**To**
## **Trustees' Annual Report for the period**
Period start date Period end date 28 November 2019 30 November 2020
**From**
## Section A Reference and administration details
**Charity name** Midlands Parks Forum **Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any)** 1186863 **Charity's principal address** 186 Alcester Road South Kings Heath Birmingham **Postcode B14 6DE**
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year **|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Liz Stuffins|Chairperson|28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2023|Existing Trustees|
||Sally Orton||28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2022|“|
||James Dymond|Vice Chairperson|28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2021|“|
||Sam Village||28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2021|“|
||Ishrat Karimi Fini||28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2021|“|
||Angela Lewis||28thNovember 2019 to
27thNovember 2021|“|
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**Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)**
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March **2012**
1
**Name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **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)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Type of adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||||
|**Independent**
**examination**|Graham Jones
Dudley CVS||7 Albion St, Dudley DY5 3EE|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**||||
|Alison Bate, Partnership Manager||||
|||||
|**Section B Structure, governance and management**||||
|**Description of the charity’s trusts**
Type of governing document
(eg. trust deed, constitution)
Constitution
How the charity is constituted
(eg. trust, association, company)
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
The appointment of founding trustees was made following an open
meeting of all Midlands Parks Forum subscribers. The trustees were all
nominated and seconded at the inaugural meeting.||||
|||
Constitution||
|||
Charitable Incorporated Organisation||
|||
The appointment of founding trustees was made following an open
meeting of all Midlands Parks Forum subscribers. The trustees were all
nominated and seconded at the inaugural meeting.||
## **Additional governance issues (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant, about:
- policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
- the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
- relationship with any related parties;
Trustees were provided with induction and training at a meeting in January 2020 by Dudley Council for Voluntary Services. Trustees have also been provided with electronic training documents from Small Charities Coalition.
A Forward Planning meeting took place at Nottingham on 20[th] July 2020 with four trustees attending the meeting in person, and 2 trustees attending virtually. The purpose of the meeting was to update the organisation’s business plan following the Covid-19 impact.
The trustees continue to develop partnerships with green space organisations and value the support of non-voting volunteers from the green space sector.
- trustees’ consideration of Partnerships have been developed with the Landscape Institute and major risks and the system Association for Public Service Excellence with whom joint events and and procedures to manage training have taken place. The Trustees have also been supported with them. mentoring from Greenspace Scotland representatives.
## **Section C Objectives and activities**
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1. To provide and enhance, and / or assist in the provision and enhancement of, the physical and natural environment for the use and enjoyment of the public in the area of benefit (including, but without limitation, the provision and maintenance of facilities and equipment, and the promotion of biodiversity) and shall include but is not limited to public parks, gardens, landscaped areas, woodland, playing fields, playgrounds, nature reserves and recreational spaces; 2. To advance the education of the public in the area of benefit including **Summary of the objects of the** (but without limitation) with regards to the horticulture, arboriculture, **charity set out in its** ecology, geology, archaeology, sustainability, heritage and local history; **governing document** and 3. To provide or assist in the provision of facilities, for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare, with the object of improving the conditions of life of the public by the improvement of parks and green open spaces in the area of benefit. In furtherance of these, the charity will provide an umbrella group for other interested organisations. In these objects, the area of benefit means the local authority areas within the East and West Midlands. A range of learning and training activities have taken place to enhance the environment for the public, including the promotion of biodiversity, parks, nature reserves, playgrounds, and heritage. Due to Covid restrictions, the charity held 11 interactive ‘learning experiences via Webinar, along with a conference and vocational workshops during this financial year, which included numerous ‘webinars’, some of which attracted up to 47 Midlands green space organisations, such as trusts, local authorities, charities and community green space forums. All webinars are recorded and freely available on the web site. 84% of members say these are helpful to their role. However over 80% say they will welcome future face to face meetings when they are allowed. The information gained from the aforementioned interactive learning sessions has enabled participants to transfer the knowledge, skills and learning from the topics covered into their parks and green spaces. It **Summary of the main** has enabled members to understand and react promptly to implement **activities undertaken for the** management techniques related to the management of parks during **public benefit in relation to** Covid, and the risks and benefits of enabling children’s play areas to re- **these objects (include within** open swiftly post lockdown. **this section the statutory declaration that trustees have** Sharing vital information during Covid-19 and having debate and **had regard to the guidance** discussion on the opening of green spaces was essential for parks **issued by the Charity** management. Through regular liaison with Ministry of Housing, **Commission on public** Communities and Local Government, and leading parks authorities, the **benefit)** Forum provided guidance and information on all Covid-19 related topics such as events management, managing parks and play areas, cleansing, opening cafes and the cleansing of parks buildings and other facilities. A range of learning topics have been provided to enable members to better manage the land in their locality for nature, including carbon reduction, and opportunities to increase biodiversity, such as creating naturalistic planting, green corridors for nature, and sharing information on how members have created natural flood management, slowing the flow for people and wildlife. Natural England provided guidance on how organisations will be required to manage projects for biodiversity net gain (policy, metric & standards), with examples that can be replicated by members in the future. Other webinars have included allotments management, the benefits of protecting green spaces through Fields in Trust, and exploring a bbarometer of Green Space Access, to ensure that local authorities are 3 March **2012**
**TAR**
March **2012**
aware of whether they provide sufficient green space access for residents.
