2022-12-31-accounts - Ambleside Action For A Future

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						SORP reference
Summary		ofthe purposes			of	Para 1.17	To promote for the benefit ofthe public the
the charity as set			out	in its			conservation, protection and improvement of
governing		document					the physical and natural environment by taking
							action to mitigate climate change and its effects
							and by promoting biological diversity. To
							advance the education ofthe public in the
							subject ofclimate change and its mitigation and
							to promote research for the public benefit in all
							aspects ofthat subject and to publish the
							useful results.
Summary activities		ofthe main in relation to those				Para 1.17and 1.19	The groups that make up AAFAF continued to have regular monthly meetings throughout the
purposes		for the public					year on Zoom. Monthly meetings have been
benefit,	in particular,			the			in-person. Membership rose during the year
activities, services accounts.		projects identified	or in	the			and numbers joining/using our social media group/page increased.
							Early in 2022 we collaborated with Friends of
							the Lake District in the second Big Switch-Off
							event for Ambleside. Residents and businesses
							switched lights over one night to save energy
							and draw attention to the harmful effects of
							lighting on wildlife. This is to be repeated
							annually. It relates to our Ambleside to Zero
							Carbon objective and also to our aim of
							promoting greater biodiversity,
							Throughout the year we have had a
							representative attending meetings ofboth the
							Cumbria Sustainability Network and the Zero
							Carbon Cumbria Partnership in order to stay in
							touch with other groups who share our
							objectives and cooperate where possible. .
							Having researched Solar PV installers to identify
							reliable firms, we got our first solar two
							installations on Ambleside properties. The

householder has been very satisfied with the
savings in electricity use. The A-Z Love Solar
Group organised an evening in November for
anyone interested in Solar PV.The event was
well publicised and was attended by 45 people
in the space of90minutes. Many people
registered their interest in solar PV and a
smaller number were interested in working
with us to actually help them install solar on
their homes and businesses to save on fossil
fuel burning and save money.
The work ofthe Evidence Agency in 2021to
identify stakeholders and help us extend our
reach has been a very useful resource to draw
on in 2022.We have given talks to three local
organisations and strengthened ties with one of
them. We now have a quarterly newsletter
going out to members and we plan to distribute
it more widely in 2023.
We received the news ofthe go-ahead for the
West Cumbria Coal Mine in early December
with dismay. Some members have been liaising
with South Lakes Action on Climate Change
about their legal challenge and have been
promoting the group's fundraiser, as well as
liaising with Friends ofthe Earth locally to
provide sources of information to equip
members to lobby effectively against what
would be a very significant increase in carbon
emissions.
Our infra-red camera trained surveyors
surveyed many homes over the winter helping
people to save energy —often by improving
their insulation. N.B.The outside temperature
must be cold in order to carry out the surveys.
This work will be carried out each winter.
The Growing and Biodiversity Group organised
a Plant Giveaway in IVlay and gave away over
250vegetable plants, herbs and pollinator
friendly flowering plants which had been
donated by members —to local residents —to
encourage growing, food security and insect
pollination. This is also a family oriented day
with activities for children and plants for them
too totake home. Refreshments were also on
offer and a friendly and sociable community
atmosphere prevailed which fits with our aim
ofcommunity building and inclusiveness.
Tree maintenance of intensively planted young
trees on fell sides around Ambleside went on

				for a large part ofthe year improving their
				chances of survival and thus increasing the
				sequestration ofcarbon and increasing wildlife
				habitat, We continued to search for other
				suitable tree planting sites liaising with the
				National Trust and the Woodland Trust. We
				were awarded a National Lottery jTogether for
				our Planet) grant ofE8,900 in April which we
				allocated to a major project, named Zero
				Carbon Bees5Trees. This involves mapping
				existing trees and wildlife habitats in and
				around Ambleside as well as identifying
				possible new tree-planting sites, liaising with
				landowners and engaging residents to hear
				their opinions and wishes. This work will go on
				into 2023 and will prepare the ground for more
				tree planting and habitat restoration in late
				2023.
				The small orchard in the park continues to
				thrive as does the wildflower meadow which
				now has a sign in order to draw people' s
				attention to it and raise awareness ofthe need
				to increase planting for pollinators.
				Members have written emails to ministers on
				issues relevant to our climate and ecological
				concerns and responded to consultations on
				related issues.
				Two undergraduate students from Lancaster
				University have been researching topics
				suggested by us and have almost completed
				their dissertations —one on Food waste in the
				Hospitality Industry and one on attitudes to
				Tree Planting in the area.This research will give
				us important information for future work with
				the business community and for future tree
				planting.
Statement	confirming		Para 1.18	The trustees have followed the guidance on
whether the trustees		have		public benefit provided by the Charity
had regard	to the guidance			Commission in its document CC3- "The
issued by	the Charity			Essential Trustee"
Commission on public
benefit

