## **Yeovil Rivers Community Trust**
## Trustees Annual Report for Year
1st April 2020 to 31st March 2021
## T he Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
19, Chilton Grove Yeovil Somerset BA21 4AN
https://yrct.co.uk
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
## **Executive Summary**
## 1. **Registration Name:**
The Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
## 2. **Registration Number:**
1180724
## 3. **Registration date:**
16th November 2018
## 4. **Governing Document:**
The Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Constitution
## 5. **Names of Charity Trustees serving during the year:**
Mr Lorne Thomson Chair Ms Sarah Hunt. Secretary Mr Thomas Bell Mr Roger Meecham Treasurer Mr Robert Brookes
## 6. **Objects of the Charity**
- To promote for the benefit of the public both locally in Yeovil and the wider public within Somerset and Dorset, the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting and maintaining biological diversity, notably, but not exclusively, in the restoration, enhancement and creation of watercourses and any other water features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system) and their adjoining terrestrial areas. Maintaining biological diversity includes managing and monitoring relevant habitats for the mutual benefit of biodiversity and the public.
- To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
2
## 7. **Organisation of the Charity**
- Number of elected Honorary Officers: 3
- Number of representatives of statutory authorities: 2
- Number of paid staff: 3
Note: Two of the trustees are professional ecologists who provide their professional expertise and experience to the Charity
## 8. **Further details of the Charity**
• Name and address of Bank: Barclays Bank plc, King George Street Yeovil Somerset
- Insurers: Zurich Insurance
The Zurich Centre 3000 Parkway Whiteley Fareham Hampshire PO15 7JZ
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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## **Objectives & Activities**
The formation of the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust (YRCT) was spurred by the need to protect the local streams, rivers and ponds together with adjacent natural landscape features, amid growing concern for the environment expressed by the local population as well as a range of organisations including local authorities, the Environment Agency, Somerset Catchment Partnership and other NGOs.
The objectives of the Charity are to promote for the benefit of the wider public, primarily in and around Yeovil, the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by:
- Promoting and maintaining biological diversity, notably, but not exclusively, in the restoration, enhancement and creation of water courses and any other water features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system) and their adjoining terrestrial areas.
- Maintaining biological diversity includes managing and monitoring relevant habitats for the mutual benefit of biodiversity and the public.
- To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment.
Funding to support this activity is sourced solely through public donations and grants from the statutory nature conservation body (SNCO), local authorities and charitable organisations. The Charity’s work is managed and undertaken by local volunteers and a small number of part-time staff. Technical advice and project management as well as specialist services are supplied by consultants as required.
Specifically, the needs and activities addressed by the Charity are:
- An independent overview of Planning Applications insofar as they affect the natural flow and diversity of waterbodies and habitats, this activity being undertaken in co-operation with the relevant authorities and organisations.
- Through the deployment of volunteer working parties, undertake physical activities on streams and riverbanks, clearing rubbish, debris and invasive non-native plants and undergrowth. This work is in support of the South Somerset District and Local Councils and their Parish Rangers who have neither the time nor resource to provide this service 100% of the time.
- To carry out surveys of local water courses checking for sustainable wildlife habitat by undertaking water sampling and checking out sources of pollution and reporting formally to the appropriate authorities.
Deliverables resulting from the work of the Charity include:
- The provision of technical/specialist analysis and reports to the appropriate sponsor/authority of the Trusts findings.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
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- Provision of hydraulic modelling studies and design drawings for new ponds, wetlands and modified riverbanks etc. as required.
- Provision of plants, fencing, trees etc in support of new pond and wetland creations.
- Visual and amenity improvements and ongoing maintenance to existing projects.
- Learning opportunities for young people via formal programmes integrated with school curriculum and informal events sponsored during school holidays. It is planned to extend this work to local adult groups and organisations with a focus on mental and physical wellbeing and special needs.
- Active public engagement on environmental issues around rivers and waterways.
- Physical improvement and extended viability to the local streams and rivers in respect of public accessibility and enjoyment. This includes a healthier and sustainable wildlife habitat. This includes identifying, designing and implementing a range of measures to restore, enhance and create aquatic and terrestrial habitats within the Yeo Catchment.
