2023-07-31-accounts - Friends Of Wakering Common

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Trustees' Annual Report for the period

	Period start date	Period start date			Period end date
From	01	08	2022	To	31 07	2023

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Friends of Wakering Common

Other names charity is known by

Registered charity number (if any) 1174836

Charity's principal address 22 Newstead Road

22 Newstead Road	22 Newstead Road

Great Wakering
Essex
Postcode	SS3 0AB

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name	Office (if any)	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
John Whatley	Chair	Membership
Gillian Cain		Membership
PhillipHitchman		Membership
Jo McPherson		Membership
Christopher Wells		Membership

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name	Dates acted if not for whole year
None

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
None

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

John Whatley - Chair

FoWC - TAR

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution as approved by the Charity Commission on 25 September Type of governing document 2017 (no amendments since) (eg. trust deed, constitution) Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company) The membership elects Trustees at the Annual General Meeting, with Trustee selection methods one-third of Trustees retiring at the AGM and being eligible to stand again (eg. appointed by, elected by) for re-election.

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

The Friends of Wakering Common (“FoWC”) have the following policies
You may choose to include which can be downloaded from our web site
additional information, where www.wakeringcommon.com/governance-policies
relevant, about: • policies and procedures • Charity Constitution adopted for the induction and • Code of conduct training of trustees; • Gift and donation acceptance policy
• the charity’s organisational the charity’s organisational •• Equal opportunities policy Complaints procedure structure and any wider • Health and Safety Policy
the charity’s organisational the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
The organisational structure of the FoWC is that the trustees are hands on
• relationship with any related with responsibilities being split by topics to respective trustees: parties;
trustees’ consideration of • Admin and accounting, membership and correspondence • Conservation and natural environment
major risks and the system • Fund raising
and procedures to manage them. • Health and safety - regular risk assessments have been and will continue to be undertaken to make sure that any activities of the FoWC are held in a safe as possible manner.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

The objectives of the charity are to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment and the peaceful enjoyment of the Great Wakering Common (and area surrounding the Common).

FoWC - TAR

The FoWC was formed as a direct result of the Great Wakering Parish Council not renewing the lease on the Great Wakering Common and allowing the Common to become overgrown and neglected. After reaching agreement with the landowner in November 2017, the FoWC entered into a management agreement to “manage” the Common to ensure that the Common was usable and accessible by the Public. Many parts of the Common were not safely accessible and required reclaiming before the public could use these parts of the Common. Using social media and setting up its own Facebook page with now over 1,000 followers, the FoWC have brought the local community together and created a sense of belonging and comradery with many more of the Summary of the main public using the Common than before and feeling that they are activities undertaken for the stakeholders in the Common. We have found that many members of the public benefit in relation to public are now taking it upon themselves to help keep the Common clean these objects (include within and free from litter. The FoWC have installed a bin at one of the this section the statutory entrances to the Common, which is regularly emptied by volunteers. declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance Although privately owned, the public have the right to roam on the issued by the Charity Common, but without maintenance by the FoWC, the public’s right to Commission on public exercise their right to roam was being restricted and not encouraged or benefit) enjoyable.

During its sixth full year, the FoWC have maintained all the paths / walks through previously overgrown and unpassable parts of the Common making the visitor’s experience more enjoyable. Each spring sees the Common bloom with the thousands of bulbs that were planted by the working parties in previous years.

This year the FoWC have benefited from having a ride on mower to help the volunteers with cutting the paths, meaning that all paths can be cut in one go rather than over several attempts.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

FoWC - TAR

The work over the Common has been undertaken by unpaid volunteers who have freely donated their time for the benefit of the public. Without the volunteers, the excellent progress which has been made this year would not have happened.

The FoWC would like to publicly thank the following:

the landowners, the Bentall family, who have been very accommodating and supporting.
The Threadgold family for their support
Gossip of Great Wakering, Waitrose, Wakering Lodge and the public for their financial support by making donations to the FoWC

Section D Achievements and performance

During its 6th full year, the FoWC have continued to exceed the initial Summary of the main plans and the Common has seen many new members of the public achievements of the charity visiting and enjoying what it has to offer, including but not limited to, during the year healthy exercise, acting as a community meeting place, vehicle to volunteer and participate in a local project, and even wild fruit and blackberry picking in the summer. During the year the FoWC have:

cleared and maintained the paths on the Common
maintained and cleared ditches
• purchased additional equipment
paid for the Common to have its summer grass cut
regularly emptied bin

The Common is now officially part of the National Trust's England Coast Path National Trail.

Section E Financial review

The trustees intend to spend the money raised on the Common whilst Brief statement of the saving to purchase additional and better equipment. charity’s policy on reserves

Prudence dictates that a reserve will always be held to cover the forthcoming years fixed overheads such as liability insurance, running costs and the repair and replacement of equipment.

The Friends purchased a second-hand ride on mower and it has proven to be very successful, but only has an expected life of maybe another three years. Once that machine is no longer usable, a new one will need

FoWC - TAR

to be purchased which would take most of the accumulated reserves to purchase.

At the year end the reserves stood at £11,033 (2022 £10,015)

Details of any funds materially in deficit

None

Further financial review details (Optional information)

The membership of the FoWC at year end stood at 96 paid up members (138 in 2022), contributing £480 in membership fees.

