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2023-11-30-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod: for theperiod: for theperiod: for theperiod:
From Period start date To Period end date
1 December 2022 30 November 2023
Section A Reference and administration details
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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

Midlands Parks Forum
1186863

186 Alcester Road South
Kings Heath
Birmingham
Postcode B14 6DE
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee (if any)
Liz Stuffins Chairperson ExistingTrustees
James Dymond Vice Chairperson “
Sam Village “
Ishrat Karimi Fini “
Angela Lewis “
Richard Hunt Treasurer “
James Cairncross “
Fliss Hogg 20.12.22 onwards
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
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March2012
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 7 Albion St, Dudley DY5 3EE
Dudley CVS
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
Constitution
(e.g. trust deed, constitution)
How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
(e.g. trust, association, company)
Trustee selection methods
(e.g. appointed by, elected by)
The appointment of founding trustees was made following an invitation to
Midlands Parks Forum subscribers. Potential trustees were interviewed
online, and those who fitted the skillset required were appointed.		 Commented [AL1]:Should we update this a bit - it sounds
like it only refers to the Founding Trustees?
Additional governance issues (Optional information) Commented [AB2R1]:Good idea.
Youmay chooseto include
additional information, where
relevant, about:		 The organisation continues to develop partnerships with green space
organisations and values the support of non-voting volunteers from the
green space sector.
•policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees;
•the charity’s organisational
structure and any wider		 A successful conference was held with representatives from Natural
England, University of Leeds, Fields in Trust, Make Space for Girls,
Disability Champions and other leading Access and Inclusion Champions.
The organisation continued to deliver practical workshops around
Biodiversity Net Gain.
network with which the charity
works;		 The trustees have continued to undertake an annual Risk Management
Assessment, to ensure that risks are minimised and mitigated or closed
•relationship with any related where possible. The risks include:
parties;
•trustees’ consideration of
major risks and the system		 •
Financial Management, Payroll, Income Policy, Budgeting Policy
and Controls, Accounting and Audit.
and procedures to manage
them.		 A Business Continuity Plan has been developed to mitigate any risks
associated with the daily management of the organisation, including any
data breach. The organisation ensures that online protection and security
software is in place.
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 (but without limitation) with regards to the horticulture, arboriculture, ecology, geology, archaeology, sustainability, heritage and local history; and

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document

  1. 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. All our trustees have completed a statutory declaration that they are eligible to stand as trustees.
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
(but without limitation) with regards to the horticulture, arboriculture,
ecology, geology, archaeology, sustainability, heritage and local history;
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.
Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include within
this section the statutory
declaration that trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit)
All our trustees have completed a statutory declaration that they are
eligible to stand as trustees.
Our charity’s public benefit is:
What:
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General Charitable Purposes
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Education and training
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Environment, conservation and heritage
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Recreation
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Other charitable purposes
Who
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Other charities or voluntary bodies
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Other defined groups
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The general public/mankind
How
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Provide services
•
Provide advocacy, advice and information
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Act as an umbrella or resource body
Where
Operates in England
A range of learning and training activities have taken place to facilitate
the enhancement of the environment for the public. A total of 10 online
and in person events took place throughout the year which are free for
members. In addition, an annual conference encouraged wide
participation from the sector with 104 delegates.
A new skills and competencies framework was commissioned which
identified over 60 skills and competencies required to manage green
space. the organisation focuses on delivering learning opportunities
within the framework, to ensure the best outcomes for parks and green
spaces.

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Webinars/online

Learning Visits:

Conference:

Access, Inclusion and Safety – a path to a greener future . Partnerships and collaborations with speakers and workshops November 2023, The Chester House Estate

The information gained from these learning opportunities has enabled participants to transfer the knowledge, skills and learning from the topics covered into their parks and green spaces.

It has enabled members to understand the wide range of access and inclusion challenges facing community’s access to green space. Workshops provided practical ways in which organisations can begin to understand and react to local challenges through data assessment, and best practice.

A range of learning topics has been provided to enable members to better manage the land in their locality for nature.

