The Bentswood Community Partnership Working for a better future ## **AGM REPORT FOR 2023-24** Dear BCP Members and residents, A warm welcome and thanks to those attending today and to the residents and organisations that continue to work with us for the benefit of Bentswood residents. To be honest, this has been a difficult year for the charity and its Trustees. The knock-on effects from the unnecessarily unpleasant parting of ways with what is now known as The Bentswood Hub CIC continue to impact upon the work of the BCP and some of the Trustees. In addition to this, I have recently taken on a huge employment responsibility which has not left me the time needed to efficiently support my colleagues and deal with the administrative needs of the charity. For this I continue to owe a considerable apology to my Trustee colleagues and to the BCP membership, who will have heard very little from us over 2023-24. This partly explains why our Returns to the Charity Commission are very overdue although, in fairness, there have been known problems with their online systems that have prevented me from uploading the scanned paperwork that was ready for them a year or so ago! This problem still persists and I hope to find time in the coming weeks to find a resolution not least as the 2023-24 figures are now ready to submit, subject to audit and scrutiny by the Trustees! However, on the positive side the BCP, chiefly through the amazing work of Ruth de Mierre, started activities to support children and families with SEND. The first of these, with Trustees having cleared the garden, to have a weekly guided gardening project where children were able to plant and tend to their own herbs and vegetables over the Summer. In tandem with this, a Cookery Club was set up and enabled children to come to The Bentswood and learn basic cooking skills. And eat the proceeds of course! Both of these projects were supported by wonderful volunteers, to whom we owe sincere thanks, and the transformation that was seen in some of the attendees was amazing and heartwarming. ## **Looking forward, we are very keen indeed to develop projects or services to support older residents and so please do get in touch if you have any ideas for us to work on.** To wrap up, I have some sincere thanks to make public. The first is to Clarion Futures, who continue to generously financially support the community through taking on the leasing of The Bentswood, in conjunction with the BCP. My second thanks go to the volunteers who have supported our projects and the delightful families that have responded so positively to them. My final thanks go to my fellow Trustees, who have borne with me during long periods of silence and failure to get things done in timely fashion to support their efforts. Nonetheless, the BCP continues to work to serve and support the residents of Bentswood. Thank you for your interest in our work Kind Regards Stephen R Hillier, Chairman 2014 present 15[th] May 2025 Registered Address:c/o Warden Park Primary Academy, New England Road, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 3JS Registered Charity Number: 1167891 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 18t September 2023 To 3181 August 2024 Charity name: BENTSWOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP Charity registration number: 1167891 Objectives and Activities Summary ofthe purposes of the charity as set out in governing document Para 1.17 To develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of the Bentswood Ward in Haywards Heath and surroundin9 areas in such a way that they are better able lo identify. and help meet. their needs and lo artici ale more full in societ We are one of three partners in the hugety successftjl Bentswood Hub. This is now where the vast majority of the actsvities are carried out and includes.. a food larder usin9 supermarket waste lo support struggling residents, weekly ropins with supportive agencies such as CAB. youth groups. Sunday roasts for isolated older people. In addition the BCP supports community events The gui¢Jance was circulated in 2023 all Trustees Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the aclivilies, projects or services identified in the a¢¢ounls. Poro 1.17 1.19 Slalemenl confirming whether the Iruslees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on puNic benefit P8rn 1.18 Addltlonal Infomiatlon lopllonal) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about-. SORP ffjference Policy on grant making As a rule we are not a grant-making organisalion bul we have procedures for residents to follow rf they wish support the ¢ommuni wtth a new P8M 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Contribution made by volunteer5 P•r• 1.38 NIA The work of our volurteers is pricelessl We have a number of them, some of them parents but not all, who support the leaders in our SEND aclivits.es Para 1.38 Other Achievements and Perfonnance SORP teferen Sumrnary 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 10 50ciely as a whole. his was a quieter year for our activities as our artners and ourselves adjusted to the new ealrty and look time lo asses5 where the gap5 in rovision were that we felt we could feel. Much f the year was spent working with ClarK)n utures to get 38 America Lane and its garden mpliant wrth their standard5 and sort out arious processes Pata 120 a resuh, in the Summer of 2024 a Gardening lub and a Cookery club were inaugurated, with uch credrt lo Ruth de Mierre (Trusleel. These re to provide support lo the ¢hildren. parents nd carers who were heavity affected by SEND. hese were supported by HSF5 monie5 and ¢t￿nfUnder Grants all via Clarion Futures. They re immensely popular and made some emarkably positive changes to some of the oung people and eamed the immense gratitude f parents. e also fa¢ilitsted support for residents on IT atters via Spire Computing and continued to upport the Bentswood Mental Wellbeing Group'$ ctivibes. f particular thanks go to Clarion Futures and e session leaders and volunteers that are upporting the SEND activities Addltlonal Inforrnatlon (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: Achievements against objectives set Perfomiance of fundraising activities against objective5 sel Investment performan¢e against objectives P8rn 1.41 Parn 1.41 Parn 1.41 Other Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position al the end ol the perK>d Part121 We are in a good financial position bul continue lo wail for clartficalion from the P05t Code Lottery and Awar¢Js for All con¢eming the slalus of