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:

Donations received were £2,076 (after gift aid reclaim) of which £827 was from members and individuals and £985 donated by Corporates. The Easter Egg hunt raised 61. The FoWC would like to thank them for their financial support.

the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

Total income for the period of £2,617 (2022 £2,579).

All expenditure related to the costs of maintaining and improving of the Common.

investment policy and Common. objectives including any ethical investment policy All cash is mainly held at the HSBC and is not currently invested. adopted.

Section F Other optional information

Further information can be found by visiting www.wakeringcommon.com or on our Facebook group.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Phil Hitchman Full name(s) John Whatley Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair of Trustees Trustee etc) Date 15 November 2023

FoWC - TAR

Friends of Wakering Common

Registered Charity number 1174836

Statement of Financial Activities for the period 1 August 2022 - 31 July 2023

Incoming resources Note Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 Other trading activities 3 Total Resources expended Expenditure on: Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 4 Total Net income/(expenditure) before investment gains/(losses) Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward Fixed Assets Note Tangible assets 5 Total fixed assets Current assets Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand 7 Total current assets Creditors:amounts falling due within one year 8 Net current assets/(liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Creditors:amounts falling due after one year Total net assets or liabilities Funds of the Charity Endowment funds Restricted income funds Unrestricted funds Revaluation reserve Total funds Balance Sheet as at 31 July 2022	2023 2022 £2,555 £2,579 £62 £0 Unrestricted Funds	2023 2022 £2,555 £2,579 £62 £0 Unrestricted Funds
	£2,617 £2,579 £0 £0 £1,599 £1,386
	£1,599 £1,386 £1,018 £1,193 £0 £0 £1,018 £1,193
	£1,018 £1,193
	£10,015 £8,822
	£11,033 £10,015
	£766 £1,183
	£766 £1,183 £263 £377 £10,004 £8,855
	£10,267 £9,232 £0 £400
	£10,267 £8,832 £11,033 £10,015 £0 £0
	£11,033	£10,015
	£0 £0 £0 £0 £11,033 £10,015 £0 £0
	£11,033	£10,015

Friends of Wakering Common Registered Charity number 1174836 Notes to the accounts

Note 1 Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with:

the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the

Note 2 Accounting policy and other information

Recognition of income

These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when:

The charity becomes entitled to the income;
The trustees are virtually certain they will receive the income; and
The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliably.

Income with related expenditure - Where income have related expenditure (as with fundraising) the income and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA.

Grants and donations - Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the receipts.

Contractual income and performance related grants - This is only included in the SoFA once the related goods or services have been delivered.

Gifts in kind - Gifts in kind that are of substantial monetary value and can be estimated with sufficient reliability are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised.

Donated services and facilities - These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these receipts is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received.

Investment income - This is included in the financial statements when receivable.

Investment gains and losses . - This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments at the end of the year.

Expenditure and Liabilities

Liability recognition - Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to make payment.

Friends of Wakering Common Registered Charity number 1174836

Notes to the accounts (continued)

Governance costs - Included costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of governing board meetings and cost of any legal advice for the governing board on governance or constitutional matters.

Assets , Property, Plant & Equipment - These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year. They are valued at cost (less depreciation) or, if gifted, at the value of the charity on receipt.

Other

Related party transactions - The charity has undertaken no related party transactions during the financial period. None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration, expenses or received any other benefits from the charity.

Cash flow statement - As a small entity, the charity has taken advantage of paragraph 3.1B of FRS 102 not to prepare a cash flow statement.

Note 3 - Income Membership fees (members 96) Donations - Individuals Gift Aid reclaimed Donations - Corporate Easter egg donation Note 4 - Expenditure Ride on mower service / repairs Entrance rubbish bin and bags Petrol Room Hire re AGM Consumables and repairs Merchant charges Public Liability Insurance Trees / Flower bulbs Annual Grass Cut Email, web site & domain Bank charges Depreciation	2023 2022 £480 £690 £827 £1,047 £264 £377 £985 £348 £61 £117
	£2,617 £2,579
	£200 £250 £23 £24 £51 £67 £25 £25 £32 £32 £8 £10 £99 £99 £139 £147 £400 £400 £139 £72 £66 £39 £417 £221
	£1,599 £1,386

Friends of Wakering Common

Registered Charity number 1174836

Notes to the accounts (continued)

Note 5 - Tangible fixed assets

Westwood Tractor Purchased £0 Disposals £0 Depreciation £417 At end of the year (£417) Net book value at beginning of the year £1,183 Net book value at end of the year £766 £766 Note 6 - Debtors and prepayments 2023 2022 Gift aid tax claim £263 £377 £263 £377 2023 2022 Note 7 Cash at bank and in hand HSBC £9,982 £8,681 Cash in hand / unbanked £7 £65 PayPal £15 £109 £10,004 £8,855 Note 8 Creditors and accruals Annual Grass Cut £0 £400 £0 £400 Total net book value of Assets		Westwood Tractor £0 £0 £417 (£417) £1,183
		£766
		£766
	£263 £377
	2023 2022 £9,982 £8,681 £7 £65 £15 £109
	£10,004 £8,855
	£0 £400
	£0 £400