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2023-04-05-accounts

Trustees Annual Report for the period: 06.04.2022 to 05.04.2023

Charity Name: Seaford Environmental Alliance

Charity Number : 1193511

Objectives and Activities :

The Seaford Environmental Alliance (SEA) is a CIO whose objects are for the public benefit and in particular, the inhabitants of Seaford, East Sussex and its surrounding areas, namely:

  1. To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment, in particular but not exclusively by:

  2. a. Promoting good environment practice and awareness of related issues to local residents, businesses and organisations

b. Organising events, workshops, talks and activities on related issues including biodiversity loss, climate change, sustainable living and the environmental emergency

  1. To protect and safeguard the environment through:

  2. a. The promotion of waste reduction, re-use, reclamation, recycling, use of recycled and biodegradable products, in particular to repair and re-use products as a means of minimising waste and reducing consumption

  3. b. Raising awareness and educating the public about all aspects of waste generation, waste management and waste recycling.

The main activities we provided in 2022-2023 were:

The trustees continued to have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

We would like to note the important contribution made by our volunteers. Everyone involved at SEA is a volunteer and our charitable activities would not have been possible without them.

Achievements and Performance

Community Larder

The community larder continued to be a key regular, ongoing activity in our accessible high-street climate hub. We received a weekly delivery of surplus dry goods and fresh fruit and vegetables from a charity that redistributes quality surplus food. In addition, volunteers collected supermarket surplus food from a local food co-operative, also on a weekly basis. All the produce was routinely checked and made available in our community larder for the local public to take as they need. We ran a ‘take what you need, give what you can’ philosophy. As well as providing food for residents we minimised waste as these products would otherwise have been thrown away, as well as educating public about waste.

School Uniform

Over the summer months, we provided a service for parents and carers to donate and collect used school uniform, reducing clothing consumption and waste and educating public about waste in the textiles industry. Two rooms in our climate hub were designated for sorting and storing the uniform. This service was well used. Because of the space required it was decided after the school year began to have the service taken on by a local not-for-profit organisation. This organisation continues to provide the service.

Educational Film Showings at the Little Green Cinema

During the winter months five films were screened at a central community venue in our town. These provided graphic information about different environmental issues, including climate change, waste prevention, and biodiversity loss, and provided inspiration for action. The facilitated discussions afterwards provided a forum for attendees to express their responses to the films, learn more and explore further action. There was no charge to attend although donations were taken to cover refreshment costs.

Room availability for other local organisations

The hub premises are spacious and we were able to provide meeting rooms for organisations which have an ethos compatible with SEA’s. These groups each made a one-off donation to SEA. Groups using the space to further the charitable aims of SEA, by e.g. increasing biodiversity levels locally and reducing plastic waste.

Educational displays, events and information for public view and dialogue

We developed displays and hosted events which encouraged the public to engage with issues relating to climate change, waste, sustainable living, and biodiversity loss.

Outreach events sharing relevant information

We attended a number of local events, through which we shared relevant information with the community about initiatives to reduce waste, increase biodiversity and understand climate change related issues.

Carbon Literacy Training

We funded one of our volunteers to attend an external training course in carbon literacy to upskill the team to provide better educational resources to the public. This was a training in awareness and understanding of carbon costs as well as motivating society to reduce emissions. We are pleased that one of our team is now officially certified in this area.

An After-School Club

Towards the end of the accounting year we started to provide a weekly free after-school club for accompanied children in order to encourage and motivate youth to engage in sustainable activity in a social setting. Refreshments and resources for craft activities were available for both children and adults.

An Informal Library

We began to think about using our growing collection of donated books as the starting point for a formal environmental library for the community to learn more about climate change, waste, biodiversity loss and other related issues.

We believe SEA has made a difference to society, both locally and further afield. Our understanding of this is mainly through word of mouth. We are hoping to develop better tools for capturing impact more formally in future. Visitors commented positively on the access to free surplus food and of being able to donate what they don’t need so that it doesn’t go to waste. Many people said how grateful they were to donate outgrown school uniform and not to have to buy new. The films at Little Green Cinema were well attended as were the discussions, with very positive responses on feedback forms. Visitors to the hub and to outreach stalls have expressed appreciation for the thought-provoking displays and materials, which supported them to better understand different issues around climate change, waste reduction and biodiversity needs. Our newly trained volunteer has used the carbon literacy training to expand the work locally focusing on reducing the use of plastic. The development of the library was discussed and we look forward to commenting in next year’s report how this has been of benefit to our community.

Financial Review

We are pleased to report that the total income for 2022-2023 was £10744, an increase of £3696 over the previous year. Total expenditure was £7721, an increase of £3402 over the previous year. There was therefore a surplus for the year of £3023. There was modest spending on the setting up of charitable activities. A large proportion of the expenditure was for utilities (gas, electricity, water) and we continued to pursue provision by alternative suppliers and ways of reducing costs.

Please see below for our accounts for the year.

The charity’s principle sources of income were grants (restricted funds) and donations from the public.

No reserves were held but there was a growing fund of unrestricted income available to spend on unforeseen necessities. There was £5081 available by the end of the year.

The charity did not hold reserves as it was still a small organisation. The ongoing unrestricted income could be used if necessary.

There are no funds materially in deficit nor are there any current uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern.

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity holds no trusts.

Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of two years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name: Seaford Environmental Alliance

Other name the charity uses: SEA

Registered charity number: 1193511

Charity’s principal address: 4 Clinton Place, Seaford East Sussex BN25 1NL

Names of the Charity’s Trustees 2022-2023

Trustee name Ofce (if any) Dates acted if not for
whole year		 Name of person (or
body) entitled to ap-
point trustee (if any)
Rebecca Francomb
Jessica Hind appointed 11/01/2023
Fay Langston appointed 30/05/2022
Alice McCarthy Som-
merville		 appointed 25.07.2022
James Meek
Dinah Pryor

There were no corporate trustees at the date the report was approved There were no trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity There were no funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Full name: Susan Mary Frances Pontin

Position: Trustee (appointed 07/11/2023) Date: February 1st 2024

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