Sussex Green Living
Period to 31 March 2024
Charity Number 1189569
SUSSEX GREEN LIVING
ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 01 APRIL 2023 TO 31 MARCH 2024
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Sussex Green Living
Trusteesʼ Report for the period ending 31 March 2024
The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the accounts for Sussex Green Living (the Charity), for the period to 31 March 2024.
Objective
Sussex Green Living is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). Its objective is to provide education to the public on how to adopt an environmentally friendly lifestyle and improve their ability to reduce their negative impact on the planet. It provides practical solutions to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commissionʼs general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trustʼs objectives and in planning future activities.
Achievements and performance It proved to be further challenging year in that demands on the charity continued to increase but securing income streams to meet these demands did not keep place. Consequently, a decision was made to engage the services of a professional fundraiser from January 2024. Whilst, by the end of the financial year, the level of income had not materially improved, the methodical, organised and consistent approach had brought a sharper focus and broader reach to fundraising.
With some pro-bono support from PMW Marketing we have, towards the end of this year, launched our Green Business network and by March 2024 we were working with 5 businesses two of which were house builders. Linked to this network has been the Pollination Education Station project. Companies were able to sponsor stations, these being made from recycled wood, contains a ʻbug hotelʼ area and encourages pollinating insects with planting of native flowers and herbs and an A2 educational plaque directing people to the solutions page of our website.
The monthly Sussex Green Hub in Horsham has, during the year, been supplemented with a number of mini-hubs in towns and villages across the District. In particular, replicating our extremely popular and successful repair café and refill service. With the help of a Horsham District Council grant In 2023 we worked with 10 parish councils and ran a repair, refill, recycling event in each of their villages. This resulted in 3 new repair cafes and 2 new bottle refill services in those villages, plus expanding our subscribers, recruiting more volunteers and creating a ripple of action in our area of influence. We expanded the number of village recycling volunteer groups offering public drop off locations, collecting hard to recycle plastics with us and TerraCycle and offering a wider recycling information service.
Two further innovations during the year have been the introduction of Overherd oat powder sales to both the SGH, and the Eco Float when attending events. This product is an excellent example of how we can make small lifestyle changes which collectively make a big difference. Overherd powder is lighter, has less packaging, reduces carbon footprint compared to plant based liquid equivalents and is vastly more environmentally friendly than dairy liquid milk. Thanks to a generous donation of a large number of paintings by a well known local artist we have been able to raise income by running a silent auction.
Our core education work has continued by supporting schools with environmental education and increasing visits, and help given, to 6th form colleges and senior schools. The Youth Eco-Forum meets regularly and, as a consequence, we have seen an increase in young people volunteering with us. Overall, not an easy year but one where we have seen some significant signs of growth.
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Sussex Green Living Constitution
Sussex Green Living is a Foundation Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered with the Charity Commission on 20 May 2020. The constitution of the Charity was adopted on 17 April 2020 and was based on the Charity Commission model constitution. This has remained unchanged through the 2023 – 2024 year.
Reference
Reference and administration details
For year ending 31 March 2024
Charity number 1189569
Email: info@sussexgreenlivng.org.uk Website: www.sussexgreenliving.org.uk Contact address: The White House, Coneyhurst, Billingshurst, West Sussex, RH14 9DH
The trustees at the date of this report and those that served since incorporation are as follows: Trustees Paul Bellringer OBE Chair Dan Petrak - Treasurer Appointed 25 Aug 2021 Jill Shuker Appointed 30 April 2021 Karrie Mellor Hamish McDermid Appointed 8 November 2022 Liz Thorn Appointed 25 August 2021 Key management Carrie Cort CEO personnel Joy Carter Waste reduction manager Sheila Humphries PA to the board of trustees Bankers The Co-operative Bank 1 Balloon St, Manchester M60 4EP Independent Lynn Rowlands examiners
Financial review
Our policy is to maintain appropriate reserves to cover our immediate operating needs which, at any one time, are normally less than £2,000. The Trustees review receipts and payments on a periodic basis and the level of expenditure is set to ensure that there will be adequate resources available to meet commitments made as they fall due.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf on January 2025 Paul Bellringer OBE Chair of Trustees
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLthD AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the tTUStoos On accounts for th• year endèd 31" Man 2024 Charity no (rf any) 1189569 Responsibilitiès and b•sls of yeport As thè chariils trustees. you are responsible forthe weparation of ths I re[ in my examirwlion crf the TnJ8t's Unts carried out Ltrider sedion 145 of 2011 Ac in carryiThJ out my examination, I have foll¢yhEd all the apFAabIa DitiOnS gN•n by the Charrty Commission urthr se¢li( 145(5Xb) of A Independont examinefs 8talomgnt come to my attention in ftsnedion wilh the examination vthiL gi me caw to tr4ieve that in. any terIal res the ao)Junts dvj acth wrth the accountir4J rerds. or the ac¢oLbrts dhd not wilh the applicable Tequirements concemiNJ the form arKI corrtent of accounts set Ixrt in the Chanties {Accounts arKI Rerrtxts) Regulatr"on5 2(K)8 otherthan any requirement that th¢ accounts gNe 8 and fairf view which is not a matter consJered as part of an iThJeFKkntt examination. I have no 0)TKe arKI have come ams no tts matters in connecon wth the examination to attenti shwld be drawn in this P)rt in Lyder to enable a tXOFer e[statlIj ofthe accounts to be reaclw. 14101r2025 Lsmn RolaThJ5 NIA qualific¥tion(sl or body (rf any): IER Oct 2018 Page 4
Sussex Green Living Period to 31 March 2024
ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD TO 31 MARCH 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| Notes | 2024 Total £ |
2024 Unrestricted funds £ |
2024 Restricted funds £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts Donations and grants |
36,829 | 31,829 | 5,000 | |
| Total receipts | 36,829 | 31,829 | 5,000 | |
| Payments | ||||
| Marketing incl. stalls & banners | 10,745 | 7,088 | 3,657 | |
| Salary | 10,407 | 7,230 | 3,177 | |
| Less waste shopexpenses | 4,858 | 4,177 | 682 | |
| Contractors (Educators) | 2,620 | 1,820 | 800 | |
| Website & IT | 2,359 | 2,031 | 328 | |
| Finance | 1,895 | 1,637 | 257 | |
| Travel | 1,693 | 1,455 | 237 | |
| Other charitable expenses <£1,000 | 4,274 | 3,678 | 596 | |
| Total payments | 38,851 | 29,116 | 9,734 | |
| Fund b/f | 20,410 | 15,676 | 4.734 | |
| Fund balance at 31 March 2024 | 18,388 | 18,388 | nil |
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Sussex Green Living Period to 31 March 2024
| STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 |
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 MARCH 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | 2024 £ |
|
| Assets Cash in Bank and in hand |
18,388 | |
| Total Assets | 18,388 | |
| Total funds | 18,388 | |
| Notes to the accounts |
- These accounts have been prepared on a cash basis. As the Charity is registered in England and Wales, is not a company and has gross income that is not over £250,000 it is permitted under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 to prepare receipts and payments accounts.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf on January 2025
Paul Bellringer OBE Chair of Trustees
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