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2022-04-30-accounts

CASTLEFIELD FORUM

2022: A Year in Review – Trustee’s Annual Report Annual Review 2021

Executive Summar y

Welcome to our latest annual report.

2022 represented a monumental year for Castlefield with the opening of the Castlefield Viaduct pilot project which includes our own Castlefield Forum community plot up in the sky. A huge stand-out not only for our organisation for the long-term future of our community, the full viaduct scheme will have ramifications and great impact far beyond our own neighbourhood.

Initially scheduled to run from summer 2022 until late summer 2023, the pilot scheme has already been extended until late 2024. Over 95% of visitors to the pilot want to see the viaduct park become a permanent Manchester fixture. We are working very hard behind the scenes with the National Trust to make that a reality.

We continue to divide our work into our core themes of cleaner, greener, safer and better.

About Us

Castlefield Forum is a voluntary, community group established in 2009 with the key aim of making Castlefield a better place for local residents, businesses, workers and visitors.

Membership is open to anyone who lives, works or has an interest in Castlefield.

Recognising the need to create a more formal structure, we made an application for charitable status and became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Associate model) in April 2019.

The Forum meets publicly three times a year and meetings and action groups are open to all. Our elected Trustees typically meet twice a quarter and feed back to the wider Forum.

As Trustees, we hold ourselves accountable so further ahead you will find more detail, laid out by quarter, of how we have achieved against our objectives, as well as a narrative around some of the challenges we have had. It’s worth mentioning that the majority of the Trustees also have day jobs, and those who are retired also have a myriad of other commitments, so sometimes things do not move quite as fast as we had planned. We are also heavily reliant on third parties to deliver some of our aspirations (plus we like to set ourselves ambitious but realistic goals).

The Trustees run our action groups which help to address our four key themes: Cleaner, Green, Safer and Better.

Our Trustee activity is planned in a quarterly cadence using quarterly objectives. Find out more about our action groups in the Appendix.

Trustee News

The Forum is run by you, for you. Without the Trustees the Forum would not exist. None of us are paid, some work full or part time, none of us bring egos and we all strive for a better neighbourhood, so a huge thank you to them all for their hard work. The pandemic has taught us that one does not need to be physically in Castlefield to have a positive impact on Castlefield.

Sadly after many years great communications activity Debbie Hubbard stepped down at our Feb 2022 AGM. Carol Rawsthorne (nee Middleton), long-time chair and trustee also announced plans to retire. Both Debbie and Carol’s selfless commitment to our neighbourhood has left Castlefield in a far better place and both will be sorely missed, thank you both indeed for your impact.

At the time of writing, we gained three new Trustees, Ian Hay, Russell Eckersley and Line Hilton. Ian joined as our first trustee from a Castlefield business, as the owner of Saul Hay Gallery, allowing us to widen our knowledge, contacts and understanding of our community. Russell first approached us in 2021 with regards to a potential loss of amenity with some trees near the canal to be felled. His quick thinking helped to preserve the vast majority of those trees. It was then in early 2022, Russell approached us again with an interest in the viaduct, and has absolutely blown away with his ability to get stuff done and acted as a key delivery lead to ensure our community plot was delivered on time.

Similarly, Line’s natural curiosity led her to get involved with our viaduct project and has since been hands-on with various rounds of planting and maintenance activity.

Financial U date p

We continue to pursue the Manchester City Council Neighbourhood Investment Fund as and when the need arises. To reduce our reliance on one source we have also applied for other pots of money and were, for example, successful in being awarded a grant from the National Trust.

Notable awards and funding in 2021/22 included:

It is important to note that the vast majority of our funds are restricted as they are allocated against specific action group initiatives.

We will submit examined accounts as part of our annual submission to the Charities Commission which is also published to members.

Clean and Green Wins

Clean & green activity continued to thrive and this included a full second season of our community vegetable garden and two Level Five Outstanding awards from the RHS.

Thank you Nena for pulling together the numbers; an amazing set of statistics although not quite the absolute maximum we had in 2021, but we was expected things to drop off as the world got back to normal after the pandemic. The key challenge this year is to at least sustain the brilliant impact from 2022.

For 2022 versus 2021:

We have for the first time started to work jointly with both Castlefield ward neighbourhood delivery officers, providing a more holistic approach to the area. Additionally we have identified the need for our own ‘Environmental Coordinator’, a new vacancy we have created and are looking to fill in due course.

