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2023-12-31-accounts

Charity registration number: 1184830

Wild About Clifford Annual report and financial statements for year ended 31[st] December 2023

Wild About Clifford

Contents

Reference and administrative details 3

Trustees report 4 Statement of financial activities

9

Wild About Clifford

Reference and administrative details

Trustees Dr Trevor Acreman Mrs Linda Pollock Mrs Heather Taylor Principal Office Maytrees 44 Clifford Chambers Warwickshire CV37 8HX

Charity number 1184830

Bank Santander 21 Wood St Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6JU

Wild About Clifford

Trustees report

The trustees present the annual report and financial statements for Wild About Clifford for the year ending 31[st] December 2023.

Trustees

Dr Trevor Acreman

Mrs Linda Pollock

Mrs Heather Taylor

Introduction

Wild About Clifford (WAC) became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Association model) on 8[th] August 2019. Having started as a community group in April 2017, members voted to become a charity at the AGM in early 2019. The primary reasons for this were to be able to legally own land and to give the potential for larger grant income. 2020 was planned to be the first full year of activities, education and fund raising but Covid 19 intervened and its impact continued into 2021. Activities increased in 2022 although fundraising remained a challenge. As of the end of December 2023, c80 members and their families had signed up to the purposes of WAC.

Objectives

The trustees shall first defray out of the income of the Charity all of the proper costs, charges and expenses of administration and management of the Charity.

The trustees shall apply the income of the Charity to promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by promoting biological diversity primarily in the village of Clifford Chambers and in exceptional cases also in the broader Parish of Clifford Chambers and Milcote and the local authority area of Stratford Upon Avon District Council.

The trustees shall also apply the income of the Charity to advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment primarily in the village of Clifford Chambers and in exceptional cases also in the broader Parish of Clifford Chambers and Milcote and the local authority area of Stratford Upon Avon District Council.

Wild About Clifford

Trustees report

Activities

The 5-year plan, completed in January 2020, outlined on-going conservation and education efforts along with two major long-term projects – establishment of a community orchard and a village wildlife pond. In total, a target of c£57,000 was set to fund these activities. This plan continued to set the background for 2023 whilst day to day activities continued.

During 2023 discussions continued with respect to buying or leasing land as did fund raising to pay for it – a continuing chicken and egg situation. Shortage of available land remains a key hurdle to progress and threatens realisation of the 5-year plan.

The annual AGM was held on 1[st] April with 24 members present.

WAC continues to be active in SWAN (South Warwickshire Area wildlife Network). Whilst it is still early days, we hope to share learning and potentially have more political impact as a group. SWAN is currently looking at becoming a registered group.

We again attended the annual Warwickshire Recorders Event to keep abreast and network with various local experts and activities.

We also advised the adjacent parish on content and activities for their first ‘Green event’.

Activities and events returned to more normal levels post Covid with the trustees regarding 2023 as a successful build on previous years.

1) Conservation

The main new activity was joining a community science project called SafeAvon. This involves monitoring water quality of the river Stour running through the village (a tributary of the Avon) to generate data to help inform local politicians and the water companies as to the local water pollution issues. Whilst it is early days, early tests show nitrate and phosphate pollutants to be consistently at a high or very high level. Testing will continue weekly for at least one year to show any seasonal patterns.

The AGM was immediately followed by a session making hedgehog boxes. A total of 9 were made for individuals to take away. The other conservation activities were maintenance of the hedge planted in the Rec and the continuation of the broadcast of swift calls morning and evening

from May to July. Whilst no swifts were seen to nest in the boxes, several swifts were seen around the village we are hopeful for 2024.

Approximately 10 bird boxes, 5 bird feeders and 4 bee boxes were made and sold for installation in the village/parish. Two bird boxes, supplied by the RSPB, were installed in the village churchyard.

Wild About Clifford

Trustees report

Activities (cont)

A moth trap was operated throughout the calendar year with 45 nights trapping. 16 new macro species were detected for the village including an Emperor moth and a Clouded grey (only the 6[th] Warwickshire record in 10 years). 250+ macro moth species have now been identified in the village.

The village allotments continue to be an important wildlife haven and WAC has successfully lobbied the Parish Council who have applied to make them an Asset of Community Value. The allotment holders have also constructed a number of ‘dead hedges’ as refuges for wildlife and an alternative to burning woody vegetation.

Letters were sent to the Parish Council regarding cutting of verges and reminding them of the change in planning laws and biodiversity gain.

2) Education

The conservation efforts themselves each had an element of education but in addition several specific educational events were run.

The main events of the year were…

Four articles were published in the village magazine including ones on gardening for wildlife and another on bird feeders.

The popular WAC newsletter was re-launched with a more professional look and template courtesy of Mike Hill. Over the course of the year 20 newsletters, highlighting seasonal wildlife and issues in the village and surrounding area, were sent out to c80 members from March to November. The new look newsletter was very well received.

The charities night time cameras and bat detectors were loaned out to villagers as they were keen to learn what was out and about in their gardens. The charities moth trap has been made available to members, to broaden members knowledge and to allow an audit of village moths.

Wild About Clifford

Trustees report

Public Benefit

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Funding

Over 90% of the Charities funding is expected to come from grants – with the remainder from proceeds from events and also donations.

Following a successful 2020 (5 grants worth £17,400 awarded) less effort has gone into funding until we have land to buy or lease.

Nonetheless, we are very grateful to the Thomas Jackson Education Foundation for a grants of £1670 and £216 to cover our educational and operational costs for the year.

