Friends of Warden Abbey Vineyard
Trustees. Annual Report
and Flnancial statements
for tha year ended 31 March 2025
Page
Contents
Committee m8mbers' annual report
Independent examinerfs report
R8ceipts & payments account
ststement of assets & liabilities
Notes to the accounts
10
11

Frlends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
Trustoes. annual report
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Full name Friends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
Reglstered Charlty Number 1176602
Prfnclpal address 39. Broadacrns, Luton, LU2 7YF
Trusts•s:
Davld Charles Corfan
John Leslie Handscornbe
Louise Ann Wilson
Colin Mccartney
Deborah Ann Garwood
Amanda Mary Gibson
Chair
Tr6asurer
Secretary
Membershlp Secretsry
Tours & Talks AdmSnlstrator
Markellng Manager
Other Commlttee Members (Non Trustees) Indude:
Kathrynn Harrls
Kelth Sm5th
Events Manager
Monlca Cummlns and Carole Cox retired as committee members and truslees.
Loulse W1180n and Debble Garwood were appolnted truslees at the December AGM
on December 2024.
Indepondont examln•r
Bob Hughes. (Voluntsry), 7 C8rtwrlght Close, Bromham, Bedford, MK43 8QF
Governan￿ and management
The charlty Is operated under the rules of Its (x)nstltutlon adopted 19 August 2016, as
amended on 12 December 2017, as amended on 06 December 2022 and as most
r8cently amended on 03 December 2024.
Alms and objecllves
To promote the 8dvanc8m8nt of educatlon In agrlculture. hort5culture, viticulture,
medieval crafts and history, In the conlext of Warden Abbey Communlty Vineyard
(fomiing part of Scheduled Monumenl of Warden Abbey). for the benefit of the
community.
To promote th8 conservalion. protecuon and Improvement of the natural
environrnent at Warden Abbey Community Vineyard, to maintsin a facility for
physical and leisure-time activities, aimed at improving the health and well-being
of the local communty
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Friends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
Trustees, annual report (contlnued)
for the year ended 31 March 2025
Summary of the maln a¢hlevements during tho perlod
Introduction
The purpose of this report Is to update members and voluntsers on the activities of the
Friends durfng the past year in relatlon lo the Objectives of Ihe Chaiity and to highlighl
the goals ft)r the next year.
Progross In the Vlneyard
Vineyard Manager Nick Williams, who started in January 2024 on a short-te
contract, soon established himself as a very personable and capable vineyard
manager. Nlck's capabllities were quickly recognised by BedsRCC and Nick's Inltial
six month contract was quickly extended to a year and has since been further extended
on a rolling basis.
2024 saw a major effort to raise fvnds to support planting a further 400 Bacchus vines
to fill in gaps among the existing rows of Bacchijs.
Following the disease problems in 2023. the vines were looking good for a reasonable
yield in 2024. However, as we We￿ preparing for harvest towards the end of
September the vlneyard was suddenly decimated by massive bird damage. This
damage was unprecedented and unfortunately atK)Ut 90% of Ihe crop was lost. malnty
to pigeons. It's hard to know what caused this, but a combination of pcy)r IcKal crop
ylelds arKI a very wet late summer seemed to drive a huge number of birds towards
our grapes.
Yet again the poor harvest was scant reward for the all the volunteer effort expended
throughout the year both tending the vines and running events to maintain the vineyard
and enable FWAV to continue to provide finanGial support to the vineyard project.
Charitable Objectives
Charity achieves its Objectives by training volunteers in all aspects of operating
the vineyard and by encouraging new volunteers to join. It also markets the vineyard
to a wider audience, to maximise the use of tts facAlitles. The historical aspects of the
vineyard and its surroundings have been furthef devdoped, so that the wider
community Can better understand how the history of the area has impacted on the
current operations there.
The vlneyard's facllltles a￿ increaslngly being used as part of horticultural therapy,
wellbeing. arKI art prograrnmes by a variety of local organisallons.
To ensure the continuation of Ihe vineyard project. the Charity has utilised multiple
ways both to raise funds and to spread the word about the vineyard project.
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FWAWS rnajor fijndraising events (i.e. wneyanl tours, talks, plcnics and paella events)
were all popular. contributing over £9000 to FWAV profits. We believe that by
increasing the number of such events. we can substantlally Increase our profits and
we are exploring this possibility as well as introducing new events.
