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2023-03-31-accounts

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

for Friends of Clapham Common (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation)

Charity number 1199785

Contents Page
Report of the Trustees 3 - 9
Reference and Administrative Information 3
Objectives and Activities 4
Achievements and Performance 4
Financial Review 6
Structure, Governance and Management 8
Independent Examiner’s Report 10
Statement of Financial Activities 11
Income & Expenditure Account 12
Balance Sheet 14
Notes to the Financial Statements 15 -18

2

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees of the charity present their report and unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Charity Name: Friends of Clapham Common Charity registration number: 1199785 Registered office and operational address: 20 Malwood Road London SW12 8EN

Trustees during the period 1 April 2022 to date of this report

Shirley Kermer Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees (appointed)
Edward Allnutt Trustee (appointed)
Martin Read Trustee and Treasurer (resigned 10 May 2022)
Michiel Kermer Trustee and Treasurer (appointed 18 May 2022: re-elected 8 November 2023)
Robert Robinson Trustee (resigned 5 July 2022)
Margherita de Dominicis Trustee and Board Secretary (appointed)
Gareth James Trustee (appointed)
Emma de Cassan Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023)
Harriet Hall Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023)
Samantha Walker Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023)

Bankers

HSBC 240 Lavender Hill Clapham Junction London SW11 1LH

Independent Examiner Tilesh Patel BA FCA THE SME CLINIC 7 Stratford Place London W1C 1AY

3

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The association was founded in 1996 but has since developed in size and scope and was registered as an (unincorporated) charity with the Charity Commission on 20 April 2020. It was set up for the benefit of the inhabitants of South West London (“the area of benefit’) to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit, in particular but not exclusively by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of Clapham Common.

In 2021, the trustees resolved that the objects of the charity should be expanded and that they should seek to incorporate. The charity was registered with the Charity Commission as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation ("CIO") on 26 July 2022 (charity number 1199785) and became operational as such with effect from 1 January 2023. The objects were expanded to include promoting the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Clapham Common including the promotion of biodiversity on Clapham Common.

The charity has undertaken a number of activities to improve the condition of Clapham Common, including tree planting and the creation of scrub islands and wildflower meadows, and has organised campaigns and events that benefit the community within the area of benefit.

In the exercise of their duties and powers, the committee has had due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

2022 - 2023 has again been a year of heightened activity within the scope of our objects. With support from the community, ranging from residents, members and volunteers through to donors and sponsors, the charity has continued in strength and commitment, giving us encouragement to pursue the work we are doing to protect and enhance the ecology of Clapham Common for the benefit of the whole community.

Planting and biodiversity programmes

The planting initiatives that were started in 2021–22 were nurtured and consolidated. All plants and trees were watered and given a rich layer of mulch to improve their resilience to a changing climate. The scrublands were extended with additional islands of Hawthorne, Blackthorn, Guelda Rose, Dogwood, Spindle and Gorse, which were planted to provide nectar, pollen and essential vegetation for bee and butterfly species, as well as creating much-needed habitat for invertebrates, moths, butterflies, insects, and fledglings.

The wildflower meadows, created in March 2022, have been a huge success, attracting a wide variety of insects, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and moths. Butterfly Conservation continue to monitor and advise on cutting regimes and the need to add diverse flower species.

Tree Planting

Our strategy this year, influenced to some extent by the need for ready access to water, was to plant trees in groves. We have nine Silverbirch in a grove, two sets of Indian Horse-chestnut and Field Maple and three Crataegus for their beautiful autumn colour, making a total of some 30 trees.

Memorial Trees

We planted 5 memorial trees for residents.

Wetland

Our flagship project to restore the wetland behind Eagle Pond is in the final stages of design by Wild Clapham to include a boardwalk over the water and a stilted viewing platform to enable children and adults alike to watch tadpoles and aquatic life close up, as part of our aspiration to educate and help children reconnect with nature, but with the fragile ecosystem fenced off for protection. Wild Clapham, which is now an independent registered sister charity, is spearheading a restoration on a much grander scale, extending the area and the scope of the project considerably from its original conception.

4

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Educational outreach and community engagement.

The Friends have supported 21 Duke of Edinburgh award students throughout the year with volunteering opportunities ranging from mulching, hedge-planting, weeding and watering to litter-picking as well as helping us to coordinate family fun events, such as our Easter Egg Hunt, Pumpkin Patch, and our Summer Party, allowing students to gain experience in how to engage with the public at large.

Educational outreach has included walks and talks with children from local primary schools. Some of the children also got actively involved in spreading mulch and watering trees.

Community Engagement

We have successfully organised litter picks on the common on a monthly basis. These have been well attended by members of the local community, as well as by our members.

