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2021-06-30-accounts

AVON NEEDS TREES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021 AVON NEEDS TREES CHARITY REG. NO. 1184386 COMPANY REG. NO. CE018181

INDEX TO THE TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 2
Trustees' Annual Report 3 - 6
Report of the Independent Examiner 7
Statement of financial activities 8
Balance sheet 9
Notes to the financial statements 10 - 13

AVON NEEDS TREES CHARITY REG. NO. 1184386 COMPANY REG. NO. CE018181 1 | P a g e

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

The Trustees serving during the period and since the period end were as follows:

Harriet Alvis retired on 28 June 2021 and Nicola Jones retired on 26 July 2021.

Registered Office 1-3 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8AA Independent Examiner

Ryan Corkery FCCA Magic Bean Counters, Chartered Certified Accountants Unit 7, The Old Co-op, 38 Chelsea Road, Bristol, BS5 6AF

Website and email

https://www.avonneedstrees.org.uk/ contact@avonneedstrees.org.uk

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

The Trustees present their Annual Report and Independent Examiner’s Report for the period from 13 July 2020 to 30 June 2021, the year-end having been changed from 12 July for administrative convenience.

The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charitable company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charitable company's governing document and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015) as amended by Update Bulletin 1 (effective January 2015).

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Constitution – Avon Needs Trees (“ANT”) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), formed in April 2019 and registered as a charity in July 2019. The affairs of ANT are governed by its Constitution which established the objects and powers of ANT. In the event of the charity being wound up the trustees have no liability for its debts.

Appointment of Trustees - the management of ANT is the responsibility of the Trustees who are appointed under the terms of the Constitution. Trustees remain in post until they retire or otherwise cease under the provisions of the Charity constitution, and new Trustees are elected by the Trustees then in post.

Organisational structure and decision-making policies - i n common with most small charities the organisational structure is flat and kept simple, the Trustees making key decisions at regular monthly Trustee meetings. As a result of the growth of ANT the Chair took on the remunerated role of Director for the period from December 2020 to May 2021, at which point a Director was formally appointed after an extensive recruitment exercise, working four days per week, and since the year-end an Administrator has been appointed.

Risk Management policy – The Trustees have identified the potential risks to ANT and ranked them according to likelihood and severity. For each risk they have identified mitigation and a responsible person, and the risk register is reviewed at every regular meeting of the Trustees.

Public Benefit - the Trustees have reviewed the Charity Commission's guidance on the requirement to report on public benefit. They are satisfied that the work of ANT, as described below, accords with its stated objects and provides tangible public benefit to an appropriate section of those who reside within ANT's area of benefit.

Going concern - after making appropriate enquiries, the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that ANT has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The objects of ANT are:

The Bristol-Avon catchment area comprises the land identified as such by the Environment Agency, covering the rivers that feed into the Bristol area and their surrounding territory. In practice this includes land from just south of Clevedon to south of Frome, to Devizes and Wootton Bassett in the east, and to just north of Wotton-underEdge and Thornbury in the north, which lies within the counties of South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bath & North-East Somerset, North Somerset, and Bristol City.

Review of activities undertaken to achieve objectives

In April 2019 Avon Needs Trees was set up with the intention of buying land in the Bristol-Avon Catchment Area to create new, permanent forest through reforesting and rewilding. Our operational objectives are to lock up carbon, improve biodiversity, create natural flood defences and to provide public amenity space for the local community. A 34-acre site at Hazeland, near Calne, Wiltshire, was identified, fundraising was carried out and an application made to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (“NLHF”) for funding amounting to £240,200, which was successful in April 2020.

This meant that we could proceed with the purchase at Hazeland for £325,000, which was completed in August 2020; NLHF have funded 53% of the costs of the project, so have paid £172,807 of the purchase price, the balance being funded from specific donations towards the purchase of Hazeland (£134,708) and a balance of £17,485 funded from general donations. The NLHF funding meant that we could employ a Project Coordinator from November 2020 and undertake a programme of tree planting (trees kindly donated by the Woodland Trust) and other activities on the site, with the assistance of a large team of volunteers, though activities were obviously curtailed by the Covid pandemic. ANT has achieved its objectives of surveying and managing the land at Hazeland and planting more than 10,000 trees.

Financial Review

As part of the NLHF funding, ANT has to fund 47% of project costs from its own resources, and also funds the post of Director and other administrative expenses. A total of £255,127 of unrestricted funding was raised during the year, including a further £143,282 from RHS Trust (bringing their total funding of ANT up to £303,282 as they donated £160,000 in the previous year which allowed ANT to fund the employment of the Director), and expenditure amounted to £51,179 so Unrestricted Funds increased by £203,948 during the year.

