Trustees, Annual Report for the period Period start dal8 Period end date From To December 2023 Section A Reference and administration details Charity namo THE FRIENDS OF CRESSING TEMPLE Othor names charlty Is known by Reglgt•red charlty number (if any) 1166431 Charlty's prfnclpal address CRESSING TEMPLE BARNS WITHAM ROAD BRAINTREE ESSEX Postcode CM77 8PD Names of the charlty trustsos who manage the charlty Trusta• n•m• Offlc• {51anyl Chair Treasurer D•t•¥ act•d If not for whol• ar N•m• of pornon {¢r badyl •ntitl•d toa Int tru•t•• Ifan Suzanne Lowe Andrew Bright 1" January 2023- 20tr November 2023 Jane Palmer D8vid Andrews Lesley Killin Monika Curry Membership Secretary Name8 of the trustses for the charlty. If any, (for example, any custodlan trustsesl Name Datss acted If not for whole ear Namos and addresses of advls•rs (Optlonal infomiation) o of adv15er Name Address Name of chiof executlve or names of senior staff membors Ioptlonal Infomiatlonl Junè 2024
Section B Structure, overnance and mana ement l)escrfptlon ofthe charty's trusts Constitution dated 4° August 2015 as amended on 12th December 2020 Type of governing dUment How the charity is constituted Unincorporated small company charity Tmstee selection methods Elected at the AGM Addltlonal govemance Issuu {Optlonal Infonnatlonl You may cho8 to include Re18tionship with Essex County Counal, owners of the Cre&8ing site. additional information, where Reference letter dated 15° March 2016 from the Head of County Parks. relevant. about.. Enwronment, Sustainability and Highways, Essex County Council. The charity continued to build on a positive working relationship with Essex County Council during the year. The trustees do not consider there are any major risks as there are no liabilities, other than those covered through our insurance. There is dependency on the voluntary efforts of the members and officers. This year has seen the resignation of the Treasurer, a role we hope to fill in the nexi reporting period. We are also relianl on the support of the two horticulturalisls employed by Essex County Council. policies and procedure8 adopted for the indudion and training of trustees.. the charity's organisational structure and any wider network with vthich the charity works., relationship with any related parties; trustees, ¢on8iderth'on of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. Section C Ob'ectives and activities To conserve, enhance and develop the historic site at c$31n9 Temple. induding the Walled Garden, the Cullen Garden arKI the Jubilee Orchard, as a unique histoticaS, social and horticultural record and educational resource. Summary of the objects of the charity set out in Its governlng dUMent Jun• 2024
In deciding our programme of activity and development the Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidan on public benefrt. The Trustees aim to further develop an indusive culture in the charity's ways of working. Valuing diverslty and equality and ensuring equal OPF4Jrtunrties. One of the Friend's objectives is to raise money in support of the site and gardens. We have carried on from last year in growing our 8CtiMlies and income streams following the lifting of covid restrictions years ago and hope this upward trend rA)ntinues. We held a very successful Apple Day agan in October, whlch is the main focus of our community facing events, we achieved increased attendance and incom8 from last year and expect this will be established as an annual event over the coming years. Summary ofthe maln activlties undèrtakon for th• publlc b•nefft In relatlon to these objects Ilnclude wlthln thls section the statutory declaratlon that trustees havg had regard to the guldanc• Issued by tho Charlty Commlsslon on publlc beno We have experienced a very successful year in regard of income, reflecting a steady growth of income from 2019. Sales ol Plants continue to be the main source of income and we have established a regular rhythm of workshops, such as willow weaving, income from which has increased significantly in this year. The number of garden volunteers remains stable at 39 and the number ol Friends including volunteers. members, comrnittee and Trustees is 90. Volunteers play a key role in sustaining the high standard of the gardens and increasingly in activities relating io the heritage of the site such as digitising the vast archive documents and restoration of fami machinery. This public benefrt 13 embedded in our constitution and at the forefront of Ihe Trustees and officers, activity. All give their ser4ic88 voluntarily and in the interests of the charity and its objectives and draw no personal fiduciary benefit from their roles. The gardens provide both historical and environmental interest to the local community and wider soaety with hands on experiance and involvement. We have firmly established partnerships with local mental health charities who provide weekly sessions for their dients reflecting the benefit and impact gardéning and environmentsl adiwties can prowde for growing skills, providing lime with nature and lackling isolation. June 2024