Policy on	social investment	social investment	social investment	social investment	Para 1.38	Not applicable
including	program			related
investment
Contribution			made	by	Para 1.38	The entire work of AAFAF is carried out by
volunteers						volunteers
Other
Achieve		e	nts	and Performance
					SORP reference
Summary	of		the main		Para 1.20	The Plant Giveaway was a spectacular success
achievements			ofthe charity,			this year —attracting and enthusing more
identifying		the difference the				people than ever and thus increasing
charity's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.						awareness ofthe importance ofgrowing for food and for pollinators. As we observed last year, residents who have attended our growing events find that planting for the benefit of insects and/or food has become much more
						forefront in their lives. Feedback from this
						group also demonstrates a heightened
						awareness ofthe need for pollinator-friendly
						plants, growing without pesticides, using
						peat-free compost and other good practices.
						This is evident too amongst members, many of
						whom have started growing in their gardens or
						containers, giving space to wildflowers etc.This
						helps to stern the decline in insect life vital for
						our survival and improves biodiversity as well
						as adapting to the unfolding crisis by improving
						food security.
						Good work was done in preparing fortree
						planting later in the winter - ordering of
						biodegradable tree guards and liaising with
						landowners such asthe National Trust and
						their tenant farmers and cementing our
						co-working arrangements with the Woodland
						Trust.
						Tree planting/ maintenance has drawn in new
						members thus raising awareness ofthe climate
						and ecological emergency and getting more
						hands-on deck to do the practical work. This
						will mitigate climate breakdown by
						sequestering carbon and helping towards the
						general aim of improving habitat for wildlife
						and improving biodiversity. The lottery grant
						we successfully applied for is enabling us to
						prepare the ground for larger scale tree
						planting which will also sequester carbon and

create habitat for wildlife (everything from
microbial life to hover flies to woodcock to
badgers) which, as most of us know, is
catastrophically depleted in this country. One
ofthe most important phases ofthis project-
planned for early next year —is creating
opportunities for people in the village to have
their say about what they want and where.
The BigSwitch-Off was again effective in
making people think about energy use and the
harmful effects ofartificial lighting on wildlife.
The successful installation ofSolar PV on two
very different properties was an important step
towards bringing about the uptake of
renewable energy at scale. The Solar Project
event in November helped to spread the word
far and wide and got a number of households
taking their interest further which will help
decrease the carbon footprint ofthe village
overall.
Our trained infra-red camera users continued
to help people identify heat loss and take basic
steps to keep their homes warmer (or, in some
cases undertake more ambitious insulation
work). This work will continue each winter
reducing energy consumption and helping to
mitigate some ofthe worsening effects of
climate change.
The lobbying group has renewed its efforts to
oppose the West Cumbria Coal Mine and many
members from the wider group and the public
have donated to the legal challenge being
mounted by our SLACC (South Lakes Action on
Climate Change) as a result ofour publicity.
Hopefully this project can at least be delayed
and even abandoned saving millions oftonnes
ofemissions
We have maintained our connection with two
Primary Schools in the area via the Big
Switch-Off and involving the children in
planting in the wild flower meadow schools
and we hope to work more with them in the
coming ear.