Webinars during Covid welcomed organisations such as the National Federation of Parks to share best practice in supporting volunteers in green spaces, which is vital to the ongoing management of spaces.
During Covid-19, the charity also contributed to a key document ‘Managing Parks during Covid-19’, which was accessed by hundreds of organisations. Working closely with the Association of Play Industries enabled the charity to share vital information across the Midlands regarding the re-opening of play areas for the public.
The charity has partnered with leading training organisations to deliver high-quality training on Parks Management to participants, and has partnered with the Landscape Institute to run a two-day virtual conference: Future of Parks: Skills, Innovation and Creativity for C21st Challenges, which was free for charitable/voluntary members. The conference attracted over 112 delegates and included Keynote speakers such as Neil McCarthy, CEO, World Urban Parks and Sue Manns, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute.
The charity has prepared Case Studies demonstrating best practice in Midlands green space, including studies of heritage features, events management, geology, and developing a country park. All the case studies are freely available to download from the web site.
The charity has developed a web site, monthly newsletters, and a Twitter account to regularly share information, and help raise skills, knowledge in and around green spaces.
Applications have been made to trusts, foundations and National Lottery for funding to sustain the charity’s work.
Business planning support from the Heritage Trust Network enabled the charity to update its business plan to include a Covid impact assessment and begin a visioning activity for the charity post heritage funding.
## **Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)**
**TAR**
March **2012**
4
The contribution made by volunteers during the year has been a vital part of our first year as a charity.
Community First Partnership have offered business advice, and individuals, organisations and Friends of Parks have assisted in preparing case studies, contributing to presentations and webinars and providing responses to members’ enquiries.
You **may choose** to include further statements, where relevant, about:
The valuable ‘in-kind’ contribution has provided over 500 hours of volunteering to the organisation, with a value in excess of £26,000.
- policy on grantmaking;
- policy programme related investment;
- contribution made by volunteers.
## Section D Achievements and performance
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Section D Achievements and erformance p Since its formation in November 2019, the charity has provided the **Summary of the main** following, which has been wholly funded from the National Lottery **achievements of the charity** Resilient Heritage Grant: **during the year** Monthly Newsletters, Frequent bulletins and Covid-19 Parks Management Guidance; nine Webinars with a range of partners including Green Flag, National Allotment Association, Association of Play Industries, Natural England, The Tree Council, and a wide range of other organisations to share best practice. Subsidised training from national body APSE (Association of Public Service Excellence) to members based on 2 levels, Introduction to Parks Management and Advanced Parks Management. Partnership working with The Landscape Institute resulted in a joint conference: C21st Skills in Parks, looking at skills, equality, access to training to improve community facilities. We also provided access for members to the LI’s learning portal which contains a range of presentations on green spaces and landscape management. A website has been created where all webinars and case studies will be accessible. The charity contributed to a National Document ‘Managing Parks During Covid-19’, which has been downloaded over 6000 times. Collaboration with six green spaces in the Midlands resulted in Case Studies on heritage, geology, managing events in parks, improving biodiversity, developing a country park and a parks restoration programme. Expansion of the charity into the East Midlands, and gaining a small increase in membership from West Midlands organisations, has increased overall membership in 2020 by 67%. This contributes towards the charity’s sustainability goal of becoming sustainable, and has enabled the charity to support more organisations throughout the Covid challenges; sharing good practice and engaging with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, and helping prepare practitioners for the challenges post lockdown. The charity’s first staff member was employed through a third party on a fixed term contract to deliver the Resilient Heritage project, and to undertake the charity development. The charity is currently undertaking an evaluation of the National Lottery Resilient Heritage funding with members, which is focusing on how the organisation has promoted a greater understanding of the heritage of parks, and how the organisation has become more resilient. The charity’s aims for 2021 are to publish research on accessibility of quality green space along with six case studies which help improve knowledge, skills and competencies around green space; to provide mentoring, meet ups, policy and newsletters and to collaborate and develop partnerships to help improve and promote the green space sector and green space facilities
**TAR**
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## **Section E Financial review**
**Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves**
The charity’s reserves policy requires unrestricted funding to cover six months of costs, which the charity holds.
**Details of any funds materially in deficit**
## **Further financial review details (Optional information)**
You **may choose** to include additional information, where relevant about:
- the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
- how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
- investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
The principal sources of funding are a National Lottery Resilient Heritage Grant and annual membership fees.
All expenditure during 2019/20 has been targeted towards improving the skills and knowledge gaps identified by members, to enable them to better manage and develop their green spaces for public benefit.
- The key priorities of learning identified are heritage, biodiversity/climate change, community and volunteering and identifying sources of income/commercial opportunities. In addition, sharing information on inequality of provision, and health and safety during Covid.
