Stream Walk Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for the period
From 1[st] April 2022 To 31[st] March 2023
Charity registration number: 1171504
Charity’s principal address: 129 Cromwell Road, Whitstable, CT5 1NH
Objectives and Activities
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Summary of the The purpose of the charity is to: purposes of the 1. Provide a local community garden for the benefit of individuals charity as set out in its and groups based in Whitstable or the surrounding Canterbury governing document District. The charity actively promotes inclusivity and the garden is a resource for everyone.
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Promote the mental and physical well-being of those individuals and groups through activities including, but not limited to, general horticulture, sustainable food growing, plant and produce sales, understanding biodiversity and connecting to the natural environment.
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Advance education for the public benefit particularly, but not limited to, providing opportunities for learning about general horticulture, sustainable food growing, plant and produce sales, biodiversity and the natural environment.
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Provide opportunities for learning about and practicing rural crafts such as, but not limited to, green woodwork, hurdle making and plant supports
Summary of the main Stream Walk Community Garden enables people of all ages and activities in relation to backgrounds to improve their quality of life, social interaction and those purposes for physical and mental health in a supportive community environment, the public benefit, in We deliver enjoyable activities developed to meet the needs of our particular, the community by enabling all participants and volunteers to build skills, activities, projects or knowledge and confidence that helps improved physical and services identified in emotional wellbeing. the accounts.
Weekly and monthly gardening groups carry out work to improve the garden and teach horticulture to the participants. The Bodgers group meets twice weekly, supporting mostly older men to come together and learn natural crafts.
A pre-school parent and children’s group, Little Green Fingers, meets weekly to enjoy the garden and learn about nature. Seasonal community events demonstrate to the wider public in the Canterbury district and beyond aspects of sustainable living.
Statement confirming The trustees understand and are fully committed to managing the whether the trustees garden for the benefit of the public in line with the Charity Commission have had regard to guidance. the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
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Contribution made by volunteers
We have significantly increased our regular volunteer base and roster of support which has enabled us to confidently offer a markedly increased level of events and activities.
Achievements and Performance
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.
This review is for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
2022 was an extremely busy and productive year for us! We had over 3,000 visitors to the garden, raised nearly £3,000 in plant and produce sales and gave induction training to over 20 new regular volunteers.
We ran a number of impactful courses and activities with funding support from our partners and Kent Community Foundation, Social Farms and Gardens, The Martello Fund and the NGS.
Learning activities throughout the year centred around seed sowing, food growing, harvesting, recycling, cooking fresh produce and the exploration and conservation of wildlife.
We ran workshops on composting with partners Heart and Soil, and a comprehensive fruit growing course held over 4 weeks.
During May we were able once again to participate in the National Garden Scheme Open Day which is one of the garden’s major fundraising events. The day was a considerable success both in terms of the number of visitors, approximately 500, and the funds raised.
We recognised the value of capturing the hearts and minds of children from an early age, to raise their awareness of the natural environment and the importance of fostering biodiversity. With this in mind, we developed a deeper working relationship with two local infant schools: Westmeads Community Infant school and St Alphege CE infant school, both located in central Whitstable. We hosted St Andrews nursery for an activity in November. We also offered learning through play for scout groups and after school groups.
We ran sessions specifically for neurodiverse children and their families. These sessions provided security and structure for those in need this support. The parents of those families specifically welcomed the opportunity to socialise together and to share experiences and offer peer support. In total,118 parents and children benefitted from these sessions.
In July we held a week of wildlife activities with partners Wild about Whitstable, part of the CT5 Forum, offering a week of naturerelated activities and adventures for all ages. This is a community collaboration by those who share a common desire to improve and celebrate diversity in CT5 and beyond. We conducted a bioblitz, a forest gardening workshop and a workshop on Wild Medicine. A total of 240 people attended these events.
In September, in partnership with Whitstable Umbrella Community
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Centre, we ran an open day for families on low income around healthy eating and cooking with with a range of activities and food cooked by volunteers. This was enjoyed by a total of 39 people.
We worked with a Kent County Council (KCC) refugee resettlement support worker to organise and deliver a session for 36 Afghan refugee adults and children who were living in hotels (without outdoor space or cooking facilities) in Canterbury. Between our development worker and their worker, a bespoke activity programme was delivered to meet their needs for cultural assimilation. The programme included harvesting food, cooking and gardening activities. KCC provided transport and a translator and Stream Walk provided food tasting tours, outdoor learning activity for the children and support and the facilities for the families to cook, harvest and eat, sharing the food with 7 of our volunteer helpers.
The Bodgers group has met weekly and has enjoyed steady attendance levels of an average of 15 regular people, most of whom are retired. The participants benefitted from the social contact and the opportunity to learn natural woodworking skills. The Bodgers is part of the Kent Sheds, a network of collaboration and support for Sheds projects across Kent.
A spoon carving group has also been meeting weekly, attended by an average of 5 people.
We were able to run all the above activities with confidence owing to a significant increase in the number of core volunteers who signed up to support Stream Walk on a regular basis. Volunteers have reported feeling more a part of the community and are pleased to be learning new skills, particularly in relation to food growing and harvesting, gardening with wildlife in mind, pruning and acting as support workers, including activities for children.
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period
The charity’s income increased to over £28,000 from £10,000 in 2021/22. This change in the scale of the charity’s turnover was made possible by the receipt of grants as outlined above, together with income from activities, plant, produce and tea sales.
This funding was used primarily to pay for session workers to lead the regular and specific groups reported above, and to meet general running costs.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held
Amount of reserves held
It is the charity’s policy to maintain in reserves sufficient funds to meet 3 to 6 months of running costs.
The bank balance at the year-end stood at £10,600 which is more than adequate to meet the requirements of this policy. Stream Walk Trust will maintain £ 6,000 as reserves.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document Foundation
How is the charity constituted?
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
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
Trustees are active members of the community, contributing to the garden in various ways. New members are invited to become a trustee once they have shown interest, commitment and are able to provide complementary skills to enable managing the garden for public benefit and to fulfil our purposes.
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity at 30[th] January 2023
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veronica Wheatley | Chair | Appointed 2/02/2021 | ||
| Alison Chatwin | Treasurer | Appointed 27/11/2022 | ||
| Martin Rutherford | Appointed 22/01/2017 | |||
| Tudor Spencer | Appointed 2/02/2021 | |||
| Belinda Murray | Appointed 17/11/2020 | |||
| Joanne Tonkin | Appointed 22/01/2017 | |||
| Simon Dennis | Secretary | Appointed 9/03/2022 | ||
There are no corporate trustees. No trustees hold title to property belonging to the charity No funds are held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Exemptions from disclosure
None apply
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Stream Walk Trust Financial Statement for the year ending 31[st] March 2023
The financial statement is unaudited.
There are no restricted funds.
| Bodger | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | s | Garden | 2021/22 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income | 28,580 | 1,422 | 27,158 | 9,972 |
| Expendit | ||||
| ure | 24,938 | 1,203 | 23,735 | 10,016 |
| Surplus/(defcit) | 3,642 | 219 | 3,423 | (44) |
| Bank balance at 1st April | ||||
| 2022 | 6,970 | |||
| Bank balance at 31st | ||||
| March 2023 | 10,612 |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report and accounts above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Alison Chatwin Veronica Wheatley
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Full name(s) ALISON CHATWIN
VERONICA WHEATLEY
Position (eg Secretary, TREASURER Chair, etc)
Date
21[st] January 2024
CHAIR
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