Westmorland Damson Association. Trustees, Annual Report - Year ended 31 December 2023 The Trustees who seNed duringthe year we. Mark Basey-Fisher- Chair Angela Slater- Secretary Hilary Fitch- Membership Secretary Peter Hensman-Tre3surer Andrew Griffrths Desmond Holmes Simon Patterson Rebecca Patterson HBrtley Trotter Adam Walker sTrucruRE AND GOVERNAN The Westmodand Damson Association is a Charitable Incixsmirated Organi5ation ICIOI operating under a constitLrtion approved by the Charity Commission and adopted on 7 June 2021. Membership of the Association is open to anyone who supports the objertive5 of the Association. The day-to-day affairs are managed by an Executive Committee comprising Chairman, w-ChaIrMan, Setretary. TreaSur and up to 6 other members who are appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting_ The Association can be contacted at Ingilnook. Chamey Well Lane. Grange over Sanlts. Cumbria. LAII 6DB. OBJEcnvE5 AND ACTIVITIES The Westmorland Damson Association Seeks to enhance the economy and landsL3pe of traditional damson- growing areas in Cumbria by sUPPOrting the growin& picking and use of Westmorland dam50n5. The objectives of the Association are: To encourage, for the benefit of the public. the conseThation and protection of damson orchards and the preservation of theirgenetic btodiver5ity. landscape and heritage value in Cumbria. induding by planting and creating more tjamson orchard5. To advance the education of the public in the growin& cultivation. pre5erYdtion and use of the Westmorland damson vkriety common in Cumbria. To pursue these objectives. the Association". Or8anises an Annual Damson Day in Aprli every yèar. This publkc event provides opportunities for those attending to learn ab)ut the history and techniques of damson growing in the area, to purchase dam50n trees for planting and to and sell damson-ba5ed and other IcKal pmdvcts. 2. Encourages the growin& pKking and use of damsons by buying in damson5 from growers at harvest- time. freezing them and then sÈllingthem to those requiring them throOut the year. 3. Encourages the planting of new damson orchards through its Orchard Grant Scheme and the supply of damson suckers. 4. Promotes the growing and use of damsons by providing advice to members and the publtc through the circulation of newsletters and other publications and by attending local agricultural shows. By pursuÉng these objertives. the Trustees continue to give due regard to the Charity Commission'5 guidance on public benefiL
ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023 Throughout 2022 the Trustees continued their search for a suitsble srte in the Lyth Valley or Winstervalleys on which to hold Damson Day. Sadly nothing suitable Could be located and they were forced once again to cancel plans to hold Damson Day in April 2023. This meant that a key feature of the Association's work to promote damsons and damson growing in Westmorland was lost. lft 2023 the TnJ5tees decided to give pference to certaintyovertheir preferertce fora Lyth Valley site and began planning to hold the event out of the valley at the Westmorland Show ground. Damson Day 2024 be hekl on 13 April. The 2023 damson crop was again reduced by tate frosts at blossom time although the effect was patchy wlth some orchards being affected and other5 fruiting ¥11. The A550ciation agreed to purchase 1194 kgfrom 14 grower5. The Trustees continued to look for new ojstomers for frozen damsons and were pleased that demand recovered Considerab from the low points of previous year5 With sales amounting to 1250 kg leaving a stock at 31 December 2023 of approximatety 27W k& The Sale otfre5h dam50ns at haivest time was also investigated a5 a way of ifKreasing demand and reducing the quantity needing to be frozen. An arrangement was made to deliver fresh damsons direct to Booths South Lakeland 5upemiarkets. The volume sold in thisway TKdS dippOintIng1¥ small but It 15 an oUtt that could be ijeveloped in future yèars. Frozen damsons continue to be stored and sold from Halecat on the Wrtherslack Estate and the Trustee5 are grateful to Witherslack Orchards for their assistan with this. There were no application5 for orchard grants during the year. The Associatitjn re5pon(led to a number of requests for damson suckers to enable new