Other webinars focused on sharing the aims of our organisation and how we support green space, with the Landscape Institute and Historic England at their joint webinar which reached a national audience. We ran a comprehensive webinar on health, sport and well-being opportunities in green space, which included presentations from

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March 2012

All the presentations and recordings from the above are freely available to download from the web site, which received over 32,000 visits during the 12 months. The organisation issued 12 newsletters and frequent bulletins to our members which included funding information, policy, guidance, best practice and green space vacancies. X and Linkedin accounts are used to share information, and help raise skills, knowledge and network in green spaces. Sponsorship

The charity was fortunate to receive sponsorship from three organisations during the year, all of whom support the improvement of green space, through play, data and training. Donations A donation was received, which is detailed under financial management. Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information) You may choose to include The contribution made by volunteers during the year has been a vital part further statements, where of our third year as a charity, through sharing expertise, hosting learning relevant, about: events, and contributing towards the learning of peers. • policy on grantmaking; Volunteering from Trustees and non-trustees totalled over 658 hours • policy programme related which generated around £20,000 of in-kind support. investment; • contribution made by The investment policy continues, with reserves invested to support delivery of our charity’s purpose over time. The investments are under volunteers. regular review, and the policy guides the charity to ensure there is sufficient daily funds for our regular activities.

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Section D Achievements and performance

March 2012

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Section D Achievements and performance The organisation continues to sustain a blended income from the Summary of the main following: achievements of the charity during the year • Earned income: membership and conference income • Sponsorship • Donations Our success has enabled us to continue to retain some savings/reserves to provide an additional income. We provide a service to all members, including Monthly Newsletters and weekly bulletins Webinars (Average webinar attendance was 24). A Conference with academia, local authorities, sharing best practice – this year the theme was access and inclusion. We also provide a service to the wider green space community, with all presentations and recordings free to access on our web site, which aids learning in the wider sector. Evaluating our work All of our in-person learning events, webinars and conferences are evaluated to enable us to continually tailor learning to meet the needs of our members. Our learning events during this period achieved a scoring of 4.3 (with 5 being excellent and 4 being very good). Our annual conference scored an overall satisfaction rate of 3.9 (with 3 being good and 4 being very good).

Commented [AL3]: Was this definitely 4 or should it be 5? Commented [AB4R3]: Yes 5 is excellent. It dropped this year below a 4 for the first time, I think due to the chilly start

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Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the
charity’s policy on reserves
Details of any funds materially
in deficit
Further financial review details
Youmay chooseto 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 charity’s reserves policy requires unrestricted funding to cover six
months of costs, which the charity holds.
The policy allows the board to consider investment opportunities for the
reserves.
(Optional information)
The principal sources of funding have been through earned income
(membership subscriptions, conference fees), donations and
sponsorship:
A legacy donation was received from West Midlands Parks Forum
(WMPF) – the voluntary organisation which ran for over 30 years, and
which evolved into the Midlands Parks Forum. Through consultation with
members, and the executive committee of WMPF, it was agreed that the
donation of £24,896.31 would be ring fenced towards an investment in
training; used as match funding for future grants, and a proportion
invested to provide future income.
Sponsorship was received from:
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Sutcliffe Play
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Natural England
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Proludic
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LANTRA
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Info Point
Earned Income derived from:
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Annual membership fees
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Conference Fees
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Sponsorship of Conference
All expenditure during 2022/3 has been targeted towards improving the
skills and competencies needed by members, to enable them to better
manage and develop their green spaces for public benefit, and towards
the green space sector as a whole – with biodiversity and green heritage
a key focus.
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 campaigning for increased resources for
parks.
Gaining skills and knowledge in these areas enables green space
practitioners to replicate learning from peers enabling them to improve
parks and green space facilities within their local area.
Having a supportive learning network of green space sector practitioners
enables costs to bekept at aminimum.

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The charity retains banking with an ethical banking organisation, which supports community activities.

The charity directly employs a part time member of staff and a small amount of additional administration to manage annual membership processes. The employee is home-working which reduces all overheads.

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) LIZ Stuffins Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Chair etc) Date 4[th] May 2023 Commented [AL5]: Should this be 2024? Commented [AB6R5]: Yes I’ll put this years date in when I can upload, I have to do it all in one go when the independent examination is complete.

