Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 19/4/22 Period start date To 31/7/23 Period end date
Charity name: Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths (FOCVTB)
Charity registration number: 1198658
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 |
For the public benefit to advance education in the historical use, architectural and constructional heritage of the Carlisle Victorian Public and Turkish Baths, being a listed building of particular historical and architectural interest, and in its preservation. |
| 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 |
The Carlisle Turkish Baths were the last remaining, fully operational Turkish Baths in the Northwest, and one of only twelve in the UK, until November 2022 when they were mothballed by the City Council, and due to a combination of factors, most notably local government reorganisation, their future is uncertain. Were it not for our campaign it is highly likely that plans would have been made to dispose of the public Turkish Baths for private development, and a key part of the nation’s living heritage would have been permanently lost. Through our campaigning and charity works we have achieved the following. 1.For the public benefit advanced education in the historical use, architectural and constructional heritage of the Carlisle Victorian Public and Turkish Baths (FOCVTB).Our heritage tours and talks are a key tool for educating and inspiring the public with the history and purpose of the Public and Turkish Baths. Over 600 members of the public have attended our tours and talks.We ran free tours as part of the annual Heritage Open Days programme, ticketed talks as part of the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 programme, led tours for trainee primary school teachers and University Lecturers and produced notes for teachers to lead their own tours to explore Victorian Public Health. 2.The campaign has raised awareness of both the heritage and facilities on offer at the VTB |
through social media, our Facebook reach is currently in excess of 184,600 unique users. We secured regular local media coverage, appeared on regional ITV and BBC television and radio programmes and have featured in The Guardian newspaper and Private Eye. 3. Whilst open, we worked with the Carlisle City Council (CaCC) and Greenwich Leisure Ltd (‘GLL’) who operated the Baths for the Council, to promote the Turkish Baths through increased advertising, redrafting website content and jointly producing a new advertising banner and promotional leaflet. We promoted the health and wellbeing benefits, and created guidelines on their use through our social media channels and regular media activities. This led to an increase in baths utilisation from 30% to 75% over the period of the campaign with an increasingly wide demographic, notably of users including out of area tourism. We improved the visitor experience of the Baths with a series of volunteer cleaning and decorating days, and through weekly feedback to GLL. Usage of the Turkish Baths increased by over 110% from their post lockdown reopening in July 2021 until closure in November 2022. 4. Our campaign has been recognised by two regional awards; The Turkish Baths were voted the ‘Best Small Tourist Attraction 2022 by readers of The Cumbria Life Magazine’ and the ‘BBC Radio Cumbria ‘Make a Difference Award: Community Group’ 2022. The Victorian Society recognising as being in Top 10 at risk buildings 2023. 5. Our ambition has not been to simply save Carlisle Turkish Baths, but to develop the entire complex, as a Centre for Health and Wellbeing that celebrates both the heritage of Public Baths and Washhouses and responds to the modern needs of residents in and around England’s most northerly city. 6. Were it not for our campaign summarised above and additionally supported by funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF PVG687, 6/7/22, £14,900) and Cumbria LEP (£2500) for a Viability Study, it is highly likely that plans would have been made to dispose of the public Turkish Baths for private development, and a key part of the nation’s living heritage would have been permanently lost. 7. The Viability Study (11/22) has allowed us to test our Vision for the Baths up to RIBA stage 1, and to determine a development option that takes full advantage of two existing large-scale city centre regeneration projects. Our preferred option will tie the Baths into the current transformation of Carlisle’s high street and town centre, helping both people and place thrive and prosper to make Carlisle an attractive place to live, work and visit.
