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NATIONAL PARK CITY FOUNDATION
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Registered Charity number 1173267 Charitable Incorporated Organisation
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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Registered Name: National Park City Foundation, also known as National Park City (NPC) and London National Park City (LNPC)
Registered Charity number: 1173267
Contact details: email hello@nationalparkcity.org or visit www.nationalparkcity.org
Trustees holding office during the year:
Alejandra Arias (appointed 1 May 2025)
Alice Miranda Harrison (appointed 1 May 2025) Alison Barnes (resigned 10 July 2025) Claire Eagle David Cope (resigned 10 July 2025) Eilish Kavanagh (resigned 21 July 2025)
Emily Brennan Joanna de Jong Lucy Livesley (resigned 24 April 2025)
Melissa Miners Navdeep Singh Deol (Chair) Shereen Lynch (appointed 10 July 2025)
Sylvia Anne Perrins (Treasurer) (appointed 1 May 2025)
Tim Webb (resigned 10 July 2025)
Management: Mark Cridge (Executive Director)
Registered office: 1 Therapia Road, London SE22 0SF
Bank: CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ
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STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
Governance and Management
The National Park City Foundation is registered as a charitable incorporated organisation, under a constitution which governs its activities.
The Trustee Board at year end consists of 12 members, and Navdeep Singh Deol continues as board chair. In February 2025 we conducted a skills audit of our current Board, before undertaking an open and public Trustee recruitment over a four week period. From the longlist of applicants a panel of current Trustees shortlisted a group of candidates who were interviewed online, and then in person.
We subsequently made four Trustee appointments; Alejandra Arias, Alice Miranda Harrision, Sylvia Perrins (who has taken over as Treasurer from Eilish Kavanagh), and Shereen Lynch. Four Trustees; Alison Barnes, David Cope, Tim Webb and Eilish Kavanagh, stepped down shortly after the year end leaving three vacancies that shall be filled in spring 2026 to improve succession management.
The past year has been highly productive for the National Park City movement in London, and through our support for other National Park Cities around the world.
In London we expanded our staff team with the appointment of our new Community Director, Becky Daniels, who has been overseeing the evolution of our Ranger programme. She has been supported by an expanded Communications team of Sadim Garvey, Miriam Habte-Sellasie, and Michael Shilling. Our Partnerships Manager, Louis Rutherford, has been joined by Programme Manager, Rochelle Shanthakumar to run our small grants programme, and Mar Pelaez-Muñoz supporting our first local cohort of Rangers in Hounslow. In Southampton, Ruth Magennis has joined as maternity cover for Rae Turpin. The team continues to be led by our Executive Director Mark Cridge.
We secured new grants from the Greater London Authority of £101,650 to fund our small grants programme, £30,000 from Hounslow Council’s Thriving Community Fund for our local Ranger programme, £17,000 from the Cleary Foundation to support field trips and small grants, along with additional income from crowdfunders, individual donations, event income, sales of maps through our online store and visitor centre. We go into the next financial year with a stable cashflow, and clear targets for increasing income from new and existing sources.
We are very grateful for the goodwill and enthusiasm of volunteers who represent the movement in the streets and neighbourhoods. We are immensely grateful to all of them, in all the roles they play – especially our 130 active volunteer Rangers who continue to lead impactful work across London.
Each new National Park City has its own governance and organisational structure. We
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meet regularly as a group of National Park Cities, supporting each other with advice and sharing best practice. We’ll continue to review how we formally support each other, both in the UK as a group of cities working together, and internationally region to region.
We continue to extend our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we explicitly operate as an anti-racist organisation. We submit our staff and Trustee diversity data to the RACE Report which seeks to address the under-representation of minority ethnic people in the environmental sector. We record diversity data for our staff, Trustees and volunteer Rangers to help us identify where we need to improve how we represent the communities we serve.
Charitable Objectives
The objects of the Foundation are:
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To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Greater London having aesthetic, architectural, historic, scientific or educational interest;
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To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Greater London;
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To advance the education of the public in the heritage and culture of Greater London;
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To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Greater London the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants; and
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To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of other cities and urban centres by promoting the National Park City learnings, practice and status to other cities.
