Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 April 2022 To 31 March 2023
Charity name: Friends of the Marden Valley
Charity registration number: 1173673
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | (1) To promote for the benefit of the public conservation, protection and improvement of the river Marden and its tributaries, from its source to its confluence with the River Avon (North East of Chippenham), together with its surrounding habitats, its wildlife, both flora and fauna of its catchment basin, and (2) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection, and improvement of the physical and natural environment as well as the history of the River Marden Valley. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Continued maintenance of the River Marden and its tributaries in particular the Abberd Brook area. Planted trees, installed brushwood berms, cleaned up debris and litter from Wharf area. Conducting and recording an active series of on-line meetings and webinars. Conducting surveys of wildlife in the area. Prepared and issued a three-volume report on the biodiversity of the valley. Held a river day in Calne with well over 100 attendees. Prepared a design for a Floating Island for the Wharf area. Commissioned videos of the valley and our activities. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In planning, organizing and implementing all of the activities of the charity the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and affirm that the primary purpose of the charity is to make the Marden Valley and its immediate surroundings an amenity for the public. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | It is estimated that approximately 30 volunteers contributed over 300 hours in total in the period. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Para 1.20 | The charity has achieved the following in this period: (1) Biodiversity and Environmental Research: • Prepared and issued the first comprehensive study of the biodiversity of the valley which has identified many rare or locally rare species. • Conducted a specific survey regarding water voles on Abberd brook providing definitive evidence of a colony there. These studies have already shaped Local Neighbourhood Planning development. (2) Education and Awareness Events • Held specific meetings (online and with live audiences) to increase awareness of the wildlife and habitats in the area, • Organised a river day in the town that was attended by over 100 adults, and about 50 children. A river blessing was conducted by the local Bishop. • One trustee was interviewed by the BBC news after an oil spill in the river to increase the awareness of pollution and contamination. (3) Environmental Improvements • Tree planting, • Wildflower planting. • River clean-up and litter removal, • Flow improvements (berm installation) These improvements have focussed on an area that has a higher than average level of deprivation indices. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | £7,477.16 of cash grants were raised in the period. In addition, further support was obtained in terms of materials and installation services for information boards and plantings. Last year a goal to increase private sector support was set and in this period £2,500 of these grants were from this sector. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity increased its assets by £2,194 in the period and reduced liabilities to £475 (supplier accounts payable). |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity has a policy to hold 10% of the annual expenditure as a reserve to be prudent. This would represent just under £500. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £500 are identified as reserves, although at the end of the reporting period there was over £5000 in the bank account, however, much of this funding is allocated for project activities. |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Approximately 1/3 of the funding in the period was from private sector concerns and 2/3 from the public sector. Depending on the future mix of projects it is expected that a similar mix of funding might continue. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| 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 |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by trustees |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Friends of the Marden Valley |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Friends of Abberd Brook |
| Registered charity number | 1173673 |
| Charity’s principal address | Flat 15 Castle House Castle Street Calne SN11 0EY |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert MacNaughton |
Secretary | |||
| Ian Leslie Thorn | Chair | |||
| Tamzyn Long | Trustee | |||
| Andrew Steven Jones |
Treasurer | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Steven Jones | Ian Leslie Thorn | |
Treasurer |
Chair | |
| 24 April 2023 | ||
| 24 April 2023 |
Financial Statements
For
The Friends of the Marden Valley
Registered Charity Number 1173673
For the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
Summary and notes to financial statements
The charity received two grants from the private sector in the period.
The first was for £1,500 from Wessex Water Environmental Fund to conduct a survey of the European Vole population along Abberd Brook and to plant trees in the area. The work was conducted in the period and voles were photographed.
The second was for £1,000 from Selwood Housing to plant and make improvements to the environment. Work started on this project, but some funding remains for work in the next fiscal year.
The charity received four grants from the public sector local parishes, the Calne Town Council and Wiltshire Council for a total of £4,962 for a variety of projects including installation of information boards, holding a River Day, and participation at various local events to increase awareness of the environment.
The total expenditures in the period in support of all projects was £4,758.40. 40% of these expenditures were related to biodiversity and environmental research, 29% were in support of education and awareness and 23% related to projects that improved the environment such as tree planting. The remaining 8% was for liability insurance and software licenses.
Thus, there was a surplus of income over expenditure in the period of £2,718.76.
The account receivable of £931 is related to a grant from Wiltshire Council Area Board that was approved but had not been received by the end of period. The only liabilities are accounts payable to various suppliers which reduced by £524.27 in the period.
Overall, the net assets increased over the period from £3,215.23 to £5,933.99.
No trustees or related parties were funded by the charity and all expenditures were in accordance with the aims of the charity.
The trustees consider the charity is in a viable and in a financially sound position with assets exceeding anticipated expenditures.
Page 1/2
Financial Statement for Friends of the Marden Valley
For the period 12 months ending 31 March 2023
Income Statement
| Income Wessex Water Environment Grant Selwood Housing Grant Subtotal Private Sector Grants Bremhill Parish Grant Calne Without Parish Grant Calne Area Board (Wiltshire Council) Calne Town Council Grant Subtotal Public Sector Grants Miscellaneous donatons Total Income in Period Expenditures Biodiversity and Environmental Research Educaton and Awareness events Environmental Improvements Insurance and General expenses Total Expenditures in Period Surplus of Income over Expenditures alance Sheet Assets 01/04/22 Bank Accounts £ 4,215.23 Accounts Receivable £ 0 Total Assets £ 4,215.23 Liabilites Accounts Payable £ 1,000.00 Total Liabilites £ 1,000.00 Net Assets £ 3,215.23 |
Income Wessex Water Environment Grant Selwood Housing Grant Subtotal Private Sector Grants Bremhill Parish Grant Calne Without Parish Grant Calne Area Board (Wiltshire Council) Calne Town Council Grant Subtotal Public Sector Grants Miscellaneous donatons Total Income in Period Expenditures Biodiversity and Environmental Research Educaton and Awareness events Environmental Improvements Insurance and General expenses Total Expenditures in Period Surplus of Income over Expenditures alance Sheet Assets 01/04/22 Bank Accounts £ 4,215.23 Accounts Receivable £ 0 Total Assets £ 4,215.23 Liabilites Accounts Payable £ 1,000.00 Total Liabilites £ 1,000.00 Net Assets £ 3,215.23 |
Income £ 1,500.00 £ 1,000.00 |
Expenditure £ 1,886.97 £ 1,401.89 £ 1,090.20 £ 379.34 |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ 2,500.00 £ 250.00 £ 681.00 £ 931.00 £ 3,100.00 |
|||
| £ 4,962.00 £ 15.16 |
|||
| £ 4,215.23 £ 1,000.00 |
£ 6,409.72 £ 2,194.49 £ 475.73 -£ 524.27 |
||
| £ 1,000.00 | £ 475.73 -£ 524.27 |
||
| £ 3,215.23 | £ 5,933.99 £ 2,718.76 |
Balance Sheet
Andrew S. Jones
Treasurer, Friends of The Marden Valley
24 April 2023
Page 2/2