## **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¥rltyCo￿I8BlonTAR rowllng 1W4122t¥3117123 Profil ￿ Lo¥$Acwunt- ￿$h baw8" YÈ¥to 31107ft2 Y&Arto 31ffj7r23 ftoportlfigpertod EakntèJg14122 1P59.57 NeiGoFuThJMethnaloM' Just Gmry Reclaim ToUit￿ketS AHF Grant Grant510ne Cash dona￿Tr$ 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.$29.59 merCha￿￿e RE(u￿1￿h￿ent klembetship Sts1[￿ery Feaslblhly sithfjy On 8iie9uprd*$ 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 a￿untS ofth8 above charity llhe Trust'l for the year ended 31 July 2023. Responsibilitios As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are reSW￿￿bl8 for the weparation ba¥15 of report of the acwjnls in accordance with thg require￿ntS of th8 Chariti8s Act 2011 A¢l'l. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's attounls carried out under $￿tiOn 145 of ￿ 2011 Act and in carryiro out my examination, I have followed the applrable Directiorts given by the Charity c￿nmISSIon und8r 5￿tion 14515Xbl cfth8 Act. I have ¢ompbted my examinatlon. I confimi tw Th) mal8rial wtters have co1￿ to my attent￿)n in connection th8 examnat￿)n which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were mt kept in att0rda￿e with s8cIK)n 130 of Act or 8ceounts do not 8ccord wilh lh$ 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