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2025-03-31-accounts

31

Trustees' Annual Report for theperiod
From Period start date T
o
Period end date
01 04 2024 31 03 2025

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum Other names charity is known by Registered charity number (if any) 1188490

Charity's principal address Nature Connection Centre Roundwood Lodge Café, Roundwood Park, Longstone Ave, London Postcode NW10 3SH

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for a whole
year
Name of person
(or body) entitled
to appoint trustee
(ifany)
Sandra Gillian White Chair Forum members
Amandine
Alexandre-Hughes
Forum members
Julieta Marlene
Galarza
Forum members
Jose Trueba From 13/07/2022 to 18/08/2024 Forum members
Gavin Bond From 19/09/2023 to 02/08/2024 Forum members
Ebrahim Piperdy Treasurer Forum members
Duane Person Forum members
Andrea Burris Forum members
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for a whole year

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) and addresses of advisers (Optional information) and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Ilaria Esposito - Coordinator

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Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document

Constitution

How the charity is constituted

CIO Association

Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Elected by the membership, with others appointed by the board of trustees as set out in the constitution

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum has been a registered charity since

March 2020. The Forum is an NCVO member and uses the latter’s induction and training programme for new trustees through Croner HR services.

We have recently amended our constitution.

We have revised the following policies:

o Health and safety

o Grievance

o Data protection and GDPR

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

o Conflict of interest (including register and DOI)

o Financial

o Volunteering

Equality and diversity

o Reserves

Developing the following:

o Handbook (see link here)

Current operational priorities include funding diversification and

organisational development :

Hiring an additional membership officer and extending the hours of our coordinator, as well as working on the implementation of Radical-based Place Leadership programme with the Council.

Reviewing all our policies and procedures

The creation of the handbook and the updating of our policies and terms and conditions to reflect changes in employment law have been supported by Croner, an HR consultant.

Background

Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum is a neighbourhood planning forum with a designated area within the Old Oak and Park Royal Development.

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Corporation (OPDC) and the London Borough of Brent (LBB). The Forum was the first neighbourhood forum to be designated by OPDC on 26 November 2015. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) requires neighbourhood forums to apply to their respective Local Planning Authority (LPA) for re-designation every five years. Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum has successfully applied to OPDC and LBB for a 5- year redesignation.

The Forum has successfully expanded its geographical boundaries following a three-year consultation with community members from Church End and Roundwood.

The Forum has reapplied for redesignation in accordance with planning policy.

The Forum currently has 106 member organisations and 533 individual members and/or subscribers. Its work is of benefit to the overall Harlesden population (~19,000 inhabitants)

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Section C Objectives and activities

The objectives of the Forum are:

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

Since April 2024, we have delivered a surprising number of activities.

1. Executive Summary & Strategic Vision

Since April 2024, the Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum (HNF) has acted as a catalyst for local empowerment, transitioning part of his role from a reactive planning body to a leader in "Radical Place-Based Leadership.

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)

Our work this year has been defined by two major themes: Community Power, shifting decision-making from top-down authorities to residents, and the formal expansion of our boundaries, which has increased our area of influence by 23% .

2. Governance and Organisational Development

To ensure the Forum remains a sustainable and legally compliant Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), we have implemented rigorous governance reforms:

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3. Boundary Extension & Statutory Planning

This was a landmark year for our planning authority, culminating in the formal approval of our boundary extension by the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) and the London Borough of Brent (LBB) in September 2024.

4. Environmental Advocacy & The Nature Connection Centre

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Harlesden remains one of the UK’s most polluted areas, making our environmental work a matter of public health.

5. Community Power, Culture & Heritage

We believe that a positive rebranding of Harlesden is essential to its regeneration.

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Relationship with Planning Authorities We continue to maintain a strong relationship with Brent Council's planning department.

Radical Place Leadership: We are working hand in hand with the Council Leadership team. Radical Place Leadership: Harlesden has been chosen as a pilot for this programme, which aims to shift power to communities by moving away from top-down models toward coproduction with residents, the police, and the voluntary sector.

6. Communication and Membership Growth

Our reach continues to expand through digital and physical engagement:

7. Financial Strategy & Funding

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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We have a volunteer policy and a process for recruiting volunteer ambassadors who carry out community engagement work on topics of interest to the local community:

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

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Section D Achievements and Performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

We set our expected outcomes, and the following explains our progress toward them. We set our expected outcomes for the 2024–2025 period, and the following explains our significant progress toward them. Outcome 1: Community members have greater involvement in local development and planning, as well as in other decisions affecting the local area.

