## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date 01 09 2024 31 08 2025
**From**
**To**
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** The Friends of Sun Rising The Friends of Sun Rising Natural Burial Ground **Other names charity is known by** and Nature Reserve, The Friends **Registered charity number (if any)** 1181570 **Charity's principal address** 8 Welchman Place Tysoe Warwick **Postcode** CV35 0SU
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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Dates acted if not for Name of person (or body) entitled
Trustee name Office (if any)
whole year to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Belou Fox-Furniss
2 Bruce Chatterton Chair
3 David Orr Membership Secretary
4 Emma Restall Orr Treasurer
5 Dawn Short
6 Jane Townsend Secretary
7 Martin Head From 28/04/2025
8
9
10
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**
**Name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of adviser Name Address**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
March **2012**
**TAR**
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Section B Structure, governance and management
## **Description of the charity’s trusts**
Type of governing document
- (eg. trust deed, constitution)
> [Constitution, adopted 15 January 2019 ]
How the charity is constituted
(eg. trust, association, company)
> [Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) ]
Trustee selection methods
- (eg. appointed by, elected by)
> [Trustees are appointed by existing trustees ]
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
The Friends of Sun Rising works closely with Nature Reserve Burial Grounds Ltd (NRBG), who owns the land.
Trustees Emma Restall Orr and David Orr are owners and directors of Nature Reserve Burial Grounds Ltd.
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
- relationship with any related parties;
- trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
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## **Section C Objectives and activities**
|**Summary of the objects of the**
**charity set out in its**
**governing document**
**Summary of the main**
**activities undertaken for the**
**public benefit in relation to**
**these objects (include within**
**this section the statutory**
**declaration that trustees have**
**had regard to the guidance**
**issued by the Charity**
**Commission on public**
**benefit)**|1. To provide and maintain, or assist in the provision and maintenance,
of a natural burial ground at Sun Rising Natural Burial Ground and
Nature Reserve for the public benefit.
2. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation protection
and improvement of the physical and natural environment at Sun
Rising Natural Burial Ground and Nature Reserve, in particular by
promoting biological diversity.|
|---|---|
||In planning activities for the year, the trustees have considered the
Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
A key focus of many activities is fundraising, because growing a capital
fund is central to achieving the charity’s objects in the long term.
Main activities undertaken:
1. Management of membership**subscriptions and donations**, which
make a significant contribution to fundraising.
2. Organisation and support of**events**to do one or more of the
following:
raise funds.
support family and friends of those buried or remembered at
Sun Rising.
develop the site as a nature reserve.
promote interest in the site as a developing nature reserve.
3. Maintenance and development of fundraising**projects**. This includes
merchandise, some of which is created by trustees and funded by the
charity, for sale to the public. Other products are donated, at no cost
to the charity, to be sold in aid of the charity.
4. Support for**volunteer-led initiatives**to further the objects of The
Friends.|
4. Support for **volunteer-led initiatives** to further the objects of The Friends. **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include We are lucky to have a strong community of volunteers, whose desire to further statements, where get involved is fuelled by their connection to the site, it being the final relevant, about: resting place of loved family and friends. policy on grantmaking; Other volunteers are enthused by the creation, development and policy programme related successes of the growing nature reserve. investment; Volunteers get involved to help maintain and develop the burial ground contribution made by and nature reserve, to help raise funds for the long-term care of the site, volunteers. and to share support and company with others who have experienced loss or are moving through grief.
Over the year, volunteers contributed about 480 hours in total, through the volunteer group of 20 members who come once a month, through the volunteer mailing list of 82 individuals, and the general mailing list.
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance
**Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year**
## **Overview**
Below follows an abridged version of the Trustees’ Annual Report, presented to the AGM on Saturday 13 September 2025. It covers the charity’s main achievements and activities during the year.
A PDF copy of the full, illustrated report can be viewed at https://sunrising.co.uk/friends-of-sun-rising/agm-2025/.
Any small variations in figures from those presented at the AGM or from previous year’s annual return are due to ongoing improvement in the accuracy of analysis and reporting.
## **The Fund**
**Cash Fund:** at the end of the year, the cash fund stood at £197k, compared with £148k the previous year. Net total income for the year was £49.6k, compared with £35.4k the previous year. **Investment Porfolio** : at the end of the year, the reported value of investments was £103.4k, showing an average growth of 4.6% pa.
**Subscriptions:** The number of individuals who subscribe as Friends remains healthy. At the end of the year, the total number of subscribing Friends stood at 386, compared with 371 the previous year.
