## ANNUAL REPORT 2024-25 A review of our activities and achievements, and our priorities for the year ahead **----- Start of picture text -----**
Registered Charity No: 1166358
Registered address: 17 De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AB
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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 2024 to 31st August 2025. ## Contents |**Our objectives and aims**|**3**| |---|---| |**Review of 2024-25**|**4**| |**Thank you to our contributors**|**5**| |**Treasurer’s report**|**6-7**| |**Achievements and priorities**|**8-11**| |**Structure, governance and management**|**12**| |**Appendix: Financial statements**|| |**Appendix: Independent examiner’s report**|| **----- Start of picture text -----**
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- “The Friends of Ruskin Park was established to protect and promote the enjoyment of Ruskin Park (a public park - situated on Denmark Hill in Camberwell, London) for the benefit of all park users - now and in the future,.” ## Our objectives and aims 1. To work collaboratively with Ruskin Park’s managers, Lambeth Council, and other partners to maximise the quality of Ruskin Park, as 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, balancing different interests. 3. To run, sponsor or support where appropriate 1) events and activities for and with park users and 2) physical improvements that would not otherwise happen. 4. To ensure we have the resources to achieve the above aims – financial, people, communications and governance. **----- Start of picture text -----**
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## Review of 2024-25 2024-25 was a year of transition for FoRP, as long-serving trustees and committee members stepped down, with our grateful thanks for their dedication over the years. We recruited a new trustee and continue to encourage volunteers to join the committee to help deliver FoRP’s core activities. We made progress in many areas. Gardening activities remain an important focus, supported by our City Bridge Foundation funding. We recruited a new gardener to support community groups in the Willow Garden and maintained fortnightly gardening sessions in the Labyrinth Garden. The Community Garden Saturday sessions are increasingly well attended, with several new regular volunteers. FoRP volunteers worked tirelessly to keep the paddling pool open during a hot, dry summer. We ran a full bandstand programme over the summer and autumn, as well as our popular summer fete, reflecting our commitment to providing events that are open to all. Our playground “little library” is a much-loved and well-used resource for local families. We continue to work in partnership with Lambeth to support and develop our park at a time of financial constraint. Kate Malleson and Céline Gilbert **Co-Chairs** ## **Volunteers** Thank you to our ● Trustees Thank yous ● Committee members contributors ● Gardeners **Funders, partners and** ● Litter pickers **donors** - Paddling pool volunteers - Events volunteers, performers and partners - Regular and one-off donors - ● Aviva Community Fund - ● Camberwell Society - GoodGym volunteers - Employee volunteering groups - City Bridge Foundation - ● Community Sauna Baths - ● Herne Hill Forum ● Herne Hill Society - ● Lambeth Council - Additional thanks go to Rupert - Maas, Max Pappenheim and Claire Summers for their work on the - paddling pool, to Liv Chester for her work on the community orchard, and to Maddalena Amato for her - contribution to the Rose Garden this year. - Lambeth Parks Forum - ● London Friends of Green Spaces Network - ● Myatt’s Fields Park Project - SE5 Forum Above all, we pay tribute to Julie Simpson for her many years of service to FoRP and A her role in organising/ managing the Summer Fete - 5 a huge commitment which she has carried out with dedication and apparently effortlessly, although we know that’s not the case. - South London and Maudsley NHS Trust - Steel Warriors - Urban Canopy - Urban Village Treasurer’s report As demonstrated in our report, FoRP has been active this year with events, projects and fundraising. |events, projects|events, projects|and fundraising.|and fundraising.|and fundraising.|| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| |||2024/25|||2023/24| |||Unrestricted
