Bohemia Walled Garden Associaition Registered Charity Number: 1167167 Annual Accounts for the perlod 1 January 2024 31 December 2024 Contents: Organisational infomiatlon Trustees, Annual Report Receipts & Payments account Statement of Assets & Liabililies Independent Examiner's report Hastings Voluntary Action Jackson Hall Portland Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 1QN Organisational Information of tho Bohemia Walled Garden Association The Twstees of the 8ohemia Walled Garden Association presents its organisational infom)atlon for the y￿r Endèd 31* December 2024 Nama of charty: Bohemia Walled Gard6n Associalon - BWGA Reglstered charlty numbor: 1167167 L•gal form: cio Qovamlng document: CIO - Assoclallon Registered 17 May 2016 as amended on 16 May 2018 Address: CIO Jackson Hall Portland Place Hastings East Sussex TN34 1QN Commltt* members: Nlgel Sinden (Chair) Beryl Lovett (Secretary) Sue Jirbandey (Treasurer) Lesley Bruce Bankers: Uoyds Bank Lewlsham Branch 120 Lewisham High Street. Lewisham, London. SE13 Independent Examlnor: Laura Dawson, Independanl Examinar HVA, Jackson Hall, Portland Place, Hastings, TN34 1QN Bohemia Walled Garden Association Trustee Annual Report For the year January - December 2024 Charity Commission report & for AGM in 2025 The Bohemia Walled Garden Association (BWGA) The BWGA was formed in 2009 with the purpose of restoring, preserving and utilising th the 19 Century Victorian walled garden in the Summerfields Wood. It aims to bring it back into active use for horticultural, educational, heritage and cultural activities. The garden Is owned by Hastings Borough Council (HBC) and leased to the BWGA for 25 years until 31 March 2036. The lease was renewed on the 5 January 2018 in line with the BWGA change of status to a Registered Charlty. The garden Is located In the Summeffjelds Wood which Is a Local Natu￿ Reserve (LNR). Structure, Governance and Management The BWGA Is managed by volunteers. It is a registered Charity (Registration Number 1167167) as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) wlth votlng members other than its charity trustees. The organisation is managed by charity trustees and governed by the BWGA Charity Commission Constitution. It follows Charity Commission (CC) guidelines and must report annually to the CC to affirm its obligation to function for the 'public benefit, and to uphold the BWGA/CC objectlves. The BWGA trustees are supported by other BWGA members on a committee who have delegated roles. BWGA members, plot-holders and volunteers a￿ overseen by the trustees in the everyday running of the garden, events, fundraising and educatlonal activities. The local community is encouraged to partlcipate in all the above. The BWGA Charlty Commlsslon Objects: (l) To promote for the public the conservation, pmtection and Improvement of the physical and natural envlronment. (2) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physlcal and natural envlronment. (3) The provlslon of facilities for recreatlon and other leisure-time occupation In the inte￿stS of social welfare for the public at large with the object of improving their conditions of life. To be a Charity it is necessary for the trustees to understand and to have regard to the 'public benefits, that the charity aims to provide as in the objectives. The Trustees Annual Report Is to show how these objectives are being achieved. It is presented to the BWGA members at the AGM. Members of the BWGA commlttee as confirmed at the 2024 AGM Trustee(Chair) Nigel Sinden Trustee(Secretary) Beryl Lovett Trustee(Treasurer) Sue Jirbandey Trustee Lesley Bruce The current trustees are supported by other members in various activities. Fundraising and Income Income in 2024 has come from the plot fees,refreshments sales, plants & Jam sales and donations at Dublic events. Expendlture The following sizeable expenditure was made in 2024: Annual insurance, whlch covers public Ilabillty and protects the indivldual trustees. Corporation Tax Return - HMRC Issued us with a Corporation Tax return for the year ending 2024. We needed the servlces of an accountancy firm, Ashdown Hurrey to submit these retums on our behalf. No Tax was due. We successfully applied to become a Charity with HMRC and have been given exemption for the next three years (i.e. 2024,2025,2026). Purchase of two recycled plastic picnic benches to replace the rotting wooden benches and seats. One was purchased from our funds and one from a generous donatlon from the Isabel Blackman Foundation. A reprint of 100 copies of the BWGA book (past, present and future) Any expenses Incurred by our volunteers are reimbursed, following a procedure of proof of expense and payment Is always authorised by two signatories. Grant applicatlons We applied and were successful for a grant from the Isabel Blackman Foundation for the purchase of a recycled plastic bench. Flnanclal Management The BWGA operates a Lloyds Bank Treasurers account which is managed online. Plot fees can be made by BACS and we make payments by BACS for members expenses and other expenditures (like Insurance, Website & Email). All payments need two people to approve. Insurance. Health and Safety and Pollcles The BWGA has public Ilability insurance and this is renewed annually. The BWGA does risk assessments for all events and activities at the garden. The risk assessment is based on a template policy before being customised for each event. Various policy documents (including risk management. volunteering and privacy) are available on our website. Publicity. Information. Members and Supporters Our main social media platform currently is Facebook. The garden has its own website (www.bohemiawga.org.uk) which contains a vast amount of information about the organisation. In 2024 we added an Instagram page (@bohemiawga) to extend our