- Gaining skills and knowledge in these areas enable green space practitioners to replicate learning from peers enabling them to improve parks and green space facilities within their local area.
- Having a supportive network of learning from green space sector practitioners enables costs to be kept at a minimum.
The charity has selected an ethical banking organisation, which supports community activities.
The charity now directly employs a part time member of staff, who has been TUPE’d over to MPF. The employee is based at home, to reduce future overheads.
## **Section F Other optional information**
Throughout the first year, the organisation has received mentoring from Julie Proctor CEO at Greenspace Scotland, from Dudley CVS and received Heritage Trust Network funding to undertake an update of the business plan. The charity has become a member of the Small Charities Coalition and the Foundation for Social Improvement, both of whom offer free or low-cost training and support.
Pro bono legal advice was also provided by K&L Gates LLP through the Law Works Charity.
## **Section G Declaration**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**TAR**
March **2012**
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**Signature(s)**
LIZ Stuffins
**Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair,** Chair **etc) Date** 29.03.21
**TAR**
March **2012**
8
MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM
RE
CHARITY N
1186863
Ind
endent Examinerfs R
ort
I report on the attached accounts of Midlands Parks Forum for the period ended 30th
November 2020.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examlner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts., you
consider thal the audit requirement of section 144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 does
not apply. It is my responsibility to stato, on the basis of procedures specified in tho
General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of th8
2011 Act, whether particular matters have come to my att8ntion.
Basis of independent examineff s report
My examination was carried out in accordan with the General Directions given by
the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records
kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It
also includes consideration of ary unusual it8ms or disclosur8s in th8 accounts and
seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an
audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true
and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examinerfs statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordan with section 130 of the 2011 Act
and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply
with th8 accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met., or
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reathed.
G. M. JONES
ACCOUNTANT
DUDLEY CVS
7 ALBION STREET
BRIERLEY HILL
DY5 3EE
22ND MARCH 2021
## **MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30[TH] NOVEMBER 2020**
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**INCOME**|**R**|**U**|**TOTAL**|
|Transfers from previous entity:||||
|-
NLRH Funds in hand|10,137|-|10,137|
|-
Match Funding|5,025|-|5,025|
|-
Memberships|-|2,599|2,599|
|NLRH Grant|39,040|-|39,040|
|Memberships|-|14,725|14,725|
||**______**|**_____**|**______**|
|**TOTAL INCOME**|**54,202**|**17,324**|**71,526**|
||**______**|**_____**|**______**|
|**EXPENDITURE**||||
|Salary Costs|23,058|-|23,058|
|Travelling Expenses|424|-|424|
|Training, Mentoring, Conference Fees|3,775|-|3,775|
|Printing, Stationery, Advertising|1,523|-|1,523|
|Telephone and Postage|7|-|7|
|Evaluation Fees|1,326|-|1,326|
|Professional Fees|660|-|660|
|Sundries|-|76|76|
||**______**|**_____**|**______**|
|**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|**30,773**|**76**|**30,849**|
||**______**|**_____**|**______**|
|**Net Surplus for the Period**|**23,429**|**17,248**|**40,677**|
||**______**|**_____**|**______**|
## **MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30[TH] NOVEMBER 2020**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
£
CURRENT ASSETS
Bank Current Account 40,677
_____
Represented by :
Income & Expenditure Account:
Restricted Funds 23,429
Unrestricted Funds 17,248
_____
40,677
_____
**----- End of picture text -----**
**NB: Restricted Funds above are all in respect of the National Lottery Resilience Heritage Grant.**
## **Approved by the Management Committee and signed on their behalf:**
**Name …Liz Stuffins…………………………………….**
**Date …22[nd] March 2021…………………….**
**MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report**
I report on the attached accounts of Midlands Parks Forum for the period ended 30[th] November 2020.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
G. M. JONES ACCOUNTANT DUDLEY CVS 7 ALBION STREET BRIERLEY HILL DY5 3EE
## **MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM**
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863**
## **ACCOUNTS**
**PERIOD ENDED 30[TH] NOVEMBER 2020**
MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM
RE
CHARITY N
1186863
Ind
endent Examinerfs R
ort
I report on the attached accounts of Midlands Parks Forum for the period ended 30th
November 2020.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examlner
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts., you
consider thal the audit requirement of section 144{2) of the Charities Act 2011 does
not apply. It is my responsibility to stato, on the basis of procedures specified in tho
General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of th8
2011 Act, whether particular matters have come to my att8ntion.
Basis of independent examineff s report
My examination was carried out in accordan with the General Directions given by
the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records
kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It
also includes consideration of ary unusual it8ms or disclosur8s in th8 accounts and
seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an
audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true
and fair view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examinerfs statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordan with section 130 of the 2011 Act
and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply
with th8 accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met., or
2. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reathed.
G. M. JONES
ACCOUNTANT
DUDLEY CVS
7 ALBION STREET
BRIERLEY HILL
DY5 3EE
22ND MARCH 2021