Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] January 2024 To 31[st] Dec 2024 Charity name: Sustainable Charlbury CIO
Charity registration number: 1177404
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of Sustainable Charlbury (SusCha) are to promote the advancement of environmental protection or improvement for the benefit of the public in particular but not exclusively, within 25 miles of Charlbury OX7 3EW, by promoting the deployment of sustainable energy, promoting education in climate change, reducing energy demand and carbon emissions and making grants to such organisations as the Trustees shall see fit in order to promote and encourage the development of a sustainable energy system. |
| 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 |
During 2024 SusCha were involved in many community projects and granted over £32k of funds. Here is a summary of the funding made by SusCha: Community Buildings - Energy Efficiency We continued to support a variety of organisations within our area with helping to reduce the carbon footprint of their buildings: ● Insulation ofLeafield Village Hall(£5,000) ● Low energy lighting and secondary glazing at Charlbury Pre-School(£1,062) ● Low energy lighting and heat loss survey at CharlburyCorner House(£1,303) ● A battery to complement the Solar PV installation atCharlbury Community Centre(£1,701) ● Insulation and energy efficiency upgrades at Charlbury Scout Hut(£3,400) ● Low energy lighting upgrade and full energy efficiency building survey atCharlbury Primary School(£11,980) Local Food |
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| ● Propagation tunnel forKitchen Garden Peopleto allow year round crops (£6,000) Land & Nature / Biodiversity ●Mill Fieldwild meadow restoration (this is the second annual payment of three - £2020) Home Comforts Project The “Home Comforts Project” received a £21,000 grant from the Evenlode Foundation in 2022. As of the end of 2023, £4,510 of this grant remained unspent. We anticipate the project will be completed in 2025. Book Our self-published book, "Power to the People - The Story of Southill Solar," continues to be sold. This book, released in 2022, recounts how our small Cotswolds town collaborated to establish a community-owned and operated solar farm. In 2024, sales totaled £60, and we will continue to sell the remaining inventory. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Sustainable Charlbury welcomes applications for funding assistance from appropriately constituted groups for community environmental projects that significantly reduce emissions and/or restore nature. We support projects that are: ● Located within 10 miles of Charlbury (with some flexibility for projects further afield). ● Practical, with measurable outcomes and clear community benefits. ● Seeking or have secured matching funding from other sources. ● Innovative, including pilot projects, or contribute to the development and growth of existing initiatives. |
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| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | |
| 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 | We relaunched our website this year with the goal of clarifying our purpose and simplifying the grant submission process for organisations. The new site also enables trustees to easily self-manage, update, and add content. We supported several community organisations in upgrading their buildings with essential energy-efficient measures, including LED lighting, improved glazing, and insulation. The beneficiaries were Leafield Village Hall, Charlbury Pre-School, Charlbury Corner House, Charlbury Scout Hut, and Charlbury Primary School. Additionally, we funded surveys for Charlbury Corner House and Charlbury Primary School. These surveys foster long-term relationships and engagement, helping to establish a strategic path towards achieving net-zero emissions for their buildings. Further investment in this area is planned for future years. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|---|---|
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| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Sustainable Charlbury received grant funding of £30,000 in the year from Southill Solar, a local Community Investment Company, with the goal for distribution to local projects in accordance with its charitable objectives. This is our primary source of funds. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | Sustainable Charlbury holds £40k in a 95 day notice bank account account which is paying interest, otherwise no invested funds. |
| Other |
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Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | A small surplus of £620 on unrestricted funds and a remaining balance of £51,808 on restricted funds. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We have no general policy of holding reserves, though are currently running at a surplus, so in October ‘23 we moved surplus to a NatWest 95 day notice account, which yields interest. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £40,000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | We are currently engaged with community building stakeholders who are planning retrofit measures, so expect large grant applications during 2025, particularly from the Primary School and Corner House. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern. |
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 | Southill Solar |
| 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 | ||
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Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (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 and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other | ||
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Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Sustainable Charlbury |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | SusCha |
| Registered charity number | 1177404 |
| Charity’s principal address | Sharenergy, The Pump House, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 2DP |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year | Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Crisp | Chair Trustee | ||
| 2 | Gareth Epps | Trustee | ||
| 3 | Hugh Goyder | Trustee | ||
| 4 | Sean Hosking | Treasurer | ||
| 5 | Liz Reason | Trustee | ||
| 6 | Mark Gregory | Trustee | ||
| 7 | Louise Nemeshanyi | Trustee | Resigned March 2024 | |
| 8 | Lucy Carmody | Trustee | Joined November 2024 | |
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| 12 | ||||
| 13 | ||||
| 14 | ||||
| 15 | ||||
| 18 |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| None | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
None |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
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| 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
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None Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) None
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
| Signature(s) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name(s) | Tim Crisp | Sean Hosking |
| Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) | Chair | Treasurer |
| Date | 3 Oct 2025 | 1 Oct 2025 |
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Sustainable Charlbury
CC16a
No 1177404
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period 1st Jan 2024 31-Dec-24 To from
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grants |
- | 30,000 | - | 30,000 | 30,000 | ||||
| Sales(book) | 60 | - | - | 60 | 145 | ||||
| Interest | 1,636 | - | - | 1,636 | 339 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 1,695 | 30,000 | - | 31,695 | 30,484 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
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| - | |||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
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| 30,484 | |||||||||
Grants |
- | 32,466 | - | 32,466 | 42,005 | ||||
| Website/IT costs | 1,320 | - | - | 1,320 | 427 | ||||
| Book Postage | 5 | - | - | 5 | 10 | ||||
| Website Design & Build | - | 7,330 | - | 7,330 | - | ||||
| Insurance | 40 | - | - | 40 | - | ||||
| Hospitality | 67 | - | - | 67 | - | ||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 1,432 | 39,796 | - | 41,228 | 42,442 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
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| - | |||||||||
| - | |||||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||||
| 42,442 | |||||||||
| 263 | - 11,958 | ||||||||
| - | - | ||||||||
| 357 | 73,919 | ||||||||
| 620 | 61,961 |
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| CCXX R1 accounts (SS) Categories B1 Cash funds |
1 Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - 620 OK |
12/07/2025 Restricted funds Endowment funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - 51,808 - OK OK |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | ||||
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| - |
| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature Details Details Details Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
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| - | |||
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| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval | |||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
12/07/2025
2