Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] August 2024 To 31[st] July 2025 Period start date Period end date Charity name: River Roding Trust
Charity registration number: 1184680
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To preserve, protect and restore the River Roding for the public benefit and to undertake and carry out projects and activities of a charitable nature related to the river which will assist in promoting recreation, protecting the environment and educating the public about the history of the river. |
| 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 |
Removing rubbish and invasive species from the river. Planting trees. Creating public access and public amenity along the river. Collaboration with local environment and arts groups. Water quality monitoring. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making N/A Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment The charity is entirely run by volunteers, who are involved in all our activities,
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | including rubbish removal, tree planting & path creation. We usually have between 5 and 20 volunteers at our events. |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
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 | Awareness raising/advocacy 03.11.2024: Speech delivered by Chair at end of ‘March for Clean Water’ outside Houses of Parliament 24.11.2024: Presentation delivered at ‘River Films' event, Barking 05.06.2025: Joined Epping Forest Consultative Group to represent rights of Roding on Epping Forest border (Wanstead Park) Education/partnerships 30.04.2025: Talk delivered at Friends of Wanstead Parklands AGM 18.05.2025: Walk led for Wren nature group 30.05.2025: Wild Roding walk led and giant camera obscura installed in Ilford/Barking reedbeds (Thames21 London Rivers Week and LNPC Walking Festival) 01.06.2025: Debden-Wanstead guided walk led (Thames21 London Rivers Week) Projects 16.12.2024: ‘Ilford Arrival’ photo documentation on baseline walking tour with Redbridge Borough Council, GLA and Akou 14.01.2025: ‘Reclaim Our Roding’ citizen science water quality testing report published in partnership with Thames21: https://www.thames21.org.uk/2025/01/high- levels-of-bacteria-found-in-the-river-roding- new-study-finds/ 17.03.2025: Participation in ‘Roding Rises’ public consultation with Thames21 and Transition Town Ilford Conservation/restoration 23.11.2024: Launch of Woodford-Wanstead volunteer group 19.01.2025: Work day to create otter and amphibian shelters, Woodford Bridge 23.01.2025: Clean-up of significant oil spill, Loxford Water 08.02-09.03.2025: Clean-up of Alders Brook |
25.02.2025: Community litter pick and tree planting, in partnership with Redbridge Borough Council 26.04.2025: Creation of new riverside pond, Barking 27.04.2025: Clean-up of less accessible side of underpass beneath A406/A12 intersection, Redbridge 23.06.2025-21.07.2025: Extraction of Himalayan Balsam in Barking and between South Woodford and Wanstead (>100 volunteer hours)
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The Trust is financially viable and sustainable. We have sufficient income year on year for our activities and sufficient reserves. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held for future projects. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £5000 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
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 | Boaters’ mooring fees. Small donations. Occasional larger one-off donations. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | No investments. |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Charity admin being undertaken by overstretched volunteers. Difficulty in recruiting Trustees. Volunteer numbers reducing. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 |
Trust Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | 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 Trust actively seeks potential Trustees with a deep commitment to the care of and advocacy for the River Roding, and who have key skills required for the effective running of the charity. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity’s organisational structure and any wider Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | River Roding Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1184680 |
| Charity’s principal address | 75 Dames Road London E7 0DW |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Powlesland | Chairman | |||
| Alistair Stephens | Trustee | |||
| Derek Seume | Trustee | From 18.05.25 | ||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
N/A |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) |
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
Other optional information
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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date |
||
|---|---|---|
| Paul Powlesland | ||
Chair |
||
| 20.05.2026 | ||
| 20.05.2026 |
River Roding Trust
Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st July 2025
| Income Donations Grants Mooring fees Total income Expenditure Events Grants Mooring payments Projects Repairs & maintenance Water testing Total expenditure Net income/expenditure Balance sheet as at 31/07/2025 Fixed assets Cash book account, of which: Unrestricted funds Designated funds Current assets |
Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted |
Designated |
Total | |
| 9,129 0 850 9,979 120 0 400 9,238 251 0 10,009 -30 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Accounts prepared on a receipts and payments basis.