## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024** ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The object of the Friends of Spencer Park is to provide, or assist in the provision of, facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare, with the object of improving the conditions of life of the inhabitants of Coventry, in particular but not exclusively by the preservation, promotion and improvement of Spencer Park Coventry. The Friends fulfil their objectives by organising a series of well-supported events throughout the year. They also continue to improve the Park’s facilities, run a tennis club and maintain a lengthy herbaceous border together with a number of other flower-beds. They have now been offered a lease to enable them to renovate and refurbish the Park Pavilion in order to create a new community space in the area. They promote the value of the Park particularly through the local ECHO community newspaper and on social media. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** When planning its activities for the year, the charity considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit. It organised a regular programme of very successful events round the year including an Easter Egg Hunt, a Fun Dog Show in August, a Hallowe’en Pumpkin Parade and a Santa event in December. The hugely popular pop-up Café, run by local volunteers, operates out of the front of the Pavilion every weekend except in the winter months. During the year the Friends worked together with a number of local community organisations including the Good Gym Coventry runners, the Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind, the Albany Crown Bowls Club and local schools. They are particularly grateful for the cooperation received from Coventry City Council. 1 A major improvement to the park has been the complete refurbishment of the four tennis courts funded by the national Lawn Tennis Association, of which the Friends are a member, with a contribution from Coventry City Council. The courts were resurfaced and new fencing and coded access gates were installed. The now-mature west border and other beds maintained by the Friends continue to be an attractive feature of the park and receive constant positive comment around the year. ## **PAVILION REFURBISHMENT** In the centre of the park is an elegant but dilapidated Edwardian pavilion. Originally built in 1915 to provide changing facilities, the Pavilion was closed to the public in 2015 and is deteriorating. A 99-year lease of the building at a peppercorn rent has been negotiated with the City Council, subject to planning permission and sufficient funding being in place to refurbish the building. The lease was finally signed on 31 October 2024. The Friends’ plan, following two public surveys, is to open up the interior of the building to create a large community space, a modern café and new toilets. The interior space will house exhibitions showcasing local heritage articles and photographs, and the work of local artists. The space will be used as a café in the daytime but will be available for children’s parties from 4pm to 6pm and for community groups from 7pm to 9pm. More than 20 local groups have expressed a strong interest in using the proposed community space. So far the Friends have been awarded a number of grants of which the largest is £155,000 from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund. The same funder has also promised nearly £30,000 for first-year running costs. ## **FUTURE PLANS** It is planned that the work on the building will take place in early 2025. When complete, the café will open operated by a paid manager supported by volunteer staff. Bookings for the community space will be managed through an online booking system, with volunteer helpers providing the necessary support for users. A trading subsidiary will be created for when the community café is fully operational. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** The Charity's gross income for the reporting year ending 31 March 2024 was £60,771. It includes a grant of £25,000 from the 29[th] May 1961 Charitable Trust. This was put to income in advance as it is restricted. £990.14 was released as it was spent in 2023-24, with expenditure amounting to £27,518. The principal sources of income were grants for the Pavilion refurbishment, sales from the café, tennis club subscriptions and donations from the public. The charity's total funds stand currently at £69,099 of which £25,864 is restricted for Pavilion refurbishment. There are two designated funds – the Tennis Club Fund and the Defibrillator Fund of £4,012. The latter was set up in 2021-22. The trustees have agreed that funds not needed for 2 theday-to-day runnin8 of the tharityshould be held In an account bearing interest which would be used, If necessary, in the restoration of the Pawliori. sTRu￿￿RI GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The inau8ural meeting of the Friends of Spencer Park & Recreation Ground took place on 18 June 2012 in Ear15don, Covgntry. A tonstltution was formal￿ adopted on 10 September 2012. It wès re8lStered as a Chèritable Incorporated Organisat￿n on 16 Dècernber 2017. Its only votln8 mernbRrs are fts trustees are elected lor a term of three yea¥s at its annual general meeting. The trustees mèet quarterlyand provide the strate8ic dirvction for the charity includin8 pproval of budget5 and mitl8ation of risk. They exercise their responsibillties largely through the work of three committee5- the Management Committee which deals with facilities and events in the Park. the n•wly-forrned Finance Cornmtttee and the Pavilion Refurbishment Commltte•. ADMINISTRATIVE DEFAILS Charlty Registration Number.. 1176323 OtherworkinE name5'. Friends of Spencer Park Coventry Friends of Spencer Park & Recreation Ground Principal Address.. 80 Broèdway, Coventry CVS 6NU Email.. t- Website.. www.friondsotspencerpèrk.or8 Th• charity trustees who manaRe the ch3rity'. C8rol Bayliss Danny Bailey lappoint•d 22 May 20231 Helen Spence Karen Berry Ken Taykjr ICh4irl TIM Brooke Zilpha Reed DECLARATION The trustees det￿re that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on ￿half of the charity's trustees on Idatel ## **Friends of Spencer Park Balance Sheet** ## **As of March 31, 2024** ## **Total** ||**Total**| |---|---| |**Fixed Asset**