Public benefit statement
The charity Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties. The Trustees also ensure the programme of activities is always in line with the charity’s objectives and aims.
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Risk Statement
The Trustees have taken into account guidance available from the Charity Commission, reviewed the risks faced by the Foundation and have put in place policies and procedures to address and mitigate those risks to an acceptable level.
Whilst fundraising continues to be successful given the ongoing uncertainties from the economic, cost of living and energy crises, the Trustees still consider the main risk to the charity to be the ability to raise funds to develop its role, capacity and future activities. As a result, Trustees will continue to focus on identifying new fundraising opportunities, whilst carefully expanding the scope and reach of our activities in London, other cities in the UK, and supporting the growth of the National Park City movement internationally.
The charity has increased its overheads and related costs by taking on a new physical office space, however this is mitigated as the space is provided rent and rate free on a meanwhile basis.
With our increase in events, walks, talks and workshops with members of the public, and an increase in Ranger numbers we have put particular focus on Safeguarding to ensure all staff and volunteers are appropriately trained and supported, with improved monitoring in place. We have reviewed all of our policies and procedures and are grateful to the pro-bono support of Addleshaw Goddard.
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TRUSTEE’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
The Trustees present their annual report and the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.
Aims
The Foundation aims to grow and expand the National Park City movement, stewarding and leading the London National Park City movement, providing support to Southampton National Park City, and supporting the establishment of emerging, nominated and existing National Park Cities around the world.
All National Park Cities commit to five key principles:
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To be inspired and guided by the Universal Charter of National Park Cities, to contribute to its future development and uphold the spirit and values of the movement.
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To act as a member of the National Park City Family, sharing learning, practices, ideas and resources with people in other National Park Cities.
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To join in with joint National Park City campaigns and projects, where appropriate.
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To support emerging, nominated and established National Park Cities in their journeys.
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To share annual updates and experiences on our progress with the public and members of the National Park City Family.
Principal activities
During the year to 30 June 2025 the Foundation focused on:
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Fundraising activities to secure new grant income, individual and crowdfunded donations, corporate partnerships, and partnerships with London Boroughs.
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Growing and supporting our volunteer Ranger community in London.
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Marketing and campaigning activity for London National Park City.
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Establishing our second pop-up visitors centre at 80 Mortimer Street along with an active programme of public events and festival weeks.
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Launching our small grants programme for Ranger-led projects with support from the Greater London Authorities Greenroots fund..
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Directly supporting the development of Southampton National Park City.
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Doubling the number of National Park Cities by completing the assessment of Breda as the first Dutch National Park City, and Chattanooga as the first National Park City in North America.
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Supporting National Park City campaigns in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Rotterdam, and other emerging cities.
Celebrating and connecting the grassroots
It is six years since London became the world’s first National Park City – the long-term, grassroots movement for everyone making our city greener, healthier and wilder.
Since that initial launch in July 2019, London National Park City has become a vibrant, active and supportive convenor of practical grassroots and community-led action for local nature recovery in neighbourhoods across the capital. Our charity supports community leaders across London, to deliver the shared commitments and ambition outlined in the Charter for London National Park City – celebrating and supporting the work of thousands of individuals and organisations actively making London greener, healthier and wilder.
We attract, recruit, empower, and support a diverse community of volunteer Rangers within every London Borough capable of supporting communities and making their neighbourhoods greener, healthier and wilder.
In doing so our aim is to make our city a place where people and nature are better connected, by building the capacity, reach, resource, skills and confidence of our volunteer Ranger community in every London neighbourhood.
A whole landscape approach
London National Park City is about the whole place and landscape, taking into account all of the human and non-human activity across each of London’s 33 Boroughs, encompassing the green belt, the watersheds of the 41 rivers across London, and the 51% of London that can be classed as green and blue space. Until London became the world’s first National Park City, cities and urban areas were the only form of ecosystem that lacked a form of National Park status.
The National Park City story helps us to recognise just how valuable, important and significant urban ecosystems can be. In becoming a National Park City, London has taken the lead in helping to connect people with nature where they are.
This is especially urgent, not least because the climate and biodiversity crises are significantly driven by people’s disconnection from nature, especially in cities.