There has been a continued inllux of new volunteers, bringing more energy,
experience and ideas to the vineyard. Our amazing volunteers agaln contributed over
5000 hours lo vineyard actlviles In 2024125, another magntficent contribution to the
Community Vlneyard Project. We again participaled in 'The Big Help Out, in June
which generated further volunteer interest.
As a ￿sUIt of the fijnds generated, we were again able to contribute £10,￿0 to BRCC
to help towards the Nnning costs of the vineyard.
Grant Funding
We dld not receive any grant fundlng in 2024125 but we did receive a donation of £500
plus a potential £500 in donations for *)ols' from our corporate volunteer days- these
donations ar6 currently outstanding. We hosted Santander (twice). Wincanton
Distribution and National Highways. who undertook several tasks including palnting
the shed and earthing up new vines, for which they funded the topsoil.
Local Partlclpatlon
The number volunteers attending sessions at the vineyard has continued to grow wlth
between 15 and 20 volunteers attending twice per week whenever sessions are
running. The vineyard volunteers donated over 3700 hours and a further 1200 hours
were experKled on other events and background work to keep the Friends thriving.
There has been increased Inte￿5t In the vineyard from local schools and local social
serVI￿S who offer wellbeing activities. An increasing number of companies have also
expressed interest in supportlng the vineyard through corporate volunteering activities.
Marketing
The Facebook. Instagram and Twitter accounts have been essential marketing tools
and very ably managed by Hannah Penwright and latterfy James Kelliher al BRCC in
conjunction with knanda Gibson who c(￿rdInateS all our marketing activities.
There are now over 1700 names on our datsbase of supporters who received 10
vineyard news updates in 2024
Tour Activlty
In 2024 we ran 10 Tour and Tasting events and a fvrther 10 tours on Open Day, 171
visitors attending the public tours and tastings. Tours and Talks again generated over
£5000 profit ft)r the Friends.
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Carole Cox retired from the Commlttee and her tour responsibilities at the 2024 AGM.
Carole contributed huge amounts of time and effort into running tours for many years
and she'll be greatly mlssed. As a fOUr￿er member of FWAV Carole was granted
lifetime membership of FWAV at the AGM. Lifetlme membership was also awarded to
Gerry Nolan following his retirement from the committee and chainnanship in 2023.
Carole's role will be undertaken by Debbie Garwood in 2025.
Vlneyard Output
Following the disease that blighted the vineyard in 2023. the vines recovered well
under Nick's careful management and spraying regime and a ￿asOnable harvest was
eagerly anticipated, Unfortunatety. it all went wrong in the 10 days leading up to
Harvest whlch was planned for 19th October. Sadly, the crop was devasted by birds
over the weekend of 12th113lh and although harvest was brought foNard to 15th there
was massive loss from birds and only 380Kg was picked from an estimated 3 tonnes.
A very disappoinling outLx)me after 9 months hard and seemingly positive vineyard
work.
Several initiatSves are planned for Harvesl 2025 to mitigate the bird damage induding
the use of bird scarers and opening the vineyard for volunteers to walk around to keep
the birds at bay.
Wlnomaking
The grapes were sent to Halfpenny Green Vineyard this year and as the volume was
so low some additional Reichensteiner grapes We￿ purchased to make up the volume
to a comrnercially viable quantity. This will become the 2024 Nonconfonnist.
D•velopm•nt at th• Vlnoyard
In 2024, 400 additional BacchLJS vines We￿ planted to fill in gaps in the existing
Bacchus rows. A very successful planting day was held on 191h May. Thanks to Monica
Cummins who has very Su￿ssfUllY taken on the task of running the Plant a Vine
Schem8.
Membershlp Development.
At the 2024 AGM. the constitution was amended to grant Friends membership to all
volunteers who have contributed 10 hours over the preceding Iwo years. This
recognises the contribution of as rnany volunteers as possible, some of whom make
valuable sporadic contrilxjtions.
Following the success of the social evening in February 2024 another evenlng was
held on April 1st 2025. This was another opportunity to tsste wines from our back
catslogue arKJ we were also treated to a talk by our historian, Margaret Roberts, on
'The Medieval Vineyard,. It was a great evening and an opportunity to taste some older
vintages and make purchases at very reasonable prices.
Subscription Membership of FWAV enables anyone to contribute to the development
of the vineyard who may not be able to volunteer at the vineyard or events. We
encourage elther purely monetsry donations. or donations of time, both of which help
to take the project forward.
