Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] April 2024 Period start date To 31.03.25 Period end date
Charity name: Oaks Meadow Project
Charity registration number:1192200
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | Provision of facilities for recreation, leisure and education in the interests of social welfare and improving the conditions for life for the residents of Combs, Little Finborough and neighbouring rural settlements. The promotion of sustainable eco systems and recycling with a view to providing education and conservation of local flora, fauna and the environment generally. A commitment to improve moral and spiritual welfare and promote civic responsibility, good citizenship and social cohesion. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Much of 2024 was spent maintaining and improving the facilities that were already on site. This involved tending to the trees and gardens, the pond and the orchard which visitors to the site have appreciated and enjoyed spending time in the countryside and at one with the natural environment. The playground area continues to be extremely popular with local residents and visitors from further afield. It has become a social hub for all ages, especially the young families that have moved into the village recently, giving them an opportunity to meet with others. The addition of goal posts and net has appealed to the older children along with their parents/carers. Collaboration with other groups and organisations have been of mutual benefit to us all. The Indigo Opportunities Group attend weekly to help with maintaining their sensory garden and the reflective space. Wild Heritage Suffolk have moved onto the meadow and will be establishing their “Let it Grow” programme for social prescribing. The Oaks Meadow Focus/User group have organised social and fundraising events |
| which have been well attended and much enjoyed by all. At the beginning of 2025 a car park was constructed allowing for 20 cars to park safely on site. Cycle stands have been installed and a ramp off the carpark onto the meadow for wheelchair users. The bank of earth from the construction running alongside the hedge, has been planted with wildflower seeds. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | All Oaks Meadow Project Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit, and acknowledged such. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | As was set out at it’s inception, Oaks Meadow has provided a safe, country side space for people of all ages to socialise and be at one with the natural environment. Footfall increases month on month and feedback from visitors near and further afield is always positive. There is no other community space within the village of Combs & hamlet of Little Finborough, causing isolation for some and the lack of opportunity to meet others for most. There are manyGrandparents livingwithin |
walking distance of the meadow and they welcome the space to bring their grandchildren when they are caring for them. Not only do they then play on the playground equipment but they love to explore the greenspace with it’s many pathways around the trees and gardens with educational sites such as bug hotels on the way.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Bank Balance £10,556.00 Cash in hand £128.97 Total. £10,684.97 |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Oaks Meadow Reserves Policy states that we hold £1000 in reserves to cover annual running costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £2919.48 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Combs Parish Council have covered most of the annual running costs and provided some of the capital required for additional projects through CIL funds. Mid Suffolk District Council have funded the larger part of a capital project through CIL Funds. The Oaks Meadow User Group & Trustees organise fundraising events locally which is adequate to cover the amount needed for the running costs. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Potential Trustees are invited to apply for a postion as a Trustee. The application is reviewed by all current Trustees and the applicant is informed if they have been appointed. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Oaks Meadow Project |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1192200 |
| Charity’s principal address | Blackberry Barn Bildeston Road Combs Stowmarket IP14 2JZ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desiree Shelley | Chairperson | |||
| Susan Green | Secretary | |||
| Diana Marjoram | Treasurer | |||
| Stephen Green | ||||
| Ian Clark | ||||
| Georgina Shelley | ||||
| Darren Lambert | ||||
| Christopher Holman |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| Desiree Shelley | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
S G Green Signature(s) D G Shelley Susan Green Full name(s) Desiree G Shelley Position (eg Secretary, Chairperson Secretary. Chair, etc)
Date
13.09.25
| Charity Name | No (if any) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaks Meadow Project | 1192200 | ||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||
| 01/04/2024 For the period from Period start date |
31/03/2025 Period end date To |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 55 - - - - - - - 55 - - - 55 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 55 - - 55 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 26 488 2 760 - 8 933 500 - - 38 682 - - - 38 682 146 71 35 488 3 583 125 51 - - - 39 464 - - - 39 464 - 782 - - - 782 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 55 26 488 2 760 - 8 933 500 - - 38 736 - - - 38 736 146 71 35 488 3 583 125 51 - - - 39 464 - - - 39 464 Cross Add Error |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Donations | 55 | - | ||||
| MSDC | - | - | ||||
| LocalityBudget(CC & DC) | - | - | ||||
| Suffolk CountyCouncil | - | - | ||||
| Combs Parish Council | - | - | ||||
| FundingOrganisations - Co-op | - | - | ||||
| Local Fundraising | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
55 | - | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| Insurance | - | - | ||||
| Bank Charges | - | - | ||||
| Site Groundworks & Design | - | - | ||||
| Structure & Equipment | - | - | ||||
| Trees,hedging& Plants | - | - | ||||
| Admin & office expenses | - | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | ||||
| 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 |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| 55 | - 782 | - | Cross Add Error | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 55 | - 782 | - | #VALUE! |
- |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
D Marjoram Signature D G Shelley Details Details PettyCash Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Bank balance at end of period Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 129 - - - - - 129 - Agreement Error Agreement Error Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 10 556 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - Print Name D G Shelley D Marjoram |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
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| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
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| Date of approval |
|||
| D G Shelley | D G Shelley | 09/08/2025 | |
| D Marjoram | D Marjoram | 09/08/2025 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examinevs Report R•port lo th• tni819•41 memb•r8 of Oaks Meadcfyv Projecl On account• for lh• year ended March 31. 2025 ChaTIty no Ilf any) 1192200 S•t out on pa I report to the truylees my examinatlon of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusl.) for the year ended Responslbllltl•8 and As the tharity trusteey ol the Trust. YOU 8r8 rasponslble for the pr8p3ratw)n basls of report of th8 account8 In accordance wllh the ffjquiremenls of Iha Charilles Act 2011 ('Ihe Acr). I ryrt In resp1 of my ex1ftaIl ol the Trust's acc4)unls wrled out under section 145 01 the 2011 Act and In carrylng out rny examlnallon, I have followed Ihe appflcable Dlrections given by the Charity CommissFon under secllon 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have wmFApled ry examlnolion. I cwfwm thal no malgrtsl maiter8 have come to my attentlon (other than that dlsdosed below ') In connection wlth Ihe examination vthich kives me cause to b81iev8 Ihal in, any material Indopond•nt •xamlnerf5 Statement accounting records were not kept In accordance WFth sectlon 130 of the Act or the a¢ntS do Tb)t a¢d wlth the accounting re(xxd8 I have no 0cernS 8nd have come across no other matters in ¢onnectlon wlth Ihe oxamlnation to which attentlon should be drawn In ordor to enabl8 a proper und8rsl8nding of the accounts to be re8ched, • Please delele tho wonls In the braL*ets If they do nol apply. 81gned: Dat•: Naffle: R•l•v4nt prohsslonal qu•llficatlon{•) or body (11 any): Addr•o8: fvsr Octobw 2018
Section Disclosure Only complete rf Ihe examiner n8eds lo highlighl matter5 of concern (see CC32. Independent examlnatlon of charity acu)unts", directions and guidance for examlnersl. Glv8 here brief detalls of any Item8 that the examlner wishes to dl$close, October 2018