Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 31/03/2025 Period end date
Charity name: Kent Downs Trust
Charity registration number: 1184737
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Official purposes of the Kent Downs Trust: 1. To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical, natural and cultural environment of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and its setting in particular but not exclusively by: I. Carrying out work to improve the landscape, environment and built heritage; Ii. Supporting traditional skills and promoting all arts inspired by the Kent Downs AONB and its setting. 2. To advance the education of the public in particular in the conservation, protection and enhancement of the physical, scientific, natural and cultural environment of the Kent Downs AONB and its setting. |
| 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 Trustees have undertaken work looking at the next steps for the Charity after the unsuccessful attempts in the previous year to raise funding through grant applications. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The main activity has been to review what didn’t work the previous year and regain focus on how to research how best to meet the needs of new and diverse audiences who might benefit from its activities in the future. The Kent Downs National Landscape (KDNL) was supporting the Charity with some dedicated time from a staff member who was between projects, but unfortunately this person left KDNL. To support their ambition for the Charity the Trustees have sought additional support and commitment |
from the Kent Downs National Landscape staff team. The Trustees remain committed to the Trust and its work and will continue their work
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers 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 | During this period, the Trust continue to build on the consultants reports to try to secure funding to secure the future of our planned work. Using the ‘next steps’ guidance produced in 2022-23, a funding bid was submitted in January 2025 to the John Lewis Partnership for project funding but this was unsuccessful. Initial discussions for working with Kent Funding For All – a local charity - are underway and the plan for the next year (2025-26) is to work with Kent Funding For All which can support us to develop and deliver our ambitions. The Trustees seek to retain the Kent Downs Trust and remain committed to it. The plan is to register the charity for Gift Aid and further pursue funds through both donation and grant applications. |
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Additional information (optional)
| 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 | |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The reserve held is a grant to enable the continuing establishment phase of the Trust. Work is continuing to seek further funding to secure a financial footing for future activities. |
| Amount of reservesheld | Para 1.22 | £569 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| 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 where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Appointed charity trustees (a) Apart from the first charity trustees, every appointed trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. (b) Trustees will be nominated in line with the trustee recruitment policy, in selecting individuals for appointment as appointed charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. |
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Kent Downs Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charitynumber | 1184737 |
| Charity’s principal address | Kent Downs AONB Unit The Granary Penstock Hall Farm Brabourne Ashford KentTN25 5LL |
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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Arnold | Chair of Trustees | |||
| Richard Haynes | ||||
| Paul Bristow | ||||
| Nick Johannsen | ||||
– 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 Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Administrat ive support |
Lisa Monk-Jones | The Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Brabourne, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5LL |
| Administrat ive support |
Isabel Shaw | The Granary, Penstock Hall Farm, Brabourne, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5LL |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
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 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Caroline Arnold | Nick Johannsen | |
Chair of Trustees |
Ex Officio Trustee | |
| 31/01/26 | ||
| 31/01/26 |
Receipts and Payments Account for Kent Downs Trust for the year ended 31st March 2025
| Dr | CR | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts Balance b/f Cash in hand Interest Donations Grant funding received Earned income |
£ 569.00 £ - £ 1,393.66 £ - £ - £ - £ |
Payments Invoice payments Trustee expenses Administration expenses Room hire Bank charges Balance c/d |
£ - £ - £ - £ - £ 0.20 £ 1,962.46 £ |
| 1,962.66 £ |
1,962.66 £ |
Signed and Agreed
Nick Johannsen
Trustee Kent Downs Trust 31/01/2026