Addltlonal detalls of objectivos and activities (Optlonal inforniatlon) As said previously the Friends of Cressing Temple Could not operale without the generous 8nd willing help of all our volunteers. You may choose to include further statements, where refevant, about.. policy on grantrna'n9', policy programme related investment; contribution made by volunteers. A total of 4,822 volunteer hours were recorded this year, the equivalent of 652 days or approx. 3 fulltime posts and calculated at minimum wage an equivalent of a valuable £50.245. The number ol volunteer hours represents a 240/0 increase on 2022. Volunteer activities and opportunrtl88 range across an increasing variety of activities at the Core is garden planting and maintenance work in the Tudor, Cullen and Community gardens and Jubilee orchard. increasingly in this year heritage focused work grew such as digitising the archive and storalion of old fami machinery. Alongside, the essenlial supervision, management and administrative activities and duties incumbent on a successful ch8rit Section D Achievements and performance Summary ofthe maln •chlevements of thg charlty durln9 the yoar This year has seen our highest income of recent years, £47,581 due to a number of fadofs such as fundfaising for the PUTchase and instsllation of the compost loo and a very succe&8ful Apple Day. Plant and herb sale8 continue to be our main source of trading income. This years total of £13.615 was a 90/0 decrease in sales from lasl year. with an increase in the costs of buying plants the profrt margin was 30% as opposed to 40% last year. Sales of craft, books and honey was £5,997 8 slight increase on last year. We held our Apple Day in October, another great $uccess helped by glorious weather and support from our partners. The day was attended by over 1200 people raising a total n8t income after costs of £7,058 which is £1,442 higher than last year. The use of contactless payments sunFup and Paypal continues to increase and we have seen higher donations this year facilitated by the Payaz terminal purchased last year. Our VIRAGS trainee successfully completed her training in October, a role primarily funded via a grant from Finnis Scott Foundation. The major item of expenditure this year centred around the purchase and fitting of a Natsol compost toilet in the Community Garden at a cost of £15,324. Funding for this project reflecting the growth in both the p8rtner$ present and cooperation in what is becoming a growing communty hub. Essex County Counal, Braintree Distrid Council, Trustlinks. Cressing Community Shed, Braintree Beekeepers and the Essex Beekeeping Association, all collal)orating and contributing to the funding, resulting in 740h of the total funding coming from these partners. This facility is proving to be a major benefrt to Ihe community organisations based in and around the Community Garden. SL June 2024
Section D Achievements and performance Mle have seen less grant activity during this year but ale in Ihe piocess ol receiving funding toward initiating restoration of Ihe farm machinery from a local grant maker expected in 2024. Work continues to digitise the archive material. wTrth close liaison with the Essex Rewrd Office, to ensure preservation and aeSSIbIlItY of the rich historical records we have of Ciessing Temple. To assist with this work we purchased scanning equipment at a cost of £566 which was funded by a grant received from Essex Community Foundation in 2022. We have strong partnership working established wrth Abberton Rural Training and Trusllinks who prowde weekly therapeutic gardening sessions for their benefioaries on stte. We continue to provide governance via gUlar committee meetings, all now in person and we hekl our AGM in April. Our key priorities for 2024 are., to recruit the vacant Treasurer post. • to plan and raise funding for a new community building In the Community Garden. to plan and deliver a successful 2024 Apple Day. • to explore and begin th8 journey to becoming 8 Charitable Incorporated Organisation. • to commence the init181 pilot phase of the farm machinery project focusing on several Machines, we will explore further funding to expand on this. Section E Financial review Brlef statemont of the charfty's pollcy on roserves ReseNes are held in the named Ctroperalive Bank aCunt for the sole use and purpose of the Organisalion as defined in the Aims & Objectives of its constitution. The Friends Reserves Policy requires that suffioent unrestricted finanaal reseN8s are held in order that the ¢harily can continue to operate and meet the needs