CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1193562
The Sheaf And Porter Rivers Trust Unaudited Financial Statements 31 March 2023
The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Year ended 31 March 2023
Contents
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees�report | |
| Reference and Administrative Details | 3 |
| Overview, purpose and objects | 4 |
| Planning and Route Development | 5 |
| Water Quality, Clean-ups, Tours and Walks | 6 |
| Projects, Members and Supporters | 7 |
| Governance, Financial Review | 7 |
| Declarations | 8 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 9 |
| Financial Statements | |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 10 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 10 |
| Notes to Financial Statements | 11-13 |
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2023.
Reference and Administrative Details
Registered charity name The Sheaf And Porter Rivers Trust Charity registration number 1193562 Principal office 43 Harcourt Road Sheffield S10 1DH Email info@sheafportertrust.org Website www.sheafportertrust.org The trustees Simon Ogden (chair) Andrew Buck (secretary) Stuart Barkworth Viv Thom Cathy Ann Spiers Dr Nicola Dempsey Pe�e� O�C���e�� (treasurer) (from 13 September 2022) Independent examiner David Campbell, FCA 19 Endcliffe Grove Avenue Sheffield S10 3EJ
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
The Sheaf and P���e� R��e�� T���� (��e �T�����) �a� f���ed �� 201 9. The Trust is constituted as a C�a���ab�e I�c�����a�ed O�ga���a���� (a �CIO�) a�d �a� �eg���e�ed a� a c�a���� �� 16 Feb��a�� 2021. It is administered and managed by the trustees in accordance with ��e ���e�� �e� ��� �� ��e T������ Constitution. This is our third annual report, and second as a registered charity.
Overview
The Trust has continued to grow its membership, financial resources, support and influence. We have over 400 members, over 2,000 other supporters and over 4,000 social media followers, and are actively supported by some 50 volunteers.
We have become a formal consultee to Sheffield City Council on all planning applications relating to the two rivers.
We have achieved some success in influencing the outcomes of several proposed developments, notably the Castlegate site, about which there is more work to do.
U�f�����a�e��, ��e C���c���� H�g��a�� a�d T�a������ P�a����g �e���ce� s approach to existing and new off-road riverside trails remains less than wholly positive, which is something about which we hope to make progress in 2023/24.
Channeling the growing nationwide public interest and concern about water quality in rivers we launched our new River Rangers group which has already scored several successes. We have established a positive relationship with the Environment Agency and recognition from Yorkshire Water.
Our clean-up volunteers, working in partnership with riparian owners, Sheffield Litter Pickers and the River Stewardship Company have continued to remove skipfuls of plastic and other tipped material from the rivers whilst we also pursue more sustainable solutions to this problem.
We are pleased to have formalised our relationship with the national Rivers Trust and with our local partner the Don Catchment Rivers Trust, with whom we carry out a number of joint activities.
We have again experienced some frustrations on final permissions for our Station Lightwell Project, despite the best efforts of our team but hope to be able to deliver for our funders in 2023/4.
O�� H�dde� R��e�� T���� �e�e aga�� ��e �f S�eff�e�d�� ���� ��c�e��� ���� a�� 2,000 ��ace� ���d ���. T�e season again accounted for the largest single source of our income.
Purpose and Objects
Our objects are:
To conserve, protect, regenerate and improve the channel and banks of the urban River Sheaf and Porter Brook in Sheffield for the benefit of the public with a view to improving public access to the rivers for amenity, health, opportunities for active travel and better stewardship and providing opportunities for the public to take part safely in practical activities to improve, explore and look after the rivers.
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
To advance the education of the public and any association, institution, voluntary organisation, company, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body about:
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the better understanding of these rivers, their corridors and catchments, including their fauna, flora, biodiversity, history, heritage and cultural significance, their role in health, wellbeing and appropriate economic or social activity, and their better management;
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the need for, and benefits of conservation, protection, regeneration and improvement of the aquatic environments of these rivers.
Our trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in managing the Trust and in preparing this report.