RHS In Bloom

Safer

Better

2023 focus

Updates by Quarter

2021 was the first time that as Trustees we broke down our objectives into clear quarterly goals. Each objective has measures under it, graded from Good (the minimum we would like to achieve) to Great to Incredible .

At our public meetings we typically present our objectives plus results from the previous quarter. To get involved with any of our activities, please get in touch (contact details are in the Appendix below).

January-March (Q1 2022)

Castlefield Viaduct: community pilot plot

Increase coverage of community safety network from 33%

To have an always-on programme of environmental work

Clean-up of graffiti

Utilise current funding and CSR offers to improve the Roman Gardens

Membership attendance @ February AGM

April-June (Q2)

Q2 was all about Viaduct pilot opening readiness. We had a hunch that we would spend an awful lot of time this quarter focused on the viaduct (we were right), and so we took on fewer targets than normal.

Castlefield Viaduct: community pilot plot

To have an always-on program of environmental work

Increase coverage of community safety network

Utilise current funding and CSR offers to improve the Roman Gardens

Increase Trustee resilience and skillset

Reaching wider: a longer-term goal

July-September (Q3)

Viaduct: support the pilot and input directly into the full scheme

Spirit of Place: to help us become thriving as an organisation

Taking pride in our infrastructure, assets and buildings

Increase Trustee resilience and skillset

Utilise current funding and CSR offers to improve the Roman Gardens

October-December (Q4)

Increase % coverage of community safety network for apartment blocks

Clean & Green strategic growth

Improve our neighbourhood spirit of place

• We were encouraged to apply for NIF to do Christmas lights on Liverpool Road and by Atlas Bar; after Russell spent a lot of time on the application, only part of it was accepted. In the end, however, Janet managed to find some extra funding and so we delivered the scheme as planned and delivered a great impact. Unfortunately, all of the bureaucracy meant that we only had a couple of weeks of real impact so we will start the process much earlier in 2023.

• We had our student Masters project proposal accepted by the Manchester School of Architecture

Viaduct Phase 2: working with the NT’s delivery board

• We gained a seat on the delivery board for the Castlefield Viaduct. This is a monumental win, because it means we can have a real influence over the direction of the project and ensure that it delivers something fit for purpose for as many people as possible. Thank you to the National Trust for inviting us to join the board.

Comms strategy

Roman Gardens revamp

Biggest challenges ahead: short, medium and long term

Strategy

Just because we are volunteers and just because we are a small organisation doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have a robust long-term strategy. We’ve tried before, pre-pandemic, and it’s time to make 2023 is the year when we firm up where we want to take Castlefield next. Trustees have inputted their ideas and early to mid 2023 will see us publish a longer term view of where next.

Factory International

We are tremendously excited for the new home of MIF to open and for the impact it will have on the arts scene. Located inside the Castlefield Conservation Area, we are keen to build a good working relationship with the team at Factory International and have already had our first meeting with Dean Meehan who heads up operations. We will not know the true impact on the local area on things such as access, egress, noise and parking until the venue opens so it’s important we maintain a strong relationship with the venue.

People

Neighbourhood engagement, notably with existing communities in Hulme and Ordsall plus residents from:

Trustees

Bringing on board skills and experience to not only keep our organisation resilient but to help us flourish and help us deliver on longer-term grand plans, including the full viaduct scheme and realisation of our Spirit of Place ambitions.

Castlefield Viaduct

After Factory International, the permanent viaduct scheme will represent the biggest-ever single investment in Castlefield for a public project and the biggestever public realm project in our neighbourhood. We can’t wait but we also know that huge challenges remain with regards to funding, and that we need to be realistic that this is a long-haul project.

Increased traffic and footfall

With Factory International completed and in full use, Water Street permanently

closed to traffic, the St John's neighbourhood nearing completion and Castlefield Viaduct literally on the horizon, there will be more people living, visiting or working in Castlefield than ever. This will present challenges around parking, idling vehicles, pollution and of course the inevitable outflow of thousands of people from each and every Factory event. Aside from the annual flurry of ‘Sounds of the City’ gigs, we have never had to deal with sustained large volumes of people. We will monitor things carefully as new buildings and spaces come on stream, grow our relationship with Factory International and lean on help from the Council if any interventions are required.

Graffiti…

…which continues to blight Castlefield. How might we address this? How might we turn a problem into an opportunity? We have started discussions around a more formal public arts programme but the time diverted to the Viaduct scuppered any chance to address this. The city centre has had some great successes with turning blank and unloved surfaces into public art; save for not having enough time to make it happen, there is no reason we cannot eventually replicate the best bits of this in Castlefield.