| 8. Through conducting this study it has become clear to us that to ensure a future sustainable model for the Turkish Baths, the ‘Core Offer’ has to focus on the viability of any future Spa and Turkish Baths experience. The business plan has shown that such an offer can be financially viable. To enable this we propose a two-phase approach; first delivery of the ‘Core Offer’ and a second phase centred around the delivery of community facilities, including a community laundry and hub, within the building. At this stage we propose to reserve space for these facilities and explore their individual viability in our planned development study. 9. The next stage centres on working with key stakeholders on co-creation of the business plan. This is been managed under the aegis of our ‘Sustainability Group’. We are applying for development funds across a range of funders to enable us to develop our proposals to RIBA 3 during 2024. 10. Activities related to in the accounts cover fund raising to help leverage external funding bodies, but also to provide means to support for our sustainable vision for the building including for example future legal costs. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 |
The trustees of the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths have carried out their roles and responsible in accordance with Charity Commission Guidelines and for the public benefit. The charity trustees shall manage the affairs of the CIO and may for that purpose exercise all the powers of the CIO. It s the duty of each trustee: 1. To exercise his or her powers and to perform his or her functions in their capacity as a trustee of the CIO in the way he or she decides in good faith would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO; and 2. To exercise, in the performance of those functions, such care and skill as is reasonable in the circumstances having regard in particular to: (i) Any special knowledge or experience that they have or holds and, (ii) If they as charity trustees of the CIO in the course of a business or profession, to any special knowledge or experience that it is reasonable to expect of a person acting in the course of that kind of business or profession. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 |
All grants are discussed and approved by the trustees before submission to ensure they are in alignment with the aims and objectives of the charity. This is particularly important when a |
| contribution from the charity is required to enable release of grant funds. Each grant has a named lead, which can either be a trustee or associate members. Progress is monitored at monthly meetings. It is our intention to appoint a trustee with grants skills to manage this core activity. Having successful concluded of the AHF Viability Study, we would apply for further Grant funding from the AHF and / or Historic England to progress this project to RIBA stage 3. Our ‘Sustainability Group’ is managing this grant activity. We will seek additional funding for the development plan from other bodies including the Cumbria LEP, Cumberland Council, and National Lottery Heritage Fund (with whom we have begun discussions) and the Pilgrim Trust. We have identified specialist legal advisors to support our application for a Community Asset Transfer, prepared a shortlist of architects/project leads that we will approach to tender for the project, and begun a programme of engagement with the elected members of the Cumberland Council. We have prepared a list of large capital funders and smaller scale grants. We will commence applications to these funders/grant bodies in the first quarter of 2024, running our funding strategy concurrently with our project development study. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 |
Not applicable. |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 |
The FOCVTB began as a campaign group in May 2021, in response to CaCC’s feasibility study looking at repurposing the Turkish Baths. We formed specifically to save the Northwest’s last remaining Turkish Baths from closure. We were formally constituted as a CIO in April 2022. The heritage nature of the building and the continued involvement of the FoCVTB would continue to provide volunteers with opportunities to lead tours, talks and events. As well as facilitating specialist use of the building for arts and heritage activities. Volunteer on-boarding is managed by trustee Price with a bespoke package around background, roles and expectations. Our activities are planned and coordinated by a twelve strong committee of Trustees and Associate Members with each committee member having lead responsibility for a defined and dedicated area of work. We meet monthly, all our meetings have an agenda and our |
minutes with actions and decisions are recorded and kept in a digital folder that is only accessible to committee members in accordance with GDPR.
