2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From January 2024 To December 2024

Charity name:

Grange Area Trust

Charity registration number: 1167347

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	(1) For the benefit of the public to provide and maintain a village green in Widmer Fields and, if so decided, to acquire and provide further pieces of land within the area of benefit for the use of the inhabitants of the area without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, nationality, race or political religion or other opinion for informal recreation and leisure time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants. (2) To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in and around the area of benefit. (3) To advance the education of the public, in particular but not exclusively, in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in and around the area of benefit.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	 To ensure the land management plan is followed.  To organises the management of volunteer groups to work on the land  To organises the programme for bramble/nettle control, grassland and woodland management, scrub encroachment, footpaths control, botanical surveys.  To set up nature trails, places bird and bat boxes and wildlife habitat protection

		 To fundraise and make grant applicatons to raise funding from individuals and organisatons to cover annual running costs.  To raise awareness of the Trust by efectve public presentatons, leafets, notces, press releases, newsleters, etc.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	The Grange Area Trust upholds its objectve to the advancement of protecton and improvement of the environment for the beneft of wildlife, plants and the public.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

	SORP reference
Policy on grant making	Para 1.38
Policy on social investment including program related investment	Para 1.38
Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	The charity been a small group of dedicated volunteers who have willingly given of their tme and a number of residents have expressed interest in supportng the trust’s work. It is recognised that the trust requires more volunteers to carry out this work and we are actvely recruitng. Over the past year we have welcomed several new volunteers into our Land Management team.
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	 A number of Nature Trails through the felds were organised for young children during the year. The trustees are keen to engage young people in recognising the privilege it is to have this wonderful area of land available to them and hopefully encourage them to become volunteers in the future.  A successful fund-raising quiz night took place in the autumn and further quizzes are planned for 2025.  Widmer Fields are partcularly enjoyed by dogs and their walkers and two very successful social events were organised by the dog walking community to fund raise and promote interest in supportng the Grange Area Trust

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Building on the success of previous years, further calendar was produced showing views of Widmer Fields and sold during the run up to Christmas. This generated a pleasing number of donatons in additon to the funds raised for the calendar.
Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set	Para 1.41	As above.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Trust’s fnancial positon remains sound. It’s Bank Balance increased by nearly £6000 year on year from £28,228 at end 2023 to £35,019 at end 2024 – helped by a one of sale of surplus equipment totalling£3,800.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves are held in case of any unforeseen emergency and to provide for the replacement of capital assets. This is vital as there is a substantal number of trees on Widmer Fields Village Green, many of which are sufering from Ash dieback. We have had to employ tree surgeons to remove two trees that were considered a risk over the course of 2024. The Trust has no regular income apart from donatons and fund raisingevents.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	£10,000
Reasons for holding zero reserves	Para 1.22
Details of fund materially in deficit	Para 1.24
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Funds are raised by donatons from individual residents, grants from public bodies, such as the local parish councils, the annual calendar and quiz nights.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	 Accidents to volunteers working on the land.  A reducton in donatons which are necessary for maintaining the land.  Ageing volunteers and Trustees.  Ash Die Back afectng many of the mature trees on GAT land
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	The Trust’s governing document is the Consttuton.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Charitable Incorporated Organisaton
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	Trustees come from a variety of backgrounds. They share a common desire to protect green spaces around Buckinghamshire. They each have strengths which are useful to the Trust, e.g. company directors, accountancy, environmental, administratve, marketng, IT, local council representaton. There is a staggered retrement programme which is detailed in the Consttuton. There is full board discussion and approval before the appointment of any Trustee. A likely candidate will usually serve for a period of tme on one of the sub-commitees – Development or Land Management, provide a CV and undertakes a short interview. On appointment, the new Trustee makes a writen declaraton statng that: S/he is willing to act as a trustee of the Grange Area Trust. S/he understands the organisaton’s purposes and rules set out in its Consttuton. S/he understand that knowingly to make a false statement is a criminal ofence under secton 11 of the Charites Act 1993 S/he understands that the charity’s funds are held in its name in bank or building society account in England or Wales S/he will comply with his/her responsibilites as a trustee as set out in the Charity Commission’s guidance “The Essental Trustee (CC3) S/he is not prevented from actng a trustee because s/he: o has an unspent convicton shown at htps://www.gov.uk/guidance/automatc- disqualifcaton-rules-for-charity-trustees- and-charity-senior-positons o has an IVA, debt relief order and/or a bankruptcy order o has been removed as a trustee in England, Scotland or Wales (by the Charity Commission or Ofce of the Scotsh Charity Regulator) o is a disqualifed company director o is a designated person for the purposes of ant-terrorism legislaton o is on the sex ofenders’ register o has been found in contempt of court for making (or causing to be made) a false statement o has been foundguiltyof disobedience to

