Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 01/10/22 Period start date To: 30/09/23 Period end date
Charity name: FRIENDS OF RIDLEY PARK (FORP)
Charity registration number: 1177588
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | FORP was set up to: • help the inhabitants of Blyth and its surrounding area by providing or assisting in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation. • improve the conditions of life for the inhabitants in the area of benefit by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of Ridley Park. |
| 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 |
Park entrance project received funding from: • One Lottery • Public donations • Pavilion hire donations • Easy Fundraising • Amazon Smile Park improvements – disabled access picnic bench • Northumberland County Council grant • Public donation Nature related activities: • ASDA funding for biodiversity projects • Successfully applied for September 2022 – September 2023 Co-op community funding scheme for biodiversity projects • Northumberland Day bat walk • Bird screen maintenance • Bulb planting • Nest box audit |
| • Light gardening • Litter picking • RSPB Birdwatch survey • Northumberland in Bloom award ceremony • Green Flag Judges visit Heritage: • Bill & Ben mascots • FORP CONNECT newsletters • Coronation Day window display Public Engagement • Public library display • Pride of Pace Blyth town exhibition • Revitatlising our Estuaries exhibition with Groundworks • Women’s Institute talk • Blyth Culture Network & Blythfest window display • Blyth Town Carnival parade • Blyth Library Green Living Day • Northumberland County Council “Love your Park’ promotion Training/awards: • ERIC wildlife recording training • Christmas tree – seasons of the park, 1stprize in community competition • Green Flag award |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 observed the Commission’s statutory guidance on public benefit to improve facilities and activities within Ridley Park. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Treasurer: 4 hours weekly (192 hours) Secretary: 4 hours weekly (192 hours) Trustee: 20 hours |
Accounts auditor: 8 hours Weekly Jobs in the Park: 384 hours per year Community event attendance: 70 hours Total for year: 866 hours 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 | During this financial year FORP received final approval for the balance of funding of £26,000 for the park entrance project from Northumberland County Council. FORP fundraising efforts have continued to build up and ring fence a maintenance fund for this project which will substantially enhance and promote the park to the community. A grant of £500 was received from the Northumberland County Council to buy a picnic bench made of recycled materials with wheelchair access. This will replace a wooden picnic table which was vandalised and will reinstate an amenity to park users. Other achievements relied on volunteer time and minimal or no financial input from FORP. Members bring a positive presence to the park to improve the park for all the community. Some members work together on creative projects, while others are active on engagement with groups in the wider community: • JOBS IN THE PARK (weekly session) _-_384 hours of volunteer time: litter picking, deadheading roses, bird- screen and pavilion maintenance, light gardening, window displays, nest box audit and report. Bill & Ben change themes throughout the year. • FORP CONNECT – 7 digital editions of the newsletter were produced to help charity trustees stay in touch, |
-
especially those with an underlying health condition, living alone or socially isolated. The newsletter started during COVID-19 and is considered a valuable archive resource for FORP.
-
• BILL & BEN FORP MASCOTS: volunteers took them to the King’s Coronation event and Blyth Town Carnival Parade
-
• REVITALISING OUR ESTUARIES PROJECT collaboration with Groundworks North-East involved planting wildflower plugs in the park and a public exhibition was held in the pavilion.
-
• CREATIVE PROJECT - Christmas tree and decorations were handmade for the annual tree festival. FORP won 1[st] prize in 2022.
