ZERC) carbon guildford AnnuaL Report 2024 l•rylii 11 O IM **Zero Carbon Guildford** Registered Charity Number 1192880 Zero Carbon Guildford’s vision is of our local community thriving through greener living and working. Our strategy is built on four pillars combining community engagement, effective advocacy, providing education, and practical action, with the aim of helping the community to better understand environmental and climate challenges so they are empowered to make informed decisions and equipped to effect positive local change. Going forward, our operations and activities will be anchored by our new hub at Walnut Tree Close, which will enable us to re-focus on project delivery while increasing the reach of our most successful initiatives. 2 ## **A note from the Trustees** Thank you also to our funders including all the people who gave so generously to our recent Crowdfunder, and thank you to our outgoing trustees for your expertise in steering the organisation so well. Finally, thank you to Clyde & Co for helping us with legal and lease agreements, and Helen Lee our financial independent examiner. As Trustees of Zero Carbon Guildford, we have the happy task of thanking everyone who has helped us to make 2024 a successful year for the Charity. The year started with our volunteers helping to set up our new hub in the High Street and showcase many of our projects with creative new displays. We also realised a long-term ambition to have a water-testing lab to support the Water Rangers. We have continued to invite the public in to attend events, to learn, share, volunteer, make friends and grow a community around our common goal of reducing carbon emissions and creating a more sustainable environment in Guildford. In 2024, funding from the National Lottery Community Fund allowed us to employ key staff members to support our charitable aims and Surrey County Council renewed our contract to run the HEAT program on their behalf. This Annual Report is an opportunity to reconfirm that we, as Trustees, recognise the duty imposed upon us by the Charities Act 2011 Section 17 and also the requirement to have due regard to the guidance provided by the Charity Commission in connection with Public Benefit. All our activities are charitable and in one form or other deliver public benefit. We invite all members of the community to volunteer with us, and anyone can attend our events and access resources and information we provide. We aim to help the whole community to engage with the opportunities and challenges associated with the shift to greener living and working. As 2024 ended we were challenged to move once again, prompting us to secure new premises in Walnut Tree Close, and the planning for this move is already well-advanced. Please read on to find out more about our charitable activities, the impact of our work and how we manage our finances. So, a big thank you to all within our community - volunteers, employees and members - we couldn’t do any of this without you! ## Signed, ## _**Zero Carbon Guildford Trustees**_ **----- Start of picture text -----**
Jack
Carol
Katherine Stuart Isabel White
Clowser Dunnett Cook Robson Meghna
Das
Prashant Maddie Helen Steve Kerry
Kumar Evans Harris Not pictured: Davis Olivia Lewis
David Stokes and
Carpenter-Lomax
Smirti Kutaula 3
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Contents** |**1**|**2024**|**in brief** ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………|**5**| |---|---|---|---| |**2**|**2024**|**strategy: How did we do?** ……………………………………………………………………|**10**| |**3**|**2024**|**Environmental report**………………………………………………………………………………|**12**| |**4**|**2025**|**strategy: What are we doing next?**……………………………………………|**14**| |**5**|**How**|**we are structured**…………………………………………………………………………………………|**16**| |**6**|**2024**|**Financial report and Charity info** …………………………………………………|**19**| 4 ## Section 1 **2024 in brief** We are proud of all that has been achieved in 2024. In this year we demonstrated that **Zero Carbon Guildford** is so much more than its physical location. Despite our relatively short term occupation at 168 High Street we have continued to grow and develop and maintained our thriving community. In April 2024, we started to receive funding from the **National Lottery Community Fund** , which focuses on ensuring operations of the Charity are resilient and impactful by funding key roles and expenses. We are successfully delivering against our National Lottery funding requirements such as outreach to schools, wellness events, and supporting Duke of Edinburgh Students. We continue to maintain our presence at local events and expand our community outreach. Our flagship projects such as **Water Rangers** , **Sustainable Business Network** , **HEAT** , **Community Fridge** and **Library of Things** have enabled us to reach more people than ever, and built our community of committed volunteers. During 2024, we started our regular **‘ZERO Nights’** , where volunteers come together