Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Trustees Annual Report for Year 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025 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 Lome Thomson Chair Mr Thomas Bell Ms Yasmin Khan Mr David Godwin Mr Stuart Saunders Mr Josiah Knights 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 improvemenl 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 advan the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
- Organisation of the Charity Number of elected Honorary Officers: 1 Number of representatives of statutory authorities= O Number of paid staff.. 7 Two of the trustees are professional ecologists who provide their professional expertise and experience to the Charity Note:
- 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 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 lo 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 ofwater courses and any other waterfeatures (including multi-function surface features as part of a sustainable drainage system and Nature Based Solutions, e.g. Natural Flood Management) and their adjoining lerrestrial 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 conseNation, 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. Throughout 2024125 the trustees continued to develop the delivery of paid services by the Trust to diversify income streams with a view to increasing the proportion of Trust funding generated from paid services to reduce reliance on grant funding and improve the sustainability of the Trust. 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 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 Local Councils, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders. To carry out surveys of local water courses checking for sustainable wildlife habitat b undertakin water sam and checkin out sources of ollution REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
and reporting formally to the appropriate authorities. 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 and enhand habitat and Nature Based Solution interventions. Visual and amenity improvements and ongoing maintenance and monitoring to existing projects. Learning opportunities for young people via formal programmes integrated with school curricula 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 walerways and habitats and biodiversity generally with an increasing emphasis on Climate Change adaptation, nutrient monitoring 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 {NFMI techniques wherever possible within the Yeo and adjacent Catchments. The Charity completed further works on the Brympton and RYCCCARP 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 awaiting approvallclearance from sources external to the Yeovil Rivers Community Trust. The trust employed one full-time and 6 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 Further enhancement works in the concrete flood channel are planned for 2025126 et seq as funding pemits. These will be similar to features already installed and modificationslrepairs lo the damaged macrophyte bays. These are designed to fill performance gaps arising from the works in 2022- 2024 to achieve the habitat and connectivily objeclives of the project. The focus of the project has now changed lo providing benefits for water vole, reducing phosphorous levels and providing NFM benefits downstrearn. In view of this, Project P001 has been concluded in the 2024125 return period and the respective project elements will be divided between P008 and P012. 100°/. Project deliverables will now be undertaken via P008 and P012. Nillcompleled 001 004 Restoration and long-lem maintenance of Brympton Pond. Planned activity= Development of a natural pond which will be semi incorporated into a proposed business park development. Futu use and maintenance to be planned. Following discussion within the YRCT, it is considered thal the site may be suitable for Biodiversity Net Gain C>ffsetting 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
{P0071 Brympton Project- Phase 2 range of habitat nhancemenucreation inlerventions in open green spaces across the Brympton Parish are to be delivered via his new project phase. Delivery commenced in the 2024125 year and is set to continue beyond 2025126. he planned interventions will arget ponds, the Preston Brook and other terrestrial habitats. A small number of activities were delivered in the 024125 period. 15.10 ctivilies at this location have been esigned in conjunction ith Brympton Parish ouncil. Activities to nhan one pond, including digging new crapes, tree management lo reduce hading and planting plug plants were undertaken by olunteers supervised by YRCT staff. ddilional managemen ctivilies, e.g. egetation control in a pond, scything of t811 ruderal vegetation and maintenance of a mplex habitat bank ere also delivered at nolher pond site. An environmental fund has been established by the Parish Council and activities are mainly funded from this with a small proportion coming from donations received for running corporate volunteer sessions. Only a small amount of activity was undertaken in the period with expenditure of £2,226.46 and income of £2281.95 received. More extensive works, including urban NFM (leaky woody dams} and surface water runoff management works and meadow creation are planned for 2025126. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