In addition to the ongoing maintenance and tidying up activities, the Charity has completed a major project (P010) during the financial period and commenced work on three others. The projects numbering ten in total are described in the following section. At the time of reporting, five projects are currently not being worked on as they are held awaiting approval/clearance from sources external to the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust.
The trust also employed three part-time staff within the year to assist with administration, volunteer co-ordination and the delivery of practical project actions, e.g. habitat enhancement and creation.
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
5
## **Achievements and Performance**
The following table itemises the major project activity undertaken by the Charity during the reporting period.
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Project**
**Identity**|**Description**|**%**
**Completion**|**Deliverables**|**Funding**
**Status**|
|Dodham
Brook
Restoration
001 Phase 2|Implementing a number of
rehabilitation and
enhancement measures in-
channel and on the bankside.
These included 5 brushwood
berms, creation of wildflower
areas on the river bank,
installing three aquatic
benches in-channel and
establishing vegetation on
them and hinging four trees
into the brook. This work was
undertaken in a section of the
Dodham Brook within the
Yeovil Country Park. In
addition to enhancing habitat
the actions also provide
increased public amenity
benefits.|100%
Subject to on-
going
monitoring
and evaluation|Provision of the
actual improvements
within the boundary of
the Yeovil Country
Park including a
public demonstration
appreciation and
learning site.|Funding of
£12000 has
been received
from the Steel
Charitable Trust
(£8000 to cover
this project and
£4000 for
Project 008).
£6000 has been
secured from
the Postcode
Local Trust and
£6000 from the
Environment
Agency.
Funding in kind
to the value of
£5000 was
provided by the
SSDC|
|001 Phase 3|Implementation of the physical
changes required for
rehabilitation of the concrete
flood channel containing a
section of the Dodham Brook
beyond the Yeovil Country
Park towards Newton Road.|0%
Programme
and funding
sources to be
confirmed.
Project go-
ahead
awaiting
formal
agreement
with the SSDC||A bid for circa
£200,000 will be
submitted to the
Green
Recovery
Challenge Fund
(Second
Round) when
the round opens
in April/May
2021|
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
6
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|004|Restoration and long-term
maintenance of Brympton
Pond.
Planned activity:
Development of a natural
pond which will be semi
incorporated into a proposed
business park development.
Future use and maintenance
to be planned.|0%|Following discussion
within the YRCT, it is
considered that if the
focus is changed from
public amenity to a
closed conservation
area, the landowner
may be more willing
to agree to this
project. Project
currently on hold.|Awaiting
landowners
agreement.
Project on hold|
|005|Alvington Lane Pond and
Foxglove Way Basin
Provision of a pond with
enhanced wildlife habitats in
area at the end of the hamlet
Enhancement of an adjacent
balancing pond.|30%|The BPC and SSDC
are both supportive.
The pond has been
re-established on the
SSDC land in
Alvington Lane and is
being monitored.
Detailed habitat
feature designs have
been prepared for
implementation in
2021/22 at the pond
and Foxglove Way
basin. Proposed
works include
extensive planting
and seeding of
terrestrial and aquatic
species, a complex
habitat bank and
creation of wet
meadow areas.|Estimated cost
of works £8000
max.
£15,000 grant
has been
secured from
the Bannister
Trust and a
further bid is in
progress with
Somerset
County Council
through their
Climate Change
Fund. Project
P005 is being
amalgamated
with projects
P007 and P009
to form the
Brympton
Project which
will require a
total budget of
circa £35,000.|
|006|Brimsmore housing
development.
Improvements and overall
enhancement of the SuDS
which will include:
stabilisation of water level
and improvements in its
quality.
Cleaning the outlet culvert and
stream which are severely
silted up.|0%|No activity
undertaken in the
reporting period.
Awaiting the SSDC
adoption of the site|No budget in
place at this
time
Project on hold
until site is
adopted by the
SSDC|
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
7
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|007|The proposed creation of two
ponds/wetlands by the
Preston Brook at Lawrence
Way in the parish of Brympton
had to be abandoned due to
the reactivation of a nearby
badger sett. Work still started
on creating backwaters in the
brook, creating a wildflower
area and surveying habitats
for enhancement and
interpretation. An alternative
site within the parish has been
selected for the rehabilitation
of two ponds at Oak Tree
Park.