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 |
Through our campaigning and charity works we have achieved the following. 1.For the public benefit advanced education in the historical use, architectural and constructional heritage of the Carlisle Victorian Public and Turkish Baths (FOCVTB).Our heritage tours and talks are a key tool for educating and inspiring the public with the history and purpose of the Public and Turkish Baths. Over 600 members of the public have attended our tours and talks.We ran free tours as part of the annual Heritage Open Days programme, ticketed talks as part of the Hadrian’s Wall 1900 programme, led tours for trainee primary school teachers and University Lecturers and produced notes for teachers to lead their own tours to explore Victorian Public Health. 2.The campaign has raised awareness of both the heritage and facilities on offer at the VTB through social media, our Facebook reach is currently in excess of 184,600 unique users. We secured regular local media coverage, appeared on regional ITV and BBC television and radio programmes and have featured in The Guardian newspaper and Private Eye. 3.Whilst open, we worked with the Carlisle City Council (CaCC) and Greenwich Leisure Ltd (‘GLL’) who operated the Baths for the Council, to promote the Turkish Baths through increased advertising, redrafting website content and jointly producing a new advertising banner and promotional leaflet. We promoted the health and wellbeing benefits, and created guidelines on their use through our social media channels and regular media activities. This led to an increase in baths utilisation from 30% to 75% over the period of the campaign with an increasingly wide demographic, notably of users including out of area tourism. We improved the visitor experience of the Baths with a series of volunteer cleaning and decorating days, and through weekly feedback to GLL. Usage of the Turkish Baths increased by over 110% from their post lockdown reopening in July 2021 until closure in November 2022. 4.Our campaign has been recognised by two regional awards; The Turkish Baths were voted the ‘Best Small Tourist Attraction 2022 by readers of The Cumbria Life Magazine’and the |
‘BBC Radio Cumbria ‘Make a Difference Award: Community Group’ 2022. Victorian society 5. Our ambition has not been to simply save Carlisle Turkish Baths, but to develop the entire complex, as a Centre for Health and Wellbeing that celebrates both the heritage of Public Baths and Washhouses and responds to the modern needs of residents in and around England’s most northerly city. 6. Were it not for our campaign summarised above and additionally supported by funding from the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF PVG687, 6/7/22, £14,900) and Cumbria LEP (£2500) for a Viability Study, it is highly likely that plans would have been made to dispose of the public Turkish Baths for private development, and a key part of the nation’s living heritage would have been permanently lost. The Viability Study (11/22) has allowed us to test our Vision for the Baths up to RIBA stage 1, and to determine a development option that takes full advantage of two existing large-scale city centre regeneration projects. Our preferred option will tie the Baths into the current transformation of Carlisle’s high street and town centre, helping both people and place thrive and prosper to make Carlisle an attractive place to live, work and visit. 7. Through conducting this study it has become clear to us that to ensure a future sustainable model for the Turkish Baths, the ‘Core Offer’ has to focus on the viability of any future Spa and Turkish Baths experience. The business plan has shown that such an offer can be financially viable. To enable this we propose a two-phase approach; first delivery of the ‘Core Offer’ and a second phase centred around the delivery of community facilities, including a community laundry and hub, within the building. At this stage we propose to reserve space for these facilities and explore their individual viability in our planned development study. Additionally, as part of this study we held further stakeholder events to engage the wider community and partners in these findings.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
1. Successfully achieved AHF funding (PVG687, £14,900) for a Viability Study which has allowed us to test our Vision for the Baths up to RIBA stage 1, and to determine a development option that takes full advantage of two existing large- scale city centre regeneration projects. 2. AHF Viability Study PVG687 successfully completed and report (date and web address) 3. Successful fundraising to raise monies to leverage grant funding and support our public engagement activities. These are detailed below. |
|---|---|---|
| Our creative and engagement centred approach |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