At the end of the period there was a surplus of £409,056 carried forward in unrestricted funds, £307,515 carried forward in restricted funds for the Hazeland purchase, and £49,640 in restricted revenue funding, so total funds amounted to £766,211, an increase of £257,214 during the year.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Reserves Policy

The Trustees have agreed to create a reserve fund, reflecting ANT’s long-term responsibilities of owning and managing land, and responsibility as an employer. The reserve will not fall below the equivalent of one year’s salary for all paid workers, and one year’s basic land management costs for all land owned, which is estimated to amount in total to a required reserve of £120,000. We also have £17,485 of funds invested in Hazeland. The remaining balance of Unrestricted funds, held in cash, amounts to £271,571, which is held in anticipation of their use in further land purchases; since the year-end, £88,000 has been used to fund the balance of costs of

Volunteers

ANT had around 200 volunteers during the year and is most grateful for the immense contribution that they make; without them ANT would not exist. As part of the NLHF conditions for grant funding, volunteer time is recorded at Hazeland; during the year we recorded 480hrs of professional time, 1,100hrs of skilled time, and 3,100hrs of general volunteer time, which costed at standard NLHF rates equates to a contribution of £76,900 of time (not reflected in the accounts) which excludes Trustee time spent on management and all volunteer effort spent on other projects in the year.

FUTURE PLANS

Ever since the initial purchase of the site at Hazeland, ANT has been searching for additional sites to purchase and identified one at Stanley Lane, now named Pudding Brook Wood; after a fundraising exercise, this was purchased in November 2021 for £198,000, of which £110,000 was raised from donors. Funding of £77,000 to cover tree planting and similar costs was obtained from Great Western Community Forest, £20,000 was received from Peoples Postcode Lottery to fund staffing costs and associated overheads, and various other grants and donations were received towards our costs, and the site has been fully planted.

ANT is considering a number of sites across the area, which are ranked according to a matrix of factors, and hopes to complete a purchase during the second half of 2022, ready to plant trees in winter 2022/23. We are also considering extending our model to consider partnerships involving sites owned by third parties, where long-term management agreements can be put in place, to speed up the process of increasing the number of sites in management.

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TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees confirm that to the best of their knowledge there is no information relevant to the Independent Examination of which the Examiner is unaware. The Trustees also confirm that they have taken all necessary steps to ensure that they themselves are aware of all relevant financial information and that this information has been communicated to the Examiner.

Approved by the Trustees on 28 April 2022 and signed on their behalf by

Andy Mullett - Trustee

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF AVON NEEDS TREES CIO

I report on the financial statements of Avon Needs Trees CIO for the period ended 30 June 2021 which are set out on pages 8-13.

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 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act; follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act); and state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

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 charity 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 examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect:

I 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.

Ryan Corkery FCCA

Magic Bean Counters, Chartered Certified Accountants Unit 7, The Old Co-op, 38 Chelsea Road, Bristol, BS5 6AF

6 May 2022

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Note
Income
Voluntary
Donations: Capital
2
Donations: Revenue
2
From Charitable activities
National Lottery (NLHF)
Other charitable income
Interest received
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Fundraising:
Costs of charitable activities:
3
Total resources expended
Net incoming resources for the period
Transfer between funds
Funds brought forward
Funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted:
Restricted:
Total
NLHF
Other funds
£
£
£
£
-
-
71,019
71,019
251,980
-
8,971
260,951
-
-
-
-
2,992
-
-
2,992
155
-
-
155
Period Ended 30 June 2021		 2020
Total
£
63,689
213,086
240,200
-
19
255,127
0
79,990
335,117		 516,994
-
-
-
-

51,179
19,582
7,142
77,903		 2,910
5,087
51,179
19,582
7,142
77,903		 7,997
203,948
(19,582)
72,848
257,214
-
-
-
-		 508,997
-
203,948
(19,582)
72,848
257,214
205,108
240,200
63,689
508,997		 508,997
-
409,056
220,618
136,537
766,211		 508,997

The above results relate wholly to continuing activities; there were no recognised gains or losses other than those included above.

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

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BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 30 JUNE 2021

Note
Tangible Fixed Assets
Freehold Land - Hazeland
6
Current Assets
Debtors: NLHF
Agreed future funding
Claim submitted
Bank balances
Cooperative Bank
Monmouthshire BS
Bristol Credit Union
Triodos Bank
CAFBank
Current Liabilities
Trade Creditors
7
Total assets less current liabilities
Fund Balances
8		 Unrestricted
Restricted:
Restricted:
Total
NLHF
Other funds
£
£
£
£
17,485
172,807
134,708
325,000
Period Ended 30 June 2021		 2020
Total
£
-
43,892
-
43,892
-
3,919
-
3,919
89,591
-
1,829
91,420
85,018
-
-
85,018
85,000
-
-
85,000
84,907
-
-
84,907
56,533
-
-
56,533		 240,200
-
78,282
-
74,501
60,019
55,995
401,049
47,811
1,829
450,689
(9,478)
-
-
(9,478)		 508,997
-
391,571
47,811
1,829
441,211		 508,997
409,056
220,618
136,537
766,211		 508,997
409,056
220,618
136,537
766,211		 508,997

These financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 28 April 2022 and were signed on their behalf by:

____ Andy Mullett - Trustee

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

1. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

Accounting convention - The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 (“Charities SORP (FRS102)”), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Charities SORP (FRS 102) rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. Avon Needs Trees meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Going concern - The Trustees have at the time of approving the financial statements a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Income - is recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities (“SoFA”) in the year in which it is receivable. Gifts in kind are recognised in the SoFA as income at the fair value of the goods, services or assets gifted at the date of the gift.