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BedsRCC
BedsRCC is the operator and manager of the vineyard. wtth whom The Friends work
closely to keep the vtneyard running. The financial backing of BedsRCC and the
volunleer hours provided by FWAV are essentlal to the vlabllity of Ihe project.
In round numbers, FWAV sold 1930 bottles of Warden Abbey Wine between Aprll and
December, of which 1000 were botue sales managed by FWAV volunteers on behalf
of BedsRCC (ie Tours plus Open Day and Christmas bottle sales), plus 930 at FWAV
events. induding Paella nights, Picnics) and sales to Volunteers and Frlends. The
latter FWAV sales (x)ntributed around £1900 of the yearfs £13.866 profit.
BedsRCC also agreed to change the wine discount structure. Volunteer-Friends may
purchase wlne at trade price plus 10% and paid-up Friends at retsil minus looh.
FWAV has generated around £135,000 net income (profit) since its fomiation in 2013.
Major contributors have been Open Days (£41,000). Tours and Talks {£43,000) and
Grants (£23,000). These ￿ndS have enabled FWAV lo donate over £128,000 to
BedsRCC, made up of 'annual' (non-specffic) donations of £85,800, £33,300 for
specific items and improvements to the facilities, topped up with grants of £9,300 that
we applied for on their beha￿.
The product5on of sparkling wine, whilst more profftable than still. ￿qUireS a slgnlflcant
need for cash, to pay for the more complex production costs and for it to be held in
stock for the extra couple of years required for it to fully mature.
The website is a joint venture between FWAV and BedsRCC and continues to work
as our main marketing and sales channel for the Vineyard and FWAV events.
The Futur•
The Friends has become an effective organisation over the past few years and has
been able to make corlsiderable donations to and work in partnership with BedsRCC
lo help with all aspects of the vineyard.
In the coming year, FWAV intends to build on these developments and to expand its
efforts still further. The main targets are:
To develop better ways to market the vineyard. its activities and wines;
To increase the return8 from furKJ-Taising events during the year;
To Increase the number of ￿jrs, lectures and other events,
To seek further grant funding sources to help develop the vineyaffl.
To seek funding for work with schools and other establishments. and
To expand the membership of FWAV.
The organising committee of FWAV is in a good position to help tske forward these
kleas and. as ever. Is always I￿kIng for enthusFastic voluntsers to help.
Page6of11
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The CharltV8 Pollcy on Reserv•s
In tenns of expenditure. the Friends employs no stsff and onty spends funds when
they have already been generated through fund-raislng actlvltles. This means thal
there Is risk of the Friends running into cash defidt, as the Frfends only Spend cash
they have already genera￿1.
Nevertheless. it is pNdent for the Fr1￿￿16 to build up r6s&rves of ￿$h for the followlng
reasons:
Fur￿-raI5ln9 events often may requlre the oxpendlture of fvnds In advance of
such events, on the basis that thls expendlture wlll be recovered vla the fun
raislrvJ actlvlty to which It relates
When grant appllcations are made, the furKlers will often requlre matched
fundlng to be provided by the Frfends, to support the furKllng application
When a grant has been agreed In principle, It may be necessary to expend an
element of the fundlng In a(Ivance of recetving the fomial grant
The vlneyard uses 8ever81 Important pleces of equipment, arKI the cost of repair
or replacement of such equlpment cannot be aasily planned, so reserves are
needed to enable such unplanned costs to be more easlly met
There are occaslons when expert consulting 8eNic8s may be needed, to ensure
that the vineyarfl can benefit from extemal expertise at the rKJht tlme. These
occaslons, by deflnldon, are not easlly planned, so funds need to be retslned to
manage such drcumstsnces.
For these reasons, the Trustses have dedded thal an appropriate reserve should be
retsined annually, nomwlly not exceeding £5,000. This policy wlll b8 reviewed
regularly for approprfatene88.
The closing balancè of cash In March 2025 was £18401, whlch Is hlgher than the
amount Ihat has been agreed as a prudent retentlon, but It Is planned to invest in some
new equipment to Improve the athities that are needed to keep the vlneyard running
effectively.
Slgn8d on behalf of the Charlty's Trustees
SSgned
Date
Davld Corfan
Chalr of the Charltys TnLgtee8
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Independent examlnerfs report to the Trustees of
Friends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
for the year ended 31 March 2025
I report on the accounts of the charity which are set out on pages 9 to 11.
Re8p•ctiv• rn•pon8lblllties of tru•tws and •xamln•r
The charty's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the a￿)unts. The
charity's trustees ￿nSider that an audit ts not required for this yoar under
section 144(2) of the Chatities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an indopendent
examination is needed.