Planning and Route Development
The Trust has commented on a number of new planning applications which include:
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opposing a temporary car park at Brook Place on a site at Summerfield Street where permanent riverside access and improvements conditioned by a previous planning approval for flats have been postponed for over five years;
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improving treatment of the Sheaf at KFC on Charlotte Road as part of a new drive-in takeaway;
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demanding that a proposed Lidl at Eyre Street includes improvements and deculverting of the hidden Porter under the site.
A previous intervention on a proposed Costa Coffee on Queens Road secured agreement to public access and potential opening of a closed section of trail although this development has yet to start.
Access to the Sheaf at Little London Road as part of a new apartment block is under construction.
A planning application to complete the riverside trail at Steps/Jacobs Gate at Troutbeck Road following our request for enforcement of previous planning conditions has yet to be been determined.
At the high profile Castlegate site where Sheffield City Council has £16m Levelling Up Funding to spend we have welcomed much of what is proposed for the new Castle and Sheaf Field Parks. Our team were successful in persuading the design team to adopt a naturalistic rock ramp fish pass over the Castle Orchard Weir. The Council has so far declined to include full deculverting or public access and bank naturalisation. However, partly at our instigation, a further application has been submitted for additional funding to the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority and with other Castlegate partners we are still in dialogue over design, funding and future governance of the Castlegate project.
On a strategic level we offered critical comments on the draft Local Plan, urging a much more ambitious and joined up policy on river access and restoration linked to the objectives of climate change resilience, restoring bio-diversity, creating a suitable setting for inner city housing and active travel. These comments were also supported by a number of other consultees including the Environment Agency and the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. The revised plan will be published in Autumn 2023.
We are pleased that the Council as the Planning Authority has now recognised the Trust as a formal consultee for all applications related to the two rivers.
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
Unfortunately, the Council � s Highway and Transport Planning service remains less positive or responsive than would be desirable on the promotion of riverside access for active travel although some dialogue has finally started.
Water Quality
In July 2022 the Trust launched a River Rangers scheme for the Sheaf and its tributaries responding to widespread public concern informed by the publication of the Rivers Trust interactive Sewage Map. Following a series of well attended training days we now have volunteer rangers regularly walking the Sheaf, Porter, Meers Brook, Abbey Brook, Old Hay and Totley Brook. A recording and reporting system has been developed and a significant number of misconnections and malfunctioning Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) have been reported and acknowledged by the Environment Age�c� a�d Y�������e Wa�e�. C������c���e �e�a����� �a�e bee� e��ab����ed ���� ��e EA�� ��ca� ����ec���� �ea� ��� ac�����edge ��e �a��e �f �� �a�� add�����a� �e�e� a�d ea��� �� �����e�e�� ��e�� meagre resources.
A long- ������g ����e a� Lad��� B��dge CSO a�d ��� ���e� �a��� �f ��e age��g �e�e� �e����� �� Castlegate were also reported to Yorkshire Water. Two of them were only addressed after multiple reports over many months. With the help of local MP Paul Blomfield these were finally brought to the a��e����� �f Y�������e Wa�e��� �e���� �a�age�e�� a�d �e����ed �� ���e �e�a��� be��g ca���ed ��� a�d a number of more general commitments on better communication and sharing of information, not all of which have yet been fulfilled.
Some Rangers have also been trained in River Fly sampling techniques. This is the standard way that ecological health of rivers is measured and allows us to contribute to this important monitoring activity whilst learning about the eco-systems of our own rivers.
Following the model of the Sheaf and Porter River Rangers, and with their support, other Rangers groups are now being established on the Rivelin, Loxley and Don working together, and with the Don Catchment River Trust.
Clean-ups
We have continued to organise clean ups of the rivers, during which we have removed enormous quantities of waste and litter. This work is supported by the River Stewardship Company (RSC) and by our friends at Sheffield Litter Pickers.
Longer term we are working with RSC to launch a scheme allowing businesses, and community and religious organisations along the rivers to collectively sponsor and engage with this activity. We are also focusing �� ���������� ��e�e �a�ge a������ �f ��a���c a�d �ac�ag��g a�e ge����g into the river through bad practice.