When people and communities are connected with nature, they are more likely to exhibit
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pro-environmental behaviours and take action to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. Reconnecting people and nature is therefore a crucial and timely intervention as set out in our Charter for London National Park City.
Volunteer Rangers leading the way
Our Rangers programme is the heart and soul of National Park City. We’ll be working towards having 300 active Rangers across London by the end of 2026, with a long-term goal to have at least one Ranger in each of London’s 704 wards.
Since establishing our Ranger programme in 2020, our 130 volunteer Rangers are active in every Borough, helping Londoners understand how urban nature is important and diverse, providing influence, inspiration and practical ways for people to nurture and protect nature within their communities.
We have shown how we can establish and grow a generous, active, participatory community of empowered citizens, each of whom is capable of leading nature and biodiversity enhancing activities within their own communities, working with other Rangers, and supporting the local groups they work with.
Over the past year we’ve been working with each Ranger to establish their commitment going forward and work on an individual plan for how they each will contribute towards our Charter commitments, and how we can support them as an organisation. Each Ranger benefits from:
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A peer learning induction over the first six weeks when new Rangers join.
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An expanded curriculum of training and learning led by groups of Rangers themselves, who also lead on a variety of ‘working groups’ such as schools, education and young people, upcycling and recycling, podcasting and media, practical urban greening and gardening.
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We’re recruiting cohorts of Rangers from within single Borough’s at the same time – targeting active people from the local groups we partner with, and align this with support from each London Boroughs.
Visitor Centre at 80 Mortimer Street
This year thanks to the generous support of the Crown Estate we’ve opened up a new space on a temporary basis at 80 Mortimer Street, a stone's throw from Oxford Circus. Having one or more such community spaces in London will be an ongoing part of our way of working, and an important meeting place for our staff, volunteers and collaborators.
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Just as you would when you visit a traditional National Park, our ‘Visitor Centre’ is intended as a window on all of the activities, places to visit, and things that you can do within London National Park City. Last year we ran over 70 events with festival weeks for Repair Week, The Great Big Green Week, Grow Urban Festival, the Blossom Festival with the National Trust, and a whole month of Walking events in May. The shop is freely available for any community group who’d like to make use of it, and we’ve hosted numerous Ranger meet-ups and events.
Small Grants programme
In December 2024 we received our first direct funding from the Greater London Authority through their Greenroots fund to establish our small grants programme for Ranger-led projects in neighbourhoods across London.
Our volunteer Rangers propose grassroots nature recovery projects via a simple application form. Initiatives are led by the Rangers or nominated community groups, to improve access, restore and enhance local green spaces, biodiversity, wellbeing and nature connection in London’s neighbourhoods. We are well on the way to funding over 100 small-scale nature projects across London this year.
Our grants panel, composed of staff and volunteers, allocates funding of £250 to £1,000 at least 20 or 30 projects each quarter. Funds cover tools, materials, training, and essentials needed to make each project a success – with full accountability and low admin burden for all involved. Each completed project is documented with impact stories, photos, and testimonials from community participants and shared publicly on our website.
Over the next year we’ll expand the scope and scale of this programme, accepting applications from community groups we work with, and seek to establish a sustainable, replicable small grants model for London and other cities.
Led by the grassroots
In line with the diverse and broad commitments set out in our co-created Charter for London National Park City, we’ve been able to show how a creative, culture and neighbourhood led approach is so important in learning from the rich diversity of communities across the capital.
Our small staff team and dedicated Trustees work with hundreds of volunteers to support practical urban greening activities and explore how best to reach and engage people with nature through art, sport, and culture. We’re led by the priorities of our Rangers, who are best placed to identify and undertake the most valuable projects for their local area.
We continue to extend our commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we explicitly
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operate as an anti-racist organisation, each year contributing to the RACE Report which seeks to address the under-representation of minority ethnic people in the environmental sector.
We’ve set the stage for a broader and deeper partnership for London National Park City to be established and activated over the next three years, focused on expanding the effectiveness and value of our volunteer Ranger community, working with community partners and local authorities in key London Boroughs, and more explicitly sharpening our focus around engaging the public in Local Nature Recovery within their own communities.
We’re expanding our volunteering connections with our map featuring over 260 groups at nationalparkcity.london/volunteer. We’re sharing more places to visit, things to do, and ways to get involved across London and if you’d like your place or organisation featured you can easily ask us to add it to the map.
