## **DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH BARNWELL TRUST** 

## **Report of the Trustees** 

## **2020/21** 

**The year was a difficult one for our tenant, another local charity, due to the pandemic and the Government’s subsequent restrictions.** 

**It  became  clear  in  March  2020  covid  was  about  to  take  hold throughout the world. We started the financial year in the first national lockdown where all nurseries and preschools had been required to close. After a plea for help from the Preschool Charity the Trustees agreed to provide financial assistance to ensure the preschool’s future financial viability and its sustainability going forward which in turn would ensure the continuation of preschool education for local children post pandemic. The Trustees agreed to allow the preschool to occupy the building rent free in May, June, and July 2020, this equates to financial assistance of about £2100.** 

**The lease for the building with Little Ducklings Preschool, ended on 31 August 2020. The Trustees decided to offer the Directors of Little Elms Nursery Ltd a five-year lease with the first three years being  at  a  reduced  rate  to  help  once  again  to  support  the reopening and recovery of the facility after the pandemic. With the  closure  of  the  preschool  and  parents  working  at  home  or being furloughed the occupancy of the preschool had significant reduced when it reopened.** 

**The  Trustees  continued  to  invest  in  the  building  to ensure its future  useability  and  to  ensure  the  building  complied  with appropriate standards. The fire alarm system was found to be outdated and unusable by our tenant. To ensure the continued safety of users and local children the Trustees agreed to take professional advice and subsequently installed a WiFi system at a cost of £7,139 funded by the Trust from its own reserves. The chimneys were capped to prevent birds’ nests and infestations that was causing issues to users.** 

**Unfortunately, the project for the replacement of the rear extension that currently houses the boys’ and girls’ toilets had to be put on hold due to the pandemic and the risk of the preschool closing permanently and the Trust being unable to find another tenant/use  for  the  building.  In  addition,  Trustees  found  grant making bodies targeting their funding to schemes that had far** 



**wider community use than our building. Planning Permission is still in place.** 

**Trustees  will  review  the  project  for  the  rear  extension  after coming out of the pandemic. In the meantime, the Trust will look to carry out external redecoration and carry out some smaller schemes to enhance the building.** 



## **THE DUKE of BUCCLEUCH TRUST BARNWELL** 

## **Receipts and Payments Account for year ended 31 March 2021** 

**Opening Balance as at 1 April 2020 40,398.06** 

## **2020/21 Payments** 

Chimney and Bird Guard -  1,050.00 Fire Risk Assessment -     420.00 Zurich - Insurance -  1,860.87 Hire of Scaffolding Tower -    138.00 Tree works -    175.00 Garden Rent -         5.00 New Fire alarm - 7,139.10 Preston's Insurance - Garden -    348.69 Remove old mesh to roof vent -    140.00 -11,276.66 

## **2020/21 Receipts** 

Rent/Insurance 6,961.82 Licence Fee for September 2020 580.00 Interest on investment 120.00 Increase in Rent Deposit 700.00 8,361.82 -2,914.84 

## **Closing Balance as at 31 March 2021 37,483.22** 

## **Notes** 

Future Long term Liability - The Closing Balance includes the sum of £2,200 held as a rent deposit that may be repaid to the tenant of the Princess Alice Centre on 31 August 2025 if the tenant satisfies all its obligations under the lease.