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2025-03-31-accounts

Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood

Chairs Report 2025.

Once again, the past twelve months have been a challenging time for the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood.

Our grade 2 listed structure project is now virtually completed. Work has been carried out on The Lychgate, Potters Gate Huntingtons Bridge and the Drinking Fountain.

The structures have had any necessary repairs to the stonework and woodwork and have been Doff cleaned. Some minor repairs are still needed but in the main the group is happy with the results.

A big thank you to both Blackburn with Darwen Council, (particularly Chris Atkinson) and UK Restoration for their help with this project.

Sadly after a final push on the memorial area the group has decided to shelve this project. The group has tried to involve external parties in the project but sadly there has been no interest from Blackburn University or local Schools

It was felt that at this moment in time that the project is too big to take on for the group without any external help as the group doesn’t possess the necessary skills or funds to carry out this scale of project.

The group will revisit the feasibility of a memorial area in subsequent meetings.

Another tough decision that the group has made is to stop hosting the monthly craft fairs. It was felt that the attendance had fallen significantly during the last few events and was not financially viable to hold the craft fairs at the moment. This also led to the decision to cancel our broadband account as this was put in to aid the stall holders with card payments. This is a monthly cost that the group felt was no longer necessary.

Again the group will revisit the feasibility of holding craft fairs in the future.

The annual Carols in the Wood was a great success again this year with probably one of the biggest turnouts so far. This event has now become a major Christmas event for the Local and wider communities. The group should be proud of themselves for the significant planning and effort it takes to put on this event.

Regarding the Volunteer days that we host for local companies, initially we had interest from a number of companies that wanted to get involved but as time moved on all, but Capita dropped out. We are holding four Volunteer days for Capita this year. A big thank you to Capita for the work that they perform in the Wood. It is a great help and makes a difference.

The Group did receive some really good news earlier in the year. A significant amount of Funding from Darwen Destination has been allocated to the Sunnyhurst Wood.

The main path from Falcon Avenue all the way up to the reservoir will be completely renovated. This involves a certain amount of tree felling, installing new drainage and laying a new path. The path will have an improved surface and will be widened were possible to allow much better access through the wood. The new path will significantly improve access for the disabled. Work is expected to be complete by early next year.

Repair work to the Goit is still a topic that is constantly under discussion with Blackburn with Darwen Council. No significant plans have been made yet but the group has been told that there may be plans for some work to be carried out in the future.

I would like to personally like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has made a contribution in the last twelve months. Without your help and support the woods would be in a much poorer state.

Douglas Wright. Chair for the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood

Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood

Financial Report (Unaudited)

For the year ended

31[st] March 2025

Completed by Les Slack

Signature Date 31.05.25

Financial Position

Income

Our income for the last financial year to the end of March 2025 is less than the previous year partly because we had a large donation from Blackburn with Darwen Council with Section 106 money last year. Individual donations amounted to £196 while donation for refreshments at Craft Fairs was £76. Our fundraising efforts consisted of the Carols in the Wood event and a raffle at the same event which raised £1261and £69 pounds respectively. £10 was also raised from the box we had at the Nisa store. This source is no longer available as the store has closed. We got a grant of £1370 from Darwen Town Council for mechanised garden tools. The Craft Fairs that were being held monthly raised £245 from the table rental and our own Bric-A-Brac stall brought in £62. Due to a fall in the interest for these Craft Fairs it has been decided to cancel them for the foreseeable future. Hiring out the Visitor Centre raised £90. Due to bank savings being at a good interest rate the interest on our savings from all three accounts totalled £1472. A breakdown of the accounts can be found at Appendices A,B and C. In March we transferred £13800 from United Trust Bank to Lloyds Bank current account in anticipation of an invoice from Blackburn with Darwen Council for restoration work we have had done on four heritage structures in the wood. We have not yet received an invoice.