For the first time this year, the Friends have actively organised events, namely an Easter Egg Hunt in March and a Pumpkin Patch in October specifically for families with young children. Both events are fundraisers, have been highly successful and have become fixtures in the Friends’ calendar. Particular thanks go to our trustee, Emma de Cassan, for her energy and enthusiasm in organising and fundraising for these events.

In December 2022, we held our first Christmas carol singing event on the bandstand. This was popular with local people and raised over £2,000 for a local charity, Royal Trinity Hospice.

The Friends also help bereaved families to organise a memorial tree or bench.

Large-Scale Events on Clapham Common

This year saw the long-awaited Public Inquiry into large scale music events on Clapham Common. Lambeth Council applied to the Secretary of State for the Environment on 9 December 2022 under Article 12 of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government Provisional Order Confirmation (Greater London Parks and Open Spaces) Act 1967 for consent to construct temporary works on Clapham Common in order to stage the August 2024 Bank Holiday Festival Republic music events. Despite the application being lodged over the Christmas holiday period when lots of our members are away, with plenty of social media advertising and our volunteers doing leaflet drops through letter boxes, we managed to secure over 500 objections, which was enough to call for a public inquiry.

The Inquiry was held over ten days of a three-week period in June 2023. The site visit was conducted in August 2023. The Friends were represented by Douglas Edwards KC and his junior, Mark O'Brien O'Reilly.

Lambeth Council officers and their expert witnesses were subjected to a degree of scrutiny that Lambeth Council has rarely experienced. It came to light that 75% of the money raised from events in parks goes into the Council's general budget for propping up statutory services (which are already funded by the Government) while the remaining 25% goes back into the parks budget (which as a non-statutory service has no central government funding). So, we are in a situation where facilities that are not funded are being commercially exploited to raise funds for services that are funded.

At a follow up Scrutiny and Overview Committee held on 27 September 2023, the Council Officer in charge of events stated that last year, money from events raised £800,000 for the Council's general fund and £185,000 was ringfenced for spending on parks through the Parks Investment Levy. Given the huge sums of public money spent on defending the Council's application to hold these events as well as the disturbance to local people and our flora and fauna of the Common, we have to ask: Is it really worth it?

5

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Large-Scale events on Clapham Common (continued)

On 5 October 2023, the Planning Inspector, who presided over the Public Inquiry on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, decided to grant consent for the temporary works to allow the event to go ahead. This is a disappointing decision. Fortunately, the Inspector agreed with us on all but two of the points that we made on the area of the Open Space (thus reducing the area available for Festival Republic to stage the events) and agreed with us that there is insufficient evidence to show that the events are beneficial to local businesses. We are in talks with our legal team to see whether we have grounds for appeal. We won't go down without a fight!

Support for our projects and activities

The Friends have enjoyed tremendous support from the local community, our members, volunteers, donors and sponsors and the trustees wish to express their gratitude. Only with this support are we able to make a difference. The community rallied to support our objections to the commercial exploitation of the common, we have some 500 subscribers, representing over 750 members, and our volunteers worked tirelessly to plant, to water, to litter pick and help organise our family fun events. Members and supporters contributed generously to our fundraising campaigns and the trustees would particularly like to acknowledge significant donations to our legal fund by Gavin Boyle. We would also like to thank Marsh & Parsons for sponsoring our Easter Egg Hunt and Pumpkin Patch events and Richard and Suzanna Roxburgh who hosted our Summer Party in July 2022 in what has to be one of the most beautiful gardens in London and to Waitrose plc and Hayman’s Gin who sponsored the event. The summer party is our main fundraising event and was jointly held with the Clapham Society to support our legal fund. The party was well attended and we raised £3.5k.

The charity ends the financial year with adequate reserves to continue our projects and activities and based on the results and support to date and our plans for the future, we are looking forward to another successful year.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The year maintained the momentum achieved in 2021- 2022 with efforts concentrating on fund raising for the legal fund and to increase the scope of community events. The legal fund appeal raised donations of £19.6k and several events generated income, after all costs, of £17.9k. Membership at year end comprised 518 subscribers, representing 757 members when family subscriptions are taken into account, and generating subscription income of £8.9k. Resources have been devoted to planting more trees and shrubs and maintaining those planted in prior years, as well as the wildflower meadows and scrub islands created in the prior year. Administration and IT costs grew in line with the increase in activities, particularly transaction fees incurred by payment platforms such as Moonclerk /Stripe and Paypal. This year, the Wild Clapham logo was redesigned and legal and consultancy fees were incurred to support the successful transition of the charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. PR and Governance costs respectively increased as a result.