the grants that they awarded and which we are holding Statement explaining the policy lor holding reserves stating why they are held Para 122 We keep fixed outgoings to an absolute minimum and therefore have virtually no fomial need for reserves. However, bearing in mind the commenl above, we try lo hold sufficient fund5 10 ensure key projects like youth support can be maintained during the year See CC16a nla Amount of reserves held Reasons for holding zero reserves Pard 122 Para 122 Delai15 of fund Fnalerially in defi¢il Explanation of any uncertaints'es about the charity continuing as oin concem Para 124 Para 1Z3 None Additional InfO￿atIOn (optional) You ma chi)ose to include further statements where relevant about= The charity's principal sources A mix of grant applicatsons. community events ol funds (including any and activities such as the volunteer-run coffee fundraisin mornin sinthe ofthe Investment policy and objectives including any S￿la1 investment policy adopted Parn 1.47 NIA PaR 1.48 A description of the principal risks facing the charity At present we ¢an fts￿$ee none. We have minimal fixed costs and no long-standing financial commitrnents and are supported by a ood number of Trustees Para 1.46 Other Structure, Governance and Management Oe5criplion of chanty's trusts". Type ofgoverning document How is the charity consliluled? Tru51ee selection methods including detsils of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to Post or name ol any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Para 125 Conslrtution Para 125 PaR125 Charrtable CIO PTospective Trustees apply. completing a forni, and are decided upon by the Twslees. There is an Annual Meetin9 for all members ece these are val￿8ted and the Offi'¢ers elected Additional infomiation (op￿onall You ma chix)se to include further statements where relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and trainin of trustees The charity's organisalional structure and any wider ne￿Ork with which the chari works Relationship with any related parties Other Para 1.51 Parn 1.51 Para 1.51 Reference and Administrative details Charity name Bentswood Community Partnership Other name the charity uses Registered charity number Charity's principal address 1167891 clo Warden Park Primary School New England Road Haywards Heath Wesl Sussex RH16 3JS Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charlty Dates a¢ted If notforwho Tru8to• nam• C>Nlc• lrfanyl Name of person lor body) entltled olnt tnigtee an Stephen Hillier Joyce Sharma Zollan Demjan Barbara Lank Bryan Fairhall Nicky Dodds (representing Clarion Futures) Alan Jenkins Chairperson Secretary Financial offi￿r Appointed 28110122 10 Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charty on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian chari ects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets None nla Additional infomiation (optional) Names and addresses of advlsers Ioptlonal Infomiatlon) Type of Name Address adviser Name of chlef executSve or names of senlor staff members {OptSonal Infomiatlon) Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of k ersonnel details NIA Other o tional infonnation Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustèes, report above. Slgned on behalf of the charlty's trustees Slgnature{s) Full namelsl Posltlon leg Secretsry, Chair. etcl Stephen R Hillier uih de MIe￿e ha1￿[SOn ru5tee Dats 26102125 CHARITY COmMISSION8ENTSV•￿0D COMMUNITYPARThERSHIP F(* EI￿L•ll0 A￿* WALE 1167891 Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a For the perfo frr*rn 01ffj912023 To 3110B12024 Section A Receipts and payments nresiricied fund Wtho Resiricied f￿NdS toth• n••rvi£ Endowment lutbd *tho Trmrnstc Totalfunos Lasiyoar to th• n•ar•ii£ tp th• n•ar•iiE A1 Rfjcel y￿1￿ Wolknging Ewqnls 11.500 33.TS0 Cofflfflunl vO￿nIger Support CofflmuDI runo tota AR) 45.45 .131 an nv •n tot• Totalrnc•lpts A3 Pa men GpnofalAdmhl Cts*S 77 J.042 J5 Coinrnun Hub .B59 B• l.BO• Vdunttt¢ 54 FunD 12 Sub total 77 31.171 ts.454 A4 Assèt *nd Inv•stm•nt Sub total J4.6T7 8,454 Net ofrecei￿(pay￿entsj A5 Tran5fws bet¥+WTh fund¥ A6 C88h funds 1881 year end Cash thls y¢ar¢nd 10. IlJ.781 21,87 1.610 59.329 70,110 59,32 CCXX R1 ISS 026 Section B Ststoment of assets and liabilities at tho 8nd of the period Unw5tll￿1I 81 C••h fund• IJJJ 11.517 02 Ollw mon•l•ry 4•••t• bi 03 Inw•bMnl •*•• • r•t•ln•d Ipr I BS LIBbMIU CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of BENTSWOOD COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2024 Charity no Irf anvl 1167891 Set out on page5 Receipts & payments Account I CC16-Al on pages 1&2 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsiblefor the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 Ithe Charities aThd that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the pr¢xedures laid down in the 8eneral Directions given by the Charity Commission (under settion 14515llbl of the Charities Act, and to stare whether particular marters have come to my attention. Basls ol Independent My examination was carried out in accordance with 8eneral Directions Biven by the Charity examlnerfs statement Commission. An examination includes a review ol the accountin8 records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration ol any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seekin8 explanations from the trustees concernin8 any s￿h matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence thai would be required in an audir. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether ihe accounts present a'true and lairf view and the report is limited to those matters sei out in rhe statement below. Indopondont oxamln•rfs statemont In connettlon with my examination, no material mariers have come to my attention whlch 8ives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding ol the account5 to be reached. Oatt.. 2310612026 S*ned.. Name: rimothy Fraser Relevant professional qualfficatlonls) or body Ilf anyl: Chartered Accountant Address: 7 The Dell. Haywards Heath RH16 IJG Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern15ee CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and gui(Jance for examiners). Give here brief details of any ittrns that the examiner wishes to disclose. There were significant delay in the preparation of the ac£ounts due to the resignation of the forrner treasurer. As a consequence, this also resulted in difficultie5 in locating supporting documentation. However these difficultie5 were eventually resolved and a new treasurer 15 in the process of being appointed.