing down each year. At other times the existing trustees may appoint further trustees until the date of the next AGM.
## **Membership**
FoRP membership is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purposes, though the trustees are able to set a reasonable fee for membership. The membership fee is currently zero. As of 18th November 2021, FoRP had 458 recorded members, including 129 lapsed members who will receive invitations to renew.
The following people were trustees during 1st September 2020 to 31st August 2021:
**• David Benson (Treasurer) deceased 1[st] May 2021**
## **Governance**
**• Chris Norris**
**• Julie Simpson**
FoRP is governed by a CIO constitution adopted in March 2016 and approved by the Charity Commission in April 2016. This can be viewed on our website.
**• Kate Malleson (confirmed at the AGM in January 2021)**
**• Mandy Millward (confirmed at the AGM in January 2021)**
**• Deepak Sardiwal (appointed by trustees 15th May 2021)**
**• Michelle Warbis (appointed by trustees 14[th] July 2021)**
**• Jared Cotton (appointed by trustees 14[th] July 2021)**
## **Committee**
As well as the trustees, additional committee members are appointed by the trustees to assist with the management of our activities. This year they include Kathy Erasmus, Alex Penn, Rosie Kinchen, Claire Vinycomb and Jo Henderson. Céline Gilbert and Abi Oke joined in late 2021.
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## Financial Statements
##
statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The Charities Act (2011) and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- appropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved on behalf of the Trustees by
|Lucy Hadfeld, Chair|Jared Cotton, Treasurer|
|---|---|
|1/26/2022|1/29/2022|
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Date
Date
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give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources including the income and expenditure of the Charity”
## For period year ended 31 August 2021
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## Balance Sheet at 31 August 2021
obtain an audit under the Charities Act 2011. The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit in accordance with the Act. The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
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## Notes
## **1. Accounting policies**
accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) and in accordance with the FRS 102 itself and the Charities Act 2011.
The Trustee’s have taken advantage of the exemptions permitted by SORP (FRS 102) and have not included a statement of cash flows for the year.
## **Income policy**
Items of income are recognised and include in the accounts when all of the following criteria are met:
- The charity has entitlement to the funds;
- Any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met or are fully within the control of the charity;
- amount can be reliably measured.
Donations, voluntary income and grants are recognised in the period they are received where the above conditions have been met (except for grants that specify that they can only be used in a future accounting period).
## **Volunteers**
SORP (FRS 102) specifically excludes the inclusion of the value of the contributions of volunteers to the charity on the basis that there is no reliable method of measurement of their activities. As a result the value of services provided by volunteers is not included in the financial statements. The valuable contribution provided by the volunteers is discussed in more detail in the Trustees Report.
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## Notes (cont.)
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charities operations.
## **Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following headings:
Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the operation of the Charity. These include both the direct and support costs relating to these activities.
Other costs include those incurred in the governance of the Charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.
VAT suffered is included within the relative expenses or asset and is not shown separately.
## **2. Legal status**
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and has no share capital. If the CIO is wound up, the members of the CIO have no liability to contribute to its assets and no personal responsibility for setting its debts and liabilities.
The Charity was registered on 5 April 2016 under registration number 1166358. Accordingly the Charity is exempt from the Corporation Tax in respect to its charitable activities and any investment income receivable.
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## Notes (cont.) **3. Income**
**4. Expenses**
**Note** : Pool expenses include negative expenditure of £2,000 for a previously accrued contribution to water usage for the paddling pool which is no longer due.
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## Notes (cont.)
## **5. Staff Costs**
The Charity had no staff costs in the year and none of the trustees received any remuneration or benefits in kind for their work on the Charity.
## **5. Tax**
The Charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
## **5. Debtors**
All amounts are accounts receivable and are expected to be recoverable.
## **8. Creditors**
Deferred income was released from two grants (from London Community Foundation and Lambeth Council) and a community contribution from UK Power Networks due to a disruption caused by works undertaken in the park.
Income from bench donations was deferred where benches would not be delivered until the following financial year.
Accrued expenditure relates to the annual commissioning of the paddling pool in July 2021 which had not been billed by the end of the year.
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## Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees
I report on the accounts of Friends of Ruskin Park for the period ending 31st August 2021.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility:
- to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees 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 to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
1/26/2022
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Date
**----- End of picture text -----**
Sue McDonald Date Independent Examiner
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Registered Charity No: 1166358 Registered address: 84 Ferndene Road, London, SE24 0AA