to collaborate and progress projects and activities, and share updates (as well as cake!). This is a great way to build and maintain our fantastic community, and allow individuals to get involved in what we do. In October 2024 our Trustees met with the Executive Committee at **Guildford** **Environmental Forum** to discuss our shared objectives for making Guildford a greener, more sustainable place. We agreed that merging our two organisations would allow us to be more efficient and more effective and have started a process to take us towards this aim over the next 18 months, subject to a members vote in favour at the 2025 AGM. In November we undertook an activity to refresh our Charity’s **strategy** reflecting our expanded aims and collaborations with other local organisations. We have also strengthened our executive and decision making processes to reflect our growth as an organisation. We started our latest **crowdfunder** in December 2024 which, by the close date in February 2025, had raised an additional £16,800 to enable us to continue our work. We are hugely grateful to everyone who contributed. The next page shows a summary of some of the key events and activities throughout the year. ## **Awards and Accreditations 2024** In December 2024, the Library of Things team were delighted to win the Surrey County Council’s Stars in Surrey Greener Future Award. 2024 also saw us become employers of paid staff and we are proud to be a certified Living Wage Employer. 5 **2024 in brief** Section 1 ## **Key events & activities in 2024** ## **Regular Events** **Community Fridge, Biodiversity talks and walks, Climate Fresk, Doughnut Economics workshops Open Mic, Poetry Nights, Volunteer Socials. Yoga, ZERO Nights.** ## **ZERO opens at 168 High Street** 20 Apr Over 500 local people joined us at our Grand Opening including the Mayor of Guildford ## **Climate and Nature Bill** 21 May Raising awareness of this bill with over 50 attendees including MP Zoe Franklin 17 Jun **Relaunch of Library of Things** In collaboration with Guildford Library Jun **HEAT Project: Insulation Initiative** **Staff update** Project Coordinator, Operational Coordinator and Outreach Coordinator are appointed to support Charity activities and operation 02 Jul **SBN Decarbonisation training** Sustainable Business Network wins County Council tender to deliver decarbonisation training to businesses Aug **Joint Trustee meeting with Guildford Environmental Forum** Agreement in principle to work together and aim to merge in 2026 16 Oct 03 Nov **March for Clean Water** Volunteers attended this London event **Notice served on 168 High Street…** and we signed the lease on Walnut Tree Close Dec Jan 25 Feb 28 Mar 01 Apr 27 Apr 08 Jun 24 Jun Jul 13 Sep 20 Sep Nov Dec ## **Projects continue in between premises** Activities continue at St Nicolas Church and Quaker Meeting House e.g. Toads on the Road and Community Fridge **Guildford Seed Swap** Joint event welcoming over 150 avid growers to share tips and swap seeds **Our 3rd Annual General Meeting** Over 50 members joined us at the Trinity Centre to listen to our recent successes and invite new Trustees on board ## **National Lottery Community Funding started** **Community Water Testing Lab** The Water Rangers open the UK’s first community lab testing for E. coli at ZERO **Guildford Green Day** Community outreach through our High Street Stall ## **Environmental Hustings** Guildford Parliamentary Candidates were quizzed ahead of the election. Co-hosted with Guildford Environmental Forum **Partnership with Fareshare** Enabling us to collect and redistribute food that would be otherwise wasted ## **Guildford Walkfest** We offered guided nature walks on bats, water testing and tours of Rosamund Community Garden ## **Guildford Cleaner Air Day 2024** A great day out talking to the people of Guildford about active travel and food waste **Strategy review and creation of operations panel** **Staff update** Zero Carbon Guildford appoints a Marketing & Communications Manager. 6 **2024 in brief** Section 1 ## **Zero Carbon Guildford’s Projects** ## **Library Of Things** **Description:** Lends useful items to residents for free, saving resources, carbon and money. **2024 update:** Relaunched in July 2024 in partnership with Guildford Library. **596 items lent out** this year, saving an estimated 9 tonnes of CO2. The project was awarded the Surrey County Council’s Stars in Surrey **Greener Future Award.** ## **Community Fridge** **Description:** Saves food from going to waste by redistribution from retailers to residents, and used to engage the public in conversations about food waste and our wider work. **2024 update:** New partnership with Fareshare has increased food we can redistribute and number of days the fridge operates. 73 tonnes of CO2 saved this year by distributing **29 tonnes of food** to **13,000 visitors.