The net result of these activities and costs is a surplus of £ 24k, of which £11.3k arose from core activities of planting up and maintaining the Common and £16.5k represents unspent funds raised for the legal fund: Wild Clapham drew down its reserves to the tune of £3.8k. At the beginning of the financial year, the charity had general reserves brought forward of £20.7k, to which the surplus from core activities of £11.3k has been added, resulting in general reserves of £32k available to carry forward to the next financial year. Separately, the activities for the year have resulted in an increase in the legal fund to £33.8k and a reduction in the Wild Clapham fund to £ 3.3k.

The trustees are satisfied that these funds place the charity in a strong position to continue its activities, which cover both ecology, community and protection of Clapham Common from commercial exploitation.

6

FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)

Sources of income

Friends of Clapham Common receives support from membership subscriptions and from donations and sponsorship from both individuals and organisations. Other sources of income are ticket and raffle sales and proceeds from consumables that are sold during community or fundraising events.

In 2022 the trustees launched the Wild Clapham initiative to champion biodiversity projects and a campaign to challenge large scale music events being planned for Clapham Common. Donations to each of these initiatives were distinguished from funds raised for other activities and continue to be credited to specific, designated, funds. The detailed breakdown of funds raised is set out in the statement of financial activities on page 12.

Reserves Policy

The trustees have examined the charity’s requirement for reserves in the light of the main risks to the organisation.

The trustees recognise that the charity is dependent on voluntary funds from members through subscription income and from donations, sponsorship and grants received from both individuals and organisations. Membership income is the most reliable source of funding but is received in tranches throughout the year as memberships are activated or renewed. The trustees wish to ensure that investments in planting and biodiversity projects are sustained by maintenance programmes and that overhead costs incurred in collecting membership funds and in promoting the charity’s activities are not wholly dependent on subscription income or voluntary donations being received. The trustees evaluated the likely exposure in this scenario to amount to £2,000 and resolved to maintain general reserves at this level. This policy is regularly reviewed by the board.

Investment Policy

The charity operates current accounts with HSBC bank through which the day to day operations are transacted. To date surplus funds in the current account are not sufficient to generate material interest income and the trustees are of the opinion that they have not warranted investment, given the near-term cash flow requirements. This policy is regularly reviewed by the board.

7

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT

At the beginning of the financial year, the charity operated as an Unincorporated Charitable Association (UCA), registered with the Charity Commission (number 1189142). In 2021, the trustees had resolved to transition the charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and obtained the approval from its members through resolutions passed at two Special General Meetings, as required by the UCA’s constitution. The charity was registered as a CIO by the Charity Commission on 26 July 2022 (number 1199785) and, having completed all legal and procedural formalities, the charity commenced operating as a CIO on 1st January 2023. The register of merged charities has been updated by the Charity Commission.

The charity’s objects as set out in the new CIO constitution have been expanded to include the promotion, conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Clapham Common including to promote biodiversity on Clapham Common. In addition: for the benefit of the inhabitants of south west London (“the area of benefit”) to provide or assist in the provision of facilities and activities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life for the inhabitants of the area of benefit in particular but not exclusively by the preservation, promotion, support, assistance and improvement of Clapham Common.

The charity is operated and managed by up to 12 trustees, of which 8 were in post at the time the charity was registered as a CIO. Trustees are entitled to appoint up to 4 trustees with the remainder requiring election by members. Trustees can be re-elected regardless of whether they were initially appointed or elected. In addition, the trustees have appointed one member, Concetta Marzocchetti, to work as part of a fundraising committee. All members and trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.

The trustees will meet as often as required. In the year ended 31 March 2023, the board held 11 meetings. The CIO is effectively a new organisation and requires an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held within the first 15 months of registration. The first AGM was held on 8 November 2023 at which the results and activities relating to the past year were presented to the members. The trustees also sought approval from the members for the charity’s activities for the next year and for the members to elect eligible trustees.

As at 1 April 2022 the following people were committee members and officers of the UCA:

During the period to the date of this report, the following personnel changes to the composition of the committee took place:

8

Friends of ClaFriends of Clapham Common pham Common - Annual Re- Annual Report 2023port 2023

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT

The 8 committee members in post as at 26 July 2022, the date on which the charity was registered as a CIO, were nominated to be trustees of the CIO with different lengths of service to ensure there was continuity whenever reappointment or re-election was required. The board can comprise up to 12 trustees with a maximum of 4 appointed by the trustees, and all others elected by the members. The status of each of the 8 trustees is as set out below and was confirmed at the first AGM held on 8 November 2023.

• Shirley Kermer Trustee and Chair (appointed) • Michiel Kermer Trustee and Treasurer (re-elected 8 November 2023) • Margherita de Dominicis Trustee and Hon Secretary (appointed) • Ed Allnutt Trustee (appointed) • Gareth James Trustee (appointed) • Emma de Cassan Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023) • Samantha Walker Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023) • Harriet Hall Trustee (re-elected 8 November 2023)

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their report and accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2016) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)).