The project still has the
support of the district and
parish councils plus the local
junior school for use as a
learning experience.
This project was integrated
with projects P005 and P009
in February 2021.|25%|Work on the
backwaters started in
February 2021 and a
range of surveys and
further activities were
scheduled from
spring 2021 to Spring
2022|Residue of a
grant of £2000
provided by
Brympton
Parish Council
in the previous
accounting year
was used and
further funding
was secured
and planned as
detailed for
project P005
above.|
|008|Yeovil Country Park
(Ninesprings) Lake, Pond and
Water Vole habitat
Enhancement
The project aims to:
Create new aquatic habitats in
the lake and pond
The project will provide
valuable new and enhanced
aquatic habitats near the
centre of Yeovil which already
accommodate endangered
species. The proposed
enhancements will also
augment the works planned
for the restoration of Dodham
Brook which runs through the
country park to the north of
the lake and pond. An
optimised, resilient network of
habitats will thereby be
created to support enhanced
biodiversity.|20%|Funding was
available via the Steel
Charitable Trust (see
Project 001 Phase 2
above). Surveys of
the lake and pond in
Yeovil Country Park
were carried out in
the Summer of 2020
but the Covid-19
pandemic restrictions
forced a delay in
progressing to
detailed design and
implementation
stages.
Work programme to
be drawn up with
work commencing
later in 2021 or early
2022.|A grant has
been provided
by the Steel
Charitable Trust
Of £4000
See funding
discussion for
Project 001
Phase 2 above.
Further funding
is required and
additional bids
will be made in
2021.|
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
8
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|009|Agusta Park residential
development. Improvements
and enhancement of existing
pond and SuDS. Project has
been integrated with projects
P005 and P007 into the
Brympton Project.|0%|Initial discussions
held with SSDC and
the site Development
Company. Formal
programme of work to
be agreed with
developer.|A budget of
£4000 has been
allocated from
the identified
budget
requirement of
£35000 noted in
project P005
above. Further
funding will be
required once
permissions are
secured from
the developer
for delivery
through a
further phase.|
|010|Yeovil Urban Sustainable
Drainage (SuDS) and Surface
Water Management study|100%|YRCT successfully
delivered the final
project report in
November 2020 to
the SRA, LLFA and
other relevant
partners in the SCP.|The project was
fully funded by
the SRA via
FWAG(SW).|
|011|Yeovil Schools Education
Outreach Project|Delayed by
Covid-19
pandemic|YRCT had delivered
practical sessions
and classroom
sessions for four
schools in the
programme as part of
a pilot scheme up to
March 2020. This was
successful but could
not be taken further
due to the Covid-19
pandemic.|Funding bids to
support this
work will be
submitted to
private grant
providers and
the National
Lottery in 2021
to implement
after restrictions
have eased.|
|012|Upper River Yeo Catchment
Strategy. The project is being
initiated from funding provided
through the Environment
Agency. The project aims to
prepare a detailed catchment
restoration plan for
implementing at the landscape
scale to address identified
environmental issues.|30%|The first phase of the
project was delivered
between September
2020 and March
2021. Further phases
will be delivered over
2021/22 culminating
in a final Catchment
Strategy for
implementing in
phases over a
number of years. The
EA and SCP are very
keen to support this
project. YRCT has
made enquiry from
key partners to|A £6000 budget
was secured via
the EA
Partnership
Grant for the
2020/21
financial year. A
further bid via
the same grant
will be made in
2021/22 for
£25000.
A bid to the
National Lottery
Heritage Fund
is being
considered for|
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
9
|establish|2022.|
|---|---|
|methodology and||
|funding streams to||
|maintain project||
|delivery.||
## **Financial Review**
- At the end of the reporting period, the total income amounted to £42266 The total expenditure amounted to £30915, thus making a surplus of £11351
- The charity does not currently have any unallocated financial reserves. The credit balance at the end of this financial year represents unspent grant funds which are largely committed to spending on the Dodham Brook Restoration Project and other current projects according to the required expediency in maintaining progress. When further funding has been secured and the prospect of a reserve being retained becomes potentially viable, a discussion will be held among the trustees to agree if such a reserve is required and if so, the amount which should be held, e.g. would a sum to cover fixed costs be an acceptable maximum?
