## **“BETTER LIVING”**
## _**A New Concept in Care for the Vulnerable**_
## **TRUSTEES MEETING**
_**– th 6.30pm Monday 8 September 2025 – Venue 16 Woodfield Avee, Ashtead**_
## **AGENDA**
1. Welcome & Apologies
2. Chairman’s Report - Graham
3. Coordinator’s Report - Maggie
4. Treasurer’s Report -
5. Date for next meeting
6. Any other business
_**Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registration Number: 1181947 www.betterlivingcio.org**_
_**email: m466ie.6@gmail.com – tel: 07786 296163**_
## 1, Welcome & Apologies:
There being no apologies, Graham welcomed all Trustees present
## 2, Chairman’s Report
Graham admitted that this has been a disappointing year, as none of the leads which had been followed has resulted in the premises the Charity would need to be successful, and it is important that premises acquired would be sufficiently suitable to ensure that they could adequately provide all that the Charity aims to cover.
Nevertheless, Maggie is currently pursuing meetings with councillors from Mole Valley Council regarding a massive new development on land near the Exxon Mobil site in Ashtead. It is to be hoped that this line might prove successful, and I will let Maggie provide more information of this.
It has been good to see everyone again, and extremely useful to have the benefit of video connections with travelling proving so difficult for everyone these days!
## 3. Coordinator’s Report
Maggie agreed with Graham how disappointing it had been during the year that so many connections had proved unsuccessful, and confirmed that many links with other organisations had also failed to develop in the way hoped. Nevertheless, this was understandable, as none had sufficiently large premises to ensure success, and it is important that the national exemplar is excellent.
There has been a fairly recent development mooted just on the outskirts of Ashtead where there is an absolutely massive field on which it is intended to build a very large number of houses. Local people have declared that it would be important to build an activity centre within the development as it is so large. If an activity centre is to be custom-built amongst a very large number of new residential properties, then it _**may**_ be possible to persuade the council to attach a residential care building on either side of the centre, which could become our exemplar!
I have endeavoured to contact two councillors who are involved in the development committee, but currently without success. It is to be hoped that this is simply due to holidays etc, and I shall continue to pursue these contacts as I believe this to be our best opportunity to date, and will keep all in touch with any progress.
## 4. Treasurer’s Report
As any expenses incurred throughout the year have been met by the Trustees, there has been no activity in our bank account during the year, Consequently, the balance continues to be £138.74.
## 5. Date for Next Meeting
Graham suggested that it may be better to wait until there was more to discuss before arranging the next meeting. This was agreed by all, so the next meeting will not be arranged at this time.
## 6, Any other business
There being no further business at this time, the meeting was closed.
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01-12-23 Period start date To**
## **30-11-24 Period end date**
## **Charity name: BETTER LIVING CIO**
## **Charity registration number: 1181947**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|The relief of those in need by reason of
disability or age|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The primary consideration before any
activities can be carried out is for the Charity
to acquire premises in which to operate.
Regrettably, we have been unable to secure
any appropriate vacant premises to date, nor
have any negotiations with government
departments and other charities proved
successful as yet, although it is hoped that
some may prove successful in the future.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|We can confirm that the trustees have
regard to the guidance issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit at all times.
This will, of course, become more
appropriate when the Charity is in a position
to begin to operate.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||
SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Not applicable|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|Not applicable|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|All work is carried out on a voluntary basis,
and donations have been made voluntarily
by concerned individuals.|
|Other||None|
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|When fully operational the Charity will
provide very considerable benefits to both
beneficiary groups and also the community
at large – through ad hoc social interaction,
petting animals, opportunities for
volunteering; entertainments, free health and
beauty opportunities and opportunities to
use their skills such as gardening ;
maintenance etc. There will also be
potential reduction in care costs. We are,
therefore, greatly looking forward to
becoming operational.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|**Additional information (optional)**|
|---|---|---|
|You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|As mentioned, it has not yet been possible to
acquire appropriate premises, but we
continue to cultivate existing contacts, and to
make relevant new ones,|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Not applicable at this time|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Not applicable at this time|
|Other||None|
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Balance at start of period £138.74
Expenditure during the period nil
Balance at the end of the period £138.74|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Not applicable|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|None|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|At present none required|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|Not applicable|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Not applicable|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|To date, all funds have come from kind
individual donations from interested parties,
which have been sufficient to cover minimal
seed funding requirements.|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|Not applicable at this time|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The Charity cannot operate without
appropriate premises, so if no premises can
be secured, or partners with premises
secured, then the Charity can only spread its
concept to those working with the disabled
and the elderly.|
|Other||None|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:||Not applicable|
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation CIO|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|The Charity commenced with 5 Trustees, but
have sadly lost one through illness (Richard
Rapazzini). However, we have been most
fortunate to attract a new Trustee (Jonell
Rowe), and are back to 5.
All 5 Trustees have been Enhanced DBS
checked, as has the voluntary Coordinator.
No individual has specific entitlement to
appoint new Trustees/ If interest is shown
by an individual, it would be a joint decision
of all the Trustees to agree a new
apapointment.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|Some of the Trustees have served as
Trustees for other Charities in the past, so
already have experience. All are mature
business people and are fully aware of their
responsibilities. All have had enhanced DBS
checks, and all are well-known to the others.|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|The Charity meets more frequently via the
internet due to business commitments and
travelling requirements.
The Charity is a member of several natonal
organisations, and networks with many
others, but continues to be independent.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|Whilst the Charity has membership of
national organisations such as National
Voices, the Kings Fund etc., and a close
relationship with Housing LIN, the
memberships are not intrusive or demanding
on the Charity.|
|Other||None|
**Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|BETTER LIVING CIO|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|None|
|Registered charity number|1181947|
|Charity’s principal address|21 Rectory Lane, Ashtead, Surrey, KT21 2BA|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||GRAHAM HOWAT|CHAIRMAN|N/A|N/A|
||HOWARD GILBERT|SECRETARY|N/A|N/A|
||NIGEL GILBERT|TREASURER|N/A|N/A|
||FRED WATSON||N/A|N/A|
||JONELL ROWE||N/A|N/A|
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name**
NONE Not Applicable
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|NONE Not applicable|||
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## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity None Not Applicable Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the Not Applicable assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and Not Applicable segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of adviser**|**Name**
**Address**|**Name**
**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|General –
Voluntary Coordinator|Maggie Gilbert|21 Rectory Lane, Ashtead, Surrey
KT21 2BA|
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## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
Maggie Gilbert – Voluntary Coordinator
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Not applicable – Key personnel details provided
## **Other optional information**
None
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Howard Gibson Gilbert **Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)** Secretary **Date** 10[th] September 1925