**Total Fixed Asset**
**Cash at bank and in hand**
**Current**
**Total Cash at bank and in hand**
**Debtors**
**Debtors**
**Total Debtors**
**Net current assets**
**Prepayments and accrued income**
**Net current assets (liabilities)**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Accruals and deferred income**
**Total net assets (liabilities)**
**Charity funds**
**Opening Balance Equity**
**Retained Earnings**
**Surplus/(Deficit)**
**Total Charity funds**|**As of Mar 31, 2024**
**As of Mar 31, 2023**
**(PP)**| ||69,099.51
39,211.05| ||**£ 69,099.51 £ 39,211.05**
0.00
0.00| ||**£ 0.00 £ 0.00**| ||**£ 69,099.51 £ 39,211.05**
3,036.39
696.63| ||**£ 72,135.90 £ 39,907.68**| ||**£ 72,135.90 £ 39,907.68**
30,785.25
6,809.77| ||**£ 41,350.65 £ 33,097.91**
0.00
0.00
33,097.91
33,097.91
8,252.74| ||**£ 41,350.65 £ 33,097.91**| ## **Breakdown** ## Gift Aid Accrual Income for Pavillion Income for Pavillion Income for Pavillion Expenditure on Pav **Income Received for next ye** Defib Lottery Funding Events ## **Accruals and deferred inco** Saturday, Dec 14, 2024 01:57:32 pm GMT0 - Accrual Basis **As of Mar 31, 2024** ## **Breakdown** ## **As of Mar 31, 2023 (PP)** ||**3,036.39**|Gift Aid Accrual|**696.63**| |---|---|---|---| ||25,000.00|Defb|£ 4,046.77| ||5,156.33|Lottery Funding Events|£ 2,763.00| ||906.17|**Accruals and deferred inc £ 6,809.77**|| ||(7,052.64)||| ||**24,009.86**||| |£|4,012.39||| |£|2,763.00||| |**£**|**6,775.39**||| |**£**|**30,785.25**||| ## **Friends of Spencer Park** ## **Income and Expenditure** |**Notes **
**Income**
Cafe
Donations - Restricted
2
Donations - Unrestricted
3
Small cash donations
Events - charitable activites/grant
4
Events - sales
5
General Items
Pavillion - Restricted
Donations and legacies
6
Crowdfunder
Grants
7
Small Cash Donations
8
Room Hire
Tennis - Restricted
9
**Total**
**Expenditure**
**Café**
Cost of sales
Furniture
Phone Costs
Other Professional Services
Petty cash
**Total Café**
**Defb - Restricted**
10
**Donations - Restricted**
Benches
17
Tree for Ben
18
**Events**
Advertising/Promotional
11
General Administrative Expenses
Printing, Postage and Stationery
11
Purchases
Raising funds
Uncategorised Expense
Band payment
12
**Total Events**
**General Items**
Advertising/Promotional
Insurances
General Administrative Expenses
Other Professional Services
Purchases & gardening
**Total General Items**
**Pavillion - Restricted**
Other Professional Services
13
**Tennis - Restricted**
Advertising/Promotional
Other Professional Services
14
Paths
15
refunds
16
**Total Tennis**
**Total**|**1st April 2023**
**31st March 2024**
£ 12,896.24
£ 1,000.00
£ 2,805.93
£ 1,837.59
£ 725.55
£ 2,303.89
£ 252.00
£ 4,904.33
£ 990.14
£ 906.17
£ 592.00
£ 6,557.28
**£ 35,771.12**
£ 5,487.09
£ 149.00
£ 250.00
£ 100.00
**£ 5,986.09**
£ -
£ 239.60
£ 74.99
£ 552.48
£ 2,328.59
£ 63.75
£ 21.00
£ 321.00
**£ 3,601.41**
£ 431.00
£ 408.24
£ 378.10
£ 705.00
£ 172.90
**£ 2,095.24**
£ 7,052.64
£ 107.00
£ 1,162.00
£ 7,474.00
£ 40.00
**£ 8,783.00**
**£ 8,252.74**|**1st April 2022**
**31st March 2023**
£ 7,903.48
£ 500.00
£ 1,835.81
£ 2,006.15
£ 2,855.89
£ 642.35
£ 3,150.00
£ 532.07
£ 4,861.42
**£ 24,287.17**
£ 3,362.82
£ 277.20
£ 210.67
£ 16.98
£ 3,867.67
£ 535.07
£ 2,422.13
£ 426.00
£ 300.20
£ 2,242.68
£ 181.00
£ 2,723.88
£ 290.89
£ 82.07
£ 355.00
£ 727.96
£ 1,455.92
£ 3,590.15
£ 605.00
£ 605.00
**£ 15,625.82**| |---|---|---| **Gift Aid - Accrued** 3 £ 3,036.39 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trust8 FRIÉNJDS OF go6hJceR PRf2K On accounts for the year ended 11312024 Charlty no Ilf any) 1176323 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on ffly examination of the accounts of the above harty (Ihe Trust'} for the year en¢tsd 3110 sizoz4 As the charrtws trustees, you are iesponsible for Ihe preparation of the accounts In a¢¢ordan¢e wrth the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act.) Responsibllltles and ba816 of report I report in respect of my examinatlon of the Trusvs accounts carried out und8r section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions gwen by the Charity Commission under section 145(5Mb) of the Aci. Ind•p•ndent charty's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualrfied lo examlnefs statement undertake the examination by being a qualified memter of linsert name of applicable lisled t)odyll Delete [ J rf not appliGable. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to rny attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed bel¢)w"I vthich gives me Cause to believe that in, any material resFect. the a¢¢ounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the a¢￿unt5 did not accord with the accounlirTrg records: or the accounts did nol cOM￿Y with the applicable requirements concemiTrJ the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Account5 ar)d Report5) Regulations 2008 ￿her than any requirement that the accounts give a and fair. view which Is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection V￿th the examinatton to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper underslanding of the accounts lo be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: k14Tr1 1O