Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
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 (Northeast 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. Purchased a water quality meter to establish the health of the river. Held a river day in Calne with well over 100 attendees. Prepared a design for a Floating Island for the Wharf area and completed installation of a small trial piece. 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 |
Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment It is estimated that approximately 30 volunteers contributed over 300 hours in total in the period. Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers 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: • Continued survey and studies on the wildlife in the valley. • Commenced a study of the water quality of the river. (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. (3) Environmental Improvements • Tree planting, • Wildflower planting. • River clean-up and litter removal, 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 objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | £8,890 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. Two years a goal to increase private sector support was set and in this period £2,390 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 reduced its net assets by £699 in the period due to timing of project expenses and grant receipts |
| 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 £1,000 as expenditures were particularly high in this period. |
| 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 30% of the funding in the period was from private sector concerns and 70% 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)|Signature(s)
yo||||
|Full name(s)|Full name(s)Andrew Steven Jones|Ian Leslie Thorn|Ian Leslie Thorn||
|Position (eg Secretary,|Treasurer||Chair||
|Chair, etc)|||||
||||||
|Date26 May 2024|26 May 2024||||
Financial Statements
For
The Friends of the Marden Valley
Registered Charity Number 1173673
For the period 1[st] April 2023 to 31[st] March 2024
Summary and notes to financial statements
The charity received two grants from the private sector in the period.
The first was for £1,890 from Wessex Water Environmental Fund to conduct a study of the e-DNA of species in the River Marden. The work will be conducted in the next reporting period and no expenses related to the project were made in the period.
The second was for £500 from Green Square Accord to plant and make improvements to the environment. This project was completed in this period final expenses were £520.00.
The charity received two grants from the public sector, the Calne Town Council and Wiltshire Council each for £3,250 to purchase equipment to measure the water quality in the river. Equipment was purchased in the period and experience in its usage is being gained, ensuring accurate results and keeping it properly calibrated has proven more difficult than expected.
During this period work on projects that were funded in the last fiscal year continued including the installation of information boards and the holding of a River Day which was again well attended with over 100 adults and about 50 children.
Work also started on a test of a floating island concept at a particularly unattractive section of the river.
The total expenditures in the period in support of all projects was £9,891.69 59% of these expenditures were related to biodiversity and environmental research, 18% were in support of education and awareness and 18% related to projects that improved the environment such as tree planting. The remaining 5% was for liability insurance and software licenses.
In the period expenditures exceeded income by £1,001.69 as noted above this is due to continued work on projects funded in the last reporting period.
At the end of the period there were no accounts receivable and £302 of liabilities (Accounts Payable). Overall, the net assets decreased over the period from £5,933.99 to £4,932.30.
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 to be in a viable and in a financially sound position with assets exceeding anticipated expenditures.
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Financial Statement for Friends of the Marden Valley
For the period 12 months ending 31 March 2023
Income Statement
| Income | Income | Expenditure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wessex Water Environment Grant | £ 1,890.00 | ||
| Green Square Accord Grant | £ 500.00 | ||
| Subtotal Private Sector Grants | £ 2,390.00 | ||
| Calne Area Board (Wiltshire Council) | Calne Area Board (Wiltshire Council) | £ 3,250.00 | |
| Calne Town Council Grant | £ 3,250.00 | ||
| Subtotal Public Sector Grants | £ 6,500.00 | ||
| Total Income in Period | £ 8,890.00 | ||
| Expenditures | |||
| Biodiversity and Environmental Research | £ 5,836.36 | ||
| Education and Awareness events | £ 1,816.00 | ||
| Environmental Improvements | £ 1,783.87 | ||
| Insurance and General expenses | £ 455.46 | ||
| Total Expenditures in Period | £ 9,891.69 | ||
| Surplus of Income over Expenditures | £ -1,001.69 | ||
| Balance Sheet | |||
| Assets | 01/04/23 | 31/03/24 | Change in Period |
| Bank Accounts | £ 5,478.72 | £ 5,234.30 | -£ 244.42 |
| Accounts Receivable | £ 931.00 | £ 0 | -£ 931.00 |
| Total Assets | £ 6,409.72 | £ 5,234.30 | -£ 1,175.42 |
| Liabilities | |||
| Accounts Payable | £ 475.73 | £ 302.00 | -£ 173.73 |
| Total Liabilities | £ 475.73 | £ 302.00 | -£ 173.73 |
| Net Assets | £ 5,933.99 | £ 4,932.30 | -£ 1,001.69 |
Balance Sheet
Andrew S. Jones Treasurer, Friends of The Marden Valley
26 May 2024
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