social media footprint. We still have a presence on X (@bohemiawga) [formerly Twitter]. We continue to use Mail Chimp to communicate with members and supporters, each maintained as separate lists. Members at times receive communications that are only relevant to them and they can vote at the AGM. The member group includes all plot- holders and active members who contribute in an active way to the garden's upkeep or development. Supporters are those who are keen to know what is going on and how to support us through our events. Supporters do not have votlng rights at the AGM. Open to the publlc We aim to open the garden to the publlc on Wednesdays and Sundays 10 - 12 in the growlng season March-November (weather dependent and depending on volunteer availability). In 2024 we continued with an "openlng up rota" for Sundays wlth each week staffed by plot holder and a committee member. The mta worked very well. Volunteers The BWGA is completely run by volunteers and we welcome new members from the local community. We continue to aim to use the varied skills of our volunteers. Some volunteers come for a short period of time and others make up the backbone of the BWGA garden volunteer team, particularly on the Wednesday and Sunday sessions or at Events. Communlty groups. collaborations and partnershlps There are areas for educational purposes at no cost, which the BWGA offers as a commitment to encouraging the appreciation and benefits of working in the garden. Spaces were still allocated throughout 2024 to Christ Church CE Primary Academyi Eggtooth (wellbeing services for children, young people, parents and professionals) and two groups from East Sussex College. We also offered two plots to a Ukraine community group to grow produce. One of our committee members started a growing group for nurses from our local NHS Hospital. The Refugee Buddy Project (Hastings, Rother & Wealden) has two plots against the outer wall. We were grateful to Hastings Voluntary Action {HVA) who introduced us to Balfour Beatty who as part of their Community Engagement Programme supplied and installed two reolacement raised bed units onto one of the Dlot holder Dlots. Plots All plots have been in use throughout the year and any vacant plots have quickly been taken up by the next person on the waiting list. Education Many educational resources can be downloaded from the website. Garden Management and Development Members continued to maintain the borders, to give pleasure to members and visitors and also to benefit pollinating insetts. Publlc events in 2024 We held our usual public events whlch were well supported. Event Adults Children umm Herita 154 nc 32 306 135 Total attending: 441 Pumpklns for Pumpkin Day were kindly donated by the local Morrlsons and Lidl supermarkets to top up those grown at the garden. Members events in 2024 In July, we planned for a bring-your-own picnlc in the garden for plot holders and members, but It was cancelled owing to a lack of replies. On Sunday 1st December we scheduled an outdoor gathering in the aftemoon that was cancelled owing to the inclement weather. On Thursday 5th December we met at the Welcome, St Leonards-on-sea for a drlnk and food during the evening. Conclusion The BWGA works for the benefit of as many people In our community as possible so they can enjoy the envlronment of thls lovely garden and area. We ensure that the Walled Garden is conserved, proterted and improved for future generations to enjoy. The BWGA trustees would like to thank all BWGA members, volunteers and partners for their support in 2024. We thank HBC for their continued cooperation in this joint effort. This report has been compiled and approved by the following trustees in post during 2024. Nlgel Sinden (Chair) 171 Tnents 4,736.62 116.94 4,913.43 -176.81 4,8S3.56 4,736.62 Charity Law requlres th8 Tfusteès to prapare tlnanclal ststements lor èach Ilnandal year which cornpty h￿th the regulations set out in ihe ChaTilies Act 1993. The trustess have elected to18kè advantage of lh8 provislons that apply to small charities and hav8 prepaféd a Rec8lpts and Payfflents account and Statement of Ass8ts and Liabilities. Approved by the Trustees on and slgned on thelr behalf by Independent Examimrfs Report to the Commbttea of Bohemia Walled Garden Assoclaitlon I report on the accounts of Bohemia Walled Garden Association for the twelve month period ended 31st December 2024 which are set out on the previous pages. Respective r•sponslbilitles of committee & examln•r The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. Th8 charitys trustees consider that an audit is not required for Ihis year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act), and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibilitr. 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 Commlssion (under section 145(5)(b> of the Charlties Act). and to state whether particular matters have Gome to my attention 8asls ol Indepondent examln•V8 report My examlnation was carrled out in accordance with the 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 supporting documentation 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 woukl 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 ihose matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlnefs statsment In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention: 1) which gives me reasonable caus8 to believe that in any material respect the requlremenls: to keep accounting records in accordance with section130 of the Charities Act to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements ol the Act have not been met," or 2) to which, In my oplnlon, attentlon should be dra￿￿ in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Dawson Finance Manager Hastings Voluntary Action Jackson Hall, Portland Place, Haslings, TN34 1QN Dated: Iq