## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**Period start date: 5[th] May 2022 Period end date: 4[th] May 2023 Charity name: Bedfordshire Great Ouse Valley Environmental Trust Charity registration number: 1198830**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the
purposes of the charity
as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation,
protection and improvement of the physical and natural
environment of the Great Ouse Valley and environs in
Bedfordshire through a programme of river monitoring and
community engagement and by the advancement of the
public in the understanding of the importance of river quality
on biodiversity,economic and social activity.|
|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|Our primary objectives are:
**A: To monitor and support regeneration of the Great Ouse**
1
Establish citizen science projects in partnership with
academia, funding trusts and local organisations to assess
water quality and its impact on river ecology.
2
Create data and evidence on river pollution and pollutions
sources through citizen science.
3
Understand the impact of climate extremes such as
flooding, heat waves and droughts on water quality and
river ecology through citizen science.
4
Work with Upper and Bedford Ouse Catchment
Partnership to:
(a) Reduce pollution improve water quality.
(b) Increase biodiversity of river and valley.
(c) Increase resilience of river and valley to
adverse impacts of heat, drought, and flood
climate extremes.
**B: Educate and engage with local communities**
1
Recruit and train volunteers to support citizen science
projects and gather data on water quality, river ecology,
wildlife, and the impact of climate extremes on the river
and valley area as well as supporting the wider objectives
of Bedsgovet.|
|||2
Publicise the results of citizen science projects by
organising public talks and seminars as well as using social
media.
3
Work with local landowners, farmers, and businesses to
organise public outdoor ‘river-based’ events to promote
the importance of the river Great Ouse, to include Ouse
Valley Way walks and river canoe trails.
4
Create on-line promotional and educational material for
use by schools and communities.
**C: Advance social and economic benefits of the river**
1
Work towards achieving bathing water status for many
stretches of the river Great Ouse.
2
Engage with local businesses and politicians in promoting
the importance of a clean ecologically thriving river in
achieving social, environmental and economic benefits.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees
have had regard to the
guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit|Para 1.18|When taking any strategic decisions, trustees are required to
follow Charity Commission guidance on public benefit.|
||||
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making.|Para 1.38|N/A|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment.|Para 1.38|N/A|
|Contribution made by volunteers.|Para 1.38|Participation in citizen science project currently
supports Key Objectives, A1 & A2 and is of direct public
benefit.|
|Other||N/A|
## **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|In the first year of operation we have:
Drafted key policies and good governance
policies; financial and fiduciary.
Drafted fidelity, insurance and risk
procedures
Communication channels have been
established with the public through our
www. Bedsgovet.org website and Facebook
page
Grant funding proposal to Woodleigh Impact
charity for citizen science project have been
prepared and submitted.
Presentations made to other organisations
including CPRE, BNHS and SLCC
Membership and active participation in
Upper and Bedford Ouse Catchment
partnership groups
`o` volunteer work group
`o` river restoration work group
`o` Data and evidence work group
Training of 2 trustees as citizen river habitat
surveyors and surveys conducted.
Attendance and display stands at public
events: Panacea Museum, Mayoral hustings;
Liaison with relevant decision-making
bodies; memberships, partnerships,
academicpartners|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Achievements against
objectives set.|Para 1.41|Objectives A1, A4 and B1 were first year
priorities and have been met. The remaining
objectives are longer term.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set.|Para 1.41|In the first year, trustee donations enabled
progress on governance and priority objectives
A1, A4 and B1.|
|Investment performance
against objectives.|Para 1.41|N/A|
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of theperiod.|Para 1.21|Financial Report agreed at May AGM 2023
Bank account £291.31 in credit at End of
financial Year|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held.|Para 1.22|Start-up donations have been made by trustees
and supporters. These are held in the Beds
GOVET bank account to meet legitimate
expenditure. No other funds are currentlyheld.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|0|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves.|Para 1.22|No reserves have yet been generated. The start-
up donations have only enabled us to run at a
minimal level of operation|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit.|Para 1.24|N/A|
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern.|Para 1.23|Water quality and environment are very topical
issues both locally and nationally. BedsGOVET is
confident that it can continue as a going
concern.|
|**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|Grant funding fundraising and supporter
donations will be a priority in our second year.|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted.|Para 1.46|N/A|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity.|Para 1.46|We face the same financial risks as other small
start-up charities in attracting charitable funds
and donations.
Risks related to river citizen science projects are
mitigated by our strong risk assessment policies
and any public liability is covered via our
insurance cover.|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document.
(trust deed,royalcharter)|Para 1.25|Trust deed accepted 5th May 2022|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g. unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|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|New Trustees may be invited to apply by existing
trustees or may apply directly to the charity in
response to advertising.
All trustee applicants are interviewed by
trustees and following agreement of existing
trustees they are provided with a formal offer
together with an induction pack and formal
acceptance letter.|
## **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|
Legal duties of trustees
Constitution of Beds GOVET
Registration certificate
essential duties of trustees
Trustee declaration form
Disqualification reasons table
Gift aid declaration|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works.|Para 1.51|Currently the charities activities are organised
and directly managed by the trustees.
Beds Govet is formally recognised as a
participating member of UBOCP (Upper Bedford
Ouse Catchment Partnership). Technical input
and support provided by Cranfield University|
|Relationship with any related
parties.|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name.|Bedfordshire Great Ouse Valley Environmental Trust|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses.|Beds GOVET|
|Registered charity number.|1198830|
|Charity’s principal address.|34 Silver Street
Stevington
Bedford MK43 7QP|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if**
**any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Patricia Margaret Olney|Chair|||
||Gerald Charles Sansom|Trustee|||
||John Edward Strutt|StrategyTrustee|||
||Lionel Richard Lusby|Trustee|Resigned 8thNov 2022||
||DorothyPatricia Lennie|SecretaryTrustee|||
||William Helmore|Trustee|Started 1stSept 2022||
||Simon StaleyBrown|Trustee|Resigned 26thMay2022||
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Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity.|N/A|
|---|---|
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects.||
|Details of arrangements for
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**|||
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|**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**|||
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## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
##