Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From: 9[th] December 2019 Period start date To: 31[st] December 2020 Period end date
Charity name: Whitby Park Community Garden
Charity registration number: 1186825
Contents
Objectives and Activities .......................................................................................................................... 2 Achievements and Performance .............................................................................................................. 3 Financial Review ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Structure, Governance and Management ................................................................................................ 4 Reference and Administrative details ...................................................................................................... 5 Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others ............................................................................. 5 Exemptions from disclosure ..................................................................................................................... 6 Other optional information ...................................................................................................................... 6 Declarations .............................................................................................................................................. 6
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance education for the public benefit in the subjects of horticulture, healthy eating, conservation of natural resources and improvement of wildlife diversity, in particular by providing opportunities for learning in and around Whitby Park Community Garden. To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Cheshire West and Chester the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship, or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants. |
| 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 |
Due to the global COVID pandemic the following activities have been provided as when it has been legal and possible to deliver. We have continued to deliver a 12 week ‘Gardening for All’ programme as part of Cheshire’s Natural Health Service (ChNaHS) in conjunction with The Mersey Forest. The programme aims to promote participants wellbeing and physical activity through social engagement and advancement of people’s education in the subjects of horticulture, healthy eating, conservation of natural resources and improvement of wildlife diversity, by providing opportunities for learning in and around the garden and wider Whitby Park. This has included wood working, plant and tree identification, seed planting, seeding transplants (repotting), cultivation of fruit and vegetables from seed through to maturity and harvesting. At the end of 2020 we started a project to build a new outdoor shed thanks to funding from Cheshire West and Chester councillors. This involved several volunteers being involved in preparing the ground works, laying hardcore and providing a foundation for the new shed arriving Q1 2021. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The trustees confirm that they have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have acted accordingly. |
Additional information (removed optional)
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 |
14 x new participants registered during the year and 5 of them completed the 12-week programme. 15 x regular volunteers also attended sessions when possible, alongside the new participants. NB. The covid pandemic lockdowns meant that the site was closed for several months and when it was open, we had to operate with reduced numbers. The sessions (often personal and tailored for each participant): • Provide a range of activities to improve participants’ health and wellbeing, increase social connections and improve the local environment. •Provide a friendly and supportive environment where participants can connect with each other and their community. •Provide a learning environment that helps participants improve their self-esteem and confidence. •Support participants to access longer term volunteering opportunities. •Remove barriers to learning, and, improve skills that are required to access further employment and training. The garden is an important part of many peoples’ lives. Some volunteers have been coming to the garden every week for many years. All volunteers are always encouraged to take some fresh produce home to eat. The wider community also benefited from visiting the garden, engaging with volunteers, connecting with nature and have the opportunity to try fresh locally grown produce from the garden. |
Additional information (removed optional)
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
Income of £2,912.31 was generated from charitable activities, with a further £1,400.00 being raised through a fundraising application from Cheshire West and Chester. A carry over from the association to the charity was £440.00 This amounts to a total income for the period of £4752.51. Of this income, £2,327.49 was spent on charitable activities and administrative costs along with purchasing supplies for the garden and for our craft activities. Creditors falling due at the end of the reporting period was £540.00. Overall, the charity made a profit of £1444.82 for the period. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 |
The financial reserve policy remains at an estimated one-year cost plus activities. Trustees place a high priority on maintaining this in 2021 and will continue to review as the charity progresses. The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
£1,444.82 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 |
None |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 |
None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Continued discussion are happening between Cheshire West and Chester Council over the renewal of a lease for the land as existing documentation has been misplaced by the council. We are expecting to conclude this discussions in 2022. |
Additional information (removed optional)
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
None | |
| Type of governing document (trust deed,royalcharter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution Foundation modelconstitution fora CIO |
| How is the charity constituted?(e.g unincorporated association,CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 voting members are its charity trustees 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
Additional information (removed optional)
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Whitby Park Community Garden |
| Other name the charityuses | None |
| Registered charitynumber | 1186825 |
| Charity’s principal address | Whitby Hall Lodge, Stanney Lane, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 6QY England, United Kingdom. |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee **(ifany) ** |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Boden | 09/12/2019 | ||
| Nina Dales | 09/12/2019 | ||
| George Jones | 09/12/2019 |
Corporate trustees – None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Name of trustees holding title | to property belonging to the charity | |
|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for wholeyear | |
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity None
n/a n/a
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fall 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 (removed optional)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
None
Other optional information
None
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) John Boden
Position – Trustee
Date - 1[st] December 2021