of the visitors in the event of unforeseen and potentially finanpially damaging circumstances arising. Dotalls of any funds mat•rlally In deflclt None, and not possible under the constitulion. Further flnanclal revlow d•talls (Optional inforniation) You may choose to indude All fundraising is to support the gardens and wider site and is mainly additional information, where achieved through trading. member activities, members fees, donations relevant about.. and grants. the charity's prlncipal Sources of funds (induding any fundraising); how expenditure has supported the key objectives ofthe charity- investment Fdicy and objectives including any ethical lnvestfft policy adopted. We are grateful for the £1,500 grant that we received from Finnis Stt Foundation for our WRAGS trainee, this was the final 250/0 tranche of a t0-year grant tolalling £6.000. We are grateful to our partners- Trustlinks, Essex County Council. Brainte District Council, Cressing Community Shed. Braintree Beekeepers, Essex Beekeeping AssOation who all supported and conttibuted to the purchase and installation of the Natsol Compost Toilet. The Charity's actimties provide benefit and interest to the local and wider society with hands on experiences and involvement. The gardens demonstrate the power of horticulture and other skills to improve people's lives. J•Jne 2024
Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustses declarn that they have approv•d the tru6tees' r•port above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustses Slgnaturn(s1 Full namels) Posltlon (eg Secrotary, Chalr, SUZANNE LOWE CHAIR Dats nd 22 June 2024 SL Jun• 2024
The Friends ofCre5Slyry1Q Rul4t•red thavity nvmbey 1166431 Re¢elpts •nd pwn•M#attounts the y•arto 31 De¢•mber2013 Year End•d 31 Dec 2023 Total hjnds to1htneal £ Year Ended 310ec 2022 Total fvnd5 tothen•veM £ Unre5trKted fund$ toth•niarest £ Restrkted fvnds tothq nea11 £ RK•lpts Flnnlsscott Foundation Contrlbutions towards NatS0l fiolet E$5ex Communlty Foutsdallon Donations Membershlp wb%11ptn$ È•nk Inteie5t Aecelved 1.5C IL386 IL386 995 745 L456 L456 350 59 14751 59 1,865 5.IC Fundv•hlniArtlvltt•i Apple Day & Sales Quli Eventrni Event51 Wortshops ITours Trnd1 A¢t1¥Itl Plants l Herbs Sales Community G•rden Sèles eooksl Crafts l Honey S•1È$ Volunteer Uniform S•les Olher Tgt41 R•c•lpti In>mA¢ll¥ttl 71 7,031 5,070 155 381 3,929 3.919 13,615 1,491 5.997 187 13,615 L491 5.997 187 14,956 1,187 5,239 176 31830 318 27,168 Tot•1 l•cdpti 32,268 14tSol Composi Toll ECF gr•nt lunded Equipment Cornmunlty Garden tT Equipment Tools & Equlpm•nt Yotsl Ats•t5 Ih•d 3,938 11,386 566 15,324 566 478 270 429 478 270 210 703 5.766 11,952 17.718 Planis l Herbs c05t Volunteèrcosts Events Iworkshops l Tours Apple D4y cost Plint5 & Equlpmettt Gird•n eook5 1 Cr•fts l Honey cost Cofttr•ct worker5 Omce consumible$ Insuilnce & Profes56on•l F• Other Tot•1 P•ym•nt• 9,537 348 1,258 L225 4,398 1,679 4,657 9,537 8,997 649 171 520 3.918 2,076 7,543 391 255 211 25,441 L258 1,225 4,398 1,679 77 586 519 472 787 2.3Xt 519 472 N•1 r#ptlp•¥m•fftts1 4250 11,4561 794 6,827 Tot•1 Funds Brouiht Forward 14,463 15,919 9,092 Tot•1 Fundi C4ft1 FoTh¥•rd 713 15,919 Funds h•ld 4t end olth• ynr 18,520 193 18,520 193 11657 262 15,919 Cash Toil Funds Svdnqd on behill of 411 the trustee5 by.. Sl¢nature Print Name SUZANNE LOWE CHAIR OFTRUSTEES 22nd June 2024 Dato ofApproval
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner'8 Report Report to the trusteul members of THE FRIENDS OF CRESSING TEMPLE On accounts for th• year onded 31 December 2023 Charity no (If any) 1166431 S•t out on pag88 I report to the trustees on my examination of the aco)unts of the above charity {'the Trust") for the year ended 3111212023. Responslbllltle3 and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation ba•ls of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {llhe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Aca and in carying out my ex8minalion, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commi8sion under section 145{5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm Ihat no material matters have come to my attention in connection vrtth the examination which give8 me cause to believe that In, any material respect.. accounting rerdS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wrth the accountino re[d5 I have no concems and have come across no other m8tters in connection with the examinalion to which attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. ' Please delete ffte words In the brad(ets if they do not apply. Independent examin8rf8 Statement Slgngd: 22r Junè 2024 Name: DEREK WOTTON Relevant professlonal qualillGatlonls) or body Ilf any): CHARTERED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT ACMA CGMA Address: 54 QUEENSBERRY AVENUE COPFORD COLCHESTER ESSEX C06 1YN IER October 2018