** ## **Home Energy Advice Team** **Description:** Provides free home energy advice to residents. Funding from DESNZ through partnership with Surrey County Council. Additionally, Surrey County Council has provided funding for insulation for issue to households. **2024 update: 868 home energy visits** , distribution of low cost or free loft insulation to 20 households. ## **Green Read Share** **Description:** Our community library, with a stock of climate and environmentally themed books for residents to borrow for free. **2024 update:** 132 free loans in 2024 from a collection of more than **500 books** . 7 **2024 in brief** Section 1 ## **Sustainable Business Network** **Description:** Aims to support local businesses in their transition to net zero and greater sustainability. **2024 update:** Secured contract to deliver business decarbonisation course for Surrey County Council. **300 businesses** engaged so far and **50 carbon management plans** facilitated. Funding for the SBN Project Manager came to an end in early 2025 and the SBN will continue as a volunteer led project. ## **Urban Greening** **Description:** Establishing green spaces to support biodiversity, air quality and well being. **2024 update:** Rooftop garden planted on White Lion Walk shopping center; Green roof established at Guildford Children’s Centre, installed Green Screen and Green Living Gate at Sandfield Primary School, which **cut noise 5 dB** and **pollution by 30%** and a **75% positive response from parents** . ## **Explore and Restore** **Description:** Encourages active travel by travelling safe routes together in a fun and accessible way. **2024 update:** Piloted in summer 2024, planning to relaunch in spring 2025. 8 **2024 in brief** Section 1 ## **Collaborative Projects** **Zero Carbon Guildford works closely with a range of other local community based organisations with shared objectives. In some cases we host projects physically, in others we share expertise, do joint communications or engage Zero Carbon Guildford volunteers to support these projects..** ## **Water Rangers** **Description:** Volunteers in the Guildford area test local water quality as a partnership between Zero Carbon Guildford, Water Rangers and the River Wey Trust. **2024 update:** As part of this partnership, we were able to set up the **first community-led E. coli testing lab** in the UK at ZERO, working with the University of Surrey. ## **Surrey Hills Baby Clothes Library** **Description:** Lends out boxes of clothes suitable for ages up to 2, saving clothes from landfill and service users money. Zero Carbon Guildford provides storage space and volunteers to support clothes sorting. **2024 update:** Loaned **93 boxes** and have **135 boxes** currently in the library. ## **Community Energy Surrey** **Description:** A new Community Benefit Society aiming to boost renewable energy generation in Surrey through community funded renewable installations. Supported by Community Energy South and Surrey County Council. **2024 update:** The company was founded in 2024 with their Board drawing from the experience of established ZERO members. Identified a number of prospective sites, establishing a short list which expect to start installing in 2025. ## **Heat Cool** **Description:** Working alongside GCARE educating students with a hands-on, data-driven approach to identifying urban heat risks and the cooling effects of greenery and water features, with the goal of empowering them to develop nature-based solutions and contribute to climate resilience. **2024 update: 298 students** reached across 5 schools, over 75% of participants said their **understanding on climate-related topics improved** . ## **Terracycle** **Description:** ZERO is a collection point for items to be recycled through Terracycle. We work with a local collector, **Cheryl Rankin,** who has been collecting for more than ten years. The scheme raises money for Kicks Count, a national charity for prevention of stillbirth and neonatal death. **2024 update:** We estimate that **150-200kg** of hard to recycle material was collected and processed in 2024. 9 ## Section 2 ## **2024 strategy: How did we do?** Our 2023 Annual Report laid out three key strategy focus areas 2024. This included: **----- Start of picture text -----**
1
Engaging a
wider audience
including the
majority of the
Guildford
population
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2
Enabling our
core community
to increase their
impact
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3
Progressing
towards future
operational
longevity for
Zero Carbon
Guildford