006 Brimsmore housing development. Improvements and over811 enhancement ofthe SUDS which will include: stabilisation of water level and improvements in its quality- Cleaning the outlet culvert and stream which are severely silted up. No acts'vity undertaken in the reporting period. Awaiting the Somerset Council adoption of the site No budget in place at this time. Project on hold until site is adopted by the Somersel Council. This may be complicated by the move lo a unitary Somersel LA. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
008 Yeovil Country Park (Ninespringsl 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 delivered after 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 enhanced biodiversily. The project area was expanded during the return period to include the Upper Yeo catchment of which the Dodham Brook Catchmenl is a part. The phosphale managerllent element has also been expanded accordingly. The mitigation of phosphate pollution can be achieved via essentially Ihe same inlerventions which would benefit waler vole habitats. 75% Funding was secured or the phosphate management element hrough the evelopmenl ofa partnership with essex Water in which RCT assist them to eliver their Phosphate Reduction Programme o landowners. A CSI phosphate sampling programme continues in the Yeovil and other parts of the Upper Yeo alchment including North Dorsel. Practical orks, planned for elivery in the Yeovil ounlry Park lake and pond in the 2024125 ear were delayed hrough lack of permissions and funds. hese works, including he creation of reed beds, a water vole bund and increasing plant diversity in the lake and pond, will now be delivered in 025126. Activities in 024125 were limited to urveys, eDNA ampling and refinement of project esigns. Total grants amounting to £5,230 were secured in the year.. Voltalia £5000. Grant expenditure was focused on purchasing sampling equipment, carrying out sampling and surveys and preparing concept designs for interventions for water vole conservation and management of phosphate. Some funding remains for practical delivery in 2025126. Further grant funding will be applied for in 2025126 with a target of £20- 35k from private grant providers and polenlially a crowd funding campaign. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
011 The Yeovil Wellbeing, Wildlife and Water Community Project continued lo be developed. Ongoing. YRCT continues to deliver activities alongside Wessex Water at their Sutton Bingham site. These include guided walks and surveys. We continue to work with a2a lable2achieve} and have extended this to Cambian (Lufton College) and You Care We Care Iyeovill lo deliver activities to other vulnerable adults charities and their service users. Deliverables include nature walks, volunteering activities (surveys, land management, litter picking, etc,). Engagement continues with schools and other community groups and a specific project for women over 50 was very successfully concluded (Wild Women Project). Grant funding secured from The National Lottery in March 2024 for £20,000 was available for the 2024125 period and a further £4,790.00 was secured from various sources, including corporate days. Further bids to support this ongoing work will be submitted lo private grant providers in 2025126 including a further bid to The National Lollery for £20,000 when we become eligible in Dember 2025. We will continue lo expand the income from corporate volunteering days in the 2025126 ear. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724 10
012 Upper River Yeo Catchment Strategy with Natural Flood Management {NFMI element. The NFM project element continued lo be mainly funded through the Environment Agency. Overall, the project aims to prepare a detailed catchment restoration plan for implementing at the landscape scale to address identified environmental issues. The NFM element is designed to carry out co-ordinated works within parts of the catchment to build on the successful pilot scheme delivered in 2022123. The NFM sub-project continues lo grow with more landowners showing an inlerest in implementing NFM and Nature Based Solutions generally and a further strand has evolved in our work wilh Wessex Water to deliver their Phosphate Reduclion Programme. This work will commence from July 2025 and expand and continue until April 2026. Ongoing The scale of the project requires it to 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 IWRIGI continues to grow and up lo 8 sites are lookin9 to accommodate NFM interventions lo mitigate potential flooding and create enhanced habitat diversity. These interventions are also hugely beneficial for mitigating phosphate issues. Further practical