Expenditure

Our expenditure this year is less than last year because last year we moved £20000 from Lloyds Bank current account to United Trust Bank. We have not spent anything on woodland maintenance but as mentioned above we are waiting for an invoice to pay for the restoration work we have commissioned on four heritage structures. Work has been done on the Lightbown Fountain, Huntington Bridge, Potters Gate and Chadwick Gate (Lychgate). Carols in the Wood costs came to £616 including £300 for the band, £50 for the choir, £191 for Mulled wine and £74 for groceries. We have spent £75 on Mulled wine for our 2025 Carols in the Wood. Visitor Centre costs were £13 which was for domestic items and includes £1 Peppercorn rent to Blackburn with Darwen Council. We paid £50 to maintain the front garden at the Visitor Centre and we spent a total of £1493 on tools of which £1370 was from a Darwen Town Council grant. Miscellaneous items came to £23. Craft Fair costs for refreshments (tea, coffee, milk, biscuits etc) was £12. Our stationary costs were high this year at £200 due to the fact that we had to buy a new printer after the old one became unrepairable. Our Broadband contract cost us £324 this year and now that we have cancelled the Craft Fairs it had become surplus to requirements so it was decided by the members not to renew the contract when it finished in May.

Reserves and Restricted Funding

Once again our financial situation is very good and we can meet our target of keeping £1500 in reserve for emergencies.

As of 31.03.25 we have £14763 restricted in a 6 month fixed rate account until 18.08.25 and £7067 restricted in a 40 day notice account. Both accounts are at the United Trust Bank.

Total Restricted Funding £21830

Note. All the above amounts are to the nearest whole number.

Our Financial Position on 31.03.25 was:-

Balance at Lloyds Bank (Current Account). £23965.85 Balance at Jubilee Tower Credit Union. 362.34 Balance at United Trust Bank (Charity 6 month fixed rate account). 14762.80 Balance at United Trust Bank ( 40 day notice account). 7067.46 Total £46158.45

This total represents a 4.79% increase on the same period last year.

Note. Approximately £20000 will be needed from this total when we get the invoice for the work done on the aforementioned heritage structures.