planting. Two stalls were again organised at the Wè5tmorland Countyshow. Both raised the profile of damsons and their use, one through displaying the Asswation's archive ènd giving adwce on damson growing and the other, in the food marquee, by selling frozen damsons. FINANCIAL REVIEW With the improved level of damson sale5 the deficit for the year was reduced to £147012022 £28571. The balance in unrestricted funds at 31 December 2023 wa5 £34354. The Trustee5 aim to hold SLrfficlent cash reserves to enable them to fund both a Dam50n Day and the purchase of a year's damson crop. They estimate that osh reserves required would be of the order of £20.CKX). At £22853 they were slightly in exces5 of this level at 31 December 2023. The Trustee5 believe this to be prudent in view of the unrtaIntieS and WSsib extra costs that are may be incurred in holding Dam50n Day at the County Show ground. Approved by the Trustees on8 2024. M. Basev-Fisher Chairman
COMING RESOURCES l¥1 Donaiions and grants Membershipstrbscriptions stidT?X re£¢mred DDnation5 rtteNed om 703.21 .11 Spon50r5hipat)d dafyi(s DI$a¥s4nd sta115 Gateand walk5 ¢xJ (L(ll Settin8-UP Atherti51ll8arKI 1)lIr* OA o.Ix> Gpneral om om (KJ on) Salo of D3m50n5 Saks s3•) U14.(XJ C05t of Sales sioraEe costs Other sales cosES Depreclathin olcc4d store 3.678.fAI L633. 657a5 731.(lJ 6.701.45 1557AI 732.(X) 4.541.14 -1327.14 619.12 .1.446.69
aWitabuPendrre Orthard GranLScheB%forfegenetsiion0fWestnts damsoh orchards om EstaWi5hment& ottrr w5ts Staff Costs- F)noraria L483.67 L41Q23 (L(K¥ lJ83.67 L410.23 L483.67 L410.23 Nol Fund5 forlhfry .1,469.79 .1856.92 Fund 83ne8$ at 1stJ*w 22 35A24.37 34354.58 38.681.29 35.824.37 BALCE SHEETat31st DECEMBER 2023 2022 Share otcold store 4392. 5124.(NJ 5.IX(X) Stotk of damsons Debtors & PtEpayw 8ankand cash b3Lar 7215.IX) 99.21 22.37 .167.58 7A52.(XJ 96.13 23.357.24 3Q%)5.37 205.tK> 29.96258 30.7rJ).37 35.82&37 UnfvJtrKted fiJnd¥ 343y.58 35M4.37 SiBned on behalf Dfthe Trustees= Date. q Iq
Ownir%stock TChases 7451 3441.f4) ItW3.(4) 4986.( a05brsttKk CLSI of 53le5 7452.C 1557. St(th aovalued atcostorrealb5ablEvauE. Stk¥wr. Insurance -Stocl lIdIng5. cash intsant IW.67 210.(X) 210. IS.99 Web5Fte Mi5¢ell)eth &k74 1410_23 1483. 5(Nshare of coldste Lessknmulated Lre¢lt 7320.(X) 2196.( 5124. 4392.1X) shares in the Wrther5W Communit¥5hop.atC05L 5,(XXI.tA) .SJX¥J.(I) 5. DTS GiftAidaaimab 9921 13 1.439.48 21.413.89 1562.47 20.7Y4.7P
lpton Buihling 5ouety Cash in Hand 21853.37 233S7.24 siall dep1(1IQrWd 6JX) ExpeD5e5 of £l(Ksw¢rÈpaid tr•onetrs1ee in 202313)22}I orderofE20.IM¥. At31tceth 2ff23. theyWereSl le¥l. TheTLe5 this tob2 ptIn¥[twoI the uncertaNth5wKI coststhat rrmT trdIn holdi Oam50n Day*the countys&rtyjnd.
Independent Examinerfs report on the accounts to the Trustees of the Westmorland Damson Association I report on the accounts of the Westmodand Damson Association for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out over 5 pages and include the Trustees Report. Respective responsibilities of trustee and examiner The charity's trustee is responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustee considers that an audit is not required under section 14412) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Acl) and that an independent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ibl of the 2011 Act, and To stale whether particular matters have come to our attention. Basis of independent examinef s statement Our examination was Caled out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.11 a150 includes consideralion of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from Ihe trustee conMIng any such matters. The prOdureS undertaken do not provide as to whether the accounts present a Irue and fairf view and the report is limtted to those matters set out in the next slatement. Independent examinevs sLgtement In connection with our examination. no matter has come lo our attention: {1) Which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act other than the need lo apply the Charities SORP (FRSSE). have not been met.. or (2) to which, in our opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Redhead Accountancy Lld Chartered Accountants Bank House, Grfftin Street Broughlon-in-Fumess Cumbria LA20 6HH Signed on behalf of Redhead Accountancy 07 June 2024