Chelveston Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Trust
Trustees’ Annual Report 2024-25
This report meets the requirements of Section 11 Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2005 , and provides information on how the Charity aims to meet the public benefit test in line with Section 4 Charities Act 2006 .
Background
The Chelveston Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Trust (aka “The Wind Farm Trust”) was created on 31[st] March 2014 and is a community benefit delivery vehicle for the four parishes (Chelvestoncum-Caldecott, Dean and Shelton, Hargrave, and Melchbourne and Yelden) adjacent to the Chelveston Renewable Energy (CRE) Wind Farm. It is funded annually by CRE under two legally binding S106 agreements (one for each Local Planning Authority) and its purpose is to distribute grants to organisations within the four parishes that meet the Trust’s criteria.
The four parishes each provide two Trustees who all serve a 4 year term, with half the Trustees standing down every two years.
Activities undertaken in 2024-25.
There were no changes in Trustees during the year. The next 4 year term completion will see half the Trustees standing down in 2025. All Trustees are eligible for reappointment by their respective parishes.
A total of 8 enquires were received, resulting in 8 grant applications, all granted in full.
The Trustees transferred a further £30,000 to the Savings Account, helping to boost the interest received in-year to over £1,700.
The Trustees are required to consider the submitted applications against the charitable objectives of the trust, being -
The object of the charity is the promotion of any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in the civil parishes of Chelveston-cum-Caldecott in the county of Northamptonshire, Dean and Shelton in unitary district of Bedford Borough, Hargrave in the county of Northamptonshire, and Melchbourne and Yelden in the unitary district of Bedford Borough as the Trustees see fit
The most commonly used charitable purposes used were –
The provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom they are intended, and public works and services and the provision of public amenities.
The Trustees have to ensure that each parish receives a nominal 25% share of the funds distributed, but this is over a five year period, not in every year.
Applications received ranged from play equipment to keeping a community café running, and purchasing a second-hand lawn tractor. For the first time, there were no applications from PCC’s for repair works to their respective churches, but the Trustees do not interpret this as meaning all the churches in the four parishes are now fixed.
The Trustees were mindful that any grant applications needed to be sound in respect of the benefits that would be gained through the award of the Trust’s funds. To this end a number of awards were made subject to conditions.
The amount awarded in year was £19,713.42. The largest single grant in-year was £10,000 towards play equipment, in Melchbourne and Yelden parish. Additionally, £15,000.00 was added to the Hargrave Reserve.
Charity Registration number 1180828
The grants were split amongst the four parishes as follows –
| Share of | Share of | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Parish: | Grants awarded | grants in | grants all |
| in year: | year |
years |
|
| Chelveston-cum-Caldecott | £650.00 | 1.08% | 20.86% |
| Dean & Shelton | £4,741.00 | 7.90% | 22.16% |
| Hargrave | £0.00 | 0.00% | 7.92% |
| Melchbourne & Yelden | £14,322.42 | 23.87% | 36.47% |
One parish received zero funding in year. The Trustees are mindful that grants can only be made in accordance with the Trust’s criteria and that any unspent allocations are carried over to the next year. This accounts for the percentages above not totalling 100%.
One parish continues to lag the others (share all years), but the Trustees are mindful that this parish has accumulated a significant reserve for a future amenity land purchase.
Accounts for 2024-25.
Summary:
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Income Expenditure
£89,529.16 B/F £19,713.42 Grants
£41,532.12 Capital £177.27 Admin
£1,745.19 Interest £29.25 Governance
£19,919.94
Excess Receipts over
£112,886.53 Payments
£132,806.47 £132,806.47
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Income:
The Expendable Capital (i.e. capital receipts that can be spent) consisted of the S106 payment from Oct 24, which enjoyed an RPI uplift in accordance with the S106 agreements.
The earned income was the £1,745.19 bank interest.
Expenditure:
The bulk of the expenditure was the grants, as would be expected. Administration consisted of bank charges (£71.40), website costs (£70.87) and the ICO fee (£35.00). Governance was the auditor’s fee (2023-24).
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Excess Receipts represented by
£10,000.00 Carry over to H1 next FY
£61,443.00 Hargrave PC restricted reserve
£9,525.49 Environmental project restricted reserve
£31,918.04 Unused
£112,886.53
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Charity Registration number 1180828
The excess income includes an annual carry over amount, currently set at £10,000, to fund the Trust for the first 6 months of the next FY, i.e. until the next Expendable Capital S106 payment from CRE Ltd is received in October, and two restricted reserves totalling £70,968.49.
Any unused income is carried over to the next year.
Audit:
The accounts were independently examined by Ken Owst FCMA, CGMA, of Milton Ernest, Beds, who is independent of the Trust.
The audited accounts and the Trustees Annual Report (this document) were adopted by the Trustees at the Annual Meeting, which was held on 21[st] July 2025.
Mark Hunter Clerk to the Trustees 15[th] July 2025
Charity Registration number 1180828
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of The Chelveston Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Trust, Chelveston, Northamptonshire.
This report, on the accounts of The Chelveston Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund Trust, for the year ended 31 March 2025, which is set out below, is in respect of an examination carried out under s.145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act).
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiners report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the trust and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiners statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act
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have not been met;
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
A. K. Owst (BA (Hons), FCMA, CGMA), Mill House, Bedford Road, Milton Ernest, MK44 1RJ.