to fundraising has utilised both public support through physical and online events as well as from prestigious heritage funding bodies. Our fundraising has included: check figures against accounts 1. Go Fund Me and just giving donations £3425. 2. Ticket sales for heritage tours of the site and surrounding area 3. Stalls at community, city and county events such as the Cumberland Show, Cumbria Archives Open Day, and Carlisle Farmers Market 4. Produced and sold merchandise of £3500. 5. Partnership with Carlisle based chocolatier for limited edition Turkish Baths chocolates, including £1 donation for every box sold. Raising over £120 to date 6. Grants: Cumbria Local Economic Partnership £2,500 and the Arnold Clark Community Fund £1,000. Grant funding from Architectural Heritage Fund (PVG687, £14,900) 7. Talks to local community groups. 8. Benefact group community funding £1000. |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 |
Balance period start date 19/4/22: £1959.57 Balance period end date: 31/723: £7341.80 |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 |
All funds held in single Lloyds Business account and balance used both for the running of the charity, whilst maximising the sum available to leverage external grants. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
|
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 |
We aim to always have a positive financial consistent with the scale of funding required for ambitions, notably in having sufficient leverage funding available as required by certain funding bodies. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 |
None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
No current uncertainties. |
| 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: |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Our creative and engagement centred approach to fundraising has utilised both public support through physical and online events as well as from prestigious heritage funding bodies. Our fundraising has included: 1. Go Fund Me (just giving?) donations totalling over £3425. 2. Ticket sales for heritage tours of the site and surrounding area 3. Stalls at community, city and county events such as the Cumberland Show, Cumbria Archives Open Day, and Carlisle Farmers Market 4. Talks to local community groups 5. Produced and sold merchandise of £3500. 6. Partnership with Carlisle based chocolatier for limited edition Turkish Baths chocolates, including £1 donation for every box sold. Raising over £120 to date 7. Grants: Cumbria Local Economic Partnership £2.500 and the Arnold Clark Community Fund £1,000 8. Grant funding from Architectural Heritage Fund (PVG687, £14,900) 9. Benefact group community Fund £1000. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 |
|
| A risk register is maintained and reviewed by trustees for likely hood, severity, mitigation actions |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 |
and ownership. Principle risks are identified as (risk, severity, mitigation): 1.Following closure Baths may be lost forever, M, Secure Baths entry on national at risk registers. Work with Heritage organisations to secure evidence of need & value. Secure local political & officer support and work with Cumberland Council on Community Asset Transfer. 2. Accelerated deterioration due to poor mothballing procedure, H, work with CC to secure improved monitoring and meet regularly with CC officers to monitor progress. 3. New CC fails to support our intentions / low priority, M, Maintain good liaison with CC and build our role in supporting them maintain social media and press interest. 4. Failure to secure additional funding, M, appoint effective grant lead & monitor available grants. 5. Health and Wellbeing Centre proves non-viable, H, ensure effective & appropriate business plans are developed. 6. Loss of public / political interest / support, M, maintain good liaison with CC and engage positively with local organisations & stakeholders. Maintain regular tours / talks & events and establish Meanwhile Use to increase access. 7. Loss of Friends support / interest in project, M, Ensure good communications and engagement across Friends Group. |
|---|---|---|
| Other | The requested return is over two financial years 21/22 and 22/23. For the year end 31/7/22 the income was less than £25,000 and an independent examiners report is not required. An independent examiners report is submitted for the financial year 1/8/22 to 31/7/23. |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees (23/8/21). |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Registered in England and Wales |
| 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 | In accordance with the Charity Constitution. Founding trustees (4) selected on the basis of professional experience, contribution to the establishment and running of the charity, being cognisant of gender, ethnicity and diversity considerations. New trustees identified and appointed from the associate members with consideration of future required skills mix. |
