2024-12-31-accounts

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	Trustees' Annual Report	Trustees' Annual Report	Trustees' Annual Report	Trustees' Annual Report	Trustees' Annual Report	for theperiod	for theperiod	for theperiod
	From	Period start date			T o	Period end date
		1	Januar y	2024		31	December	2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name THE FRIENDS OF CRESSING TEMPLE

Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1166431

Charity's principal address	CRESSING TEMPLE BARNS
	WITHAM ROAD
	BRAINTREE
	ESSEX
	Postcode	CM77 8PD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

		1 2 3 4 5	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
			Suzanne Lowe	Chair
			Jane Palmer	MembershipSecretary
			David Andrews
			LesleyKillin
			Monika Curry
			Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
			Name		Dates acted if not for whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of adviser Name Address

SL

1 July 2025

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Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

• Constitution dated 4[th] August 2015 as amended on 12[th] December 2020

• Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) Unincorporated small company charity

• How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) Elected at the AGM

• Trustee selection methods (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

We have a strong working relationship with Essex County Council, You may choose to include owners of the Cressing site. They are supportive of our work and additional information, where appreciate the contribution our volunteers and fundraising bring to relevant, about: Cressing Temple.

• policies and procedures The trustees do not consider there are any major risks as there are no

• adopted for the induction and liabilities, other than those covered through our insurance. There is a

• training of trustees; dependency on the voluntary efforts of the members and officers. This year has seen the resignation of the Treasurer, a role we filled toward the

• ● the charity’s organisational end of 2024. We are also reliant on the support of the two horticulturalists

• structure and any wider employed by Essex County Council.

• network with which the charity works;

We are an unincorporated charity and are currently exploring the potential to move to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the next ● relationship with any related year. We believe this will help in attracting further Trustees. parties;

● trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

To conserve, enhance and develop the historic site at Cressing Temple, including the Walled Garden, the Cullen Garden and the Jubilee Orchard, as a unique historical, social and horticultural record and educational resource.

SL

July 2025

2

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In deciding our programme of activity and development the Trustees have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit. The Trustees aim to further develop an inclusive culture in the charity’s ways of working. Valuing diversity and equality and ensuring equal opportunities. 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 activities and income streams. We have experienced a good year in regard to income through grants and fundraising/trading activities. We held a successful Apple Day again in October, in spite of the weather. To avoid a costly cancellation we took the forecast of wind and rain into consideration and adapted our activities. Our income this year on the event was down, but we still made a healthy profit on the day. This event is the main focus for our community facing events that helps us raise our profile locally whilst giving back to the local community. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public Apple day and plant sales remain our main sources of income with both benefit in relation to these down this year - Apple day as before, and plant sales due to reduction in objects (include within this supplies. section the statutory declaration that trustees have Our regular rhythm of workshops, such as willow weaving, continues and had regard to the guidance income has remained stable from these and sales of garden produce, issued by the Charity honey and craft items. Commission on public benefit) The number of garden volunteers is 46, and the number of Friends including volunteers, members, committee and Trustees is 90. Volunteers play a key role in sustaining the high standard of the gardens and increasingly in activities relating to the heritage of the site such as digitising the vast archive documents and restoration of farm machinery. This public benefit is embedded in our constitution and at the forefront of the Trustees and officers’ activity. All give their services 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 society with hands-on experience and involvement. We have firmly established partnerships with two local mental health charities who provide weekly sessions for their clients reflecting the benefit and impact gardening and environmental activities can provide for growing skills, providing time with nature and tackling isolation. Unfortunately we have seen one of the charities scale back their activities during this time, including their Cressing session.

SL

3 July 2025 OFFICIAL

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

As said previously the Friends of Cressing Temple could not operate without the generous and willing help of all our volunteers.

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

A total of 4,330 volunteer hours were recorded this year, the equivalent of 619 days or approx. 3 fulltime posts and calculated at minimum wage an equivalent of a valuable £49,535.

• policy on grantmaking;

The number of volunteer hours is a slight decrease from last year.

• policy programme related investment;

• contribution made by volunteers.

• Volunteer activities and opportunities 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 restoration of old farm machinery. We also have a growing craft group providing items for sale to assist with fundraising. Alongside, the essential supervision, management and administrative activities and duties incumbent on a successful charity.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

This year has seen an income of £42,538 down £5,043 on last year but still £10,270 ahead of 2022 income

We have secured two grants this year to support garden volunteering and improvements to the community space in the community garden and sponsorship from a local company to support our newly established working farm project and a slight increase in donations. These alongside donations, subscriptions and interest totalling £14,074.

Plant and herb sales continue to be our main source of trading income. This year's total of £11,087 is an 18% decrease in sales from last year, maintaining the profit margin of 30% as last year.

Sales of craft, books and honey was £5,551 a slight decrease on last year.

We held our Apple Day in October. The day was attended by over 1200 people raising a total net income after costs of £4,233 which is less than last year but on par with 2022 and not the loss it could have been if the forecast gales had appeared.

The use of contactless payments via sum-up and PayPal continues to increase and we have seen higher donations this year facilitated by the Payaz terminal purchased last year. We have again increased the number of sum up machines to assist our events.