works are planned for further phases and stakeholder engagement will be expanded to new stakeholders and other sub- catchments. Slow but steady progress is being made in developing the Yeo Catchment Strategy with desktop analysis extended to the lower part of the catchment. Funding limitalions 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 £45,000 budget was secured via the EA for the 2024125 financial year. Funding was also secured from the Dorset Council FIPL scheme for works in AONBS. This was not paid directly to the Trust as we were not the grant holder, bul funds were claimed from third party landowners On works had been delivered. YRCT commenced the registration process with Wessex Water to provide paid ServIS to help them deliver their Phosphate Reduction Programme in March 2025 and hope lo commence delivery later in the 2025126 year to generate additional income. REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724
Financial Review At the end of the reporting period, the total income amounted to £83,372. The total expenditure amounted to £62,197, thus making a surplus of £21,175. Cash carried forward from the previous year of £47,858 gave a year end balance of £69,033. The charity does not currently have any unallocated financial reseNes. 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 nIZe the IMWrtan of a reseNe to long4emi suslainalilty of the trust Whenfurther 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 the amount of unrestricted funds which should be placed in a reserve. Funds in deficit - None REGISTEREDCHARITYNUMBER'.1180724 12
Financial Report The financial stalus ofthe Yeovil Rivers Community Trusl forlhe period ending 31st March 2025 is shown in the Accounts Form CC16a for submission to the Charity Commission. Report Prepared by: Lome Thomson (Chair- YRCT) Signed Date.. 2011012025 Report Approved by.. Josiah Knights (Trustee) Signed Date- 28110125 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
Yeovll Rlvers Communlty Trust CHARITY COMMISSION Receipts and payments accounts FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES .he period from CC16a 01-A r-24 To 31.M?r-25 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to tho noarosl Restrict8d fund5 Endowment fund5 Total fund5 Last year to tho tho8r68t£ to tho thoar6¥t £ to Iho no¥ro8t£ A1 Recelpts Donations Grants Service 1,825 1,825 74,378 7.169 121 102,577 350 74,378 7.169 Sub total(Gross income forAR) A2 $set and investment sales, (see tsblel. 8,994 74,378 63,372 103,IMB Sub total 83,372 103 048 A3Pa ents Insuranc8 Consutancy Fees Data & SeNices Supply Water samples analysis Handlools & Protective 400 395 19,930 10,823 2SO 1,359 10,823 250 1,359 883 Websil8lmedia IslIaneOuS lexpenses Project SI Works Staff wagePAYEIPeSiOs 462 462 1,ODO 9.971 37,049 62,197 1.000 9,9T1 35,22B 59.514 I,SOO 83,353 67,501 174,694 1,821 2,683 Sub total A4 Asset and investment pur¢ha$e$, Isee table) Sub total Total payments 174 694
f receiptsl(paymentsJ A5 Transfers between A6 Cash funds last year h funds this year end 3.022 3,022 119504 7845629-2 IYRCT Aecounls 2024-2025 sndI 0910112026 CC168 R1 acGOUnts ISSI
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlcted fun(Is to n¥ro8t£ Restrlcted funds to tboaro$t£ Endowment funds Cegories Details 81 Cash funds Bank Current Account 11,154 57.879 Bank Reserve Account Cash in hand Total cash funds 11,154 57,879 lagreE b&LgnEESWlth receipts and payrnents accountlsll Unrestricted funds to nearest£ Restricted funds to nearest£ Endowment funds lo nearest £ Details Balance ol SCC Climate Emergency Community FuDd £7058 (grant £22,400 +£542-£22942 (Additlonal re¢eived o B2 Other monetary assets Fund to which •ssèt bèlon Details Cost (opOnall Current value B3 Investment assets Fund to which •8¥Ot bolon Unrestricied Current value Detall$ Cost lopdonall B4 Assets retained for tha charity's own use General & specialised h2ndOIS Prolecbve ckithing UDrestrict 283 Fund to whi¢h relates knourit WThon Details B5 Llabllltles Signed by one or two trustees on b8half Df sll th8 trusle8s Signature Print Name Date of approval Lorne Thomson 2011012025 Josiah Kni hts 2011012025 7845629-2 IYRCT Aecounls 2024-2025 sndI 0910112026 CC168 R2 acGOUnts ISSI
Yeovil Rivers Community Trust Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees For the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Albert Goodman Independent examiners report to the Trustees of Yeovil Rivers Comrnunity Trust I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts for Yeovil Rivers Community Trust I'the charily'l for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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 Act"l- 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. Independent examiner's 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 acmss 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 accounts to be reached. Michelle Ferris BSC IHonsl FCA DChA Albert Goodman LLP Chartered Accounlanls G(x)dwood House Blackbrook Park Avenue Taunton Somerset TA12PX Date.. 15 January 2026