We’ll be inviting more organisations to join our In Good Company programme for businesses at nationalparkcity.london/ingoodcompany.
Across London we’re centring nature recovery at a local level through all of our work, as a focus for our future Ranger activity – especially as we recruit new Rangers in each Borough. In Hounslow we’re trialing a Youth Ranger Programme with Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust, in Barking & Dagenham we’re supporting a new nature corridor master plan, delivering a small grant programme in Islington, Ranger-led activities in Brent, supporting Ranger-led Guides in Newham.
Whilst there is much to celebrate in how the London National Park City story has helped provide a narrative bridge connecting many different communities and initiatives across the city, there is much more to be done. Our rivers remain polluted, we’re losing our front gardens at a frightening rate, too many communities lack access to good-quality green space, our parks are woefully underfunded, and the urgent demands of housing provision too often put existing biodiversity and nature at risk
Growing the National Park City movement
Outside of London we have been actively working towards growing the number of established and nominated National Park Cities, as well as making it easier for cities to take their first steps in the journey.
In April 2025, Chattanooga was welcomed as the first National Park City in the USA and North America, and Breda became the first National Park City in the Netherlands and EU. Along with Adelaide and London we’ve now doubled the number of National Park Cities globally.
Around the UK we're supporting campaigns in Southampton, Cardiff, Glasgow, and
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Belfast. In the Netherlands Rotterdam is aiming to become a National Park City by the end of 2026, and we are working with a group of volunteers to identify up to five other Dutch municipalities who would like to start the journey. Following Chattanooga’s successful peer review, there is now an active volunteer group in North America, seeking expressions of interest from cities in the region.
Our International efforts continue to be supported by our International Steering Group who lead on peer reviews for new National Park Cities. Peer review teams for Breda and Chattanooga have included representatives from World Urban Parks, Salzburg Global, the National Park City Foundation, Nature Desks, Earthwatch, London National Park City Rangers, IUCN-WCPA, National Recreation and Parks Association, and Adelaide National Park City.
What’s next for National Park City
As we go into the next three years of the National Park City movement we will continue to strengthen our ability to support a growing grassroots movement improving lives, health and wellbeing in neighbourhoods across London and other cities.
We’ll celebrate London as a National Park City, inspiring Londoners to connect with and care for urban nature within their local communities, understanding the value and benefits of nature connection.
We’ll expand the variety and diversity of our active community of Rangers, along with individual Londoners, community groups, public and private sector organisations who are delivering the aims of our Charter.
We’ll support a greater number of Rangers, and Ranger-led projects and events within local communities through a participatory, generous and active community.
We’ll develop and enhance the skills, ability and confidence of Rangers to support change within their local communities sharing through peer support, training, resources and funding.
We’ll enable whole communities to take practical climate and biodiversity action together within each London Borough and individual neighbourhood.
And to support all of this we’ll ensure the effective operation of our charity the National Park City Foundation, through good governance, financial management, effective operations, and support for staff, Trustees and volunteers.
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Thank you
We’re incredibly grateful to each and every one of our supporters who are each helping to make their city a National Park City in neighbourhoods across each city every day. We’re especially grateful to all of our volunteers, our Rangers, and Trustees who all give their time freely to help make our cities greener, healthier, and wilder.
Our thanks goes to:
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Our thousands of National Park City supporters and participants in London, Adelaide, Breda, Chattanooga and in other cities around the world.
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Our numerous repeat individual donors, along with new donors who have contributed for the first time this year through our Crowdfunders.
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We are grateful to the pro bono and in-kind support we have received from the Crown Estate, ANDProjects, Addleshaw Goddard and Lewis Silkin.
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All Trustees, past and present, especially to Lucy Livesley who resigned during the year, and to Alison Barnes, David Cope, Tim Webb and Eilish Kavanagh who stepped down in July 2025.
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Our new Trustees; Alejandra Arias, Alice Miranda Harrision, Sylvia Perrins, and Shereen Lynch who have taken on the responsibility for guiding the future of the charity.
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Our 130 active London National Park City Rangers and everyone who volunteers their time, attends our events, and helps spread the work in their communities.