funds|Restricted funds|Total|Total| ||Income|24,244|23,452|47,696|30,684| ||Expenditure|(24,052)|(22,591)|(46,643)|(50,885)| ||Net movement|192|861|1,053|(20,201)| ||Balance|35,031|16,178|51,209|50,156| We are very grateful for the generous donations we receive from park users and other supporters, as well as to the bodies that have provided us with grants in the past year. Our funding from the City Bridge Foundation allowed us to continue to run our fortnightly park gardening sessions, led by Urban Canopy, in the Labyrinth Garden, and to engage a gardener to support groups in the Willow Garden. This funding allows us to continue this work in the medium term. We were also able to complete the edging project in the Labyrinth Garden, with an additional contribution from our general funds. A grant from Lambeth Council again allowed us to run a successful bandstand concert programme over the summer and autumn. 6 ## Treasurer’s report (cont.) The paddling pool remained open during the hot summer months, with financial support from our paddling pool fund. We continue to hold a substantial balance in the fund to allow us to undertake any essential maintenance work that might be necessary. FoRP made a contribution from its general funds to buy replacement picnic tables for the paddling pool area, which are ready to be installed. by the playground, which we are committed to maintaining and stocking with children’s books as needed. We also ran several volunteer workshops and provided funds for planting carried out by corporate volunteers. The summer fete, on one of the hottest days of the year, was very successful thanks to the efforts of our organiser and volunteers. Our reserves policy continues to be to hold 6 months of operating costs and the annual costs of providing regular events and activities. We continue to focus on reducing our general fund to the level required under our reserves policy. This year we made a small surplus but we continue to prioritise allocating funds to park improvements. Our key challenge in this respect is capacity amongst the existing committee to identify and manage suitable new projects. Jo Broadbent **Treasurer** 7 ## Achievements and priorities (1) ## **Volunteering, events and activities** ## **Achievements** **Community** Our Community Garden **and Willow** continued to have high levels of engagement this year. We **Gardens** transitioned to growing plants from seeds and were more strategic about our planting. The Willow Garden supported existing groups in partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and worked with Urban Canopy and King’s to facilitate a healthy eating project for young gardeners, including a pollinator workshop. ## **Future priorities** Work with Lambeth to re-establish water supply to the Gardens and areas of the park as a matter of urgency. Expand the Community Garden committee to maintain weekly opening and refine our cropping plan in light of our experience last year. Maintain our work with existing groups and any new groups who may benefit from access to therapeutic sessions in the garden as opportunities arise. **Park gardening and litter picking** Our volunteers, working with Urban Canopy, finished the edging project in the Labyrinth Garden and continue to maintain the space. We worked with Lambeth Council to run two sessions to maintain the wildlife garden and pond. A core volunteer team provided regular litter picking throughout the year. Plant bulbs and perennials and restore areas of grass within the Labyrinth Garden. Seek funding for a new project to maintain and develop the community orchard outside the sauna area. **Concerts at the bandstand** A new team organised and ran a full programme of enjoyable concerts, supported by grant funding from Lambeth. Organise a concert programme next year, subject to the availability of grant funding. 