Advocacy: Provided critical feedback on 16 Craven Park Road (Brent Hairdressing Academy) regarding fire safety and aesthetic shutters, and successfully campaigned against an adult gaming centre at Park Parade. Outcome 2: The town centre is improved in line with a vision established by the community, as identified by the Harlesden Heritage Action Zone and the Harlesden Neighbourhood Plan. (i). As part of the Brent Local Plan and in line with the Harlesden NP, we have identified areas for improvement with the town manager. We identified buildings where murals could be painted around various themes included in the Neighbour Plan. We investigated ways to reduce fly-tipping and waste reduction with the neighbourhood manager. Supported Harlesden town garden and local schools to connect for educational purposes and ensured more children and young people knew about hidden but well-preserved spaces in Harlesden.

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Section D Achievements and Performance

Outcome 3: Increased championing of good planning and economic development via neighbourhood planning. Strategic 2024–2027 Refresh: Developed a new three-year strategy focusing on "Radical Place-Based Leadership" and "Community Power," moving from reactive reporting to proactive co-production of services. Financial Sustainability: Secured £55,000 in core funding from Trust for London and submitted a major "Reaching Communities" National Lottery bid to fund a permanent CEO role. Business Engagement: Deepened ties with the Harlesden Business Association and local shopkeepers through the distribution of Forum merchandise and participation in town-centre networking events. Safer Neighbourhoods: A designated trustee (Andrea Burris) now attends SNT (Police) meetings , successfully shifting the focus from top-down police reporting to a model where resident suggestions lead the agenda. We are working closely with the Locality organisation to begin revising and rewriting the neighbourhood Plan. The Planning team Involvement in the OPDC meeting and consultations is bringing a different perspective on regeneration on the boundaries Outcome 4: Residents have increased access to green spaces and knowledge of new spaces in use, including housing. The Nature Connection Centre now has a master and a draft consortium agreement under the council's revision. Nature Connection Centre Vision and Master Plan Vision

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Section D Achievements and Performance

Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
Master Plan
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)
Phase
Description
Actions & Outcomes
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering
Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
Master Plan
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)
Phase
Description
Actions & Outcomes
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering
Imagine a park that can radically reframe residents' relationship with nature. A
park that transforms how residents perceive the relationship between the park,
Nature, and their lives. A park shows visitors how to harness and support
Nature for their benefit, their community, and the planet — not just during a
park visit but in their everyday lives. What if that park represented a radical new
vision for urban parks across the country, providing a living test ground for
replicating and scaling that vision across the UK?
Welcome to the Nature Connection Centre NW10.We are that vision and
first test centre—a new approach to park-based community and environmental
cohesion, connection, and wellbeing and an experimental new model for park
regeneration and sustainability. A consortium-led centre embracing "What if?"
thinking, innovative collaboration, community aspiration and imagination. And
where better to begin than in Brent, where limited access to Nature, poor health
outcomes, and ambitious climate targets demand new collaboration models,
holistic thinking, and big vision.
Master Plan
Our ambition is grand. The project master plan covers an area within
Roundwood Park encompassing the café, central garden, edible garden,
Nature Connection Centre shed office and outdoor workshop space, two as yet
unused storage containers, the bowling green hut and grounds, and semi-
woodland Forest School and Outdoor Learning zone behind the playground.
Under the master plan, these areas will be unified under a single vision for the
UK’s first park-based Nature Connection Centre and the hub for Brent’s
pioneering new Green Neighbourhood plan.
Nature Connection Centre Timeline (Phase 1 & 2)
Phase
Description
Actions & Outcomes
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept
- Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering
Phase
Description
Actions & Outcomes
Phase
1
(2019-
2024)
Project vision,
conceptualisation
, development,
first-phase
funding and
implementation
- Redevelopment of the park and café sites, including
the creation of the Nature Connection Centre base
(office space, storage, and outdoor workshop), forest
school and outdoor learning space, edible garden,
café garden play space, garden flower beds, water
harvestingsystem,and compostingarea.
Proof of Concept - Demonstrated feasibility through successfully
delivering a wide range of community services and
activities spanning all ages.
- Proof of Concept activity includes Forest & Family
forest school and outdoor learning programs (for
schools, hard-to-reach groups and teens,
homeschooling families, local families, parents and
toddlers); establishment of the weekly Roundwood
Gardening Club, community events like Stories by
Moonlight, Nature Connection Centre open days,
multiple community workshops and meetings, and
various sustainability-focused events). Successful
funding bids/acquisitions from NCIL, Natural
England, RHS, Groundworks, London National Park
City,Brent Together Towards Zero.
Partnership and
Consortium
Development
- Core project partner agreement: Forest & Family,
Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum and Roundwood
Lodge
Consortium partners: Besides the project leads, the
consortium includes five additional partners
(groups/social enterprises/organisations)offering

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Section D Achievements and Performance

community services aligned with the Nature Connection Centre vision, investing in the local community, and understanding its unique needs. - Lead Council Department – the Climate Department is the lead project partner within the Council and will manage/oversee internal council and cross-departmental engagement.