an order or direction of the Charity Commission and is provided with:  A copy of the Constitution  A copy of the up-to-date Annual Report and Accounts  A Charity Commission Trustees’ Handbook  Copies of the trust’s policy documents

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	See above
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	GAT consists of two sub-commitees, Development Commitee and Land Management Commitee, who have trustees, volunteers and expert consultants serving on them and each has a Chairman who reports back to the main board of Trustees. Proposals from these sub-commitees are brought to the main board of Trustees for ratfcaton. They each meet three tmes during the year. There are no paid staf working for GAT. There is an Honorary Treasurer and an Honorary Secretary.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Grange Area Trust
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	1167347
Charity’s principal address	Piranor Barn, North Road, Widmer End, Buckinghamshire, HP15 6NE

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Colin Stevens	Chairman of Trustees and Chairman of Development Committee
	Malcolm Bristow
	Brian Dugan
	Peter Dwelly
	David Field	Chairman of Land Management Committee
	Hugh McCarthy
	Robert Pangborn
	Laura Air		Elected during 2024
	Colin Wingfield

– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved

Director name

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year

Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Description of the assets held in this capacity

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects

Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Type of Name Address adviser

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

Exemptions from disclosure

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details

Other optional information

Declarations

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Joanna Davinson Full name(s) Joanna Davinson

Position (eg Secretary, Honorary Secretary Chair, etc)

Date

Grange Area Trust Accounts for the period to 31st December 2024 Year to date movement: Year to 31.12.24 Yearto 31.12.23 Income: Income from donations.. Standing orders Justgiving Other Hazlemere Fete donations Current year calendar sales Previous year calendar sales Gift Aid HPCIR Callingham grants Quiz Dog Walkers events Equlpment sales Interest received Total Income Expenses: Calendars 2023 Calendars 2024 Subscriptions Hazlemere Fete Insurances Leaflets Scalpings Land management expenses Equipment repairs/replacement Administration Total expenses 4,310.70 313.79 757.84 246.66 405.00 250.00 1641.02 1.300.00 880.00 572.50 3,800.00 509.39 4,165.00 245.05 1,715.50 230.60 756.00 65.00 831.56 500.00 745.00 455.00 14,986.90 9,708.71 464.19 650.00 95.00 125.¢)0 252.48 132.00 1.695.06 1,904.77 3,830.85 0.00 9,149.3> 775.00 45.00 95.00 271.86 1,752.00 1,986.46 4,220.27 50.00 9.195.59 ** Excess of income over expenses 5,791.31 559.36 Bank balance at 1st January 2024 Qank balance at 31st December 2024 28.227.87 27,668.51 34.019.18 28.227.87 In current account In Lon8 term dep05Ft account (matures 1412125} Outstanding (Gift aid received 21.2.25 22,378.16 io.000.00 18,227.87 10,000.00 1.641.02 34.019.18 28,227.87 C Wetherell Hon Treasurer Date. 2410412025 In my opinion the above statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of the trust. D.B. Westbrook F.C.CA. Date 2+ 04 ozs