Tours and Walks
Our Hidden Rivers Tours ran for three months and attracted over 2,000 paying guests. These events are both a major independent source of income for the Trust and a powerful way of engaging with a wide spectrum of people and ages. They could not happen without the continuing support of our loyal band of volunteer guides and the involvement of Howl Bushcraft who provide the professional expertise and insurance.
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
We also continued to lead tours of the Castle site at the monthly summer Pollen Markets involving some 500 people, as well as for the public consultation events on the site in October.
For the Walking Festival we also led three walks tracing the course of the hidden Sheaf which attracted some 75 people.
Projects
The Station Lightwell project suffered a disappointing setback during the year when Network Rail informed us that the application process they had made us follow was the wrong one, obliging us to have to start again from scratch and with a significant increase in the fees required. These negotiations continue but we remain confident that the project will be completed and will set a precedent for further wells to be installed in less public locations.
We also continue to work with the Jamia Mosque at Leyburn Road to create a new riverside area for Broadfield Park by acquiring the derelict site there. Our outline vision for the area has recently been joined by a more detailed Master Plan, by a landscape post-graduate study, which we hope to use.
We supported teachers and pupils at a local primary school, helping the children to become more a�a�e �f ��e c����� ���e��.
Members and Supporters
Membership of the Trust is open to anyone who is interested in furthering our purposes.
At 31 March 2023 we had 430 members and over 2,000 supporters as well as a considerable social media following.
Governance
The Trust is managed by our trustees. The trustees are subject to election at the Annual General Meeting of members. The secretary has ensured that all trustees have access to relevant Charity Commission regulations and guidance. The secretary maintains a registe � �f �����ee�� ���e�e���. The Trust has no paid employees.
We have enjoyed excellent support from a range of riverside businesses including Showroom Cinema, Triple Point Brewery, Yorkshire Artspace, Firmachrome, Wolf Safety Lamp, Starprint, Two Rivers Bar and Dorothy Pax. We hope to set up a more formal partnership for businesses on or close to the two rivers to show their support and engage their staff.
Financial Review
The Financial Statements detail the receipts and payments during the year and the closing financial position. We were satisfied to have a surplus in the year. The closing financial position was satisfactory in light of the planned activities of the Trust. We anticipate the Restricted Funds will be spent in full as the Station Lightwell project progresses.
We adopted a new Reserves Policy in the year. We aim to hold a minimum reserve of unrestricted funds sufficient to cover the following six months of anticipated routine activities at any time. There is no maximum reserve, however when the reserves represent more than the following three years expected expenditure, the trustees shall explain to members at the next AGM how they anticipate funds being spent. As at 31 March 2023, such reserves are £44,314, which we anticipate spending in
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Trustees' Annual Report Year ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
the following 12 to 18 months.
The are no uncertainties about the Trust continuing as a going concern at this time.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the �����ee�� �e����.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Simon Ogden Chair
Andy Buck Secretary
DATE 25 July 2023
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust Year ended 31 March 2023
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the c�a������ f��a�c�a� statements 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 to give me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the financial statements do not accord with the accounting records;
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.