Lloyds Bank Current Account April 1[st] 2024 – March 31[st] 2025

Date Description Type Receipt &
Invoice No
Income Expenditure Total
01.04.24 Balance Brought
Forward
£9,526.73
08.04.24 Brenda
Parkinson
Milk & biscuits for
Craft Fair
246 £4.37 £9,522.36
12.04.24 Visitor Centre April Craft Fair table
rental. Additional to
FPI on 18.03.24
PIB 500066 £5.00 £9,527.36
12.04.24 Peter Hunt Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500066 £5.00 £9,532.36
12.04.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500066 £1.00 £9,533.36
12.04.24 Visitor Centre Donation for
refreshments at Craft
fair
PIB 500066 £24.64 £9,558.00
24.04.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
247 £26.97 £9,531.03
05.05.24 Les Slack Milk,Orange juice &
Ribena for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
FOSW Debit
Card 248
£7.65 £9,523.38
09.05.24 Visitor Centre May Craft Fair table
rental
FPI £30.10 £9,553.48
09.05.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500067 £31.00 £9,584.48
09.05.24 Visitor Centre Donations for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
PIB 500067 £9.00 £9,593.48
09.05.24 Nisa Box Fundraising PIB 500067 £10.26 £9,603.74
09.05.24 Mike Smith Flowers to Gail
Wright for family
bereavement
FPO
249
£23.00 £9,580.74
10.05.24 BwD Council Peppercorn rent for
VC
FPO £1.00 £9,579.74
24.05.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
250 £26.97 £9,552.77
24.06.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
251 £26.97 £9,525.80
04.07.24 Ryobi Limited Tools FOSW Debit
Card 252
£1,369.91 £8,155.89
08.07.24 Visitor Centre July Craft Fair table
rental
FPI £35.00 £8,190.89
09.07.24 Ann Stokes Donation PIB 500069 £40.00 £8,230.89
09.07.24 Peter Hunt Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500069 £10.50 £8,241.39
09.07.24 Joan Moore Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500069 £10.00 £8,251.39
09.07.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500069 £9.00 £8,260.39
09.07.24 Visitor Centre Donations for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
PIB 500069 £14.09 £8,274.48
15.07.24 Beryl Holden Donation Lloyds receipt £100.00 £8,374.48
15.07.24 Ryman A5 Folder FOSW Debit
Card 253
£2.99 £8,371.49
22.07.24 Mike Smith Printer ink FPO
254
£3.99 £8,367.50
24.07.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
255 £26.97 £8,340.53
05.08.24 Screwfix Chainsaw oil FOSW Debit
Card 256
£5.84 £8,334.69
23.08.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
Cash
257
£5.00 £8,339.69
23.08.24 Darwen Town
Council
Grant for Ryobi tools Cheque
258
£1,369.91 £9,709.60
27.08.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
259 £26.97 £9,682.63
28.08.24 Sainbury's
Darwen
Milk for Visitor
Centre
FOSW Debit
Card 260
£5.34 £9,677.29
30.08.24 Doug Wright 24 pairs of work
gloves
FPO
261
£17.30 £9,659.99
03.09.24 Lidl Darwen Domestic items for
VC
FOSW Debit
Card 262
£2.54 £9,657.45
11.09.24 Tesco Darwen Mulled wine X 8
bottles
FOSW Debit
Card 263
£26.40 £9,631.05
20.09.24 BwD Council Hire of Visitor
Centre
Invoice No 62 £40.00 £9,671.05
24.09.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
264 £26.97 £9,644.08
07.10.24 Mike Smith Mulled wine X 11
bottles
FPO
265
£33.00 £9,611.08
07.10.24 Gail Wright Oct Craft Fair table
rental
FPI £25.00 £9,636.08
07.10.24 Visitor Centre Oct Craft Fair table
rental
PIB 500070 £20.00 £9,656.08
07.10.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Doation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500070 £1.00 £9,657.08
07.10.24 Visitor Centre Donations for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
PIB 500070 £9.70 £9,666.78
18.10.24 Doug Wright New Printer & ink
cartridges
FPO
266
£193.84 £9,472.94
20.10.24 Les Slack Ryobi Leaf blower FPO
267
£65.49 £9,407.45
22.10.24 Mike Smith Mulled wine X 6
bottles + groceries
for Carols in the
Wood
FPO
268
£81.61 £9,325.84
24.10.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
269 £26.97 £9,298.87
25.10.24 Les Slack Mulled wine X 8
bottles
FPO
270
£24.00 £9,274.87
25.10.24 Wayne Dixon Visitor Centre FPO £20.00 £9,254.87
garden 271
25.10.24 Mike Smith Mulled wine X 19
bottles
FPO
272
£57.00 £9,197.87
29.10.24 Asda Blackburn Mulled wine X 7
bottles
FOSW Debit
Card 273
£21.00 £9,176.87
30.10.24 Les Slack Mulled wine X 4
bottles
FPO
274
£12.00 £9,164.87
04.11.24 West Pennine
Sling
Hire of Visitor
Centre
FPI
Invoice No 63
£50.00 £9,214.87
05.11.24 Visitor Centre Nov Craft Fair table
rental
PIB 500071 £30.00 £9,244.87
05.11.24 Anonymous Donation at Craft
Fair
PIB 500071 £5.00 £9,249.87
05.11.24 Peter Hunt Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500071 £5.00 £9,254.87
05.11.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500071 £4.92 £9,259.79
05.11.24 Visitor Centre Donations for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
PIB 500071 £5.70 £9,265.49
08.11.24 Mike Smith Groceries for CitW
& red/white hazard
tape
FPO
275
£10.68 £9,254.81
13.11.24 Anonymous Donation via CA FPI £10.00 £9,264.81
25.11.24 B&Q Blackburn Steel head leaf rake. FOSW Debit
Card 276
£21.00 £9,243.81
25.11.24 Savoy service
station
Petrol for generator
+ 4 AA batteries
FOSW Debit
Card 277
£13.17 £9,230.64
25.11.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
278 £26.97 £9,203.67
29.11.24 Amazon refund Ryobi Leaf blower FPI £65.49 £9,269.16
02.12.24 Carols in the
Wood
Fundraising PIB 500072 £1,261.32 £10,530.48
06.12.24 Blackburn and
Darwen Band
Carols in the Wood FPO
279
£300.00 £10,230.48
06.12.24 Darwen Library
Larks Choir
Carols in the Wood FPO
280
£50.00 £10,180.48
09.12.24 Visitor Centre Craft Fair table
rental
FPI £80.00 £10,260.48
10.12.24 Visitor Centre Craft Fair table
rentalpayon the day.
PIB 500073 £20.00 £10,280.48
10.12.24 Dave Smith Donation for CitW. PIB 500073 £10.00 £10,290.48
10.12.24 FOSW
Christmas Raffle
Sale of tickets at Dec
Craft Fair.
PIB 500073 £69.00 £10,359.48
10.12.24 Visitor Centre Donations for
refreshments at Craft
Fair
PIB 500073 £12.73 £10,372.21
10.12.24 FOSW Bric-A-
Brac Stall
Donation from Craft
Fair
PIB 500073 £10.20 £10,382.41
16.12.24 Tesco Darwen Mulled wine X 6
bottles
FOSW Debit
Card 281
£15.00 £10,367.41
19.12.24 Asda Blackburn Mulled wine X 12
bottles
FOSW Debit
Card 282
£30.00 £10,337.41
23.12.24 Wayne Dixon Visitor Centre
garden
FPO
283
£30.00 £10,307.41
23.12.24 Les Slack Mulled wine X 12 FPO £30.00 £10,277.41
bottles 284
24.12.24 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
285 £26.97 £10,250.44
24.01.25 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
286 £26.97 £10,223.47
24.02.25 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
287 £26.97 £10,196.50
06.03.25 Lidl Darwen Groceries for Visitor
Centre
FOSW Debit
Card 288
£3.68 £10,192.82
17.03.25 United Trust
Bank
Transfer of savings FPI £13,800.00 £23,992.82
24.03.25 Plusnet Plc Broadband Monthly
DD
289 £26.97 £23,965.85
£26,771.29 £2,805.44
31.03.25 Balance Carried
Forward
£23,965.85