Funding and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

CSR is both a challenge and an opportunity in the right now we literally cannot process or manage all of the offers of help we are receiving.

The Forum has grand ambitions for Castlefield (including but not limited to the viaduct) and as a small community organisation with a busy set of Trustees, trying to acquire the right levels of help and or funding and to coordinate our ambitions and deliver against them is difficult. In essence a chicken and egg situation: wild ambitions but not enough capacity to pursue the very funding which would unlock our ambitions.

Climate Emergency

It goes without saying that climate change brings an incredible set of challenges to the planet and right down at local level we need a much clearer plan of how we can all act differently to help drive real change. The Forum is only at the beginning of this journey and we would readily welcome any extra support.

The viaduct represents a real opportunity to help drive more active travel, and in some sense will be a small contribution to change.

Closin Remarks g

We start 2023 with some very big tasks, challenges and opportunities ahead. Please continue to support us interactively and don’t hesitate to get stuck in if improving your neighbourhood means something to you.

Finally, a reminder that the Forum exists by you, for you. A huge thank you to all of our Trustees who helped to keep the Forum diverse, alive and thriving. And if you feel like you might want to get involved yourself, just get in touch.

Calum McGowan Chair - Castlefield Forum

A endix pp

Our organisation

Organisational overview for the period ending 20[th] March 2023.

Trustees who served during the year:

  1. Calum McGowan (Chair)

  2. Lou Pullan (Vice-Chair)

  3. Giles Grover (Treasurer)

  4. James Bowers (Secretary)

  5. B Hunter

  6. Carol Rawsthorne (Stepped down in Jan 2023)

  7. Gary Rumens

  8. Ian Hay

  9. Ian McIlveen

  10. Line Hilton

  11. Nena Adrienne

  12. Russell Eckersley

Action Groups

Clean & Green Castlefield

Events, Marketing, Media & Signage

(This group was largely paused with Debbie Hubbard stepping down)

Roman Gardens

Spirit of Place & Castlefield Viaduct

We have medium-term ambitions to spin up a specific fundraising group but we simply don't have the capacity to pursue this at present.

Social Media

Administration

Address: 73 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4AQ

Auditor: Dan Coles FCCA

Bankers: Co-operative Bank, Manchester

CASTLEFIELD FORUM

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30/04/2022

Treasurer's Report

I have prepared the accounts for Castlefield Forum for the year ending 30th April 2022.

These accounts comprise an Income & Expenditure overview and a Balance Sheet to provide visibility on general and restricted funds held.

All payments made have been verified by invoice copies.

No audit has yet been carried out on these accounts but, in my opinion as Treasurer, they represent a true and fair view of Income & Expenditure for the period.

These accounts will now be reviewed by an independent examiner.

Giles Grover 20th January 2023

Income Expenditure

Y/E: 30/04/2022 General
Funds
£
2,968
3,050
General
Funds
£
2,968
3,050
Restricted
Funds
Total
£
£
2,968
3,050
2,574
2,574
11,893
11,893
2,300
2,300
0
0
1,000
1,000
Restricted
Funds
Total
£
£
2,968
3,050
2,574
2,574
11,893
11,893
2,300
2,300
0
0
1,000
1,000
Income & Expenditure
Income
Donations - Individuals
Donations - Castlefield Filming
MCC - Roman Gardens
MCC - Castlefield Viaduct
Clean & Green - NIF
Manchester Cladiators - NIF
Pioneer Quay - NIF
Total income
Expenditure
Roman Gardens
Castlefield Viaduct
Clean & Green
Manchester Cladiators
Pioneer Quay
AGM Expenses
Zoom Subscription
Public Liability Insurance
Total Expenditure
Surplus/(deficit)
6,018
167
144
379
17,767
23,784
7,551
7,551
3,900
3,900
1,940
1,940
0
0
1,000
1,000
167
144
379
690 14,391
15,081
5,327 3,376
8,703

Statement of Financial Position

Y/E: 30/04/2022 General Funds
6,179
0
Restricted
Funds
35,328
0
Restricted
Funds
35,328
0
Total
Statement of financial position
Assets
Bank balance
Petty cash
Total
Liabilities
Charity General funds (repayable)
Restricted funds (repayable)
Total assets less liabilities
Reserves
B/f:
Movement in reserves (surplus/(deficit))
Reserves c/f:
41,487
20
6,179 35,328 41,507
0
0
0
0
0
0
0 0 0
6,179 35,328 41,507
852
5,327
31,952
3,376
32,804
8,703
6,179 35,328 41,507