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 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | To prepare for an application for a meanwhile tenancy and a Community Asset Transfer we have developed a supportive ecosystem including membership of Historic Pools of Britain, Heritage Trust Network and the Meanwhile Foundation, and held introductory conversations with specialist charity accountants and legal advisors. We have engaged with regional representatives of the National Trust and Eden North1along with Save Grange Lido Ltd and Cumbria LEP to ensure our plans complement existing regional cultural and creative initiatives; and secured agreement from Faculty of Arts and Social Science at Lancaster University for an MSc internship to build the Baths’historic narrative. |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | Regular briefings and updates to City and County Councillors, Local Enterprise Partnership, University, National Trust, community groups and healthcare organisations have been critical to demonstrating the potential of the VTB to amplify the regeneration impact of both the £20m Gateway project, and adjacent £77.4m University Citadels Project. We hosted tours with key stakeholders, to show our vision and gain support.These included City and County Councillors and officers, Cumbria |
1
Local Enterprise Partnership, Cumbria University, National Trust, Local MP to name but a few. Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1198658 |
| Charity’s principal address | Silverdale, Aglionby, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA4 8AQ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Julie Minns | Chair | 19/4/22 - present | Board of Trustees | |
| Emeritus Professor Stephen Yeates |
Secretary Acting Treasurer |
19/4/22 – present 1/5/23 - present |
Board of Trustees | |
| Lynn Graham | 19/4/22 - present | Board of Trustees | ||
| Gail Foster | Treasurer | 19/4/22 – 30/4/23 | Board of Trustees | |
| Alan M Lindsay | 1/5/23 - present | Board of Trustees | ||
| Elsa Price | 1/5/23 - present | Board of Trustees |
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name None
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year None
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets None held in this capacity Name and objects of the None charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for None safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Business Developme nt |
Fourth Street | Fourth Street Place Consultants Ltd. Ground floor right, 5 Maidstone Buildings Mews, 72-76 Borough High Street, London SE1 1GN |
| Historic Pools Architects |
Studio Octopii. | 1c Burrows Mews London SE1 8LD |
| AHF appointed mentor and heritage building specialist |
Marc Collett | Burns Collett The Town Hall Hebden Bridge HX7 7BY UK |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Not applicable
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
No non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
No optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Julie Minns Full name(s) Stephen George Yeates Position (eg Secretary, Secretary and Acting Treasurer. Chair Chair, etc) Date 29/5/24
FrfMds OfCartlBl•Vlctorfan affld Turklsh A¢¢¢wrrtB for Ch¥rltyCoI8BlonTAR rowllng 1W4122t¥3117123 Profil Lo¥$Acwunt- $h baw8" YÈ¥to 31107ft2 Y&Arto 31ffj7r23 ftoportlfigpertod EakntèJg14122 1P59.57 NeiGoFuThJMethnaloM' Just Gmry Reclaim ToUitketS AHF Grant Grant510ne Cash donaTr$ kIerCha Casiie ChoMlaie8 988.13 2A37 39 a4141 375QO 3A25.72 375 847 97 75 14.XO.(Q 2.444.97 1.3SI.55 124.00 124. 5.079.30 26.$29.59 merChae RE(u1hent klembetship Sts1[ery Feaslblhly sithfjy On 8iie9uprd*$ 1687.601 1978 11.666 201 (522Q81 133.¥d I21.6 WI 1452.841 168.951 124.807.791 116,126) Nerthcome 3MOA3 i.ni. 5fv20 7.Yl. 7J41
Independent examiner's report on the accounts Independent Examiner's Report R•port to th• tru$tsé members of Fri8nds of Carlis18 Viraorian and Turkish Baths On accounts for tho year ended 31 July 2023 Charity no Ilf any) 1198658 I r8POrt lo th8 trustees on my 8xaminab.on ofth8 auntS ofth8 above charity llhe Trust'l for the year ended 31 July 2023. Responsibilitios As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are reSWbl8 for the weparation ba¥15 of report of the acwjnls in accordance with thg requirentS of th8 Chariti8s Act 2011 A¢l'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's attounls carried out under $tiOn 145 of 2011 Act and in carryiro out my examination, I have followed the applrable Directiorts given by the Charity cnmISSIon und8r 5tion 14515Xbl cfth8 Act. I have ¢ompbted my examinatlon. I confimi tw Th) mal8rial wtters have co1 to my attent)n in connection th8 examnat)n which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were mt kept in att0rdae with s8cIK)n 130 of Act or 8ceounts do not 8ccord wilh lh$ accounbNJ r8cords Indopendgnt •xamln•es stat•m•nt I hav8 no concems and hav8 come across no oth2r matters in conneelion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order lo enabLg proper uThlerstanding ol the accounts lo be reached. D•t•'. 28 May 2024 Slgned: Nam•: Louise Zand51ra Addre88: 44 Dudley Road, BrvJhton, BN1 7GN