Abbreviations

DD – Direct Debit

FPI - Faster payment In

FPO – Faster Payment Out

JTCU – Jubilee Tower Credit Union

PIB – Paying in Book UTB – United Trust Bank

VC – Visitor Centre

Summary

Income Funds 24/25 Funds 23/24
Lloyds Bank Current Account
Donations £195.50 £5,605.96
Fundraising £1,330.32 £1,286.26
Grants £1,369.91 £0.00
Hire of Visitor Centre £90.00 £305.00
Craft Fair stall rental £245.10 £540.00
Donations for refreshments at Craft Fairs £75.86 £186.67
FOSW Bric-a-Brac stall at Craft Fairs £62.12 £136.38
Coop/Nisa Box(Fundraising) £10.26 £110.30
Amazon refund for faultyleaf blower £65.49 £0.00
Sale of excess wine from summer concert £0.00 £45.00
Savings into current account from Jubilee Tower Credit Union. £0.00 £2,000.00
Income foryear £3,444.56 £10,215.57
Income from savings account interest £1,472.26
Balance brought forward £9,526.73 £21,550.53
Savings into Current Account from United Trust Bank £13,800.00
Total income £28,243.55 £31,766.10
Expenditure
Lloyds Bank Current Account
Woodland Maintenance £0.00 £0.00
Events/Fundraising costs ( Summer Concert & Carols in the
Wood).
£836.24
Events/Fundraisingcosts(Carols in the Wood). £615.69
Mulled wine for Carols in the Wood. Note 1. £75.00
Visitor Centre costs £11.56 £31.55
Visitor Centre rental. £1.00 £1.00
Visitor Centregarden costs £50.00 £170.00
Misc costs £23.00 £74.50
Tool costs £1,492.71 £337.33
Craft Fair costs £12.02 £56.94
Training.(First Aid Trainingx 3) £0.00 £450.00
Broadband £323.64 £282.11
Stationary £200.82 £0.00
Savings out of Current Account to United Trust Bank £0.00 £20,000.00
Total Expenditure £2,805.44 £22,239.67
Funds to carryforward £25,438.11
Savings interest not carried forward to Lloyds Bank current
account
£1,472.26
Total funds carried forward. £23,965.85 £9,526.43
Restricted Funds
Reserves £1,500.00 £1,500.00
United Trust Bank Savings 3 month fixed rate bond gross interest
@ 4.38% restricted until 15.05.24
£14,092.64
United Trust Bank 6 month fixed rate Charity bond gross interest
@ 4.46% restricted until 17.08.25
£14,762.80
United Trust Bank Savings restricted for 40 days £7,067.46 £20,071.90
Total Restricted Funds £23,330.26 £35,664.54
Savings Interest
Jubilee Tower Credit Union account. £6.54 £326.64
United Trust Bank 3 or 6 month fixed rate account. £670.16 £460.80
United Trust Bank 40 daynotice account. £795.56 £71.90
For details of the above accounts see appendices A,B&C.
Total Savings Interest 01.04.23 - 31.03.24 £859.34
Total Savings Interest 01.04.24 - 31.03.25 £1,472.26
Note 1. £75 of Carols in the Wood costs are for Mulled wine
bought for Carols in the Wood 2025.