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Elected representatives in London for their continued support for London National Park City, including the Mayor Sadiq Khan, and all the officials who support in Boroughs and the Greater London Authority.
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The campaign teams, citizens, and elected officials in each of Breda and Chattanooga who have led each city on the journey as National Park Cities, including Brian Smith, Joost Barendrecht, Tom Rozendal and many more.
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Our partners at World Urban Parks and Salzburg Global and everyone who works on promoting National Park Cities around the world, including Dan Raven-Ellisson, Neil McCarthy, Dominic Regester, and Jennifer Dunn.
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Everyone who shares our vision of greener, healthier and wilder cities, and who wants to help make the cities that we live in, places where people and nature are better connected.
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FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Foundation’s financial report for the year to 30 June 2025 is on Page 15. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Constitution.
Funding Sources
The Trustees thank all funders and donors for their support and generosity.
Total income for 2024/25 was £240,702 (2023/24: £1,191,063). In 2024/25 we received grants and donations of £240,558 (2023/24: £1,190,686) of which £158,050 (2023/24: £836,895) were restricted grants. Included in the above figures are donations in kind of £46,787 (2023/24: £307,944). Income recognised in 2023/24 includes multi-year grants from the National Lottery Community Fund and City Bridge Foundation intended to be drawn down over a four year period to 2027/28.
Expenditure
Total expenditure during the year 2024/25 was £389,154 (2023/24: £489,855) with direct activity costs of £351,285 (2023/24: £463,614)
During the year we increased the number of staff from 6 to 8, including a Partnerships Manager and two part-time Communications Managers. We continued to invest in the London Ranger Programme and also employed a member of staff to develop Southampton National Park City campaign, supported by a grant from the New Forest National Park.
Other expenditure during the year included general IT and administration costs.
Reserves
The fund balance on 30 June 2025 was £630,862 of which £23,748 was unrestricted (2023/24: £779,314, of which £45,301 was unrestricted).
Our reserves policy is set to support long term sustainability, and the Trustees aim to hold a minimum of 6 months of committed expenditure in unrestricted reserves.
Unrestricted reserves at the end of the year represented 2.6 months of 2024/25 unrestricted expenditure.
Note: Whilst unrestricted reserves are significantly lower than our defined minimum of 6 months of committed expenditure, the Trustees recognise that our National Lottery Community Fund grant was awarded to build capacity within the charity and is therefore being used to cover core day to day staff costs until December 2027. In addition, current fundraising activity is heavily targeted towards securing additional
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Unrestricted income over the next two years.
With these mitigations in place the Trustees are satisfied that this level will meet the foundation’s requirements for the year ahead.
The Trustees declare that they approved the Trustees Report on the 8th October 2025. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Navdeep Singh Deol
Sylvia Perrins
Chair
Treasurer
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Independent Examiner's Report
for the year ending 30/06/2025
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of National Park City Foundation
I report to the Charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30/06/2025 which consists of the statement of financial activities, balance sheet and the related notes
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act;
or
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The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn
December 8, 2025 (net119507BD8889432... by:
Mr M.H Tuffaha AFA Associate Member – Institute of Financial Accountants Sterling Gate Accountants
3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London, England, EC2A 4NE
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[Balance Sheet ]
[For the year ended 30 June 2025 ][National Park City Foundation ]
| Note | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Fixed Assets: | |||
| Tangible fixed assets | 6 | 2,491 | - |
| Current assets: | |||
| Debtors | 7 | 485,958 | 681,895 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 155,288 | 102,366 | |
| Total Current assets: | 641,246 | 784,261 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year | 8 | 12,875 | 4,947 |
| Net current assets | 628,371 | 779,314 | |
| Total net assets | 630,862 | 779,314 | |
| Total funds of the charity | |||
| Restricted Funds | 9,10 | 607,114 | 734,013 |
| Unrestricted Funds | 9,10 | 23,748 | 45,301 |
| Total Funds of the Charity | 630,862 | 779,314 |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Navdeep Deol
Chair
December 8, 2025
Sylvia Perrins Treasurer December 8, 2025
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Notes to the Accounts
For the year ended 30 June 2025
National Park City Foundation
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts are prepared for the year to 30 June 2025 with comparative information provided in respect of the year to 30 June 2024. All figures are presented in Sterling to the nearest pound.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception that listed investments and investment properties are included at market value. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Charities Act 2011.
