## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 02/01/2025 **Period start date To** 01/01/2026 **Period end date**
**Charity name:** CLIMATE ACTION TAUNTON
**Charity registration number:** 1198336
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP
referenc
e||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para
1.17|To promote the conservation, protection and
improvement of the environment. We will do this by
engaging with local communities and encouraging
behavioural change and positive actions.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or services
identified in the accounts.|Para
1.17 and
1.19|a. Create and run a climate and community hub in
Taunton
b. Create a local context that truly reflects the scale of
the climate and ecological challenge and the urgency
to act
c. Empower individuals and communities in Taunton
and the surrounding area
d. Build partnerships and collaborate with like-minded
organisations.
e. Engage constructively with Somerset's local
authorities|
|Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard
to the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit|Para
1.18|All of our activities during 2025 have been focused on
our charitable purpose as set out in our constitution.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
referenc
e||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para
1.38|We have made no grants during this period.
At present we have no policies related to grant
making|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para
1.38|We have no policy on this and have not undertaken
any relevant activities.|
||||
We accept contributions made by volunteers, this Para includes both financial as well as their time and Contribution made by 1.38 expertise. volunteers Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**Overview**
We engaged with the public in many different ways,
including:
●**Pop**‑**up stalls**
●**Workshops**
●**Follow**‑**up conversations**
●**Launching Ethical Food Collective Taunton**
**Ltd**as a cooperative
●**Working with local groups**and design
organisations to establish_The Curve_,
ensuring the former Debenhams building is
developed with the community at its heart
●**Creating The Commons**– a shared space
for community organisations
●**Hosting climate**‑**focused author talks**
●**Working with Taunton College students**
●**Preparing for the local screening of the**
**National Emergency Briefing**for MPs,
business leaders, and community groups
Across these activities, we connected with**over 500**
**people**, contributing**nearly 250 hours**of community
engagement.
Our conversations have focused on**sharing and**
**supporting practical actions**in response to the
climate and ecological emergencies, and
**signposting people**to relevant information and
organisations.
We have had many in‑depth discussions at:
● our stall at the**Taunton Independent Market**,|
● our **Action Hub / The Commons** on Paul Street, ● and at events we have hosted or supported. **Outreach Activities January – April**
● We delivered the **Energy Matters** programme in early 2025, supporting around **25 households** and providing **30 small appliances** (from dehumidifiers to electric blankets). We worked closely with Village Agents, the local food bank, and other community networks. ● Our exhibition with **Bridgwater & Taunton College** students ran at Taunton Library (Jan–Feb 2025). Students responded to our **“Future Worlds”** brief. ● A major focus throughout early 2025 was establishing **Ethical Food Collective Taunton Ltd** , a cooperative running the ‑ zero waste shop _Lesser Litter_ . ○ On **5 April** , Ethical Food Collective Taunton formally became a **Community Benefit Society** , receiving almost **£45,000** in pledges ○ Climate Action Taunton supported by recruiting volunteers, covering initial costs, acting as fiscal host, and providing two trustees as directors. ● In March, the **Taunton Independent Market** returned. We used our stall to highlight climate issues, promote the Ethical Food Collective, ‑ and support community led plans for the former Debenhams site.
## **May – September**
● We completed the **Energy Matters 2025** programme and continued engaging the community on energy and environmental issues. ● On **27 May** , the Collective officially took over _Lesser Litter_ , having secured nearly **£50,000** in shares and donations.
- In July, we secured the offices above Lesser Litter on a “meanwhile use” basis and created **The Commons** , a shared space for groups working on community wellbeing, climate, and environmental action. The Commons now ‑
- supports collaboration, capacity building, and new initiatives.
- ● We also become members of Community Action Group - Somerset.
## **October – December**
- As part of the **Taunton Literary Festival** , we hosted four authors focused on environmental themes:
-
- ○ Mike Berners Lee – _Climate of Truth_ ○ Rob Hopkins – _How to Fall in Love with the Future_
- ○ Tim Gregory – _How the Atom Will Save the World_
- ○ Susannah Fisher – _Sink or Swim_
- ● We promoted the **National Emergency Briefing** delivered to MPs and leaders in November 2025, and we plan to support screenings and discussions with local groups throughout 2026.
- ● Our first **Community Gathering** took place on **6 December 2025** , with nearly 10 community groups attending. These gatherings will now take place on the **first Saturday of each month**
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**Income**
2025 income consisted of:
Donation - £1613
Carry over from 2023 - £4,488
Providing a Total fund of: £6, 102
**Expenditure**
2024 expenditure was £4,858 and included:
Rent on premises - £1, 539
(including stalls)
Energy Saving Items - £2, 770
Details of both expenditure and income can be
found at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WZ6Dh
uw-6iBwLGCcfAnETSKX3E6NAExLBRKSPKF
zkXI/edit?usp=sharing|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|We have no requirement to hold any reserves
to mitigate against significant financial risks or
liabilities at present.|
|
Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|0|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|We do not foresee any significant expenditure
arising from the 2025 for which we may need
to hold reserves. In addition CAT takes on
minimum financial risks thus no need for
reserves.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|No such funds exist|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|We now have six trustees. We are in the
process of recruiting a further trustee which we
plan to confirm in 2026.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|**Grants and donations**
We received a grant of £4,500 from Somerset
Community Foundation of which around £2,770
was carried forward to 2025.
Donations from Trustees made up the
remainder of the income.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**Not applicable**|
||||
||||
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||A description of the principal|Para 1.46|||
||risks facing the charity||||
||Other||||
||||||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|We are formed as a charitable organisation.
Please see our constitutio**n.**
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NRO41WCZsk1
7nPGfz4wWrBz7gh3xUGiQ/view?usp=share_li
nk|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Charitable Incorporated Organisation|
|
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Trustees are appointed by the Trust on the
basis of their interest and commitment to the
environmental and climate change goals as
expressed in our constitution.|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|
Para 1.51|
We have adopted a safeguarding and
operational policy which guides our work.|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|We have six trustees who work collaboratively.
At present the role of treasures is filled by
Karuna Tharmananthar and no other roles have
been established. In addition we have a small
team of core volunteers with whom we work
closely.
We also work closely with other environmental
and green groups, such as Taunton Transition
Town and Somerset Wildlife Trust, GoCreate
Taunton and Ethical Food Collective Taunton
Limited.
We are also part of the national network of
ClimateEmergency Centres.|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Climate Action Taunton|
|---|---|
|
Other name the charity uses||
|
Registered charity number||
|Charity’s principal address|1 Birch Grove
Taunton
TA1 1EE|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
6
7
8|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**
**Name of**
**person (or**
**body) entitled**
**to appoint**
**trustee (if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|
||Fran Hicks|Trustee|
2022|
||Carolyn Dare|Trustee|2022|
||Karuna
Tharmananthar|Trustee &
Treasurer|2022|
|||||
|||||
||Nick O’Donnel|Trustee|February2023|
||Vicki Jensen|Trustee|February2023|
||Jon Shepherd|Trustee|March 2025|
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)** Karuna Tharmananthar **Full name(s)** Karuna Tharmananthar **Position (eg** Trustee and Treasurer **Secretary, Chair, etc) Date**