A sum of c£101 was received from thegivingmachine.co.uk and Amazon purchase activity and a further £229 from sales.

Overall, we have not progressed beyond the one third of the funds needed for the 5-year plan. We will return to greater fundraising activity but only once we have secured land to buy/lease.

Wild About Clifford

Trustees report

Financial Review

It is the policy of the Charity to maintain free reserves of at least 12 months of operating expenditure (costs of generating funds, administration and governance costs). This was set at £2000 for 2023. A further c£17,000 is reserved towards the target for our 5 year plan leaving a further c£37,000 to be raised.

Other Activities

Recruitment of Trustees

The constitution states the body of trustees shall consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 competent, elected trustees. Four trustees were appointed at the formation of the Charity with one resigning on 11th February 2020. Further trustees will be sought in future. Trustees are appointed by members or trustees until their retirement or removal – they do not serve a fixed term.

Major Risks and Management of Risk

The principal risk is failure to attract sufficient grant funding to fulfil our purposes. As we have no salary costs, nor other significant non-project related costs, there is great flexibility in the level of project work each year and the trustees do not consider there to be any significant risks associated with the operation of the charity.

Thanks

Thanks, must be extended to our trustees, members and other volunteers for their efforts and involvement over the year and to Mike Hill for his design services.

The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 16[th] January 2024 and signed on its behalf by

…………………………………………

Dr T M Acreman

Trustee

Wild About Clifford

Statement of Financial Activities for Year Ended 31 December 2022

Income for the year was £2329.46 with expenditure of £1732.84. The charity had a balance of £21577.54 on 31 December 2023. Details of our bank current account, bank deposit account and petty cash transactions and balances are given in full below.

WildAboutCliford Charity1184830- Bank 2023 WildAboutCliford Charity1184830- Bank 2023 WildAboutCliford Charity1184830- Bank 2023
IN OUT
Date Details Amount Donation Sales Amount Event Expenses Overheads Balance
Grants Costs
1.1.23 B. Forward £188.69
7.1.23 Cliford Chambers Charities £1,670.00 £1,670.00 £1,858.69
10.1.23 Cliford Chambers Charities £1,600.00 £1,600.00 £3,458.68
20.1.23 The GivingMachine £17.24 £17.24 £3,475.93
7.2.23 Cliford Chambers Charities -£1,600.00 -£1,600.00 £1,875.93
24.2.23 Robert Dyas - circuit breaker £12.99 £12.99 £1,862.94
25.3.23 B &Q- adaptor £1.46 £1.46 £1,861.48
25.3.23 For Logs £35.00 £35.00 £1,896.48
11.4.23 Mike Hill - Newsletter template £200.00 £200.00 £1,696.48
28.4.23 Amazon £5.00 £5.00 £1,701.48
28.4.23 The GivingMachine £15.70 £15.70 £1,717.18
19.5.23 Amazon £8.41 £8.41 £1,725.59
2.6.23 The GivingMachine £23.37 £23.37 £1,748.96
8.6.23 Katie Beswick - Foraging £250.00 £250.00 £1,498.96
4.7.23 John Kirk - Moths £30.00 £30.00 £1,468.96
30.7.23 Heart of Engforest - walk £200.00 £200.00 £1,268.96
19.8.23 B &Q £7.02 £7.02 £1,261.94
24.8.23 South Essex Insurance £238.64 £238.64 £1,023.30
7.9.23 South Essex Insurance £38.67 £38.67 £984.63
12.9.23 Assorted -payments re River £216.01 £216.01 £768.62
14.9.23 Mike Hill - Newsletter template £210.00 £210.00 £558.62
22.9.23 The GivingMachine £15.60 £15.60 £574.22
17.10.23 CCC towards clean rivers £216.01 £216.01 £790.23
7.11.23 Mesh for Birdfeeders £31.80 £31.80 £758.43
9.11.23 toolstation - staples £29.66 £29.66 £728.77
14.11.23 B &Q £10.67 £10.67 £718.10
14.11.23 Staples £4.49 £4.49 £713.61
15.11.23 Credit from B &Q -£5.99 -£5.99 £719.60
1.12.23 The GivingMachine £15.28 £15.28 £734.88
14.12.23 Sales of Bird Boxes £64.00 £64.00 £798.88
£2,085.61 £2,021.61 £64.00 £1,475.42 £480.00 £308.11 £687.31
Wild About Cliford Charity 1184830 - Petty Cash 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity 1184830 - Petty Cash 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity 1184830 - Petty Cash 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity 1184830 - Petty Cash 2023
Date Details Amount **Donations/ ** Events Event Cost sExpenses Overheads Balance
1.1.23 B. Forward £257.39
1.4.23 Food AGM £23.60 £23.60 £233.79
1.4.23 Sales - HedgehogBoxes
£115.00		 £115.00 £348.79
10.5.23 Sales - HedgehogBoxes
£15.00		 £15.00 £363.79
25.5.23 Needlefelt for Moth Da y
£143.82		 £143.82 £219.97
31.12.23 Hire of Hall £90.00 £90.00 £129.97

Wild About Clifford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023

Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023 Wild About Cliford Charity - Savings Account - 14326525 2023
Date Details Amount Balance
1.1.22 Brought Forward £20,526.40
31.8.22 Interest to Aug22 £8.44 £20,534.84
31.8.23 Interest to Aug23 £113.85 £20,648.69

The financial statements above were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on 16[th] January 2024 and signed on their behalf by

………………………………………

Dr T M Acreman

Trustee