It is my responsibilty to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act..
lollow the procedures laid down in general directions gtven by the
Charity Commissioners under 8OCtion 145(5){b) of the 2011 Act". and
state whett￿r particular malters have come to my attention.
Basis of indopondent •xamln•f• report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given
by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the
accounting records kept by the chanty and a comparison of the accounts
presented wrth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual
items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as
trusteas Con￿rning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not
provide all the eviden￿ that would be required in an audit, and consequentty
no opinion is given as to vthethor the accounts present a 'true and fair view and
the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent oxamln•f• 8tat•mont
In connection wilh my exarnination, no matter has ci)me to my attention..
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements..
to keep accounting Tecord8 in accordance with section 130 of the 2011
Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and
comply with the accountin9 reqUI￿rnents of the 2011 Act
have not been met:
2. to which, In my opinion. attention Shou￿ be drawn to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed
Bob Hughes ACIB
Independent Examin
Date
oluntsry)
Pa¥e8orii

Frlends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
Receipts & payments account
for the year ended 31 March 2025
2024
Lhw•*lctsd R•*l¢l•d
Tolal
Funds
Funds
Funds
Fund•
Recelpts
Grants & donations
848.56
Corporate Elerts
0.00
Tours
3046.14
Talks
2342.46
Open Day
6551.09
Memberstr#p
624.59
Picrics. Paella arKI E￿rtS
8686.23
interest Recei￿￿
145.70
Volurteers E￿r4[￿j
0.00
Soltrill HoLBe Visit
117.40
Warden PearM)rostic Bwk Sales
487.86
Ctrwisknas Sale
241.13
Dorote-a-vi
689.20
WrE sales-members, ￿lUrteers,retall 2255.23
Mercha￿lISe
752.48
Gift Aid Tax refuThJ
164.45
MisceKareous
73.92
Totsl receipts
27026A4
Paymonts
DorBtion lo BRCC
14445.76
Tours
0.00
Talks
266.46
Open Day
1753.13
Picrics, Paella arxl Events
4509.76
Volunteers E*nr
0.00
Warden PearlMonasticBook Sabs
12.10
Wine saleswmembers, m)l￿teers,retsil 1695.06
CIYFslmas Sale
21.00
Equiprnent
0.00
Repair5 a￿1 Rerewals
Merchatyjise
Miscemareo
Total paymonts
6413
848.56
4397
1671
6432
1151
5767
109
854
956
170
406
525
3046.14
2342.46
6551.09
624.59
8686.23
145.70
0.00
117.40
487.86
241.13
689.20
2255.23
752.48
164.45
73.92
0.00 27026A4
328
117
29296
10000
788
350
1379
3157
1107
21
82
108
6900
597
14445.76
266.46
1753.13
4509.76
12.10
1695.06
21.00
0.00
792.52
498.21
23994.00
792.52
498.21
23994.00
479
24968
4327
9041
0.00
13368
Net receiptsl(paym•nts)
Cash fiJrKls at start of tr¥s period
Trarsfers between fvrKJs
Cash funds at end of this perlod
3032.44
13368.88
3032.44
0.00 13368.88
1640132
16401.32
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Friends of Warden Abbey Vlneyard
ststement of assets and liabilitios
at 31 March 2025
2024
2025
Cash assets
Bank CThnt Account
Bank Resep¥e Account
Pety Cash
3236
10132
6122.86
10278.46
0.00
16401.32
13368
Other monetsry assets
Debtors
0.00
Llabllldes
Credito
AdvarKe receipts
0.00
0.00
These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the organlsation by:
Signed
Dated
ZS
John Handscombe, Trustee (Treasurer)
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Frlends of Warden Abbey Vineyard
Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2025
l. Recelpts & payments accounts
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money
spent during the perK)d and a list of assets and liabilitFes at the end of the period.
Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts
and cash in hand.
2. Grants & Donatlons
Unr•*lcted
Re*lcled
Total
Sinjry Dor£tions
848.56
848.56
848.56
0.00
3. Trustees, Remuneratlon
The Trustees received no expenses. ￿m￿neratiOn or benefits in this period
4. Independent Examin•r
The Independent Examiner conducted the examinaion on a voluntary basis and
received no fee or expenses.
5. Glossary of t•rnis
Restrlcted funds: These are funds given to the organisalion, subject to specific
restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the
organisation.
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