Appendix A

Date Account Name Money
In
Money
Out
**Balance ** Remarks
19.07.2
1
Transfer of Savings £5,000.00 £5,000.00 Xfrd from Lloyds Bank
Current Account
22.07.2
1
Transfer of Savings £15,000.00 £20,000.00 Xfrd from Lloyds Bank
Current Account
24.02.2
2
Jubilee Tower Credit
Union Dividend.
£29.16 £20,029.16 Dividend based on avg daily
balance beteen 01/10/20 &
30/09.21 of £3887.36
16.11.22 Transfer of Savings £18,000.00 £2,029.16 Xfrd to Lloyds Bank Current
Account
16.11.22 £2,029.16
31.03.2
3
£2,029.16
22.06.2
3
Jubilee Tower Credit
Union Dividend.
£250.22 £2,279.38 Dividend based on avg daily
balance beteen 01/10/21 &
30/09.22 of £20017.46
29.09.2
3
Transfer of Savings £2,000.00 £279.38 Xfrd to Lloyds Bank Current
Account
16.02.2
4
Jubilee Tower Credit
Union Dividend.
£76.42 £355.80 Dividend at 1.75% based on
Avg daily balance between
01/10/22 & 30/09/23 of
4367.13
21.03.2
5
Jubilee Tower Credit
Union Dividend.
£6.54 £362.34 Dividend at 2.00% based on
Avg daily balance between
01/10/23 & 30.09.24 of
326.91

Appendix B

Account Name Money
In
Money
Out.
Balanc
e
Remarks
United Trust Bank 40 Day
CharityNotice Account Issue 1
Gross Interest 3.75% paid
annually
on 31st October.
04.04.24 Gross interest increased to
4.10%
20.03.25 Gross interest reduced to 3.95%
22.09.23 Initial Deposit £10.00 £10.00
26.09.23 Transfer of Savings £19,900.00 £19,910.00
29.09.23 Transfer of Savings £90.00 £20,000.00
31.10.23 Credit Interest £71.90 £20,071.90
31.10.24 Credit Interest £795.56 £20,867.46
17.03.25 Transfer to Lloyds Bank Current
Account
£13,800.00 £7,067.46

Appendix C

Date Account Name Money In Money
Out
Balance Remarks
United Trust Bank
3 and 6 Month fixed
rate
CharityBonds
11.11.22 Interest 2%gross
13.02.23 Interest 2.05%gross
15.05.23 Interest 3.15%gross
15.08.23 Interest 4.11%gross
15.11.23 Interest 3.96%gross
15.02.24 Interest 4.38%gross
15.05.24 Interest 4.91%gross
17.02.25 Interest 4.46%gross
11.11.22 Transfer of Savings £5,000.00 £5,000.00 Xfrd from Lloyds Bank Current
Account
16.11.22 Transfer of Savings £22,000.0
0
£27,000.00 Xfrd from Lloyds Bank Current
Account
13.02.23 United Trust Bank £131.84 £27,131.84 Interest added.
13.02.23 Transfer of Savings £13,500.0
0
£13,631.84 Xfrd to Lloyds Bank Current Account
13.02.23 £13,631.84 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month bond paying 2.05%
31.03.23 £13,631.84
15.05.23 United Trust Bank £69.67 £13,701.51 Interest added.
15.05.23 £13,701.51 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month bond paying 3.15%
15.08.23 United Trust Bank £108.79 £13,810.30 Interest added.
15.08.23 £13,810.30 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month Bond paying 4.11%
15.11.23 United Trust Bank £143.07 £13,953.37 Interest added.
15.11.23 United Trust Bank £13,953.37 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month Bond paying 3.96%
15.02.24 United Trust Bank £139.27 £14,092.64 Interest added.
15.02.24 United Trust Bank £14,092.64 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month Bond paying 4.38%
15.05.24 United Trust Bank £154.98 £14,247.62 Interest added.
15.05.24 United Trust Bank £14,247.62 Account rolled over to new Charity 3
Month Bond paying 4.91%
15.08.24 United Trust Bank £176.33 £14,423.95 Interest added.
15.08.24 United Trust Bank £14,423.95 Account rolled over to new Charity 6
Month Bond paying 4.61%
17.02.25 United Trust Bank £338.85 £14,762.80 Interest added.
17.02.25 United Trust Bank £14,762.80 Account rolled over to new Charity 6
Month Bond paying 4.46%