Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Trustees Annual Report for Year 1st April 2023 to 31 st March 2024 The Yeovil Rivers Community Trust 19, Chilton Grove Yeovil Somerset BA214AN htt rct.or REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..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 Mr Thomas Bell Ms Yasmin Khan Mr David Godwin Mr Stuart Saunders Mr Josiah Knights Ms Lucy Davies (Resigned September 2023) 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. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 7. Organisation of the Charity Number of elected Honorary Officers.. 1 Number of representatives of statutory authorities.. O Number of paid staff: 6 Two of the trustees are professional ecologists who provide their professional expertise and experience to the Charity Note.. 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 P015 7JZ REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 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 concem 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 public, in Yeovil and more widely in South Somerset and North 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 water courses and any otherwater features (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system and Nature Based Solutions, e.g. Natural Flood Management) 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 with a special emphasis on water and the impacts of climate breakdown. Funding to support this activity has thus far been sourced solely through public donations and grants from statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCO), local authorities and charitable organisations. Towards the end of 2023 the trustees were looking to develop the delivery of paid services by the Trust to diversify income streams with a view to begin implementing this in the 2024125 financial year. The Charity's work is managed and undertaken by local volunteers and a small number of mainly 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 activily 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 Local Councils, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders. To carry out surveys of local water courses checking for sustainable wildlife habitat by undertaking water sampling and checking out sources of pollution and re ortin formall to the a ro riate authorities. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 Deliverables resulting from the work of the Charity include: The provision of technicallspecialist analysis and reports to the appropriate sponsorlauthority of the Trust's findings. Provision of hydraulic and hydrological modelling studies, design drawings, mapping and ecological proposals for aquatic and terrestrial habitats, e.g. 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 and monitoring to existing projects. Learning opportunities for young people via formal programmes integrated with school curriculum and informal events sponsored outside school hours. We continued to extend this work to local adult groups and organisations with a focus on mental and physical wellbeing and learning disabilities but also to other sectors of the community, e.g. Wild Women over 50 Project. Active public engagement on environmental issues around rivers and watemays and habitats and biodiversity generally with an increasing emphasis on Climate Change adaptation and building resilience. 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 incorporates identifying, designing and implementing a range of measures to restore, enhance and create aquatic and terrestrial habitats using nature based solutions (NBS) and natural flood management (NFM) techniques wherever possible within the Yeo and adjacent Catchments. The Charity completed work on the Brympton and Dodham Brook Phase 3 projects during the financial period. The projects numbering seven in total are described in the following section. At the time of reporting, two projects are currently not being worked on as they are held awaiting approvallclearance from sources external to the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust. The trust employed one full-time and 5 part-time staff within the year to assist the delivery of projects and provide administration capacity. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 Achievements and Performance The following table itemises the major project activity undertaken by the Charity during the reporting period. Project Identity Description Deliverables Funding Status Completion Dodham Brook Restoration 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 {YCP) towards Newton Road. Works include a fish pass on the YCP weir, enhancement of the culverted channel at Tanyard Way and a small fish easement at the Newton Road weir. Installation of Rehabilitalion features, i.e. macrophyte and habitat bays, baffles and fish easements, aquatic plant establishment, interpretation and project related public engagement. £196,300 secured from Green Recovery Challenge Fund {£77,440 paid in year). 10,1. {£19,3601 balance to be paid after 3016123. All logistical actions and practical delivery completed by 3010612023. 004 Restoration and long-temi mainlernance of Brympton Pond. Planned activily.. Developmenl of a natural pond which will be semi incorporated into a proposed business park development. Future use and maintenance to be planned. Following discussion within the YRCT, it is considered Ihat the sile may be suilable for Biodiversity Net Gain Offsetting with no public access. Project currently on hold while BNG develops and discussions can be had with landowner and developer. Awaiting landowners agreement. Project on hold REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 1005, 007 and 009) Projects combined to become the Bryrnpton Project in February 2021. formerly P0071 Redesigned nterventions in the brook ackwaters and riparian argin with new proposal eveloping in 2024125 clivities at this location will be esigned in conjunction ilh Brympton Parish Council. All funding secured from the Somerset County Council Climate Change Fund was expended in the year. A small residual budget from a private grant provider remained. No further funding was sought within the year due to staff shortages and an emphasis on delivering projects P011 and P012. YRCT are exploring funding options with Brympton Parish Council and will seek new grant funding in 2024125. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 The rehabilitation of Iwo ponds at Oak Tree Park. This includes crealing two new complex habitat banks, wildflower areas and establishing aquaticplants in both ponds. Intervenlions are on-going but have been undertaken through activities associated with volunteer days in Project P011. The remaining works, i.e. completion of two habitat banks, scrapes and the meadow area will be accelerated from Spring 2025. 0% Works to install dipping plafform, interpretation boards and relocate fencing at one pond have been completed. The eslablishmenl of Ihe wildflower grassland areas and habitat bank completion will now take place in the 2024125 return period. 006 Brimsmore housing development. Improvements and overall enhan￿ment of the SUDS which will include.. stabilisation of water level and improvements in ils qualily. Cleaning the outlet culvert and stream which are severely silted up. No activity undertaken in the reporting period. Awaiting the SSDC adoption of the site No budget in place al this lime Project on hold until sile is adopled by the SSDC. This may be complicated by the move to a unitary Somerset LA. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 008 Yeovil Country Park {Ninesprings) Lake, Pond and Water Vole habitat Enhall￿Ment The project aims lo: Create new aquatic habitats in the lake and pond The project will provide valuable new and enhanced aqualic habilats near Ihe 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 lo the north of the lake and pond. An optimised, resilient network of habitats will thereby be created to support enhan￿d biodiversity. The project area was expanded during the return period lo include the Upper Yeo catchment of which the Dodham Brook Catchment is a part. The phosphate management element has also been expanded accordingly. The mitigation of phosphate pollulion can be achieved via essentially the same interventions which would benefit water vole habilats. 65% Funding was secured or the phosphate management element ia the Sorllerset Calchmenl Partnership. Csl phosphate sampling programme as initiated in the eovil area and xlended lo part os the Upper Yeo Catchment in nearby North Dorset. Data eolleclion started in February and March 2024. Practical works re planned for delivery in the Yeovil Country Park lake and pond in he 2024125 year. This includes the creation of reed beds, a water vole bund and increasing plant diversity in the lake and pond. An inits'al sampling survey as carried out at 24 sites to map phosphate hotspots and identify locations for mitigats'on orks. Surveys of the lake and pond in Yeovil Country Park were carried oul in the Summer of 2020 and ill need updating prior o delivery works in 024125. Total grants amounting to £17,000 were secured in the year.. Somerset Catchment Partnership £5,000, Swire Charitable Trust, £10,000 and Naturesave Trust, £2,000 (this could only be spent on equipment, consumables, etc.}- Grant expenditure was focused on purchasing sampling equipment. carrying out sampling and surveys and preparing concept designs for intervenlions for water vole conservation and management of phosphate. Some funding remains for practical delivery in 2024125. Further grant funding will be applied for in 2024125 with a largel of £20- 35k. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 011 The Yeovil Wellbeing, Wildlife and Water Community Project continued to be developed. Ongoing. YRCT continues lo deliver activities alongside Wessex Water at their Sutton Bingham sile. These include guided walks and surveys. We continue to work wlh A2A (Able lo Achieve) and have extended this to Cambian (Luflon College) and You Care We Care (Yeovill to deliver activities lo other vulnerable adults charities and their service users. Deliverables include nature walks, volunteering activities Isutveys, land management, litter picking, etc,). Engagement continues with schools and other community groups and a specific project forwomen over 50 was initiated (Wild Women Project) which is proving to be very successful in engaging women wlh the environment through a broad ran e of activities. Grant funding secured from The National Lottery in March 2024 for £20,000, Somersel Comrnunity Fund £12,500 between August 2023 and February 2024. Further bids lo support this developing this ongoing work will be submitted to private grant providers in 2023124. We also received £515.00 payment for the provision of corporate volunteering days which is part of our new paid ServI￿S income stream. This is also planned lo be expanded in the 2024125 year. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 10 012 Upper River Yeo Catchment Strategy with Natural Flood Management (NFMI element. The NFM project element continues to be mainly funded through the Environment Agency. Overall, the project aims lo prepare a detailed catchment restoration plan for implementing at the landscape scale to address identified environmental issues. The NFM element is designed lo carry out Co-ordinated worfproject continues to grow with more landowners showing an interest in implementing NFM and Nature Based Solutions generally. Ongoing The scale of the project requires it lo be delivered in phases. The phases are synchronized with the tax year as this is the basis of EA funding. Extensive stakeholder engagement is ongoing within the River Wriggle and Camlcaundle Brook sub-catchments. The number of landowners in the Wriggle River Improvement Group (WRIG} continues to grow and up to 6 new sites are looking to accommodate NFM interventions lo mitigate potential flooding and create enhanced habitat diversity. Further practical works are planned for further phases and stakeholder engagement will be expanded to new stakeholders and other sub- catchment8. Slow bul steady progress is being made in developing the Yeo Catchment Strategy with desktop analysis extended lo the lower part of the catchment. Funding limitations are the main reason for the slow progress in this element. It is difficult to attach a deadline for completion of the strategy for this reason. A £20,000 budget was secured via the EA forlhe 2023124 financial year. £2000.00 was received from the Somerset Catchment Partnership to deliver practical NFM inteNenlions at up to two sites. Funding has been secured from the EA for the 2024125 year tolalling £45,000. YRCT have commenced the registration process with Wessex Water lo provide paid services to help them deliver their Phosphale Reduction Prograrllme and hope lo commence this in 2024125 to generate additional income. YRCT also secured funding via the Dorsel AONB FIPL grant Scheme for three projects for delivery in 2024125 although YRCT was not the grant holder for any ofthese projects. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 Financial Review At the end of the reporting period, the total income amounted to £103,048. The total expenditure amounted to £174,694, thus making a deficit of £71,646. Cash carried forward from the previous year of £119,504 gave a year end balance of £47,858. 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 committed to current projects according to the required expediency in maintaining progress. We recrJJnkE the Importan￿ ofa reserve to the kn￿-teM1 sustainabilty of the bust. Whenfurther funding has been secured and the prospect of a reSe￿e being retained becomes potentially viable, a discussion will be held among the trustees to agree the amount of unrestricted funds which should be placed in a reserve. Funds in deficit - None REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 12 Financial Report The financial status of the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust for the period ending 318t March 2024 is shown in (he Accounts Form CC16a for submission to the Charity Commission. Report Prepared by.. Lorne Thomson (Chair- YRCT) Signed Date- 0711112024 Report Approved by- Josiah Knights (Trustee) Date.. 0511212024 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 REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 13 REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER..1180724 14 Albert Goodman Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees For the Period Ended 31 March 2024 Independent examiners report to the Trustees of Yeovil Rivers Community Trust I report to the trustees on my examination of the accoLJnts for Yeovil Rivers Commur)ity Trust I'the charity") for the period ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the 2011 Acl'l. I reFx)rt in respect of my examination of the charrty's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act., or 2. the accounts do not comply with these records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination lo which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accounlanls Goodwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton Somerset TA1 2PX Michelle Ferris FCA DChA Date.. 2310112025 albertgoodman.co.uk CHARITY COMMISSIOI- FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Ivers Community Trust Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a For the period from 01-A r-23 31-Mar-24 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestri¢teiJ funds Re$tri¢led funds Endowment funds Total funds Last year tothe nearest to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ A1 Re¢ei Donations Grants SèNl¢e 121 102,577 350 1,112 14594 102,577 350 Sub total(Gross income forARJ an investm8nt salès, (Sèè table 4T1 11J2,577 103,048 144706 Sub total 471 102,577 103,048 144,706 A3Pa ents 395 395 19,930 455 27NOg Consulancy Fee5 D213 & Services Supply Water s¥mples $nalysis Handtools & ProleGlive 19,930 378 800 800 904 1.500 83,353 67,501 174,694 1,000 websit￿MedIa Miscellaneous lexpenses Proje¢l Sile Works Staff wageslPAYEIPensions 904 1.500 83,353 62,581 168,475 3.098 53,809 46.328 134719 4,920 6,219 Sub total A4 As58t and investment purchase5. Sub total 168475 If recelpts/(paymentsJ AS Transfers between f A6 Cash funds last year Ih funds this year end 7,000 569 7,000 118935 119,504 109517 119504 YRCT Accounts 2023-2024 signed 0511212024 CC188 R1 accounts ISSI Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period un￿StrICted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nearest £ Catagorlos Datalls B1 Cash funds Bank Currgnt Account 1,821 46,037 Bank Reserve Accounl Cash in hand Total cash funds 1,821 46,037 lagrefr ba￿n￿$￿1th receipisand pasfyMg11 Unr•strictad funds R•strictad funds Endowmant funds Details BalaDce of SCC Climate Emergency Community Fund £7058 Igran1£22.400 4£542-É22942 Additional received on tts nearÈst£ to nearest£ to nearest£ B2 Olhgr mongtsry assets Fund to whlch a$8•t ￿l￿n eost loptlonall eurrent value onal Detai15 B3 Invèstmant assets Fund to whi¢h asset belon Unrestiicted Details General & specialised handiools Pro18Glive dolhing Cost loptionall 500 Currant valu• B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use UDreslricted 300 Fund to whi¢h relates Amount duo onal Whèn du8 tional Detai15 B5 Liabilities Signed by one or Iwo trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name Date of approval / J Lorne ThorDson 0311212024 Josiah Kni hts 0411212024 YRCT Accounts 2023-2024 signed 0511212024 CC18a R2 accounts ISSI YRCT Accounts 2023-2024 signed 0511212024 CC16a R3 accounts ISSI