Performance	offundraising	Para 1.41	Atarget off1000for income from donations
activities against objectives			was set. The total income achieved was
set			f692.32, plus donations off1799.15to a
			restricted fund in memory ofa member who
			sadly died recentl .
Investment	performance	Para 1.41	No investment objectives were set.
against objectives
Other

Financ	ial Review	ial Review	ial Review	ial Review
Review	ofthe charity's					Para 1.21	The charity remains in a sound financial
financial	position		at	the end			position. Most expenditure on charitable
ofthe period							projects was from restricted funds donated	by
							external funders, and a small surplus of
							unrestricted funds was generated.
Statement		explaining		the		Para 1.22	Reserves are held for the following reasons:	—to
policy for holding stating why they			reserves are held				meet the costs ofessential routine items fe.g insurance, ICT), in the event of a failure to raise
							sufficient funds to cover them; —a contingency
							fund for unexpected essential costs; —urgent
							small projects not anticipated in the annual
							budget; —a cushion for cash flow, in case of	a
							need to incur planned expenditure before
							receiving the income to cover it.The target
							total of reserves isf1800.
Amount	ofreserves			held		Para 1.22	61800
Reasons for holding				zero		Para 1.22	Not applicable
reserves
Details	offund materially				in	Para 1.24	Not applicable
deficit
Explanation		ofany				Para 1.23	Not applicable
uncertainties		about the
charity continuing			as a going
concern

Additional information	(optional)
You ma choose to include further statements		where relevant about:
The charity's principal	Para 1.4?	Grants from	charitable	trusts, and donations		by
sources offunds (including		individuals.
any fundraising)
Investment policy and	Para 1.46	No such policies have		been adopted.
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted
A description ofthe principal	Para 1.46	The trustees	have adopted a risk management
risks facing the charity		policy which	identifies	potential	financial,
		reputational,	legal, operational		and
		environmental	risks. With the controls that

				have been put in	have been put in	place, none ofthese	place, none ofthese	place, none ofthese	risks	risks	risks	is
				currently regarded as significant.
Other
Structure, Governance		and Management
Description ofcharity's
trusts:
Type ofgoverning document ('trust deed, ro al charte!. '		Para 1.25		Foundation model constitution
How is the charity		Para 1.25		CIO
constituted?
(e.g unlncorporatec
association. CIQ,
Trustee selection methods		Para 1.25		Apart from the	first trustees, every			trustee				is
including details ofany				appointed for a	term ofthree years			by	a
constitutional provisions	e.g.			resolution passed		at a properly	convened
election to post or name	of			meeting ofthe trustees. In selecting				individuals
any person or body entitled				for appointment		as trustees, the trustees					have
to appoint one or more				regard to the skills, knowledge			and	experience
trustees				needed for the	effective administration					of		the
				CIO.
Additional information	(optional)
You ma choose to include further statements				where relevant	about:
Policies and procedures		Para 1.51		Trustees are provided with the Charity
adopted for the induction				Commission trustee welcome			pack.
and training oftrustees
The charity's organisational		Para 1.51		AAFAF has six formal members			who	are		the
structure and any wider				charity trustees,		and a wider membership						of
network with which the				about 135.There		are several working			groups
charity works				organised around		specific topics or		projects,
				each ofwhich is		led by a volunteer		coordinator
				who reports to	the trustees.
				AAFAF works with Cumbria Action for
				Sustainability and the Zero Carbon				Cumbria
				Partnership.
Relationship with any		Para 1.51
related parties
Other
Reference and Administrative			details
Charity name		Ambleside	Action for a Future
Other name the charity	uses	AAFAF
Registered charity number		1188921
Charity's principal address		Dillygarth,	Loughrigg, Ambleside,			LA22 9HF

Trustee name	Office (ifany)	Dates acted ifnot for whole year
Gillian Kelly	Chair
Caroline Caple	Secretary
Mary Wyburn	Treasurer	until 03/03/22
	Trustee	until 22/09/22
Sharon Holt
Steve Lenartowicz	Trustee
	Treasurer	from 22/03/22
Ursula Brendling
Tim Clarke		until 10/11/22
Clare Humphry		from 26/04/22

Funds held as custodian	Funds held as custodian	trustees
Description ofthe assets		None
held in this capacity
Name and objects ofthe		Not applicable
charity on whose behalf	the
assets are held and how	this
falls within the custodian
charity's objects
Details ofarrangements	for	Not applicable
safe custody and
segregation ofsuch assets
from the charity's own assets