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Engage a much wider demographic, to include those who do not consider the climate impacts of their decision-making but DO see the importance of protecting the people and places they love. Continuing to support our community of volunteers and members in their environmental goals, including supporting them in enabling the activities of Zero Carbon Guildford. Exploring and implementing solutions to enable the operational sustainability and longevity of the charity. In each focus area, a number of more specific activities were listed. This strategy incorporated input from across the charity’s volunteers, including dedicated volunteers and project leaders, to trustees, and aimed to build on the work of the previous years to continue to make progress on our charitable objectives. The next page summarises how we did against this as a charity in 2024. 10 Section 2 **1** ## **2024 strategy: How did we do?** The 2024 strategy included three focus areas: ## **Engaging a wider audience including the majority of the Guildford population** ## **How we planned to do this:** Physical presence in Guildford centre with effective displays and trained climate communicators. Outreach events tailored to target key demographics. Building relationships with a wide variety of groups and organisations to extend our community offering. ## **What we did to achieve this:** High street premises opened in April 2024 with more professional and cohesive displays and interior design. 104 outreach events, including visits to local schools, fete stalls and other groups. 77 relationships built including the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, Tunsgate Square and Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum. 11 biodiversity events jointly held with Guildford Environmental Forum. ## **What didn't go so well:** Messaging for each project is not yet well understood by all volunteers. Correcting this would mean more consistency in our interactions, and enable our volunteers to be more confident. **2** ## **Enabling our core community to increase their impact** ## **How we planned to do this:** Quality climate engagement training to help our community encourage behavioural change. Support projects to have maximum impact. Bring the community together to share skills and resources. Establish effective volunteer roles, processes and journeys. ## **What we did to achieve this:** 83 volunteers and people from 7 other organisations trained in climate communication. Project coordinator in place from July 2025 to provide structural support to projects and increase their impact. 48 events held, including 39 educational talks / workshops, and 9 social and volunteer events. ## **What didn't go so well:** Roles for each project and activity are not yet fully defined and shared. Doing this ensures volunteers can find where they fit and bring more value to the charity. 74 new volunteers joined, and as a whole, our volunteers logged over 3,000 hours running ZERO. ## **Progressing towards future operational longevity for Zero Carbon Guildford** ## **How we planned to do this:** ## **What we did to achieve this:** Tackling the issues of: - Tackling the issues of: Grant funding enabled 4 new paid roles, ● Limited human which are focused on providing a reliable structure and framework which enables - resources / volunteer our projects and volunteers to have - power. impact. - ● Financial insecurity in the long term. Fundraising group started in November - ● Insecure physical to be more strategic about how we find funding. - premises. New premises in place as we were given notice for the current building. ## **What didn't go so well:** Fundraising plan is not yet fully in place, and we have yet to find a longer-term premises solution. This would enable more certainty in our operations and allow us to plan ahead. **3** 11 ## Section 3 ## **Environmental Report 2024** ## **Impact of our work** The essence of what we do as a Charity is reflected in the passion dedicated by our volunteers, supporters and employees towards environmental conservation and stewardship. The **need for action has never been greater** , Through human activity all of the planetary boundaries related to climate change have been surpassed. Zero Carbon Guildford reiterates the need for fundamental change to the status quo. Each of our projects address climate change in varying ways. The impact is summarised in ‘Section 1: 2024 in brief’, including in some cases carbon impacts as well as summaries of how they are reaching members of the community with information and practical tools. Whilst we as a Charity focus on localised climate action, the principles are universally applicable at the national and international levels. Our projects are designed to create a **blueprint for environmental conservation** that can be applied elsewhere. 12 Section 3 **Environmental Report 2024** ## **Our own impact** Aside from the impact of our project work, we also look to mitigate the impact of our charity from operational & supply chain perspectives. Large or small, every organisation relies upon energy, goods and services to both maintain its own operations and grow. By pledging to reach Net Zero by 2030, or earlier we will address our own impact. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Through analysis of our energy consumption, physical waste,
purchased goods and services, amongst other factors, we have
baselined our total emissions at 24.8 tCO2e.