- Funds in deficit - None
## **Financial Report**
The financial status of the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust for the period ending 31st March 2021 is shown in the Accounts Form CC16a for submission to the Charity Commission.
Report Prepared by: Lorne Thomson (Chair – YRCT)
Date: 25/11/2021
Report Approved by: …………………………………… (Trustee – YRCT)
Date:
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
10
## **Definitions & Abbreviations**
|**BPC**|Brympton Parish Council|
|---|---|
|**CIO**|Charitable Incorporated Organisation|
|**EA**|Environment Agency|
|**FWAG**|Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group|
|**helophyte**|plant which grows in marsh, partly submerged|
|**HotSWEP**|Heads of South West Local Business Groups|
|**LDC**|Land Drainage Consent|
|**macrophyte**|aquatic plant that grows in or near water|
|**PA**|Planning Application|
|**SCC**|Somerset County Council|
|**SSDC**|South Somerset District Council|
|**SuDS**|Sustainable Drainage Systems|
|**YRCT**|Yeovil Rivers Community Trust|
|**YTC**|Yeovil Town Council|
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1180724
11
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Charity Name No (if any)
Yeovil Rivers Community Trust 1180724
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01-Apr-20 31-Mar-21
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Donations 1,390 - - 1,390 1,157
Grants 40,876 - 40,876 35,650
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
1,390 40,876 - 42,266 36,807
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 1,390 40,876 - 42,266 36,807
A3 Payments
Insurance 453 - - 453 313
Consutancy Fees 22,022 - 22,022 15,926
Data & Services Supply 84 - 84 492
Water samples analysis - - - 993
Handtools & Protective Clothing 412 - 412 126
Website/media 295 - - 295 1,114
Miscellaneous /expenses 362 492 - 855 500
Project Site Works 3,976 - 3,976 1,963
Staff wages/PAYE/Pensions 420 2,398 - 2,818 -
Sub total [ 1,531 ] 29,384 - 30,915 21,427
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 1,531 29,384 - 30,915 21,427
Net of receipts/(payments) - 141 11,492 - 11,351 15,381
A5 Transfers between funds 516 - 516 - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - 15,543 - 15,543 162
Cash funds this year end 375 26,519 - 26,894 15,543
**----- End of picture text -----**
Charity Commission Accounts 01-4-20 to 31-3-21 v2
CC16a R1 accounts (SS)
1
18/08/21
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**the end of the period**|**the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**|Accountancy Fees
**Details**
Bank Current Account
Bank Reserve Account
Cash in hand
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
SCC Climate Emergency Community Fund
grant re Project 007 via Brympton PC
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
General & specialised handtools
Protective clothing|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**375**
**-**
**-**
**375**
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**26,519**
**-**
**-**
**26,519**
OK
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**22,400**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**438**
**100**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**180**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||OK|
|||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**15**
**25**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**|
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of Print Name approval
Charity Commission Accounts 01-4-20 to 31-3-21 v2
CC16a R2 accounts (SS)
2
18/08/21
Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees
For the Period Ended 31 March 2021
ALBERT
GOODMAN
AG
Independent examinefs report to the Trustees of Yeovil Rivers Community Trust
I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accounts ftir Yeovil Rivers Community Trust I'the ¢harity'l for
the period ended 31 March 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Iruslees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with
the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe 2011 ACV'I.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and
in carrying out my examination I have followed all Ihe applicable Directions gtven by the Charity Commission
under sectson 145lSllbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's ststement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection
with the examination giving me Cause lo believe that in any material respect".
accounts'ng records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the
2011 Act., or
2. the accounts do not compty with these Tecords
I have no ¢oncems 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 account5 to be
reached.
Michelle Ferris FCA
Albert Goodman LLP
Chartered Accountants
Goodwood House
Blaekbrook Park Avenue
Taunton
Somerset
TA12PX
Date.. 02 Dernber 2021