## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01-06-22 To 31-5-23**
## **Charity name: Benson Community Green Space Trust**
**Charity registration number:** 1186960 **Objectives and Activities**
|**Charity registratio**
**Objectives and**|**n number:**118
**Activities**|6960|
|---|---|---|
||SORP
reference||
|Summary of the
purposes of the
charity as set
out in its
governing
document|Para 1.17|The constitution establishing BCGST sets out
the objective of the CIO as being to further or
beneft the inhabitants of the parishes of
Benson and Berrick Salome and the
neighbourhood without distinction of sex,
sexual orientation, race or of political, religious
or other opinions by associating together the
local authorities, voluntary organisations and
inhabitants in a common efort 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 said
inhabitants.|
|Summary of the
main activities
in relation to
those purposes
for the public
beneft, in
particular, the
activities,
projects or
services
identifed in the
accounts.|Para 1.17
and 1.19|The Trust owns Warwick Spinney, a community
nature reserve on the edge of Benson village,
which it manages to provide nature-rich access
to the outdoors for the beneft of the people in
the area. There is strong scientifc evidence that
access to nature-rich green spaces is benefcial
to people’s physical and mental well-being.
And there is a mutually reinforcing relationship
with volunteering - additional benefts for
individuals and communities accrue when
opportunities are ofered to help look after these
places; physical exercise, a sense of community
and connection, and the wildlife benefts too.
There are multiple wins.|
|Statement
confrming
whether the
trustees have
had regard to
the guidance
issued by the
Charity
Commission on
public beneft|Para 1.18|The trustees have noted the published
guidance, and are confdent that the Trust’s
planning and activities are undertaken so as to
ensure that benefts are provided to the
residents of the area defned in the charity’s
constitution.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-beneft-
rules-for-charities|
|---|---|---|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant
making|Para 1.38|The trust may make grants, subject to there
being sufcient surplus - its constitution gives
trustees the power to do anything which is
calculated to further its objects or is conducive or
incidental to doing so. But at present the
Trustees do not believe there is sufcient surplus
to do so.|
|Policy on social
investment
including
program related
investment|Para 1.38|The trust does not have a social investment
programme, although its constitution gives
trustees the power to do anything which is
calculated to further its objects or is conducive or
incidental to doing so|
|Contribution
made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The Trust draws on the support of volunteers to
manage Warwick Spinney, with tasks including
the maintenance of footpaths, planting and laying
of hedges, and mowing of the meadow to
maintain the biodiversity interest. Volunteers are
drawn from Wallingford Green Gym, although the
volunteer coordinator draws on the support of
Benson Nature Group (BNG) to organise and run
events.
Supporting volunteering better, making it easy for
them to undertake the work that the Trust relies
on, for example by ensuring equipment is
available on site, has been an important feature
of the Trustees work in the reporting period.
The estimate of volunteers is:
1 Coordinator
6 BNG volunteers
12-18 Wallingford Green Gym
Additional adhoc volunteers from the village
(variable number)
For more detail, see below.|
Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the
main
achievements of
the charity,
identifying the
diference the
charity’s work
has made to the
circumstances
of its
benefciaries
and any wider
benefts to
society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|This reporting period is the third for the CIO.
Having established itself with a set of working
arrangements, bank account etc, and made strong
progress with addressing defciencies at Warwick
Spinney, the Trust has continued to build on that
work
1.We work closely with Benson area Nature Group
and an array of volunteers to manage the site,
including a local coordinator, a growing group of
village volunteers, and 12-18 Wallingford Green
Gym volunteers. In this reporting period we
made use of funding secured in the previous
period to buy a mower to enable the volunteers
to manage the paths around the site that
facilitate public access and enjoyment of the
site.
2. Supporting public access to our feld, Warwick
Spinney, is a key driver for the Trust. We
continue to monitor progress with the creation of
a new green space (on the back of development)
nearby that will unlock opportunities to provide
safer and simpler pedestrian access to the site.