The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
Going Concern
The Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Foundation's ability to continue as a going concern. With respect to the next reporting period, the Trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties that will affect the Foundation's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income and endowments
All income is recognised once the charitable company has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably.
Donations and legacies
Donations are recognised when the charitable company has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance by the charitable company before the charitable company is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charitable company and it is probable that these conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Grants receivable
Grants are recognised when the charitable company has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
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Investment income
Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charitable company in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Support costs
Support costs comprise those costs incurred in central functions and not related to direct activities.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including independent examination costs.
Taxation
The charitable company is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charitable company is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Tangible fixed assets
Significant individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows: Computer equipment: 33.33%
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Trade debtors
Debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid after taking account of any discounts due.
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand, bank accounts and bank deposits.
Trade creditors
Creditors and accruals are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and accruals are normally recognised at their settlement amount.
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees's discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charitable company. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Pensions and other post-retirement obligations
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme which is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the charitable company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods. Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
Financial instruments Classification
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
2. Donations and legacies
| Grants Donations Donations in Kind |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 £ £ £ 7,193 158,050 165,243 28,528 - 28,528 46,787 - 46,787 82,508 158,050 240,558 |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 £ £ £ 2,525 826,895 829,420 43,322 10,000 53,322 307,944 - 307,944 |
|---|---|---|
| 353,791 836,895 1,190,686 |
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For the financial year 2024/25, an amount of £46,787 was donated in kind relating to free of charge rent (£39,231 at 80 Mortimer Street, London and £7556 at 109 Fleet Street, London).
For the financial year 2023/24, an amount of £307,944 was donated in kind relating to free of charge rent at 109 Fleet Street, London (£20,444) and free of charge advertising boards (£287,500).
3. Investment Income
| Bank interest Other income |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2025 £ £ £ 144 - 144 - - - 144 - 144 |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total 2024 £ £ £ 157 - 157 220 - 220 |
|---|---|---|
| 377 - 377 |
4. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Direct activities Support costs |
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2025 £ £ £ 88,027 263,258 351,285 16,178 21,691 37,869 104,205 284,949 389,154 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 £ £ £ 360,482 103,132 463,614 17,820 8,421 26,241 |
|---|---|---|
| 378,302 111,553 489,855 |
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| Support costs allocated to charitable activities Unrestricted Restricted Total 2025 £ £ £ Administration Salaries 7,874 - 7,874 Office costs 3,645 2,240 5,885 IT 3,805 2,186 5,991 Depreciation 225 285 510 15,549 4,711 20,260 Governance Audit and accountancy fees 629 16,980 17,609 629 16,980 17,609 Total Support Costs 16,178 21,691 37,869 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 £ £ £ 5,862 - 5,862 4,881 4,169 9,050 6,555 4,252 10,807 - - - |
|---|---|
| 17,298 8,421 25,719 |
|
| 522 - 522 |
|
| 522 - 522 |
|
| 17,820 8,421 26,241 |
For 2024/25 and 2023/24, 10% of the Chief Executive's salary cost is allocated to Support Costs.
| 5. Employee costs | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Salaries | 212,848 | 115,483 |
| Social Security costs | 12,696 | 5,452 |
| Pension costs | 3,440 | 1,215 |
| 228,984 | 122,150 | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| Average number of employees | 7 | 4 |
| Volunteers | 130 | 110 |
In 2025, 1 employee received remuneration between £60,000 and £70,000. In 2024 no employees earned above £60,000.