----- Start of picture text -----
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
----- End of picture text -----
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Following on from COVID 19, expenditure has been carefully monitored. Use of the pavilion has generated a welcome increase in income this year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Friends of Ridley Park aim to hold £1000 in reserves as this will ensure we can cover our Public Liability insurance costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £1000.00 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 Charity Trustees of Friends of Ridley Park |
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 | Safeguarding Policy GDPR Policy Health & Safety Policy Equal Opportunities Policy Volunteer Policy |
| 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 |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Friends of Ridley Park |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1177588 |
| Charity’s principal address | 4 Park View Blyth NE24 3AY |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiona Gibson | Chair | Trustees of Friends of Ridley Park |
||
| Gerald Wallace | Vice Chair | Trustees of Friends of Ridley Park |
||
| Stu Olley | Trustees of Friends of Ridley Park |
|||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects 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)
| 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 |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) | ||
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Fiona Mary Gibson | ||
Trustee |
||
| 24 January 2024 | ||
| 24 January 2024 |
FRIENDS OF RIDLEY PARK Wensleydale Terrace, Blyth, NE24 3HF Charit Commission Number- 1177588 Statement of Accounts For the Year Ended 30 September 2023
FRIENOS OF RIDLEY PARK Chan comms1on N 77 RECEIPTS & PAYMENfs ACCOUNT- YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023 Total Fun 22 26.663.59 RECEIPTS F4lembei&hl Fees 21.Cl) Donatrons CollectiODS Donations- GeDeral Donations- Pavilion Use Donations- One Lottery Priies 19.19 442. 630.ry) 421.68 1.5J2.87 Grant5 & Award Asda Green Token Scheme NoTlhurDbErland CoL4nty Council mrO@ranT Other A Amazon 5mle Receipt5 Easy Fuftdraising Receipts One Lottery fiiket St% Refunds 50.63 8&31 1.2OJ.Tr) 1.336.94 TOTAL REC Iv RIN THE YEAR 3.770.81 30.434.40 PAYMEM ellarte5 Prr* Insur¥ce. Combined p NCC- Gamins Licence for One Lottery Cbri5tffjas Tree DecoratlOD5 New Lock and Keys National Garden Tokens- Gilts 'Bill & 8en' Photographs Notice Board Materia 350.47 20.(K) 13.99 37.co its).co 25.0 553.% BiTd Screen & Nest Boxes Pro ert Bird Screen- 8Yd Food Bird Screen- Maintenance Cosis 85.76 75.0) Ifil.76 TOTAL PAID DURING THE YEAR 714.72 Tot31 Funds ar 3Cth Se ember 2023 29.719.68 30.434.40
FRIENDS OF RIDLEY PARK 775 STATEMENTOF MEMBER'S FUNDS ASAT 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023 Ass$ & UablllEles Asset5 Caslt at Bank & In Hand". BaLHnce at Uoyds Bank Cash in Hand 29.634.66 85.02 Total Assets 29.719.68 Deferred Income.. Blyrh Town Council Grant JoiceyTrust Grant I5,C.(l 5,CQO. 120.OCO.ODI 9.719.68 Represented By'.- Member's Fvfid Miscellaneous Project Park Entrance Project rd Screen & Nest 8oxe5 Project Nature Project Seating Project 631.31 7,580.48 207.89 4rh).oo 9CKJ.00 9,719.68 Nts FQRP rereived ¥ C¢nwnun1TyPPJrtfy8WfEX5.iWfvL¥n BtyThT¢yim CtyJntsi¢ 29th M¥th 2021. Trgrihfwsoft¥ed t•vardsThe Park Eniiance Pioifftwih Ehepro¥oo thai ¢fftJin(onthlityisberf befryeihEfunds wweeRpJided." thtrnwn (wdrtity7bneihat iht remaiDingfundsb2rai5ed tocampleletbe project. The [(lI10r &ttathedtothegrant hawe. asat Iheyear-end date. not yetbeen met. c(etIY.thl51nl0rntlstreèIÈd4$ Defetted InciMnea53t 5eptember1023a5therei5apo5lrtythatrt thae fob2 repaid t061vth Twn Ciwncil FORPreceived aGraniof£S.(fr ThEJI[eVTl5tcffj 4thMty1012. Thet Ovet(ards1ht Park Inlran¢tProje¢t th the PfOVi50 that tertaincon<kthonsbe betrtirfvhdSwtsttsr".the bl¥[hi1 thÈtr prOlÈrt5hDuldbEfullv lundedl not DvEfTund8d3nd thatthe proptt i&wahe)l. Iheityklirwsatiacheo w ihepantlave. asat theveai-ehd dale. noiyeT been et Con5equeThtly. this èmount Istreiledas Dered1rlAMe5a1 h5epIebv lo23 therei5a P055ib41ty ttr4t 1¢ mishThaYe tDbeiry3idtolheJoicryTw5t ned on behalf of all Trusiee5'. nature (Ttusteel Name I ioFJA rtGidSofv Date OG 1,123. ur ITrustttl Name Oate IIIL3
FRIENDS OF RIDLEY PARK Accounts for the Year Ended 30, Se tember 2023 Inde endent Examiner's Re ort Having examined the accounts of "Friend5 Qf Ridley Park", the receipts and Payments are, to the best of my knowledge. a true and accurate record. Signed-. Name: Joan Dearden Date: Address= %roFÉr cftrniK)MQ c.RLf4fv1 r4ÈJlk lQ Phone= 07926 522553 Charity Commission Number.. 1177588