David Campbell, FCA Independent Examiner 19 Endcliffe Grove Avenue Sheffield S10 3EJ
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31 March 2023
(with comparatives being period from 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022)
| Note Receipts Tour income 2 Grant income 3 Donations & memberships 4 Total receipts Payments Expenditure on charitable activities 5 Total payments Net receipts / (payments) Transfers Net movement after transfers Cash funds brought forward Cash funds carried forward |
Year ended 31 March | Year ended 31 March | 2023 Total 2023 £ 25,300 - 3,899 29,199 13,182 13,182 16,017 - 16,017 51,007 67,024 |
16 February2021 to 31 March 2022 | 16 February2021 to 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ 25,300 - 3,749 29,049 13,182 13,182 15,867 2,000 - 13,867 30,447 44,314 |
Restricted funds £ - - 150 150 - - 150 2,000 2,150 20,560 22,710 |
Unrestricted funds £ 22,700 - 17,728 40,428 9,981 9,981 30,447 - 30,447 - 30,447 |
Restricted Total funds 2022 £ £ - 22,700 20,560 20,560 - 17,728 20,560 60,988 - 9,981 - 9,981 20,560 51,007 - - 20,560 51,007 - - 20,560 51,007 |
Statement of Financial Position
As of 31 March 2023
| Cash assets Current account Total assets |
31 March 2023 | 31 March 2023 | Total 2023 £ 67,024 67,024 |
31 March 2022 | 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ 44,314 44,314 |
Restricted funds £ 22,710 22,710 |
Unrestricted funds £ 30,447 30,447 |
Restricted Total funds 2022 £ £ 20,560 51,007 20,560 51,007 |
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements period ended 31 March 2023
1. General information
The Trust is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 43 Harcourt Road, Sheffield S10 1DH.
Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
Accounting policies Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Trust.
Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the T������ ability to continue.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the application of the T������ accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods. There were no significant judgements or estimates in relation to the period under review.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the T������ purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for a particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
2. Tour Income
The Trust completed a number of tours which resulted in income from ticket sales for the year totalling £25,300 (period ended 31 March 2022: £22,700). This income was offset by tour costs in terms of qualified and experienced tour guides of £12,054 (period ended 31 March 2022: £9,191) as noted within the breakdown of expenditure at note 5.
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
3. Grant Income
| Grant Income Sheffield Town Trust Outokumpu J G Graves Charitable Trust First TransPennine Hart Shaw LLP Sheffield City Council South Yorkshire Community Foundation Sheffield City Council Total grants Transfer - Gripple - misclassified as unrestricted donation in March 2022 and now recategorised as restricted Total grants after transfer |
Year ended 31 March 2023 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022 Restricted Restricted funds funds £ £ - 5,000 - 1,000 - 2,500 - 5,000 - 2,560 - 1,000 - 1,500 - 2,000 - 20,560 - 2,000 - 22,560 |
|---|---|
4. Donations
| Year ended 31 March 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds 2023 £ £ £ Donations & memberships Transfer from Sheaf & Porter Rivers Trust (pre charity reg) - - - Donations from companies/individuals 1,127 150 1,277 Membership fees 2,310 - 2,310 Other 313 - 313 Total Donations & memberships 3,750 150 3,900 Transfer - Gripple - misclassified as unrestricted donation in March 2022 and now recategorised as restricted 2,000 - 2,000 - Total donations after transfer 1,750 2,150 3,900 |
16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022 | 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ 13,647 2,550 1,530 1 17,728 - 17,728 |
Restricted Total funds 2022 £ £ - 13,647 - 2,550 - 1,530 - 1 - 17,728 - - - 17,728 |
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The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust
Notes to the Financial Statements period ended 31 March 2023 (continued)
5. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
| Analysis of expenditure Tour costs Event costs IT costs Miscellaneous costs Total expenditure |
Year ended 31 March 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds 2023 £ £ £ 12,054 - 12,054 548 - 548 405 - 405 177 - 177 13,184 - 13,184 |
Year ended 31 March 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total funds funds 2023 £ £ £ 12,054 - 12,054 548 - 548 405 - 405 177 - 177 13,184 - 13,184 |
16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022 | 16 February 2021 to 31 March 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds £ 12,054 548 405 177 13,184 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - - |
Unrestricted funds £ 9,191 212 532 46 9,981 |
Restricted Total funds 2022 £ £ - 9,191 - 212 - 532 - 46 - 9,981 |
6. Independent examination fees
No fee has been charged for completion of the independent examiners time spent on this.
7. Staff costs
The Trust has no employees and no employee benefits were therefore paid during the period.
8. Trustee remuneration and expenses
The trustees received remuneration of £Nil. The trustees received expenses of £Nil.
9. Related party transactions
There were no related party transations to report during the financial period.
10. Contingent liabilities
The trustees were not aware of any liabilities at the end of the financial period.
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