8 ## Achievements and priorities (2) ## **Volunteering, events and activities** **Achievements** **Summer Fete** The Summer Fete was very **and other** successful. We ran a gardening workshop aimed at children and **seasonal** families during the Fete, as well **events** as a half term family workshop in the Willow Garden and supported the Boule d'Or petanque tournament. **Park** FoRP continued to support the **improvements** tree and bench donation programme this year, funded **sponsored or** trees for the community orchard **managed by** by the sauna, and launched **FoRP** outdoor chess tables in March. We paid for and planted new roses for the Rose Garden and installed a “little library”, predominantly for children’s books, outside the playground. We continue to discuss work needed to preserve the heritage bandstand and the portico with Lambeth. **Engaging park users with the heritage of the park** ## **Future priorities** Encourage volunteers outside the core committee to be involved in organising the Summer Fete. Support a small number of other suitable events, including a foraging workshop and a seasonal event for volunteers in December. Improving maps and notice boards remains a priority. FoRP has funded new picnic tables for the paddling pool area and these should be installed this year. We will continue to source and fund donations of children’s books to the “little library”. A new FoRP project will focus on how to improve biodiversity within the park. Organise a volunteer day with Lambeth to repaint areas of the bandstand and continue to press for repairs to the poor condition of the portico. **Bring the heritage Coach House back into use** We continued to work with Lambeth to restore and revitalise the historic Coach House, creating a publicly accessible, sustainably managed asset. Remain an active voice on the Coach House steering committee, engaging with potential partners for the space and funding 9 opportunities as appropriate. ## Achievements and priorities (3) ## **Projects and partnership working with Lambeth** **Paddling pool** ## **Achievements** A team of volunteers worked extremely hard in difficult circumstances to keep our historic paddling pool open. The hot, dry summer emphasised what an asset the pool is to our community. ## **Future priorities** Ensure more consistent lines of communication and support through Lambeth’s facilities management contracts to ensure the pool’s future. Ensure volunteers feel properly supported in and valued for their work with the paddling pool. **Opening the disused depot area** The community sauna is open in the old depot area and we have a good working relationship with the sauna team. FoRP volunteers worked with Lambeth to plant a new community orchard outside the sauna area. Obtain funding for a regular education and maintenance programme for the community orchard over the next two years, to develop and enhance the public space outside the sauna. **Regular liaison with Lambeth Parks** We have liaised closely with Lambeth during the year, particularly in light of current financial constraints. The park retained its Green Flag and its Gold London in Bloom award. Continue to liaise with Lambeth through regular meetings to monitor projects and proposals that impact the park, including events. Continue to press Lambeth to restore the water supply to the kiosk/ toilets/ Willow and Community Gardens. Plans to redevelop the sports pitches/ redgra area were delayed but we will remain involved in responding to any proposals. 10 ## Achievements and priorities (4) ## **Charity governance and management** **Governance and membership** ## **Achievements** Trustees and non-trustee committee members held regular meetings throughout the year to review activities, priorities and risks. We held a detailed review of the paddling pool operation alongside Lambeth and implemented recommendations before the paddling pool opened for the season. Our membership numbers remain stable. ## **Future priorities** Our co-chairs remain in place, ensuring stability of leadership. Continue to hold regular committee/trustee meetings and ensure all essential paperwork is compiled and maintained. To ensure we can run our existing range of activities and develop new ones we continue to need new main committee members. Build resilience by recruiting new members for a Summer Fete committee and to the Community Garden committee. **Funding and finance** We continued to maintain a healthy financial balance. We are in the second year of our five year City Bridge Foundation funding, which gives gardening activities stability in the medium-term. operate in accordance with our reserves policy, and bid for specific grant funding where appropriate to do so in light of our overall financial position. Apply for funding for the community orchard project. **Communications and engagement** We have continued to communicate with the membership and park users through newsletters, social media and notices. Maintain core communications and continue to try