To reach Net Zero by 2030, we will need to achieve a 4.9 tCO2e
reduction year on year,
Scope 1
emissions:
Scope 2 Scope 3
emissions: emissions:
0.001tCO e 16.7tCO2e 8.1tCO2e
2
Scope 1 measures
Scope 2 measures Scope 3 measures
emissions from owned
emissions from value chain emissions,
sources, for our Charity,
purchased energy primarily purchased
we own no assets so
primarily electricity goods and services for
this scope of emissions
sources for our Charity our Charity
is not relevant..
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## **Our decarbonisation initiatives** - In 2025 we aim to reduce our overall emissions by 67% through a switch to renewable energy to address scope 2. At 168 High Street, we were not able to change our energy supplier. - The remaining scope 3 emissions will be addressed through effective sustainable procurement, presently a spend based estimation, we will move to quantity based and select sustainable alternatives to products and services, gradually decarbonising over time. 13 ## Section 4 ## **2025 strategy: What are we doing next?** **Zero Carbon Guildford’s vision is of our local community thriving through greener living and working** Zero Carbon Guildford’s mission is to **build a vibrant, connected community** of residents, businesses and institutions, helping Guildford **lead the way in finding solutions to the climate and nature crisis,** in order to **make Guildford a happier, healthier, fairer place to live and work** . We will deliver this mission through four work areas: **Education** - **Community** - **Action** - **Advocacy** The new vision and mission above, along with the four work areas overleaf were developed through a participatory strategy refresh process in autumn 2024. The refreshed strategy will be a guide for strategic decisions and help everyone in the ZERO community to understand and communicate our approach and activities. Special thanks to **Samantha Gibbins** , who supported the strategy refresh process and facilitated two workshops for us. 14 **What are we doing next?** Section 4 **Inspiring and educating the local community, leading to increased EDUCATION awareness and likelihood to act on the climate and nature crises** **Approach** : we aim to make the climate and nature challenge and its solutions visible, accessible and relatable to the whole community. **We will continue** : events; school workshops; newsletter; website; social media, **We will build** : new approach to engagement in Zero’s new building; more outreach events; investigate new town centre presence. **COMMUNITY** **Building and nurturing a collaborative community to create and implement creative and practical solutions for sustainability** **Approach** : we are inclusive and **We will continue** : supporting the Zero Carbon Guildford collaborative, aiming to work with all community through ZERO Nights and training for individuals and organisations who volunteers; hosting partners (eg Water Rangers, Baby could share our vision, including Clothes Library, Terracycle) in our space. increasing diversity of the people we **We will build** : new approach to the Sustainable Business reach. Network, new partnerships. ## **ACTION** **Supporting local residents to reduce their environmental footprint and improve the local environment through collective action** **Approach** : we aim to ‘be the change’, **We will continue** : delivering projects that make a delivering direct, positive impact positive impact in our community. through practical solutions to **We will build** : increased collaboration with Guildford environmental challenges, created by Environmental Forum projects; Urban Greening; Explore the community for the community. and Restore; develop new project ideas aiming to cover key environmental themes (food, energy, waste, economy, travel). ## **ADVOCACY** **Sharing our experience to support others and to advocate for positive climate and environmental change from local decision makers to accelerate systems change** **Approach** : we believe community engagement is essential for societal change. We aim to support climate community action elsewhere and to connect our community with local decision makers for constructive, sustainable outcomes. **We will continue** : sharing our experience with other local climate action groups. **We will build:** new focus on political engagement and advocacy, especially with local decision makers. 15 ## Section 3 ## **How we are structured** Zero Carbon Guildford is structured into three main groups: Trustees, Operations Panel and project/activity teams. This structure lays out those involved in the day to day running of our projects and the charity as a whole, and those with responsibility and accountability for operations, direction and risk. . ## **Trustees** Have ultimate responsibility for governing the charity and directing how we are managed and run. ## **Operations Panel** Run Zero Carbon Guildford day-to-day. Includes a mixture of volunteers and operational employees. ## **Running projects and activities** Groups of volunteers and employees run projects and activities. Some of these groups are formal and defined, and some are informal and temporary. 