Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe Trustees Annual Report for 1[st] November 2024 to 31[st] October 2025 PR ## Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe Charitable Incorporated Organisation No. 1188411 Registered Office 132 Wincobank Avenue, Sheffield S5 6 BB ## **Trustees:** Penny Rea (Chair), Samantha Hurman (Secretary), Jean Hine (Treasurer), Peter Hurman, Mick Bruin, Amanda Appleby **Organising Committee** : Alison Davies, Sylvia Jones, Bridget Ingle, all Trustees **Additional Volunteers:** Many thanks to the following members who have also helped this year: Barrie Dalby, Mike Higginbottom, Ann Beedham, Paul Newman, Angela Muircroft and Carolyn Gowar, ## **Governance** The committee, which includes trustees, meets every quarter usually by Zoom, to plan developments and organise activities. Any enthusiastic volunteer is welcome to join the committee. Decisions are made by consensus, with trustees having ultimate responsibility. The trustees appoint new trustees, usually from the committee. The trustees meet in person at least once a year. As Chair of Trustees, I would like to thank all who have worked so hard to preserve, protect and promote this very special place while my own involvement has been limited due to personal circumstances. Penny Rea. ## **Objects of the Trust** For the public benefit: (a) to upkeep and maintain the cemetery known as Zion Graveyard, Attercliffe, Sheffield; (b) to advance the education of the local community and others in the history of the graveyard and those buried in it, including Mary Anne Rawson; and (c) the preservation and conservation of the natural heritage and biodiversity of Zion Graveyard, Attercliffe, Sheffield. 1 Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe Trustees Annual Report for 1[st] November 2024 to 31[st] October 2025 PR ## **Object 1. Upkeep and maintenance** Paths – efforts are underway to obtain estimates so that we can raise funds for the resurfacing of paths within the graveyard to improve access and safety. This is proving a challenge as the site is awkward to access with the necessary machinery. Efforts continue. Mick Bruin has been diligent in checking the trees for safety, cutting out dead wood and low hanging branches. We carry out regular safety inspections throughout the site. All standing headstones are stable. Tree roots have caused some of the ledger stones to crack creating trip hazards so this area has been cordoned off for safety We were pleased to hear that Zion Graveyard was recommended for inclusion on the South Yorkshire Heritage List on 27[th] November 2024. This will give the graveyard a more protection in the event of any proposed redevelopment. Many thanks to Bridget Ingle for her careful work on this submission. Thanks also to Bridget and other volunteers for constant effort to combat the persistent litter and dumping around the entrances, particularly at the end of Ferguson Street. ## **Object 2. Advancing education** 20[th] January 2025 - We have taken our information boards and literature about Zion Graveyard to The Millennium Galleries for the Sheffield Heritage Fair and to Upper Wincobank Chapel both for the Summer Garden Party and September Heritage Open Day. 11[th] March – an interesting, illustrated talk on the Cabie Main Colliery Disaster was given by member Barrie Dalby and on 20[th] October Mike Higginbottom gave a talk on Victorian Sewerage, particularly relevant to the area as there are two sewer gas lamps near Upper Wincobank Chapel where the talks were held. Many thanks to both Barrie and Mike for giving their time to raise funds for the group. 7[th] April - Our treasurer Jean Hine gave a talk about Zion Graveyard and Mary Anne Rawson at Manor Lodge in Sheffield for which she was paid a fee which she kindly donated to FoZGA. Zion Graveyard is always open to the public on the second Sunday afternoon of the month from 2 – 4pm. We offer a guided tour, refreshments and time to talk with all our visitors. This is advertised in our leaflets and on our Facebook page. At other times the graveyard is locked due to past vandalism, but we are happy to arrange an accompanied opening for visitors at other times. 2[nd] June - Jean Hine gave a well-researched talk in the graveyard about the Sheffield Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of which Mary Anne Rawson and her mother Elizabeth Read, both buried at Zion, were founder members. 8[th] September – Zion Graveyard Heritage Open Day was well attended by many first-time visitors to the graveyard. The theme this year was Architecture so we also talked about various buildings on the Zion site over two hundred and fifty years. On 12[th] September Mike Higginbottom brought a party of visitors to the graveyard as part of his Attercliffe Walking Tour for Heritage Open Days. We held Family Learning activity sessions on 21st December at Upper Wincobank Chapel, and in Zion Graveyard on 6[th] April 2025 and 28[th] May. This year we asked parents to contribute £2.50 per child towards other resources. Children participating in the Sheffield Children’s University scheme were awarded CU 2 Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe Trustees Annual Report for 1[st] November 2024 to 31[st] October 2025 PR Learning Credits towards CU Certificates and Badges. Children can also earn credits by helping as a supervised volunteer in the graveyard. Abel Appleby has been very active in this respect and with his Mum Amanda, is a valued member of our team. ## **Object 3. The preservation and conservation of natural heritage.** The graveyard continues to be used as a feeding station for goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch, long-tailed tit, crow, magpie, blackbird, song thrush and robin with great tit, blue tit and wren nesting. Jean Hine and Mick have organised most of the work in the graveyard this year assisted a team of volunteers at our monthly gardening days. Ivy has been removed from the graves but allowed to remain on the trees as it is a home to much wildlife. We have been photographing and recording the wildflowers which appear when the ground cover of ivy or bramble is cleared. We have restricted new planting to British native species. A big problem is the lack of water as there is no source or accessible gutter on site. All water has to be brought in and stored in a water butt. ## **4. Membership and support** **T** here is no membership fee. There are currently 679 followers of our Facebook page: Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe. Our email updates go out to 311 addresses. We try to be regular in our communications without being overwhelming. We are aware that many of the recipients and supporters live at a distance and for various reasons are unable to give us practical support, but their encouragement and appreciation is greatly valued. We have made several new contacts through our website including from another direct descendent of the Read family who visited in March. This makes a total of three branches of the Read Wilson family who have visited the graveyard and another two who have been in touch by email. We also had a visit from descendants of the Watts family. We have regular communications from other far-flung relatives of our residents all grateful for the time and effort of volunteers in looking after the graves of their ancestors. ## **5. Finance** The annual accounts show funds at the end of the financial year of £1343.20, which is £109.09 more than at the beginning of the year. Fund-raising events have generated £426.34 and we received a retrospective grant of £200 from Sheffield Children’s University for activity costs relating to the previous financial year, giving a total income of £626.34. Spending, including insurance and website fees totalled £517.25. The accounts, which are included on the following page, have been checked by Steve Randall, who we would like to thank for his support. 3 Friends of Zion Graveyard Attercliffe Trustees Annual Report for I" November 2024 to 31" October 2025 PR Frlends of Zlon Graveyard Atter¢llffe CIO 1188411 Annual Accounts 011111202*3111012025 Total Spendlng 517.25 Admlnlstratlon Insurance Website Bank Charges National Fed'n Cemetery Friend5 Other admin 171.89 114.24 55.00 20.00 6.75 Events Halloween Dalbie Talk Raff le tickets and licence 29.05 40.00 Other costs Books sold via Square Volunteer expenses 20.00 60.32 Total Income 626.34 Donations 195.84 Event admisslon Raff le tickets SCC Grant 181.50 49.00 200.00 Balances 01 November2024 730.51 310ctober 2025 HSBC Co-op Bank Cash in hand 585.05 76.00 682.15 76 427.6 Total 34.11 1343.2