Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Charity number 1176233
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 March 2022
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022
| Contents | Page |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 to 4 |
| Examiner's report | 5 |
| Receipts and payments account | 6 |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 7 |
| Notes to the accounts | 8 to 9 |
Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
1
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Trustees' report for the year ended 31 March 2022
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: Name Position Dates
Name Position Dates Simon Day Chair David Langley Vice-chair Jeffrey Milne Treasurer to Sept 2021 Resigned July 2021 Graham Haigh Allan Wolfenden Michael Henshaw Bruce Hoyle Barry Nield Hayley Cottrell Lynda Orchard Victor Kolodziejczyk Resigned February 2022 Julie Jackson Appointed September 2021 Jennifer Landells Appointed September 2021 Tony Spilsbury Appointed March 2022 Charity number 1176233 Registered in England and Wales Registered and principal address Bankers 184 Healey Wood Road Lloyds Bank Plc Nationwide Building Society Brighouse 15 Blackheath Village Kings Park Road HD6 3RW Blackheath Northampton London NN3 6NW SE3 9LH
Independent examiner
Helen Galvin FCCA West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) association formed on 12 December 2017 and is governed by a constitution.
Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees
At every AGM one third of the charity trustees shall retire from office, being the longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. Any person who retires by rotation is eligible for reappointment.
2
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022
Objectives and activities
The charity's objects
To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation of the wildlife and wildlife habitats and protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the sites known as Cromwell Bottom Local Nature Reserve and North Loop.
To advance the education and appreciation of the public regarding the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
The charity's main activities
We hold regular workdays where volunteers help to maintain and enhance the reserve for the benefit of the general public and wildlife. There are various opportunities during the year for the public to attend guided walks and other events e.g. open day, pond dipping, moth nights, and there is a dedicated Education Area where workshops are held for local schoolchildren. A cabin is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays serving refreshments and information.
Public benefit statement
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular the advancement of education and environmental protection.
Our trustees have worked closely with the Calderdale Countryside Service to maintain and enhance the Cromwell Bottom Nature Reserve as an area to be enjoyed by all members of the public. In addition, we work closely with schools and community groups to widen the breadth of appeal of this special place.
Achievements and performance
Since COVID restrictions were eased in Spring 2021, our priority was to extend and overhaul the outdoor seating area adjacent to our small cabin. We have seen a significant increase in footfall on the reserve with the result that our enhanced seating area has seen a major increase in its use by our visitors enjoying our hospitality and refreshments.
Another significant development has been the creation of a designated Education area, which provides a range of habitats for schools and groups to use as part of their studies. This includes birdwatching, bug hunting, pond dipping and Forest School activities.
Additionally, a designated area for monitoring wildlife has been enhanced, including the creation of wetland area, a habitat wall and extensive tree planting. A viewing hide is soon to be erected to enable a 360-degree panoramic view of this special part of the reserve, to support our monitoring programme.
We have become an active and significant partner in a recently established ‘Active Partnership’ operating specifically for residents and organisations in the Lower Calder Valley. This has enabled us to link directly with local organisations who support people with mental health, well-being and isolation issues. As people emerge from the restrictions of lockdown and its effects on health, we provide guided walks around the reserve to link people to our ‘green space’. In addition, our reserve has become fully accessible for wheelchair users. The benefits of being out in the natural environment are well documented and we feel privileged to be able to utilise our knowledge of the reserve to provide a safe and attractive environment for people to explore and enjoy.
3
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2022
Financial review
The net receipts for the year were £20,453, including net receipts of £11,399 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £9,054 on restricted funds after transfers.
The impact of the pandemic during 2002/21 was minimal. Whilst the reserve remained open for the general public to enjoy, the cabin, our main source of income, remained closed for much of the period. However, almost all maintenance and project work in the reserve was also suspended and an on-line appeal raised over £2,000 which more than covered our minimal operating costs during this period. With the opening of restrictions, the reserve and Wildlife Group are now back to full operations and we conclude that no material uncertainties exist that cast any doubt on the charity’s ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due.
Reserves policy
Our reserve policy to not to allow unrestricted funds to fall below six months of operating costs which is calculated at £3,000. The remainder of funds will be allocated to the new cabin project.
The charity's free reserves, excluding fixed assets, at the year end were £24,102.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees on 26/4/2022
S W Day (Trustee)
4
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 March 2022, which are set out on pages 6 to 9.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO 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 CIO's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the CIO as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: …………………………………… Name: Helen Galvin FCCA
27/4/2022
West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
5
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2022
| Notes 2022 Unrestricted funds £ Receipts Grants and donations (2) 3,957 Cabin income 12,337 Membership subscriptions 1,350 Book sales 252 Open day - Honey sales 50 Bank interest 5 Total receipts 17,951 Payments Tools and materials 1,315 Cabin consumables 2,605 Bird food 659 Administration 200 Insurance 663 Printing 306 Projects 11 Meeting expenses 120 Tractor and trailer 18 Charity donations 250 Training 405 Total payments 6,552 Net income / (expenditure) 11,399 Fund balances brought forward 12,703 Fund balances carried forward (3) 24,102 |
2022 Restricted funds £ 9,964 - - - - - - 9,964 2 30 158 - - - 720 - - - - 910 9,054 - 9,054 |
2022 Total funds £ 13,921 12,337 1,350 252 - 50 5 27,915 1,317 2,635 817 200 663 306 731 120 18 250 405 7,462 20,453 12,703 33,156 |
2021 Total funds £ 8,295 8 955 104 - - 6 9,368 215 - 386 658 647 - 11,668 - - - - 13,574 (4,206) 16,909 12,703 |
|---|---|---|---|
6
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Statement of assets and liabilities
| as at 31 March 2022 2022 Unrestricted £ Cash funds Cash at bank 23,902 Cash in hand 200 Total cash funds 24,102 |
2022 Restricted £ 9,054 - 9,054 |
2022 Total £ 32,956 200 33,156 |
2021 Total £ 12,466 237 12,703 |
|---|---|---|---|
Assets retained for the charity's own use
Tractor Trailer Various tools and equipment Disabled access toilet and workshop cabin
| Liabilities Independent examination |
£ 504 |
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 26/4/2022
S W Day (Trustee)
7
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2022
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
Taxation
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
8
Cromwell Bottom Wildlife Group
Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 31 March 2022
| 2 Grants and donations Rastrick Big Local North Halifax Partnership Ltd Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) Donations 3 Restricted funds Cabin North Halifax Partnership Ltd Fund name Cabin North Halifax Partnership Ltd |
2022 2022 Unrestricted Restricted funds funds £ £ - 1,016 - 3,848 - 5,000 3,957 100 3,957 9,964 Balance b/f Incoming £ £ - 6,116 - 3,848 - 9,964 Purpose of restriction Towards a new cabin For site development |
2022 Total funds £ 1,016 3,848 5,000 4,057 13,921 Outgoing £ - 910 910 |
2021 Total funds £ 7,983 - - 312 8,295 Balance c/f £ 6,116 2,938 9,054 |
|---|---|---|---|
4 Related party transactions
Trustee expenses
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
Trustee remuneration and benefits
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
9