Westmorfand Damson Association. Trustees, Annual Report - Year ended 31 December 2024 TrUS7EES The TDJStees who served during the year were: Mark Basey-Fisher- Chair Angela ater- Secretary Hilary Fitch- Membership Secretary Peter Hensman- Treasurer Andrew Griffith5 Desmond Holmes Simon Patterson ISigned 23 July 2024} Rebecca Patterson Hartley Trotter Adam Walker 53ndi Friend-Thornton (appointed 23 July 20241 Andrew Griffiths stood down on 22 January 2025 STRucfuRE AND GOVERNAPKE The Westmorland Darnson Association is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) operating under 3 constttution approved by the Charity Commission and adopted on 7 June 2021. Membership of the Association is open to anyone who supports the objectives of the Aswo"ation. The day-to4ay affairs are managed by an Executive Committee comprising Chaimian, Wice-chairman. Secretary. Treasurer and up to 6 other members who are appointed each year at the Annual General Meeting. The Association can be conratted at Ingilnook. Charney Well Lane. Grange over Sands. Cumbria, L4116DB. 08JEcllvES AND ACTIVITIES The Westmorfand Damson Association seeks to enhance the ecorrf)my and landsope of traditional damson- growing areas in Cumbria by supporting the growin& picking and use of Westrnorland damsons. The objertives of the A%sooation are- To encourage. for the benefft of the public, the corerVatIOn and protecrion of damson orchards and the presetvation of thelr genetic biodiversity. landscape and heritage value in Cumbria. induding by planting and creating more damson orchards. To advance the education of the public in the growi Cu1Vation. preservation and use of the Westmorland damson variety common in Cumbria. To pursue these objectives, the Association: l. Organises an Annual Damson Day in Aprtl every year. This public event promdes opportuntties for those attending to learn about the history and techniques of damson growing in the a8. to purchase damson trees for planting and to buy and sell damson-based and other local products. 2. Encourages the growin& picking and use of damsons by buwng in damsons from growers at harvest- time, freezing them and then selling them to those requiring them throughout the year. 3. Encourages the planting of new damson orchards through its Orchard Grant Stheme and the suppty of damson suckers. 4. Promotes the growing and use of damsons by providing advice to members and the public through the circulation of newsletters and other publiGltions and by attending local agricultural shows.
y pursuing these objectives. the Trustees continue to give due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefiL ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2014 Damson Day was held forthe first time since 2019 at the new venue of the We5trnodand Showground. The Trustees were disappointed that no silltable site with all-weather parking could be found in the Lyth Valley but were pleased with the facilrfiies antl easy access available at the Westmorland Showground. Sadly, the weather on the day was miserable an(l. despite good trader presen and a full programme of activities, attendance was poor and the Day made a significant loss. However. The Assoaation is pleased to have been able to bring Damson Day back again after its 5-year ab$ell and 15 grateful to the Westmorland Agricultural Society for the help it provided. The 2024 damson crop was again affected by bad w&her at blossom time which affected all growers. For the first time for many years there were no damsons to buy In at har¥e5t time. Coincidentalty. demand for frOn damsons picked up overthe year wfth a number of new commeraal customers being recruited. Sales grew to 1750kg leaving a stock of only 675kg at 31 December 2024. ThFS will not be enough to meet demand