to engage more park users e.g. by more extensive use of social media to promote activities and generate new volunteers and participants 11 for activities such as the Labyrinth Garden sessions. ## Structure, governance and management ## **Membership** Membership is open to anyone who is interested in furthering our purposes. The trustees have decided not to charge a membership fee. As of 31st August 2025, FoRP had 363 members. ## **Governance** We are governed by a constitution adopted in March 2016 and approved by the Charity Commission in April 2016. This can be viewed on our website. ## **Trustees** We have a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 11 trustees. They are appointed at our AGM, with a third standing down or being re-appointed each year. At other times the existing trustees may appoint trustees until the next AGM. The following people were trustees during 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2025: Kate Malleson Co-Chair Céline Gilbert Co-Chair Jemima Ashdown Appointed 05.03.25 Joanna Broadbent Lucy Hadfield Resigned 05.03.25 Mandy Millward Chris Norris Resigned 05.03.25 Sarah Salter ## **Committee** Additional committee members are appointed by the trustees to assist with the management of our activities. This year they included Kathy Erasmus, Abimbola Oke, Kay O’Neill, Sara Robertson-Jonas, Julie Simpson and Claire Vinycomb. Lucy Hadfield and Chris Norris continued to be active members of the committee following their retirement as trustees. 12 Friends of Ruskin Park Registered Charity number 1166358 ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM l$15eptember 2024 to 31stAugust 2025 Friends OF Ru5kln Par* A(counts lor the perlod from I September 2024to 31 Aug￿$t 2025 Chari Name Friends of Rvskin Park Woikin Name FORP Chari Number 1166358 Re istered Office 17 De Cre5pigny Park London SE5 8A8 ApkX•ifited 0110612017 1210112021 2310112023 2510512022 1210112021 0110912016 1610112024 0510312025 Resigned 0510312025 Board ol Trustees Lucy Hadfield Kate Malleson ICt>Chairl Sarah Saltei (Treasurer till $131251 Celine Gilbert IC¢>£hairl Katherine Amanda Millward Christopher Norris Joanna 8roadbeni ITreasuref from 5131251 Jemima A5hdown 0510312025 Inde endent Accountant Ciest Actountin8 Ltd. 49 Verdayne Avenue. Shirley. Croydon. CRO 8TW. Bank Uoyds Bank PLC St•emtntOlFi￿nrl1A(b¥rI￿S Fwth• wwfrtyn 15¢5t*wrther 2024 lo3￿A￿VIse20Is TOTAL FUt4DS TOTAL FUNDS PeiiDd Ended J15tAuiusi zoz4 FuThds Pertod E￿￿d Jlst 2025 JlstA¥w512025 jtst 4uAv5t ZOZ5 Funds IntON￿r* INote ai Oonallry￿IGra￿ls Event5 Inthvestl¢ther Gift A Toial Incommwresourrns 10.538 8.124 2.741 2,841 23.452 21.714 6.683 L416 .124 2,741 2,841 CostsolProwWlry chad1•b￿ 114ote41 A(Ilvrf¢ies C05t of providill8Charitab ActNite5 ChantableActi¥ites Total Resoureesexpethded 1.744 22.308 1.744 44,899 1.897 48.988 22.591 Nrf mo¥4m*ni tn funds Rt¢4fftOllaiion offvThds Total Fund5 brought forward TotalFund5carried fO￿ard Fitnd5 ofAthlkn Park •l•h¢t 5hoet a5*t Jlsi 2025 Ar 31$1 A￿%1 2024 IP4oie Sl CurrerbtAss•¥s OeblO¢S Cash at bonkartd inhand Tot*lCiirrME I%Mts 4.443 54.423 5.615 58.607 Crediiors lallirqdue ￿t￿￿One¥ear Prep*d Income 114ote 61 17.6571 P4ttAsset5 Fwds ¢1theClw61¥ vnrotnc1￿ Fund5 Re5tiKted Fund5 35.031 16.178 34.839 15.317 INOte 7) Tatal Funds Chair ( /¥lJl Date.. Frlends of Ruskln P•rk Notes lo the Acwints Note l.. Accounti Policies The principal accovntiri8 polirie53re 5urnmari5ed bek)w. The a¢¢ountin8 polic*s have been applied consistentlv Bas15 of Accountin The financial statements have been prepared on the basi5 of rhe hi5torK cost convention and in accordance with the Companies Act 2(rf)6 and the Statement ol Rec¢)mmended Practice- Accountin8 and Reportin8 by Charities ISORP 2(K)Sl issued in March 2005. Fund Accounti Uniestritted are available lor use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objecttve5 of the Charily. Restrirted funds are subjected to ￿$trIdiOnS on theii expenditure imposed by the donor. Incomin resource5 All incomin8 iesources are ￿¢0£￿ised once the charity has entr(fement to the resources. il ts certain that the re5Durce5 will be received and the monetary value of irncorning rey)ur£es can be r￿aSured with sulficient reliability. Grants and dooations are included in the SOFA when Ihe charity has uncondilional entitlemenr io the resources. Incoming resources from tax redairn5 are Included at the 5arne time