SL

July 2025

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Section D Achievements and performance

We have received several grants this year for volunteer support, outside landscaping for the community garden and support for refurbishment of donated farm machinery. We worked on a grant application to the Arts Council for the Farm machinery.

Work continues to digitise the archive material, with close liaison with the Essex Record Office, to ensure preservation and accessibility of the rich historical records we have of Cressing Temple.

We have strong partnership working established with Abberton Rural Training and Trustlinks who provide weekly therapeutic gardening sessions for their beneficiaries on site. We continue to provide governance via regular committee meetings, all now in person and we held our AGM in April.

Our key priorities for 2025 are;

• to plan and raise funding for a new community building in the Community Garden.

• ● to apply to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. ● to secure a lease with Essex County Council for the Community Garden building area.

• ● To plan for celebrations to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Tudor Walled garden restoration and opening.

• ● to plan and deliver a successful 2025 Apple Day. ● to apply to the Arts Council for funding for the working farm/farm machinery project focusing on several machines.

• ● to grow our outreach locally and within Braintree District.

Section E Financial review

Reserves are held in the named Co-operative Bank account for the sole Brief statement of the use and purpose of the Organisation as defined in the Aims & Objectives charity’s policy on reserves of its constitution. The Friends Reserves Policy requires that sufficient unrestricted financial reserves are held in order that the charity can continue to operate and meet the needs of the visitors in the event of unforeseen and potentially financially damaging circumstances arising. Details of any funds materially None, and not possible under the constitution. in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

SL

5 July 2025 OFFICIAL

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You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

• the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

• how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

• investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

All fundraising is to support the gardens and wider site and is mainly achieved through trading, member activities, members fees, donations and grants.

We are grateful for the funding received from Essex Community Foundation, Indaver and Braintree District Council this year.

We are grateful to our partners – Trustlinks, Essex County Council, Braintree District Council, Cressing Community Shed, Braintree Beekeepers, Essex Beekeeping Association who all continue to support and provide a thriving community hub at Cressing and we are seeing increasing partnership working.

The charity’s activities 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.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) SMLowe Full name(s) SUZANNE LOWE

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, CHAIR etc) Date 12th August 2025

SL

6 July 2025 OFFICIAL

Th• Friend5 d Cr2HINTem ftrylrtered rh•rityr4urnber 1166431 Forth¢ O•¢•mb¢t2024 EThd Year EThled 31 Det 202a Toial funtts JI Dec 2021 Total fvnos Ipts BraIntr￿ Distnaowjffjcil E55Ex CDrnrnunity Foundatio ContribuiWJns tfThvards WgrknyFarm P￿l￿t Finni5 Scott FtxmdatH)n 2AgJ 7.750 L520 ributws iowards Mais(d 11.386 1.456 350 59 1.786 330 138 5vb5twyt7nS gank Inte[¢￿ Received 3>) 231 r•) 14.751 Ap￿e Oty& Sa ¢Jz Eveni EveThtsIWo￿5h0pSlTfwrs 5.314 5.324 7.031 1939 3.929 antslHerb$5ofes CtynrnunityGarden Sth5 8•tth5 ICfaft5 IIIoDrySalES volunteer Vnilavm5 Other Tatsi I1.￿7 168 S,S51 145 13.615 IA91 5,997 187 161 5.551 145 150 150 24464 32.830 Total RE(e IL7 518 47yI pa￿￿￿ Woriry Farm ProiKt Plat￿cOn￿st Toi Essex CtYnmunrtyFv￿d E(y4)rnert rtVJnltyGardety ITEquiwnr To￿$ & Equipment TJtlA55Ets Pur¢th4sed 15.324 566 478 270 453 1.455 453 1.455 17.718 P4antslHefbscost Yd¥nteercostS E¥ents/ WoTksNws ITours Da¥cost Pkint5 & EqUI￿lleniG￿&Th Book51 Craftsl H0￿cO CDntr•ttworker OFThce consumabl Insur￿ &fv0fesSkY￿ Fees 9,537 L152 1.152 J.(yJi 4.533 1,450 4.793 1.258 L225 4.398 1.679 7.047 4,533 1450 4.793 426 426 519 472 Tatal Paym•rfs 7(• rth 2,754 T(xa4 Funds Wht F¢Jrar 713 Il713 15.919 18,718 IIA27 10,7 32,127 18.520 193 18.713 Total W33 S*ned ontrhaKf4allthe ilustets Prlnt r4ame Posrt OaEeof Apprmgl CII•JROF TRUSTEE5 I Awu5t Z￿5

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of THE FRIENDS OF CRESSING TEMPLE On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charity no (if any) 1166431 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity I"Ihe Trust") for the year ended 3111212024. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report ofthe accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111.lhe Act-i. I report in respect of my examination ofthe Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kepl in accordance wilh section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Date: 12 August 2025 Signed: Name: DEREK WOThON Relevant professional qualificationls) or body lif any): CHARTERED MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT ACMA CGMA Address: 54 QUEENSBERRY AVENUE COPFORD COLCHESTER ESSEX C06 1YN IER October 2018