Expenditure - is included in the SoFA on an accruals basis. Charitable activities include direct costs and support expenditure associated with the main activity of tree planting.

Fixed assets - No depreciation is provided on freehold land purchased for the purposes of tree-planting, as residual value is estimated to approximate or exceed cost so that any depreciation charge would be trivial in the context of the financial statements.

Cash at bank and in hand - includes cash and short term highly liquid investments held for working capital.

Creditors - are recognised where the Charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

Fund Accounting - Restricted Funds are held to be used for specified purposes, as indicated by the donors. General Funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of ANT. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the Trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Taxation - ANT is a registered charity and as such tax exemption applies to the income arising from and expended on activities.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

2. DONATIONS

Funding for Hazelands:
Bristol Energy
Individual Donations
Natracare
CrowdFunding campaigns
Calne Town Council
General donations
RHS Trust
Corporate donors
Individual donors		 Unrestricted
Restricted:
Restricted:
Total
Hazeland
Hazeland
Capital
Revenue
£
£
£
£
-
46,019
-
46,019
-
25,000
3,795
28,795
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,176
5,176
143,282
-
-
143,282
15,668
-
-
15,668
93,030
-
-
93,030
Period Ended 30 June 2021		 2020
Total
£
-
10,000
30,000
23,689
-
160,000
-
53,086
251,980
71,019
8,971
331,970		 276,775

3. CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE

NLHF Hazeland Costs Staffing costs
Site costs
Professional fees
Other costs
ANT costs
Director - Self-employed
Director - employed
Administator
Site costs
Adminsitrative costs		 Unrestricted
Restricted:
Restricted:
Total
NLHF
Other funds
£
£
£
£
8,458
9,604
-
18,062
6,097
4,088
5,596
15,781
3,713
4,216
-
7,929
1,474
1,674
-
3,148
Period Ended 30 June 2021		 2020
Total
£
-
-
-
-
19,742
19,582
5,596
44,920		 -
18,531
-
-
18,531
2,333
-
-
2,333
3,521
-
-
3,521
5,114
-
1,546
6,660
1,938
-
-
1,938		 -
-
770
2,535
1,782
31,437
-
1,546
32,983		 5,087
51,179
19,582
7,142
77,903		 5,087

4. STAFF NUMBER AND COSTS

The only employee was the Director, employed from 1 June 2021 – his remuneration for the period amounted to £2,333 (National Insurance contributions offset by annual Employment Allowance).

5. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS FEES

The independent examiners fee recognised in these financial statements to £672 (2020 nil recognised)

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS – FREEHOLD LAND

On 5 August 2020 ANT purchased, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and various donors, a 34-acre site at Hazeland, near Calne, Wiltshire for £325,000, which has now been planted with trees, in accordance with the Charity’s objectives. The site cannot be resold without permission from NLHF. The site is stated in these accounts at cost; no calculation of possible impairment arising from tree planting activities has been calculated.

7. CREDITORS

Trade creditors
Accruals: Grant to be repaid
Payroll creditors		 2021 2020
Total
-
-
-
Total
3,976
5,000
502
9,478 -

8. RESTRICTED FUNDS

National Lottery Heritage Fund
Capital - towards Hazeland purchase
Revenue - towards Hazeland running costs
Other Restricted Funds
Capital - towards Hazeland purchase
Natracare
Bristol Energy
Individual Donations
CrowdFunding campaigns
Revenue - towards Hazeland running costs
Calne Town Council
Fi Radford: In Memoriam
Peoples Trust- Orchard Trees Grant		 Balance
Amounts
Expenditure
Balance
brought
received
during
carried
forward
in year
the year
forward
£
£
£
£
172,807
-
-
172,807
67,393
-
(19,582)
47,811
240,200
-
(19,582)
220,618
30,000
-
-
30,000
-
46,019
-
46,019
10,000
25,000
-
35,000
23,689
-
-
23,689
63,689
71,019
-
134,708
-
5,176
(5,176)
-
-
3,375
(1,546)
1,829
-
420
(420)
-
-
8,971
(7,142)
1,829
63,689
79,990
(7,142)
136,537

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

During the period from July to December 2020 ANT paid Dorian Wainwright, the son of the Chair of Trustees, £7,449 (2020 £1,440) for freelance administrative services – this arrangement was approved by the Trustees.

10. TRANSACTIONS WITH TRUSTEES

As a result of the growth of ANT, and with authority granted by the statutory power contained in section 185 of the Charities Act 2011, the Chair, Ms Nikki Jones took on the remunerated role of Director for the period from December 2020 to May 2021, during which period she was paid a total of £18,531, at hourly rates of £21/hr for project management and £15/hr for administration and bookkeeping services. All costs were invoiced to ANT and duly approved by the Trustees. This contract ceased with the employment of a salaried Director from 1 June 2021.

No other trustees received any remuneration or other benefits during the period (2020 nil)

The charity has purchased Trustee Indemnity Insurance cover.

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