3. With partners, Benson area Nature Group, the
Trustees continued to host volunteers working
on the boundary hedge, a measure designed to
increase the wildlife value of the site and provide
a pollution and noise screen along the adjacent
road. We also hosted volunteers following
mowing of the main meadow to rake up and
remove arisings as part of a measure to maintain
and enhance the biodiversity interest on the site.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements
against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of
fundraising
activities against
objectives set|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|---|---|---|
|Investment
performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the
charity’s fnancial
position at the
end of the period|Para 1.21|Through the successful and considered use of
grant applications the fnancial accounts are in a
satisfactory position. The charity has sufcient
reserves to cover regular outgoing payments|
|---|---|---|
|Statement
explaining the
policy for
holding reserves
stating why they
are held|Para 1.22|The Charity holds a reserve of funds, which is
needed to cover ongoing liabilities such as
annual site/ public liability insurance at Warwick
Spinney. Investment in infrastructure and
activities in only possible therefore through
grants, donations and other fund-raising. A
future task for the Trustees will be the
development of a funding strategy.|
|Amount of
reserves held|Para 1.22|At the end of the reporting the charity held reserves of
£5173.03|
|Reasons for
holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**|
|Details of fund
materially in
defcit|Para 1.24|The fund is not materially in defcit|
|Explanation of
any uncertainties
about the charity
continuing as a
going concern|Para 1.23|**None**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s
principal sources of
funds (including any
fundraising)|Para 1.47|The Trust can seek to raise funds through applying
for grants and inviting donations (by publicising what
it does) and legacies.|
|---|---|---|
||Investment policy
and objectives
including any social
investment policy
adopted
Para 1.46
N/A
A description of the
principal risks facing
the charity
Para 1.46
Risks include:
Injury or death of a user or volunteer.
Theft of tools stored on the site.
The Trust is insured in respect of both of these risks.
Another risk is that the Trust may be hampered in
achieving its objectives if it is unable to attract
community volunteer support to manage the site. The
Trust is managing this risk by investing with local
partners in developing a shared Volunteering
Strategy.
Other
The charity has a number of assets in addition to
Warwick Spinney, the small nature reserve it owns.
These include:
A storage shed for tools
A selection of tools which are shared with Benson
area Nature Group
A metal gate
A security bollard at entrance|
|---|---|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing
document
(trust deed, royal
charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|Trustee selection
methods 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|Para 1.25|The approach to selection of trustees is set out
in the constitution -
_‘every trustee must be appointed for a term of_
_three years by a resolution passed at a properly_
_convened meeting of the charity trustees,_and
_In selecting individuals for appointment as_
_charity trustees, the charity trustees must have_
_regard to the skills, knowledge and experience_
_needed for the effective administration of the_
_CIO.’_
The constitution also sets out that a new
Trustee must expressly acknowledge that they
accept the office of trustee.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted Para 1.51 for the induction and training of trustees The charity’s organisational Para 1.51 structure and any wider network with which the charity works
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Benson Community Green Space Trust|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Benson Green Space Trust|
|Registered charity number|1186960|
|Charity’s principal address|C/o Benson Parish Council, Parish Hall, Sunnyside,
Benson, Oxfordshire. OX10 6LZ|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body)**
**entitled to appoint trustee**
**(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Edel McGurk|Chair||Any trustee|
||Jon Fowler|Treasurer||Any trustee|
||Helen
Stevenson|Trustee||Any trustee|
||Emma
Simpson|Trustee||Any trustee|
Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**||
|---|---|---|
|None|||
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls 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 (optional)**
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser None**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** The CIO has no staff
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
**Nothing to declare**
## **Other optional information**
**Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
> **Signature(s)** Edel McGurk
> **Full name(s)** EDEL MCGURK
**Secretary, Chair, etc) Position (eg**[CHAIR]
**Date** 30-03-24
## **Benson Community Green Spaces Trust 2022/23**
C/Fwd 1-Aug-22 Stihl 10-Oct-22 Came & Co 10-Oct-22 Co-Operative Bank 6-Jan-23 SODC Grant 6-Mar-23 Benson Parish Council 20-Mar-23 Azalea Landscapes
Balance at 1/6/2022 £5,822.91 £5,822.91 Lawn Mower Deb-O -£669.88 £5,153.03 Insurance Deb-O -£157.00 £4,996.03 Credit Cre-D £25.00 £5,021.03 Work at Cuckoo Pen Cre-D £1,250.00 £6,271.03 Skip Hire Deb-O -£468.00 £5,803.03 Cuckoo Pen Membrane Removal Deb-O -£630.00 £5,173.03 Total = **£5,173.03 £5,173.03**
|**Totals by Type**||
|---|---|
|Credit by Donation (Cre-D) =|£1,275|
|Other Credit (Cre-O) =|£0|
|**Total Income =**|**£1,275.00**|
|Debit Donations (Deb-D) =|£0.00|
|Cheque Debit (Deb - O) =|-£1,924.88|
|Sundries (Deb-S) =|£0|
|**Total Expenditure =**|**-£1,924.88**|
|**Total net decrease/increase =**|**-£649.88**|