Reserves

Y/E: 30/04/2022 General Funds
852
5,327
General Funds
852
5,327
Restricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
Changes in reserves
Movement in General funds
C/f 2021 (2020)
Surplus/deficit Current year
Total General funds
Movement in Restricted funds
Roman Gardens
Castlefield Viaduct
MCC Clean & Green - Held in
Trust
Manchester Cladiators - Held in
Trust
Pioneer Quay - Held in Trust
Total Restricted funds
Total Reserves
6,179 0 6,179
2021
30,982
0
440
530
0
Current Year
Total
-4,977
26,005
7,993
7,993
360
800
0
530
0
0
31,952 3,376
35,328
6,179 35,328
41,507

- Banking Detailed Analysis

Details Opening
Balance
(01/05/202
Roman
Gardens
Castlefield
Viaduct
Clean &
Green NIF
Manchester
Cladiators
NIF
Pioneer
Quay NIF
Filming
Donation
Individual
Donations
Forum
Admin
Expenses
General
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Non-
Forum
Funds
Held in
Trust
Closing
Balance at
30/04/22
1)
B/f 852.00 30,982.00 970.00
21/05/2021 PioneerQuay- NIF 1,000.00 1,000.00
24/05/2021 Amazon 8.02 8.02
24/05/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
01/06/2021 NorthGate Lighting -7,550.78 -7,550.78
01/06/2021 James Donation 5.00 5.00
01/06/2021 Roman Gardens NIF 2,574.20 2,574.20
08/06/2021 Gary- GBSC Refreshments -23.00 -23.00
08/06/2021 Gary- C&G NIF -440.00 -440.00
10/06/2021 Pioneer Quay- NIF -1,000.00 -1,000.00
22/06/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
22/07/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
30/07/2021 Screen Mcr 2,500.00 2,500.00
17/08/2021 Amazon 14.52 14.52
23/08/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
22/09/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
22/10/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
22/10/2021 Screen Mcr 200.00 200.00
08/11/2021 RBIG - P/L -379.23 -379.23
16/11/2021 MCC - NIF 200.00 200.00

- Banking Detailed Analysis

19/11/2021 First Central Donation 600.00 600.00
22/11/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
13/12/2021 Amazon 11.51 11.51
22/12/2021 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
20/01/2022 B Hunter - Zoom -143.88 -143.88
24/01/2022 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
31/01/2022 Screen Mcr 350.00 350.00
22/02/2022 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
23/02/2022 Amazon 11.48 11.48
25/02/2022 Ian Christie - Bequest 2,500.00 2,500.00
04/03/2022 First Central Donation 600.00 600.00
15/03/2022 YMCA Donation - HangingBaskets 200.00 200.00
16/03/2022 B Hunter - Viaduct Domain Names -29.96 -29.96
17/03/2022 MCC - NIF - C&G 900.00 900.00
21/03/2022 MCC - NIF - Viaduct 10,000.00 10,000.00
22/03/2022 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
24/03/2022 Lazerian - Viaduct Artwork -3,870.00 -3,870.00
30/03/2022 MCC - NIF - Viaduct 1,892.59 1,892.59
06/04/2022 James - AGM Expenses -167.30 -167.30
06/04/2022 Nena - MCC - NIF -900.00 -900.00
13/04/2022 First Central - C&G - Gary -600.00 -600.00
22/04/2022 Calum Donation 20.00 20.00
£0.00 -£4,976.58 £7,992.63 £360.00 £0.00 £0.00 £3,050.00 £2,967.53 -£690.41 £6,179.12 £33,998.05 £1,330.00 £41,507.17

Petty Cash

Petty Cash Balance as at 30/04/2021
Expenditure
Petty Cash Balance as at 30/04/2022
£
20.17
-*
£20.17

*No petty cash movements as all payments now made via online banking.

Dan Coles FCCA 26/01/2023

FAO: Giles Grover Treasurer Castlefield Forum Manchester

Dear Giles,

Thanks for the attached supporting information in your emails. I report to the trust my examination of the accounts of Castlefield Forum (the Charity) for the year ended 30 April 2022.

I have completed an examination of the provided set of accounts and supporting documentation. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination, giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations

I have identified what I believe to be an error in transposing the petty cash figure of £20 on the accounts. This should be removed from the Statement of Financial Position for the current year as it relates to sums received in previous years. I do not consider this to be a material error or a misstatement.

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 of the accounts to be reached.

I trust this is satisfactory.

Yours sincerely,

Dan Coles FCCA