TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024
Charity Number: 1187736 Website: https://sites.google.com/view/fawdoncoxlodgecommunity/ Facebook: @fawdonandcoxlodgetogether Email: fawdonandcoxlodgetogether@gmail.com
The trustees of the charity present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2024.
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Charity Number: 1187736
The principal office of the CIO is in England at 3 Bloomsbury Court, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4LW
TRUSTEES
The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows: Thea Ravasi (Chairperson)
David Alan Faulkner (Secretary/Treasurer)
Ann Marie Nicol
BANKERS
Barclays Bank Percy Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4QL
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The charity’s purpose as set out in the objects contained in the Constitution is: To further or benefit the residents of Fawdon and Coxlodge and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort 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 residents.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Fawdon and Coxlodge Together (referred to in this report as FACT) is a charity in England, registered on 4 February 2020 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), whose only voting members are its trustees. The charity is governed by its Constitution dated 6 December 2018 and amended on 21 January 2020. The Charity number is 1187736.
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Since mid-2017, interested parties had been meeting informally to develop and pursue a project called “Fawdon and Coxlodge – Past Present and Future”. In late 2018 it was decided to create a constitution for the group under the name ‘Fawdon and Coxlodge Together’, trustees were appointed, and a bank account was opened in February 2019. It was then decided to apply to the Charity Commission for registration as a CIO and adopt the ‘Foundation’ model constitution.
The Board of Trustees meet periodically, together with other non-trustee members acting as advisers, to administer the charity and review strategy and future activities.
Any urgent business is dealt with by electronic means between the trustees and the other members of the committee, and otherwise by consultation between the trustees.
The charity has no paid officers, nor any office accommodation of its own.
The charity’s financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the organisation’s Constitution and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS102).
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE DURING THE YEAR
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011, to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing FACT’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and how the planned activities would contribute to the aims and objectives they had set.
Our major project for the year was our work to document the 66 year history of the sweet/chocolate factory Nestlé (formerly Rowntree’s) in Fawdon which, sadly, closed in December. A book was published in time for the closure, following research and interviews with current and former staff. The company kindly sponsored the printing costs and in return received 600 copies of the book which they gave to departing staff. The reaction to the book has been very positive. Copies have been sold via Newcastle City Libraries and Fawdon Community Library, and, in addition through the publisher, Summerhill Books, both online and via the retail outlets that they were able to involve. The funds received from sales, after distribution costs, have been donated to Fawdon Community Library. An illustrated talk about the project was given at the annual general meeting of the Community Library.
Newcastle City Library agreed an exhibition about the factory at the main central library; this took place from late January until the beginning of March, co-curated by FACT, and was well-received.
Fawdon and Coxlodge Together continues to manage the grant funding from the Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, on behalf of the local Friendship Choir at Fawdon Community Centre; also the choir’s other income and expenditure. The choir continued to sing fortnightly throughout the year with a regular 20-30 singers enjoying the sessions.
The new interpretation boards at St Nicholas Park, Coxlodge, funded by FACT, were installed in autumn 2023. A photo opportunity followed and the story was featured in Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s online magazine.
Following the winding up of Fawdon Coxlodge District History Society, FACT - working with Fawdon Community Library - had to some extent taken on the role of researching and promoting the history and heritage of our local area. In addition to the talk referred to above, an online presentation was made during the year on the subject of “Geordie Humour”.
We again supported the organisation, promotion and staffing of Fawdon Community Centre's Christmas community party - a family event with free buffet, crafts, tombola, stalls, face-painting, Father Christmas, the Christmas Elf, and the Christmas choir.
The volunteer litter picking team that had been operating since 2018 suffered from the number of participants being limited and the work stopped in June 2023 (yet to resume).
We had flagged up our interest to Newcastle City Council in contributing to the planned improvement of Fawdon Park and we continued to support the Council’s consultation programme. Final investment plans were not confirmed until spring 2023 and have now been implemented.
We are pleased that the number of followers of FACT on Facebook is now almost 900 - this is a very satisfying level of interest and support for an organisation with such a relatively limited geographical catchment area. We use Facebook to promote not only our own projects but the activities of other groups in our community who share our objectives such as the Newcastle Community Asset Trust (operators of Fawdon Community Centre), St Mary’s Church Fawdon, Fawdon Community Library, and the activities of the Wildlife Trust in Coxlodge.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
During the year, the Trustees have examined the risks to which the Association is exposed. Currently, we carry only a small reserve and trustees would wish to work towards a policy whereby funds could be held in reserve at the level of approximately six months of unrestricted expenditure. However, it is our intention that we continue to organise much of our activity by working with and through other organisations in our community, or on projects that we will take forward only if grant funding is found.
APPRECIATION
The trustees wish to record their appreciation of the time given by non-trustee members of the management committee, and of the support of those organisations and individuals with whom FACT works in partnership.
DECLARATION
I declare, in my capacity of Trustee of the charity, that the trustees have approved the report above and have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.
(Signature) .................... (Name) David Faulkner
(Date) 30 September 2024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR INGLANO AMO WALES In77.If Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from To Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds io th• n•aresi Restricted funds io th• n•ar•si Endowment funds Total funds Lasi year io the n•ar•si A1 Receipt8 8alanco brou Donaiions Salè ol Nestlo books incorne From ohoir members hi Forward 637 2.552 3.189 3.337 520 592 1.477 592 .477 1.7011 Sub tal{Gr& incon7e for ARJ 2.706 2.552 5.258 5.557 A2 Asset and investment 8ale¥,1gee tsble). Sub roral Total receipts 2.706 2.552 5.258 5.557 A3 Paymen18 Choir Leader fees Choir hall hire Christrnas Party costs Project rnarkèting Inslanlprint Wildlife Trust For inforrnaiion panels Fawdon Comffluniiy Libiaiy i• book Posta Orher 810 810 945 554 107 107 1.800 424 135 52 4.138 1.800 135 52 3.607 63 2.368 Sub toial 531 A4As$et and investment purchage8,18ee tabbel Sub total Totalpayments 531 3.607 4.138 2.368 Net 0freceipt(paYMents) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds lastyear end Cash funds this year end 2.175 1.055 1.120 3.189 2.175 1.055 1.120 3.189
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unreslricted funds io Theaiest £ Reslricted funds io nearesi £ Endowment funds io nearesi £ Categories Detsils B1 Cash funds Choir tyani balancè 557 Bank ac¢ount 563 Toral cash funds 563 557 lagrt¢ balanc¢= and p4ymtnt= 4CCOuhW I) Unrestricted funds io neaiest £ Restricted funds io nearèsi £ Endowrnent funds io nearèsi £ Deiails B2 Other monetary assets lo ¥hich sset belo C051 iioTral Curr•nl ¥4 iioftal Delails Fund io ¥hich aSS•t b•lon Unrsifictèd Cosi lioTral Curreni value QioTral De1ails B4 Assets retaineql for the chanty's own use 563 FuThd to ¥hich relats Rsirioiéd Amount due tional 557 VheTh lioThal Offtgoirthg Details Choir support B5 Liabililies Sigrvèd by one crf Iwotrustees c behalf olall Ihe iiusiees Signature Pmt Narr Date of approval David Fathn 9).9.2024