16 **How we are structured** Section 4 ## **Trustees** Zero Carbon Guildford’s Trustees are ultimately responsible for governance and management of the charity. They provide constructive challenge and review, in regards to the charitable purpose, financial decisions, conflict resolution and ensuring accountability to the membership. - Meet at least quarterly for tracking and major decisions. - Using Slack to share information and make decisions between meetings. Decisions require agreement of at least 50% of Trustees, and no objections, and decisions are then formally confirmed and minuted at Trustee meetings. ## **Trustee recruitment in 2024** - Eight people applied to be Trustees through an open application process. - Applicants were interviewed and independently scored by a panel of Trustees, leading to recommendations based on required skills and experiences. - Three new Trustees, including a new Environmental Trustee, were elected by members of ZCG during the 2024 AGM, taking the board to a total of 14 members. ## **Operations Panel** The Operations Panel was formed in November 2024 to make decisions required for day-to-day operations. The panel makes formal decisions on topics that require knowledge about the operation and practicality of the charity, and that need wider buy-in than those that can be made by, for example, the project teams, operational staff or fundraising team. The Operations Panel has up to 15 members, including operations staff, involved volunteers and at least two Trustees. Membership will be change each year, with the aim that around ⅓ of members will step down, in order to bring in new ideas and share the load among volunteers. ## **How we run projects and other activities** Zero Carbon Guildford’s projects vary in scale, approach and level of funding, so each is run according to need and resource. Each project has a lead, either voluntary or paid, who works closely with the operations staff team alongside project volunteers to deliver on agreed project objectives and activities. In the second half of 2024 we introduced a new way for volunteers to engage with ZERO’s projects and activities, called ‘ZERO Nights’. These are fortnightly opportunities, open to all ZERO volunteers and staff, where we come together to discuss and plan both project activities, and cross-cutting activities such as fundraising, events and outreach. This new format creates a space where all volunteers can get to know each other, find out what’s happening in other project groups and feed into the running of our activities. We are still experimenting to improve the way ZERO Nights work to be as inclusive and engaging as possible. 17 **How we are structured** Section 4 ## Due to successful fundraising, we increased our staff capacity in 2024, ending the year with a central team of four operations staff. This team works across all Zero’s projects and activities, providing capacity to ensure our work is as effective and impactful as possible: - Steph Bleach: Outreach and Engagement Manager - Mark Stamp (July 2024 onwards): Operations Manager - Bronwen Smith-Thomas (July 2024 onwards): Project Development Coordinator - ● Debs Paterson (December 2024 onwards): Marketing and Communications Manager. We also continue to have staff employed to run specific projects: - Anna Jolley, Alice Castle (up to December 2024), Sam Peters (from December 2024): HEAT Coordinators - Bex Bolland (until January 2025): Sustainable Business Network Coordinator. Our thanks to Alice and Bex for all their work for Zero Carbon Guildford. ## **Our Volunteers** Zero Carbon Guildford is primarily volunteer-led and run. All our projects and operations are reliant on volunteer time, expertise, energy and enthusiasm. We have over 100 active volunteers who take on a wide range of work including regular shifts running ZERO’s cafe and community fridge and engaging the public, organising and supporting events in and out of ZERO, running projects, writing funding bids, tech support, providing expertise, inputting to decisions and much much more. We welcome all residents to become volunteers and aim to support volunteers to engage in a way that works for their skills, interests and availability. ## **Our Members** Membership is open to anyone who supports the aims of Zero Carbon Guildford and is obtainable through registration on the charity website. Members receive updates about the Charity, and are eligible to vote at Annual General Meetings. 18 ## Section 6 **2024 Financial report & charity info** ## **Financial Review and Policies** The Trustees are delighted to record a surplus of £46,105 (2023: £39,820). This was largely as a result of the National Lottery and Community Energy grants won during the year. We also report that Reserves increased in the period by the same amount of £46,105 (2023: £39,820). ## **Reserves policy and future developments** The policy of the Trustees is to maintain free reserves at a level of 9- 12 months of current expenditure. As of 31 December 2024, Zero Carbon Guildford had free reserves of £77,581 (2023: £89,986) maintaining a consistent level to the prior year. The Trustees believe that this level of free reserves is in line with our policy and necessary to achieve the sustained provision of our objects. ## **Investment policy** Zero Carbon Guildford’s Constitution gives the Trustees the power to invest money not immediately required for its purposes in line with the Trustees Act 2000. The majority of surplus funds to date have been held in an interest bearing current account with a bank, Triodos Bank, which has met our ethical criteria. ## **Contribution by Volunteers** The charity is overwhelmingly grateful for the varied and unstinting efforts of over 100 volunteers who have been and continue to be involved in a large range of the charity’s activities. ZERO would not be operating or meeting the objects of the charity without the amazing and varied contributions of all our volunteers. To encourage further volunteer support, we have a volunteer coordinator and hold regular volunteer meetings and social events. We welcome ideas to make the involvement of our volunteers even more enjoyable. 