Phase
Description
Targets
Phase
2
(2024-
2028)
Relaunch of
Nature
Connection
Centre
- Public relaunch June 2024
- Project partners will seek funding to implement the
second stage, including masterplan development and
furtherproject and site development
Align Nature
Connection
Centre's vision
with Brent
Council Green
Neighbourhood
Hub and strategy
- The council's target is for everything from the café
garden to the forest school and outdoor learning
space to be the hub for the Nature Connection
Centre and Brent Green Neighbourhood by the end
of 2025.
Long-Term
Strategy
- For Nature Connection Centre NW10 to achieve
long-term sustainability – focusing on a mixed
deliveryself-sustainingmodel - bythe end of 2028.
Nature
Connection
Centre (NCC)
national
framework
-Feasibility and concept advocacy for
regional/national NCC scalability will be led by
Project Visioner/Lead (Katie Mills/Forest & Family) in
conjunction with broader work and research,
networks,and IP.

We are proud to share one unexpected outcome: we have galvanised residents to tackle local anti-social behaviour issues linked to local drug dealing and latenight socialising on their streets. A trustee and resident have been central to bringing together various stakeholders, including police, residents, businesses and local councillors, to establish a way forward.

We have created new consortia of organisations that want to reduce poverty in the Harlesden Connect area (Harlesden, Church End and Roundwood, Stonebridge)

In the last six months, our cooperation with local Councillors has worked well, with dialogue and joint work on matters.

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Section E Financial review

A brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

The reserves we have set aside provide financial stability and the means for developing our principal activity. We intend to maintain our reserves at a level which is at least equivalent to 6 months of operating expenditure.

Details of any funds materially Not applicable in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Trust for London, a London-based charity funder, is the primary source of You may choose to include funding for this period. The grant conditions specify that this restricted additional information, where funding will be spent primarily on staffing and other costs. relevant, about:

This year's second funding source is the London Engagement sources of funds (including Collaborative, a partnership between the Greater London Authority and any fundraising); Brent Council. It funds the development of the Nature Connection Centre, ● how expenditure has edible garden, and Forum Green Neighbourhoods activities. supported the key objectives of the charity;

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) Sandra White Full name(s) Positie.g. (e.g. Secretary, Chair Chair, etc) Date 30 January 2026

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Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum 1188490

Receipts and payments accounts 01/04/2024 31/03/25 For the period from To

CC16a

Section A Receipts and payments

Unrestricted funds Restricted funds

Endowment funds

Total funds

Last year

A1 Receipts to the nearest £
1217.50
100.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
1217.50
100.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
40939.00
-
1650.00
-
2230.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
40939.00
-
1650.00
-
2230.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
to the nearest £
40939.00
1217.50
1650.00
100.00
2230.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
40939.00
1217.50
1650.00
100.00
2230.00
-
-
-
to the nearest £
Central Fund 40939.00 - 40939.00 -
Donation 1217.50 - - 1217.50 -
Groundwork UK 1650.00 - 1650.00 -
Refund 100.00 - - 100.00 -
YoungBrent Foundation 2230.00 - 2230.00 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 1317.50 44819.00 - 46136.50 5623
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see
table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
- - - - -
-£157.00
-
-
-
-
-£24,061.79
-£2,089.88
-
-£5,985.11
-£625.89
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0
-£157.00
0
0
-
-
-
-
Staff Costs -£24,061.79 - 0 -
IT Revenue Costs -£2,089.88 - 0 -
Insurance -£157.00 - - -£157.00 -
Other Administrative Costs -£5,985.11 - 0 -
PropertyDeliveryand Forum Meetings -£625.89 - 0 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total -157 -£32,762.67 - -157 -31700
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
A4 Asset and investment purchases,
(see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
- - - - -
1160.50 12056.33 - 45979.50 -26076
- - - - -
- - - - -
1160.50 12056.33 - 45979.50 -26076

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Categories Details

he period he period
Unrestricted funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
Restricted funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
Endowment funds
to nearest £
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
OK OK OK

B1 Cash funds Total cash funds

(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details

trustees
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s
own use
B5 Liabilities
B2 Other monetary assets
B3 Investment assets
Details
Details
Signature
Details
Details
Unrestricted funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which asset
belongs
Fund to which asset
belongs
Fund to which liability
relates
Print Name
Ebrahim Piperdy (Treasurer)

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Harlesden Neighbourhood Forum members of On accounts for the year 31st March 2025 Charity no 1188490 ended (if any) Set out on pages Above

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 03 / 2025 .

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date: 30/01/2026 Signed: Name: Tomas Wilcox Relevant professional FCIE qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Counterculture Partnership LLP 23 St Leonards Road, Bexhill-on-Sea East Sussex, TN40 1HH

1

October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

October 2018

IER