**Fundraising Regulator** : The Friends renewed its membership of the Fundraising Regulator.
## **General Events**
Events, led by trustees and volunteers, were all well received. These included:
**Planting Weekend** , October 2024: for planting bulbs and perennials. There was good trade on the Friends’ stall, including wildflower seed packs. **The Memory Tree** , in the Longhouse throughout December 2024: raised £575 **Christmas in the Longhouse,** December 2024: raised £588 from the refreshments, tombola and donations. Through all December’s events, the Friends’ stall made £2,806 profit. **Funeral Workshops,** March 2025: raised £140 in donations. **Open Day** , May 2025: raised £296 on refreshments and donations, and the Friends’ stall made £308 profit. **Tysoe Parish Assembly** , May 2025: the Friends’ stall made £45 profit. **Roll of Remembrance** , June 2025: raised £317 on refreshments and donations, and the Friends’ stall made £268 profit. **Watercolour Painting Day** , July 2025: raised £315. **An Evening with Anton Lesser** , July 2025: raised £1,189. **Tysoe Flower Show** , August 2025: the Friends’ stall made £118 profit. **Nature Events** are paid for by donation, with half the donations going to the charity. The other half goes to the burial company, ringfenced for ecological development of the nature reserve. Events this past year raised £248 for the charity and included:
March **2012**
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Section D Achievements and performance **Fungi Walk** , October 2024 **Winter Birds** , January 2025 **Making Insect Hotels** , April 2025 **Spring at Sun Rising** , April 2025 **Spring Birdsong** , May 2025 **Moth Night** , May 2025 **Flora Walk and Survey** , June 2025 **Insect Week** and **Spider Survey** , June 2025 **Butterfly Walk** , July 2025. **Externally organised events** : A trustee gave a talk given to the **Banbury Cross Players** , October 2024, with £170 paid to the charity. A schedule of events will be established for next year.
**Product Sales and Projects** Below is a summary of funds raised from current projects, with additional notes about progress or scope. Donated Products: **Candles:** £833 raised since 2023. **Birdboxes:** £166 raised since 2023. **Jams, Jellies and Chutneys** : £6,424 raised since 2018. **Hare Purses** : £1,148 raised since 2018. **Sun Rising Perennial Calendar:** £2,812 raised since 2020. **Homemade Marmalade** : £40 raised this year. **Adderstone Necklaces** : £54 raised this year. Traded Products, where totals are affected by direct costs: **Sun Rising Honey:** £4,661 raised since 2012. **Summer Tea Towel** : £1,256 raised since 2018 **Children’s Book** : £354 since 2019. **Sun Rising Jute Bags** £118 since 2022, with stock just bought in. **Hare Key Rings:** £107 raised since 2019, with stock just bought in. **Hare Lapel Pins** : £980 since 2015, with stock just bought in. **Sun Rising Cards** : £6,161 since 2012. **Wildflower Seed Packs** : £130 raised since 2023.
## **Section E Financial review**
**Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
The Friends’ current policy on reserves: (a) keep a balance of around £5,000 in unrestricted funds in the current account. (b) transfer amounts over £5,000 into an easy access deposit account in order to earn some interest. (c) once the amount in the deposit account reaches an appropriate sum, invest safely in a financial product such as a fixed term bond in order to earn higher interest. (d) ensure that funds are always held with financial organisations that are covered by the FSCS, and that funds held with any one organisation does not exceed the FSCS limit of £85,000. The purpose is to grow a capital fund to ensure an income for the management of the site as a nature reserve once it is no longer generating an income as a burial ground.
March **2012**
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This fund must be sufficient to provide protection for the site, continuing to develop and maintain it as an ecologically valuable nature reserve, and a place which continues to honour those who have been laid to rest there.
**Details of any funds materially in deficit**
Not applicable
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
## **Investment Policy** :
The Friends has a policy of investing only in organisations with an explicit ethical policy. At this point, safe investments are favoured, even at the expense of higher interest.
- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
## **Section F Other optional information**
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Emma Restall Orr **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)**[Treasurer ]
**Date** 30/9/2025
March **2012**
**TAR**
6
**----- Start of picture text -----**
The Friends of Sun Rising 1181570
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period
01/09/2024 To 31/08/2025
from
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
Donation from NRBG 9,096 - - 9,096 -
Donations 19,135 - - 19,135 -
Subscriptions 5,370 - - 5,370 -
Events 4,511 - - 4,511 -
Gift Aid 6,201 - - 6,201 -
Projects 3,598 - - 3,598 -
Interest 6,477 - - 6,477 -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
54,388 - - 54,388 -
AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 54,388 - - 54,388 -
A3 Payments
Events 697 - - 697 -
Projects 2,825 - - 2,825 -
Overheads 1,141 - - 1,141 -
Bank Charges (Zettle) 89 - - 89 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 4,752 ] - - 4,752 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments 4,752 - - 4,752 -
Net of receipts/(payments) 49,636 - - 49,636 -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 147,457 285 - 147,742 -
Cash funds this year end 197,093 285 - 197,378 -
**----- End of picture text -----**
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
24/02/2026
1
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B1 Cash funds**
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)|**Details**
Investment Fund 1
Investment Fund 2
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Current Account 1
Current Account 2
Saving Account 1
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Bond 1
Saving Account 2
Saving Account 3
Signature
2|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**4,526**
**285**
**198**
**-**
**65,472**
**8,658**
**62,580**
**55,659**
**-**
**197,093**
**285**
OK
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
David Orr|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Current value**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**When due**
**(optional)**
Date of
approval
24/02/2026|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGL4ND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the trusteesl
members of
ChaFily Naine
The Friends of Sun Rising
On aGGounts for the year
ended
31" August 2025
Charity no
(if any}
1181570
Set out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounls of the above
charity ("the Trust.) for the year ended 3110812025.
Responsibilities and
basis of report
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparalion of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
I'the Act.).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust'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 145151{b) of Ihe Ad.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have
examinerfs statement come to my altention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to believe that in, any material respect..
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130
of the Charities Act., or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements
Conrning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement
that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter
considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns 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 oflhe accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Date:
08112125
Name:
Frederick William Buxton
Relevant professional
qualification{s) or body
lif any):
Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales
Membership # 1623631
Address:
5 Granby Road, Honington
Shipston-on-stour
Warwickshire, CV36 SAB
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs lo highlight material matters of Con[
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and
guidan¢e for examiners).
Give here brief details of
any items that the
examiner wishes to
disclose.
No items to be disclosed.
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLANO ANO WALES
Th8 Friends of Sun Rising
1181570
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the perlod
from
0110912024
To
3110812025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
fund¥
Restricted
fun(ts
Endowmenl
funds
Total funds
Last year
to the ngarest
to th• noarest£
to tho nearest£
to the ngar8st£
iothe n8aro8t £
A1 Recei
Oonabon from NRBG
Donabolls
Subscriptions
Events
Gitt Aid
Proie¢ts
Interest
9,096
19,135
5,370
4.511
19.135
5.370
4.511
6.201
3,598
6.4TT
3.598
6,477
Sub total(Gross income for
ARJ
54.3B6
A2 Asset and Snvestment sal•s.
18ee table).
Sub total
Total receipts
$4,388
A3 Pa mènts
Eveni8
Projects
Overheads
Bank Charges Izetllel
697
2,825
697
2,825
89
89
Sub total
4,752
4,752
A4 Asset anil Investment
urchasès,
see table
Sub total
4.752
4,752
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers beeen funds
A6 Cash funds last year ènd
Cash fvnds thls year end
49.636
49,636
147.457
197.093
285
147,742
197,378
285
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrgstrictsd
funds
to noare¥t £
Re8trlcted
funds
Endowment
funds
to nearest£
Categorie5
Details
to nearest£
B1 Cash funds
CurrentAccounl 1
526
285
Current Account 2
198
Bond 1
65,472
Saving Account 1
Saving Account 2
Saving Account 3
8,658
62.580
55,659
Total cash funds
197.093
285
Iwg balawe$wth r*1Sand paymeN5
2ccouniis}I
Llnrostricted
fund
to rwrest£
Restricted
funds
to nearest£
Endowment
funds
to near•st£
Details
B2 Other monetary assets
Futhd towhich
a55et belon
Cost loptlonall
Currentvalue
onal
Details
Investment Fund 1
B3 Investment assets
Investrnent Fund 2
Fund towhlch
asset belon
C¢)tst loptilinall
CuNent value
Details
B4 Assets retalned for the
charity's own uso
Fund towhich
r•l8¢•8
Arnount dup
onal
When due
on81
Details
B5 Liabilities
Signed by one or trustses on
behalf of all the Iruslees
Date of
rov81
Signature
Print Name
David Orr