19 **2024 Financial Policies** Section 6 ## **Financial Review and Policies (continued)** ## **Risk management** The Trustees regularly monitor the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular those related to the operations and finances of the charity, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate its exposure to the major risks. Wherever possible, Trustees and volunteers have been trained in food hygiene and first aid, amongst other aspects of training. The key risk of Zero Carbon Guildford is the difficulty in managing short term leases. We aim to make the most of premises while we have them, and for periods where we are without a building, we adopt a flexible operating model to allow us to continue to meet our objectives. ## **Recruitment and Training of Trustees** Trustees are competent persons who through residence, occupation or employment or otherwise have specialist knowledge of the area of benefit. Members can nominate themselves for a Trustee role, Trustees are then voted in by members at the AGM. New Trustees will, upon appointment, be provided with an Induction pack which will cover: - The obligations of Trustees and the sub-committee structure and terms of reference - The Constitution and any subsequent amendments made to it - The current financial position as set out in the latest published accounts and management accounts - Charity Commission Trustee literature - Future plans and objectives 20 **2024 Charity info** Section 6 ## **Charity Information for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER** 1192880 **REGISTERED OFFICE** Zero Carbon Guildford 46, Broad Street Guildford Surrey GU3 3BG **BANKERS** Triodos Bank UK Deanery Road Bristol BS1 5AS Metro Bank PLC One Southampton Row London WC1B 5HA **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** Helen Lee FCA 55 Wodeland Avenue Guildford Surrey GU2 4LA **TRUSTEES** Olivia Carpenter-Lomax Chair Katherine Clowser Treasurer Kerry Lewis Secretary Carol Dunnett Helen Harris Appointed 28 Mar 2024 David Stokes Jack White Appointed 28 Mar 2024 Isabel Robson Maddie Evans Meghna Das Appointed 28 Mar 2024 Prashant Kumar Stuart Cook Steve Davis Andy Geiss Resigned 28 Mar 2024 Colin Summerhayes Resigned 28 Mar 2024 Mark Stamp Resigned 28 Mar 2024 Sam Peters Resigned 28 Mar 2024 Smirti Kutaula Resigned 10 Sep 2024 1192880 21 **2024 Charity info** Section 6 ## **Charity Information for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** The Trustees are responsible for preparing a Trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures that must be disclosed and explained in the financial statements - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and, where relevant, the Charities Act 2022, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of its constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements. Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by Olivia Carpenter-Lomax - Chair March 2025 22 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Report of the Independent Examiner to the Members of Zero Carbon Guildford** ## **Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Zero Carbon Guildford CIO** I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of Zero Carbon Guildford CIO (“the Charity”) for the Year Ended 31 December 2024. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and, where relevant, the Charities Act 2022 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Name: Helen Lee Relevant professional qualification: FCA Address: 55 Wodeland Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 4LA Date: 26 March 2025 23 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** The notes on pages 25 to 33 form part of these financial statements. 24 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024** The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 26 March 2025 and signed on their behalf by Olivia Carpenter-Lomax - Chair The notes on pages 25 to 33 form part of these financial statements. 25 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **1. Accounting Policies** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these financial statements. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and, where relevant, the Charities Act 2022. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. ## **Going concern** The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern. The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied unless otherwise stated. ## **Income** All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is entitled to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future Period. Legacies are included when the charity is advised by a personal representative of an estate that payment will be made and the amount can be quantified. Gift aid receivable is included in income where there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any gift aid amount recovered on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise. 26 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **1. Accounting Policies (continued)** ## **Income (continued)** Donated goods, services and facilities are only recognised where practicable and the measure can be measured reliably. The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the financial statements but is described in the trustees’ annual report. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. ## **Capitalisation and depreciation of tangible fixed assets** All tangible fixed assets are included at cost. Items of fixtures, fittings and equipment with a cost of less than £500 are not capitalised. Depreciation has been provided as follows: Fixture & fittings - 50% per annum, straight line basis ## **Cash at bank and in hand** Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. ## **Inventories** Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Provision is made for damaged, obsolete and slow moving stock where appropriate. 27 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** **1. Accounting Policies (continued)** ## **Debtors and creditors receivable/payable within one year** Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements. ## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** The charity operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the charity pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the charity has no further payment obligations. The contributions are recognised as an expense in profit or loss when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals as a liability in the Balance Sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the charity in independently administered funds. 28 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** **2. Income** We are hugely indebted to all parties in respect of our donations, grants and contracts. ## **3. Charitable Activities Cost** 29 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **4. Income** Many volunteers provided and continue to provide a significant amount of time and materials on the store presentation of ZERO and with the ongoing day-to-day activities. We are very grateful indeed for the amount of time and skill that has been given by all our volunteers. These have not been recognised in the accounts. ## **5. Net Income / (Expenditure)** Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):. ## **6. Trustee Remuneration, Expenses and Related Party Transactions** None of the Trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any benefits from an employment with Zero Carbon Guildford or a related entity. Some Trustees are very involved with the day-to-day running of the Charity and ZERO. ## **Trustees' expenses** Trustees' expenses of £373 (2023: £2,552) were paid during the Year Ended 31 December 2024. All expenses were incurred directly in the course of the charity’s operations and repaid on production of appropriate vouchers and authorisation. ## **Related Party transactions** There were no related party transactions in the year to 31 December 2024. ## **Donations from Trustees or other related parties** The total amount donated by Trustees and other related parties (all without conditions) was £170 (2023: £1,335) (gross donated amounts not including Gift Aid). 30 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** **7.** No employees received employee benefits for the year of more than £60,000 (2023: nil). The charity had an average of 4 employees (2023: 1), working on charitable activities. ## **8. Tangible Fixed Assets** 31 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** **9. Debtors** **10. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year** The deferred income relates to £18,069 (2023: £nil) received in advance in relation to the contract for managing the HEAT project, as well as £20,693 (2023: £23,000) deferred in relation to an insulation project with Surrey County Council. 32 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **11. Movement in Funds** Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: The restricted funds are wholly represented at the balance sheet date by cash at bank. 33 **2024 Financial report** Section 6 ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024** ## **11. Movement in Funds (continued)** Money was received on the following projects during the year: - The National Lottery Community Fund awarded a grant of £350k over 4 years to support the Charity in reaching more members of the community and empowering them to take action against climate change. The grant will be paid in stages, with the first £86k being received in 2024. - Community Energy South awarded a grant of £110k over 3 years to engage diverse communities and develop local community owned renewable energy . The first payment of £22k was received in December 2024. - The Community fridge project started in January 2022, and Hubbub continued their support in 2024. It has attracted a large group of volunteers who collect food (that would otherwise have been thrown away) from sources such as the Co-op, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose, and distribute to members of the community. Zero Carbon Guildford is hugely indebted to local individuals and organisations for their generosity, which has enabled these projects to become established in ZERO and developed for the future benefit of the community. ## **12. Financial Commitments** At the year end, the Charity had operating lease commitments of £6,000. This lease terminates on 30 March 2025. 34 # Website: **zerocarbonguildford.org** # Volunteer here: **zerocarbonguildford.org/volunteer** Become a member here: **zerocarbonguildford.org/membership** Donate here: **zerocarbonguildford.org/donate** Socials **zerocarbonguildford** **zerocarbonguildford** **zero-carbon-guildford** 35