through 2025. Although damson sales increased. so too did costs, with a considerable increase in the pri of the electricity need to run the cold store. The failure of the damson crop meant that plans to build on last yearfs fresh damson sales had to be put on hold. Two walks through the damson orchards at blossom time were arranged for members and were well supported. There were no applications for orchard grants ¢Jurtng the year. The Assooation responded to a number of requests for damson suckers to enable new plantin& Two stalls were again organised at the Westmorfand County Show. Both raised the profile of damsons and thelr use, one through displaying the Association's archive and gNing alfvice on darnson growing and the other. in the food marquee. by selling frozen damsons. The Assoaation gained sgme notable publiaty for damsons durinÉ the year induding a Supertato podcast. a full page feature in the Financial Times and an artide in Cumbria Ltfe. FINANCIAL REVIEW The poor weather and ne venue reduced attendan at Damson Day. As a result it made a loss of £8038. Damson sales increased to £7350 (2023 £53931 but the increase in elertricity costs meant that the deficit on sales was only marginally reduced to £1248 (2023 £13081. The overall deficit for the year was a substantial £981312023 £14701. This redu the balance in unrestrtcted funds at 31 December 2024 to £25541, of which £19084 are free cash reserves. The Trustees aim to hold sufficient cash reseryes to enable them to fund both a Damson Day and the purchase of a yearfs damson trop. They estimate that cash reserves required would be of the order of £20,000. Approved by the Trustee5 on 6 May 2025. taL64L_ M. Basey-Fisher Chairman
IWESIMORLAND DAMSOII ASSOCL471011 CHARITY (Mg 11Y7101 INCOldlNG RESOURCES lal Doha¢i•ns and grart¥ Membership svbscrtption5 GiftAid Tax recowed 9453 I] 99.21 703.21 SponsorshlpanddonatK)Trs Display5 and 15 Gateand walks Other om 3.&XJ.IXI 8131 7563I Setting-up Advertlsing and PFintin8 Emenaiment 6Èneral &745.75 1.676.49 o) (¥) o.(x) 3,23956 15.fQL SalÈs 7349 S.3 Costi)f sales Storage costs Other sales cos15 Depreaaliopof cdd st(ffe 5.417AO 1423.28 25 732.(K) 8.597.68 3.678.60 1.633.f 65725 73Ltx) 6.70L45 -L247AB lrtterestOftL¥sh balar 619.12 -8,755
SIMORLAND I)AIISOM ASSOQAYIOII CHARifYi•io 11947101 RESOURCES EXPEIII)ED Orchaid G¥ani Schewfor legenaoIWesbnty dam50nOTthwd5 Establfjshment& other costs 17(&6 L705.&) 1.483.67 -9.813.15 -1.469.79 Ftsml BalwKe8 131st Dq¢•thr2024 34.354.58 24541.43 35.82437 a4.354.58 LAII¢E8HEEf 31 DECEMBeR 2tr24 ghare of cold 5trye Investrnents at COSL k55PmM5iw fTted 4392. 3.6&)I Stockof danwns DebtDrs& Prepayments 8ankand cash banCeS L797.fAI 91.53 .046. 20.938.73 57.30 7.215.Lll 99.21 2185337 ,167.58 20.88L43 29.96158 Total N¢tA8••ts 24.541.43 34,354S8 Funds ofth• Ch funds 24541A3 343x58 Sl&d4M behalfof eaw Fl%hor
WESTklORLAND DAMSONASSOCIATION ¢HARrrY (No 11947101 Opening st(Kk Purthase5 7452.LXJ 3441.E 10893.60 7215. 367&60 7215.Tr) 1797.[ . 5417.rf1 Costof sa$ Stoth are valued at a)5totreali5abbÈvdlue. illgwei. Insufan -StocK buildin85. 13th in tran5ii 210AKI 2.ts) Bankchar8e5 Iscelbrleous 369.f 1705. 186. 1483.67 xed Assets $0% 5haFe Df Cold Storè 3660.rij 36flJ.(XJ 2928.tx) 4392.(X) tpreclOn isthar8edtowtKteoff thecohl st over loarS Shares in theWJtherslackCommwtry5hcp, aCOSL Less provlston forwrltedown 5.C(Kl.( .5,C[.( 5.C(ot .5,COIO) Gift AKI Claimable 9153 99.21 & B•nkand cash balaTK Bwis Bank CAFB Skipton BuildingSttty Cash in Hathd a(KJ 7L59.14 IL887.46 ¢x( ,04&f L439.48 2L413.89 2185337 Receipts in adwan 5730 14oÉxpenses were paidto tsUee$ln 202412023£11111 the purdta5e of a yeat5 damson crw. TeStImate th* cash re5erbv requiredw0 beof order of£20.COJ.At 31 twmber 2024, ifvwere slthty below ieveL