2025-12-31-accounts

THE FRIENDS OF ABINGDON CIVIC SOCIETY 5T REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 st The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the period from l January 2025 to 31, December 2025. l. The Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the United Kingdom Charity Commission under registration number 1183397. Its th governing document is a constitution dated 8 May 2019 2. The Socievs registered address is 18 Thames Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 3HZ 3. The Society was registered as a charity on May 14 2019 4. The objects of the Society are: For the benefit of the people of Abingdon-on-Thames To promote high standards of planning and architecture To educate the public in the geography, history, natural history, culture and architecture of the area To secure the preservation. protection, development and improvement of features or areas of historic or public interest Examples of the ways we seek to achieve these objects are: Organising events and contributing to public discussions to foster civic pride and promote the civic life, heritage and environment of the town Monitoring and commenting on planning applications and lobbying the relevant authorities to encourage high standards of historic conservation, planning and development worthy of the town's civic tradition and character Managing a town centre community space which other groups and not-for- profit organisations can use at little or no cost for activities, exhibitions etc Contributing in whatever other ways we can to help make Abingdon a great place to live, work and visit. 5. The Trustees who served during the period were: Keith Butler Bobbie Nichols Andrew Coker Olga Senior (to 31 March 20251 Hester Hand The Trustees are supported by a wider Committee with members working on our various activities and projects.

1. Governance Meetings- The Committee (including Trustees) met on six occasion5 during the year: the Trustees held one additional meeting to discuss governance matters. Finance- During the year the majority of our funds were transferred into two savings accounts which generated £217 of additional income for the Society. The bank balance at the end of the period was £12,535- full details are in the accounts. Membership- the Society has 239 members, with over half being life members. The Committee has continued to try to engage and inform the membership of the Sociews activities via regular e-newsletter5 Public Benefit- The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the UK Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties.
2. Summary of the yearfs activities Planning- the Society has monitored planning applications in the area and made submissions and comments where appropriate, with the aim of preventing developments which we believe would be detrimental to the town's character or vibrancy or to the wellbeing of residents in general. Consultations- the Trustees publicised consultations on local projects such as the White Horse Reservoir and the Town Centre traffic schemes and encouraged members to respond. Heritage Open Days- as part of the national scheme, the society led the organisation of the town's Heritage Weekend. The theme was "Exploring Architerture" and we worked in collaboration with the Museum. the Historical Society, the Flower Club and Abingdon Artists. During the weekend, the Museum's re-enactment day had over a thousand visitors in six hours, other venues had over 700 in the two days, despite the heavy rain. As well as the stories and pictures in our 'Lost Buildings, and 'Evolving Abingdon" exhibitions, visitors were able to enjoy no fewer than 13 other "Open Doors" ranging from medieval houses and churches to the ultra-modern Sophos building together with activities for children. Unit 24125 Community Space- early in the year we were required to move from Unit 24 to Unit 25. We also started to having to pay for our electricity. The new premises were very popular and were very well used during the year, by a wide range of groups for meetings, exhibitions, training courses, repair workshops etc. We are also able to help other groups with storage of equipment. Groups who can afford it are encouraged to make donations and these were suff icient to cover all of the running and maintenance costs during the year. We have also been grateful for practical assistance from some of the regular user groups.

Archive - work is in hand to digitise the extensive collection of historic photographs in our archive~ and others which have been lent to us to share - and the first IO0+ are now available to the public on our website. It is hoped to expand this to include a wide range of interesting photographs held by other groups and individuals. Banking review- following the closure of several bank branches, the Society investigated the options for alternative provision, then produced an information sheet on the ser¥ices available for those wishing to do in-person banking. Hester Hand On behalf of the Trustees of The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society June 2026 FTrands t)fAbvyh7 Crrfr Sc¥xty Rwsler8d CharityNo 1183397 Joint H￿￿Pr&S[dents.. Felk)tyDK* DL 8ndL8yla lknran MP

Frlends of Ablngdon Clvlc Soclety Incomeand Expendltyrefortheyear ended 31st December 2025 Note 2024 Membership Subscrtptions 1.018 Unit 24 then Untt 25 Income Expen(Jiture 13,0061 2.073 15161 1,557 HeTltage Open Days Ir￿orne Expenditure 1.907 11,5211 12,7251 18571 Other income 320 590 Bank interest received 217 Toial Income 2A16 1308 AGM 75 Annual iTrSUTance 243 Archive boxes 334 Other 36 Walks leaflets 510 Web site 115 115 Total Expendlture 1.352 Surplus for year 956 Funds boughttorward 11.396 iOA40 Surplusforyear Funds carrledforward IL396 rJtAlb K E Butler BA FCA Treasurer and Trustee 14th June 2026

Frlends ofAblngdon Clvlc Society Income and Expendltureforthe yeafended31stDecember2025 Note5tothe accounts Note Incomeforthe community spaces IUnit24then Unit 251 includes Council grants of Nil12024- £1.0001. Incomefor Heritage Open Days includes Council grants of £1.80012024: £1.71￿1. Reserves Policy The Society holds rese￿esof £12,535 as at3tst December2025 in orderto fund its acbwties forthe foreseeable future. These accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and PayTnents basis.