## **Annual Report April 2023 to March 2024** 

Charity number 1172700 

## **Aims and Purposes** 

To provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time activity in the interests of the social welfare and for the benefit of the inhabitants of Halesowen and the surrounding locality 

. 

The Trustees are also responsible for the maintenance and management of the Bowling Green under lease from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. 

## **Objective** 

To improve the well-being of the residents of the area by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of Huntingtree Park. 

The trustees met four times during the year under consideration and when planning activities kept in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

## **Highlights** 

July 2023 

Thanks to GreenCare horticultural team,  we had a fantastic display of wildflowers in a previously unloved corner of the Park along Thornhill Road. 





## July 2033 

The Bowling Green is managed by the _Friends_ and is an important part of the life of the Park with over 55 regular bowlers and so the annual trophy competition is eagerly anticipated.  Seventeen bowlers entered our 15th annual Trophy competition producing a high standard of bowling throughout four elimination rounds. Kevin Halliday met Eric Leader in a close final With Kevin emerging as the 2023 season holder of the Trophy Shield. 




The _Friends_ organise a weekly _Exercise and Socialise_ group for local residents.  Regularly 15-20 people attend take exercise led by one of the Health Activators, followed by refreshments and lots of conversation while using craft skills to make items for donation to UK and overseas charities. 

September 2023 


Once again we were proud to achieve Green Flag status for our lovely park. The Green Flag Award® is an international scheme that recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces, setting the standard for recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. 

## November 2023 

A Christmas Fair was held in November and a variety of stalls attracted our many supporters to visit the Hub, renew old friendships and spend, raising £300 in the course of the afternoon. This money forms the mainstay of our fundraising and is used to cover essential expenses Public Liability insurance, Lease payment etc.. 



## March 2024 

A quiz night was held at Halesowen Athletics Club with around 70 people attending.   The event was very successful and raised a total of £307.50 for the Bowling green fund. 


. 

## **Financial Summary year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**Income**<br>**£**<br>Bowling subs & Donations<br>2326<br>Events/ fundraising<br>830<br>Bench donation<br> 874<br>**Expenditure**<br>Bowling Green lease<br>250<br>Bowling green maintenance<br>2891<br>Printing Stationery &Advertising<br>61<br>Insurance<br>105<br>Memorial Bench<br>874<br>Sundries<br> 100<br>Deficit for the year<br>Brought forward at 31 Mar 2023<br>**Balance at 31 March 2024**<br>Represented by:<br>Bowling Green Fund (restricted)<br>£2407<br>General fund (unrestricted)<br>£1915|**£**<br>4030<br>4281|
|---|---|
||251<br>4573|
||**4322**|



## **Reserves Policy** 

To maintain a reserve sufficient to cover 12 months core expenditure. 

**Trustees** for the year under consideration Alan Hackett (Chair) Christine Matthews (Vice-Chair) Jane Matthews (Secretary) Susan Kirk Carol Matthews Linda McLennaghan Alison Wooten Kevin Halliday (Treasurer from March ‘24) 



## **Conclusion** 

The Park remains very popular with local residents and people from the wider area receiving positive comments from users on it’s tidiness and facilities. At the end of the year under consideration, while the financial reserve was reduced, we still met our target of 12 months core annual expenditure. 


Chairman 



# **FRIENDS OF HUNTINGTREE PARK REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1172700** 

## **ACCOUNTS** 

**YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024** 



**FRIENDS OF HUNTINGTREE PARK REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1172700** 

## **Independent Examiner’s Report** 

I report on the attached accounts of Friends of Huntingtree Park for the year ended 31[st] March 2024. 

## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** 

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 

- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and 

- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** 

My examination was carried 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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would 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 those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements 

   - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and 

   - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act 

## have not been met; or 

2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

G. M. JONES ACCOUNTANT DUDLEY CVS 7 ALBION STREET BRIERLEY HILL DY5 3EE 

20[th] January 2024 



## **FRIENDS OF HUNTINGTREE PARK REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1172700 INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2024** 

||**2024**||**2023**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**INCOME**|||||
|Fundraising/Donations||860||1,096|
|Bowlers’ Subscriptions||2,296||2,484|
|Memorial Bench Donation||874||-|
|||_____||_____|
|||4,030||3,580|
|**EXPENDITURE**|||||
|Rent of Bowling Green|250||250||
|Insurance|105||124||
|Printing, Stationery & Advertising|61||141||
|Bowling Green Maintenance|2,891||2,859||
|Sundries|100||153||
|Memorial Bench|874||-||
||_____||_____||
|||4,281||3,527|
|||_____||_____|
|**Deficit/Surplus for the Year**||-251||53|
|Balance at 31stMarch 2023||4,573||4,520|
|||_____||_____|
|**Balance at 31st March 2024**||4,322||4,573|
|||_____||_____|



. 



FRIENDS OF HUNTINGTREE PARK
REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1172700
STATEMENT OF ASSETS & UABILITIES
AS AT 31" MARCH 2024
2024
2023
CURRENT ASSETS
Bank Current Account
4,322
4,573
Represented by .
Income & Expenditure Accounl:
General
Designated 'Save the Green. Fund
1.915
2.407
1.852
2,721
4,322
4,573
NB: 2024 accounts Include l)owlern subscrlptlons of £1.906 recolved In advance
for 2024125 year12023: £1.983).
Approved by the Management Commlttee and slgned on thelr behalf:
Chalmian
Treasurer
Dats
20" 4anuary 2024