Trustees consider the key management personnel of the organisation to be the Trustees and Director. The total cost of key management personnel was £78,741 (2024: £58,263)
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6. Fixed Assets
| 6. Fixed Assets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Computer | ||
| Equipment | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Cost | ||
| At 1 July 2024 | - | - |
| Additions | 3,001 | 3,001 |
| At 30 June 2025 | 3,001 | 3,001 |
| Depreciation | ||
| At 1 July 2024 | - | - |
| Charge for year | 510 | 510 |
| At 30 June 2025 | 510 | 510 |
| Net book value 30 June 2025 | 2,491 | 2,491 |
| Net book value 30 June 2024 | - | - |
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9. Movement of Funds
| Restricted Funds City Bridge Foundation Cleary Foundation Greater London Authority London Borough of Hounslow National Lottery Community Fund New Forest NPA RHS Hampton Court University of Southampton General funds Total Funds |
Opening balance Income Expenditur e Closing Balance £ £ £ £ 253,121 - (55,720) 197,401 - 17,000 - 17,000 - 101,650 (40,855) 60,795 - 30,000 (18,268) 11,732 430,315 - (145,774) 284,541 48,797 - (22,552) 26,245 - 9,400 - 9,400 1,780 - (1,780) - |
|---|---|
| 734,013 158,050 (284,949) 607,114 |
|
| 45,301 82,652 (104,205) 23,748 |
|
| 779,314 240,702 (389,154) 630,862 |
| 2023/24 comparative Restricted Funds City Bridge Foundation Greater London Authority King Baudouin Foundation National Lottery Community Fund New Forest NPA University of Southampton General funds Total Funds |
Opening balance Income Expenditur e Closing Balance £ £ £ £ - 264,395 (11,274) 253,121 - 10,000 (10,000) - 8,671 - (8,671) - - 500,000 (69,685) 430,315 - 60,000 (11,203) 48,797 - 2,500 (720) 1,780 |
|---|---|
| 8,671 836,895 (111,553) 734,013 |
|
| 69,435 354,168 (378,302) 45,301 |
|
| 78,106 1,191,063 (489,855) 779,314 |
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10. Movement of restricted funds continued
Details of restricted funds
City Bridge Foundation
In May 2024, the charity was awarded a grant of £264,395 over four years towards the salary of a part-time Ranger Programme Manager and a part-time Coordinator and associated costs.
Cleary Foundation
In 2025, an amount of £17,000 was awarded by The Cleary Foundation to manage community projects in Islington & the City of London. It is intended to mirror work already funded by the GLA's micro-grant program, but focussing on inner-London areas.
Greater London Authority
In 2024 an amount of £10,000 was awarded by the Greater London Authority (GLA) as part of the Local Nature Recovery project and was fully spent in the year. In 2025, a further £101,650 was awarded for a micro-grant program, to be spent by March 2026. The program aims to empower Londoners to make their neighbourhoods more nature rich, healthy and climate-resilient and small grants of between £200 and £1000 are issued to community groups as well as the funding of salary of the coordinator and associated costs.
London Borough of Hounslow
In 2025, the London Borough of Hounslow Council awarded a grant of £30,000 through their Thriving Communities Fund, towards the cost of establishing a Local Hounslow Ranger programme, and the salary of a part-time Ranger coordinator. The project is planned for completion by October 2025.
National Lottery Community Fund
In 2024, the National Lottery Community Fund awarded an amount of £500,000 paid in half yearly installments, for completion by December 2027. The purpose of the grant is to build capacity in the charity in order to support their work as catalysts for community-led environmental action.
New Forest NPA
in 2024, an amount of £60,000 was awarded to the charity by New Forest NPA as part of their Youth for Climate and Nature project. The project aims to support youth-led outdoor learning exploring and connecting climate, nature, people, and place to inspire and encourage climate action across New Forest, Southampton, Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole. The charity's expenditure of the grant is expected to be complete by the close of the project in August 2026.
RHS Hampton Court
In 2025 RHS Hampton Court provided funding of £10,500 towards the creation of a Garden of Curiosity to be delivered in July 2025 at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton awarded the charity £2500 to fund an internship during the financial year 2024/25. The funding is now spent.
King Baudouin Foundation
In 2023 the King Baudouin Foundation provided a grant of £8,671 as part of the Timberland Built to be Bold programme to part-fund the Community Caretaker project at Bethnal Green Nature Reserve. The funding is now spent.
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11. Related Party
Transactions
There were no related party transactions in 2025 or 2024.
12. Trustee remuneration and
expenses
In 2025, 2 trustees were paid £729 for reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses (2024: 1 trustee, £522 for travel)
13. Taxation
The charitable incorporated organisation is a registered charity and therefore exempt from taxation
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