LOWER CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES GREEN CENTRE Lower Green Community CIO Charity No: 1185574 Trustees, Annual Report for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Objectives and Activities Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document The objects of the CIO are to further or benefit the residents of Lower Green and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power to establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage orco- operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benef it, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. The activities of the CIO focus on the provision of a Community Café and Support Hub together with facilities and services to enable local residents to meet, socialise and take part in activities that benef it themselves and others in the comrnunity. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Contribution made by volunteers The Trustees recognise the valuable contribution to the achievements of the charity made by all of its volunteers Achievements and Performance The past 12 months have seen the Community Centre and Support Hub go from strength to strength thanks to the efforts of our dedicated staff and volunteers under the leadership of our Centre Manager Cathy Heavens. Cathy and her team work hard to ensure the Centre is a hive of activity and that there is always a warm welcome and support available to anyone in need. 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 benef its to society as a whole. Over the year we welcomed over 500 visitors to the Community Centre and supported around 60 local families. We published an Impact Report demonstrating the contribution we have made both in supporting local families and in benefitting and strengthening the Lower Green community as a whole. Our Café is the focal part of all we do. We keep our prices low and use surplus food as much as possible so it is affordable for all. Our Pay It Forward system means we can offer meals free of charge if needed and our Community Fridge provides bread and fresh produce which would otherwise go to waste. We are pleased to report that we were awarded a 5-star Food Hygiene rating when we were inspected by the Council. Throughout the week the Centre staff are on hand to provide help and support when needed including referrals to our partners Stripey Stork for children's clothing and equipment, and food support through our community fridge and emergency food store. Our weekly Advice Cafe has continued to grow and develop in partnership with Surrey Lifelong Learning, Citizens Advice, North Surrey Domestic Abuse service and CAP Debt advice. During the year we were able to offer Cost of Living and Energy Saving workshops thanks to funding from Elmbridge Council's Climate Change Fund and Total Energies Community Fund. We also ran some Wellbeing Workshops thanks to funding from Elmbridge Council's Community Wellbeing Grant and Walsingham Care. The Bike Shed project which received funding f rom Your Fund Surrey was a direct result of our partnership through the Advice Café with these other agencies. We operated as a Warm Hub during the winter months thanks to funding from Elmbridge Council's Partnership Fund and a Surrey County Council grant with free hot drinks available during our Advice café sessions. In the school holidays we provided craft activities and free lunch packs for children thanks for funding from Waitrose and donations from the congregation of Christchurch Esher. We are very grateful to our business partners in the community including Sandown Park Racecourse who once again organised a Christmas gifting appeal which saw racegoers bringing toys and other gifts to the popular Tingle Creek meeting in early December which we were then able to distribute to local families. A further highlight was the visit of two retired champion racehorse"Ambassadors" to the Lower Green which was enjoyed by children and adults alike. Sandown also provided complementary tickets for their Family Race Day which several Lower Green families attended with their children. We made further improvements to our building and outside areas thanks to Community Infrastructure Levy f unding from Elmbridge Council including replacing the community noticeboards in the car park and by the shop and new signage. We had our fair Share of problems with the building which is showing its age including roof leaks, collapsed ceiling tiles and kitchen drainage issues. These were ably sorted thanks to the assistance of the Elmbridge Council's lour landlord) building surveyor. We were disappointed to learn that the Community Engagement exercise initiated by Elmbridge Council as part of its long-term regeneration plans for Lower Green had to be Shelved due to the announcement of the Government's Devolution Bill which will see Elmbridge Borough Council and Surrey County Council replaced by a new Unitary Authority from April 2027. The Trustees would like to record my thanks to the staff, volunteers and residents of Lower Green and beyond who have made 2024-25 such a successful year for the Lower Green Community Centre and all it represents. Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held The CIO was in a healthy position financially with unrestricted reserves of £50,503 at 31 March 2025 The Trustees consider the level of reserve5 that is prudent for Lower Green Community CIO to have when agreeing the annual budget. This will normally be a sufficient to cover six months running costs . Consideration is given to future strategy, potential redundancy liabilities. and any other significant factors that should be taken into account were Lower Green Community CIO to close or move to new premises. The specific reserves policy including any designation of reserves for specific purposes is agreed by Trustees on an annual bas1S. Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern The Trustees have confidence in the charity continuing as a going concern. The principal sources of the charit¢s funds are grants from the various grant making bodies including the National Lottery, Community Foundation for Surrey, Walton Charitv, Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough Council. Walsingham Care, Waitrose Community Matters and Co-op Community Fund. Other sources include donations f rom Christchurch PCC and other supporters together with hall hire income and fundraising events. The charity's principal sources of funds lincluding anv fundraising) The principal financial risk is the loss of any further grant funding and the loss of revenue if the Centre was not able to be hired for any reason. A description of the principal risks facing the charitv As a small organisation there is a risk of over-reliance on a small number of individuals. The forthcoming Local Government Reorganisation which will see our landlord, and source of grant funding, Elmbridge Borough Council replaced by a more remote Unitary Authority means we are facing uncertainty and unknown challenges in the future. Structure, Governance and Management Description of charitrfs trusts: Type of governing document Constitution dated 13 September 2019 How is the charity constituted? The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation {ClO) Trustee selertion methods includin8 details of any conslitutional provisions Trustee selettion methods including details of any constitutional provisions Trustees are formally elected (or re-elected) at the AGM. Trustees may be C￿pted during the year by the current Trustees. Reference and Administrative details Charity name Lower Green Community CIO Regislered charity number Charl￿5 principal addfess Registered charity number 1185574 Lower Green Community Cent Farm Road Esher KTIO 8AU Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charity Trustee name Office (rf anv) Date5 acted ff not for whole year 16 October 2024 Stuart Selleck Chair Amanda Manship RobGoodall Treasurer John Dooley Declarations Th• trustoos docl•M that they havo approv•d th• trustw8, r•port abov0. sign￿ on behalf of the charity, Signaturo(•) Full namo(•) Stuart Selleck Rob Goodall Position Chair Treasurer Dat• 12- 2 ## **Lower Green Community CIO Receipts & Payments Accounts** ## **For the period 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted
Total funds £ Last year £
funds £ funds £
Receipts
Café sales 14,522 - 14,522 8,112
Hall hire 16,415 - 16,415 16,053
Donations 2,586 - 2,586 1,506
Fund raising - - - -
Building - - - 167
Organisation 1,361 - 1,361 17
Grants 750 137,530 138,280 87,512
Sub total 35,634 137,530 173,164 113,367
Asset and investment sales
- - -
Sub total - - - -
TOTAL RECEIPTS 35,634 137,530 173,164 113,367
Payments
Café 3,081 6,207 9,288 5,190
Building 7,595 11,144 18,738 7,929
Utilities 2,097 3,113 5,210 4,701
Small office purchases 1,865 7,916 9,781 2,877
Furniture & furnishings - - - 378
Insurance - 523 523 493
Miscellaneous 604 - 604 354
Office supplies 1,348 490 1,838 184
Salaries - 114,435 114,435 58,459
Telephone & Broadband 602 - 602 557
IT / Software 96 - 96 521
General & Administrative 1,492 277 1,769 1,314
Activities 149 7,947 8,096 1,860
Sub total 18,928 152,053 170,981 84,816
Asset and investment purchases
- - -
Sub total - - - -
TOTAL PAYMENTS 18,928 152,053 170,981 84,816
Net of receipts/(payments) 16,706 -14,523 2,183 28,551
Transfers between funds -1,827 1,827 0 0
Cash funds last year end 35,624 54,162 89,786 61,235
CASH FUNDS AT YEAR END 50,503 41,466 91,969 89,786
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Section 8 Statement of assels and liabilities at the end of Ihe period Unr*stricted Rtsstricted lunds £ funds £ Cash Funds C4¥h at 50.$03 41N66 Totol cash funds 50,503 41.466 uftt du• Wh•n du• Llabllllles SigHe¢l by we or behaN of ou Ihe truslees Pnnt Narne Dale of rrfvèl CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES | Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sèetlon A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to the trusteesl memb¢rs ol Lower Green Community CIO On accounts for the year ended 31. March 2025 Charity no lif any) 1185574 Set out on pages I report to the Ifuslees on my examinalion of the a¢￿untS of the above charrty I'lhe Twsl'l for the year ended Ro$ponsiblllties and As the charity Iruslees ol the Trusl. you afe fesponsiblg for the preparation ba$ls ol report of the a￿OUnt5 In accofdanrE with the requirements of the Chanlies Act 20111.lhe Act") I report in respecl ol my examination of the Trust's a￿UnIS carried out undei section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carying out my examination. I have lollowed the applicable Directions given by tho Charrty Commission under section 14515llbl ol the Act I have compleled my examination l ¢onfimi Ihal no material matters hove come lo my attenlion in connection with the examination which gives me cause lo believe that In. any malenal respecl accovnling o¢ords were not kept in accordance with seclion 130 of Ihe or Ihe accounls do a¢¢ord with the accounting records Independent •xarniner's statement I have no concems arKI have come auoss no other matter5 In connection with Ihe examination to which atter¢tion should be drawn in order lo enable proper understanding of the accounts to be ￿3¢he￿. Slgn•d: Dat•: 23° September 2025 Nam•: Garelh 8annisler Relevant prol•$*ional qualificatlonl$l or body lif any): Addr•$$: Magic Fox Lld Va Hudson Fox. Upper De¢k. Admirals Quarters. Portsmouth Road .Thames Ditton KT7 OXA IER October 2018 Section B Oisclosur• Only compiele Il Ihe examinei nee(Js lo highlight matters ol concern Isee CC32, Independent examinalion of Gharity accounts directions and guidance lor examiners). Give hero brief details ol any items that the examiner wishes to disclose IER October 2018