asthey are received Investment income is included when receivable. Resources ex ended Expenditure is recognised on an accrual ba515 35 a liability is incurred. Costs of generating funds are those costs incurred in attractin8 Voluntary Income. Charitable expenditure cornprise5 those costs incurred by the charity in the delrvery of its artNities and services for its members. It include5 both costs thal can be allocated directly to Such activitie5 and those costs of an indirett Aature to support them. Governance costs include those costs associated vrrith meeting the constitutional and statutory re4uirtments of the thar￿*V and include independent examination fees and Costs linked to the strategic management of the charity. All costs are allocated beiween the expendtturecategories of the SOFA on a basis des48ned to reflert the use of the resource. C05t5 relalinE to a particular arth￿ty ale dirertly allLXated. Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. DepreCiat￿n is provided at rates calculated to write off the c05t useful life as follow5:_ Computer e4uipment- 33.33% strai8ht line basis Fixtures & FittinÉs- 33_33% straiRht line basis ¢ndsof Ruskkn Park ote 2.. No rernuneration was paid to the trnstee5 in the 12 month perityj ended 315t AvEU5t 2025 Note 3: Ana 15 of incomin resourt*s Total Funds 12 month perlod to 31st W5t 2025 Volunturyincome.. Unrestiicted donationslincome Restricted donationslgrantS Gift Aid Investmentinc(wTre.' Bank Inierest Other Income Total l8.662 23.452 2A41 1.781 960 Note 4.. Anal Is ol¢vMS ?f haritable 2etlwltles rjvidln 12 month perlod to 31rt Ay5t 2025 AGM Fundfaising Adminlinsurance DatabasellT Support Governance Total 463 397 265 269 350 t 5 Flxed assets ) assets are owned bythe tharity Note 6.. anal of Credltors Accrua15 Accounts Payable 6.847 810 Noit 7- Anal lsof Restricted Ful￿$ Balance 8IF DonarionslGrants 15,317 38,769 122,5911 Expenditure 8alan¢e CIF Fflends of Ruskin Park Profft and loss for the year to 31st Augurt 2025 Turnover DonationslGrants Events Interestlother Gift Aid TOTAL TURNOVEII 33,990 8.124 2,741 2.841 47,696 Costs General Admin Fundraising IT Costs Charitable Activities Le8al & Governance TOTAL COSTS 728 397 269 44.899 350 46,643 OPERATING PROFIT 1.053 Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner 5 Report Report to the tru8teesl I mernb•rs of l FRIENDS OF RUSKIN PARK {FORPI 31 AUGUST 2025 On accounts for the year Charity f (rf anyl 1166358 Sot out on pages 1to7 Respethe The charitYs trustees we resprm$th for the preparation of the ￿0￿nts. re8ponsibilitio8 of The charrty's InJstee5 rnllswjer t￿ an audit is ncrt required for this year trustses and ¢xamin¢r sedh)n 144 ofthe ChariiEs Act 2011 (the cr￿ltIeS Ad) and that an Ir￿ependent exwninaticrf) is needed. It is my respo￿lbilty to: examine the ￿￿nts under sectK)n 145 of the Charbtles Act. to folow the WLThlures ￿1￿ dv•m in the general Oireclion8 gNen ty the Charrty C¢)mmwion lurKler Sect￿ 145(51{b) of Ihe Charities Ad, and Basls of indèyndent My examinatM)n was carr*d (rtrt in ac¢cKdarte with ggneral Directions given •xamlner's statwnent ty the Charity Commiwon. An examination Micludes a revrew of the Junting recC￿d5 kept by the charity and a eornparison ofthe accounts prfj￿ted with {tr￿ rectsds. It aEso includes c¢ThKleration of any unusual tem$ or d¢scbJsures in the aC￿￿ts sethng explanat¥)n$ from the tfuslees omceming any suth matters. The Fxttedures urtdertaken do not provth al the Vlid￿ tlwt wcMJk4 be requir￿1 in an audit, and (¥￿eq1• opnion is given as to wthethef the ￿}Unts present a In and fairf W￿, and the rwrt is kniiied tothose matters set wl in the Independent In cl￿1￿11)n with my exami1￿1￿)n. no mts has c£Mr* to my atentKrf) èxamlnerfs Statement which me reasonth cw¥e to bek8ve that in, any material respecl, the requirements." lo keep ￿￿UntIng retorf$ with seGlion 130 ofthe Charili% Act., and trj wepare a￿o￿nts which with the accountivJ records and have not been met: or 1. to whKh. in my opin￿, atteniTh be order to ena￿e cffjer UrKler￿￿In9 0ftr￿ acethmrts to be ￿￿hed. 31.10.2025 Patrw Wa Relevant profes*ional l FCIA4 CGM& MIP. qualiftcalionl•) or body lif any): I 49 Verdayne Avenue. Shith. Croydon. Surrey CRO 8TW IER March 2012 Section 8 DiscloSLire Onty c4ynF*ts rf ihe examiner needs to hgh1￿m Materi￿ wcthms. IER March 2012 Glve here brlef detalls of any Stem8 that the examln•r ￿1*h•S to disclo¥g. IER March 2012