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9 March 2012

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 ACCOUNTS TH YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 Inde endent Examinerfs Re I report on the attached accounts of Midlands Parks Fotum for the year ended 30th November 2023. Respective responsibilitiès of trustses and examinèr 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 stste, 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 parbcular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs 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 conceming 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 viev/ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent oxamlnerf8 Statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention: 1. Vvhich 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 the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been mel,. or 2. To which, in my opinion, attents'on 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 15th May 2024

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 TOTAL 2022 INCOME TOTAL Donation from West Midland Parks Forum (Dissolved) Other Grant8 Memberships Traininglconferance Income Sponsorship Bank Inter8St 24,896 24,896 6,000 20,517 7,096 772 20,007 20,007 7,863 7,863 11,868 11,868 210 210 TOTAL INCOME 64,844 64,844 34,385 EXPENDITURE Salary Costs Travelling Expenses Insurance Training, Mentoring, Conference Fees Printing, Stationery, Advertising Telephone and Postage Repairs and Renewals EvaluationlResearch Fees Professional Fees Paypal Fees Sundries 25,602 25,602 694 694 295 295 3,799 3,799 2,226 2,226 25,425 490 278 7,584 426 61 1,296 1,296 1,224 510 69 29 390 149 112 390 149 112 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 34,570 34.570 36,096 Net Surplusl-Deficit for th• Year Balance at 30th November 2022 30,274 30,274 62,286 62.286 -1,711 63,997 Balanc8 at 30th November 2023 92,560 92,560 62,286

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TH AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2023 2022 CURRENT ASSETS Bank Current Account CAF Deposit Account Redwood Bank Deposit Account Redwood Bank Short Term Bond Account 12,560 42,286 20,000 35,000 45,000 92,560 62,286 Ropresented by . Income & Expenditure Account: Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds 92,560 62,286 92,560 62,286 Approved by the Management Committee on on thelr behalf: 2024 and 8lgned Name...

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 ACCOUNTS TH YEAR ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2023

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 Inde endent Examinerfs Re I report on the attached accounts of Midlands Parks Fotum for the year ended 30th November 2023. Respective responsibilitiès of trustses and examinèr 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 stste, 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 parbcular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs 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 conceming 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 viev/ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent oxamlnerf8 Statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention: 1. Vvhich 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 the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been mel,. or 2. To which, in my opinion, attents'on 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 15th May 2024

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH NOVEMBER 2023 TOTAL 2022 INCOME TOTAL Donation from West Midland Parks Forum (Dissolved) Other Grant8 Memberships Traininglconferance Income Sponsorship Bank Inter8St 24,896 24,896 6,000 20,517 7,096 772 20,007 20,007 7,863 7,863 11,868 11,868 210 210 TOTAL INCOME 64,844 64,844 34,385 EXPENDITURE Salary Costs Travelling Expenses Insurance Training, Mentoring, Conference Fees Printing, Stationery, Advertising Telephone and Postage Repairs and Renewals EvaluationlResearch Fees Professional Fees Paypal Fees Sundries 25,602 25,602 694 694 295 295 3,799 3,799 2,226 2,226 25,425 490 278 7,584 426 61 1,296 1,296 1,224 510 69 29 390 149 112 390 149 112 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 34,570 34.570 36,096 Net Surplusl-Deficit for th• Year Balance at 30th November 2022 30,274 30,274 62,286 62.286 -1,711 63,997 Balanc8 at 30th November 2023 92,560 92,560 62,286

MIDLANDS PARKS FORUM REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1186863 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TH AS AT 30 NOVEMBER 2023 2022 CURRENT ASSETS Bank Current Account CAF Deposit Account Redwood Bank Deposit Account Redwood Bank Short Term Bond Account 12,560 42,286 20,000 35,000 45,000 92,560 62,286 Ropresented by . Income & Expenditure Account: Restricted Funds Unrestricted Funds 92,560 62,286 92,560 62,286 Approved by the Management Committee on on thelr behalf: 2024 and 8lgned Name...