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Trustees

Shirley Kermer Chair

Date: 9[th] January 2024

9

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT to the TRUSTEES of FRIENDS of CLAPHAM COMMON (charity no. 1199785)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Charity for the year ended 31 March 2023.

As the Charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Tilesh Patel Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

THE SME CLINIC 7 Stratford Place London W1C 1AY

Date: 9th January 2024

Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023 Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2023
2023 2022
Notes Unrestricted
Funds		 Total Funds Total Funds
Gross Income in the reporting
period		 £67,413 £67,413 £73,586
Total Expenditure in the reporting
period		 £43,317 £43,317 £49,299
Tax Payable 4 - - -
Net Income for the reporting period £24,096 £24,096 £24,287
Reconciliation of Funds: 10
Total Funds brought forward £45,107 £45,107 £20,821
Total Funds carried forward £69,203
Comprising:
Legal Fund £33,826
Wild Clapham Fund £3,347
General Reserve £32,030

Detailed analysis of income and expenditure is provided in pages 12 and 13 of these accounts.

11

INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Income and Expenditure Account Income and Expenditure Account Income and Expenditure Account Income and Expenditure Account Income and Expenditure Account
2023 2022
Funds Raised
Donations General £5,304 £9,804
Donations Wild Clapham £1,044 £18,631
Donations Legal Fund £19,545 £24,908
Donations Memorial Trees £2,280 £2,278
Membershipsubscriptions £8,900 £9,630
Grants received £0 £0
Total Funds Raised £37,073 £65,251
Income from Events
Tickets sold £23,404 £5,720
Bar take £777 £373
Event sponsorship £4,600 £1,000
Other Income £1,560 £1,242
£30,340 £8,335
Event Costs
Artists fees & staff costs -£1,677 -£328
Materials -£7,859 -£650
Consumables -£2,161 -£1,771
Equipment hire -£713 £0
Other £0 -£388
-£12,409 -£3,137
Income /(Loss) from Events £17,931 £5,198
Cost of Activities
Equipment and materials -£547 -£665
Biodiversity projects -£3,412 -£16,105
Plantingmaterials and labour -£11,639 -£16,259
Legal Fund costs -£6,493 -£9,616
Cost of Activities -£22,092 -£42,645
Overheads
IT & software costs -£1,860 -£1,128
Insurance -£286 -£286
PR costs and materials -£2,412 -£576
Audit & Accountancy -£300 -£360
Admin incl. bank charges -£901 -£804
Governance -£3,012 -£203
Total Overheads -£8,771 -£3,357
Misc. Expenditure
Sundryexpenses -£45 £0
Charitable donations £0 -£160
Total Misc. Expenditure -£45 -£160
Surplus /(deficit) for theyear £24,096 £24,287

12

Notes to the Income & Expenditure Account

  1. General donations, contributions to memorial trees and membership subscriptions are used to fund planting programmes and overhead costs of operating the charity. These funds were more or less sufficient to support the planting programme and overheads without dipping into reserves.

  2. Wild Clapham was a new initiative launched in 2021 with an unspent reserve of £ 7,152 as at the beginning of the financial year. An additional £1,044 was donated in the current financial year and £3,412 expensed in maintaining the biodiversity projects created in 2021. PR costs of £ 1,437 were expensed to create a Wild Clapham logo and these costs have been funded by the unspent reserves, which after all donations and expenses in the year, declined to £ 3,347 at year end,

  3. A campaign to fight large-scale events on Clapham Common was initiated in 2021 and this resulted in an unspent Legal Fund of £17,291 as at the beginning of the financial year. An additional amount of £19,545 was donated in the current financial year and £6,493 was expended on legal advice in conducting this campaign. Next income raised by the Summer Party of £3,483 was allocated to the Legal Fund. The net result is total unspent funds of £33,826 to be carried forward for funding the campaign in future years as and when needed.

  4. Event income increased significantly this year, reflecting a concerted effort to increase attendance at 2 flagship community events, the Easter Egg Hunt and the Pumpkin Patch, as well as the annual Summer Party for members and supporters.

  5. Overheads are costs incurred which relate to operating the charity. Admin and bank charges increased in line with more activities, especially with regard to transactions arising from events. PR costs reflect the costs incurred in creating a new logo for the charity and £1,437 for the Wild Clapham logo. Governance costs reflect legal and consultancy fees incurred in transitioning the charity from an Unincorporated Charitable Association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

The charity does not employ staff. All activities are carried out by volunteers, contractors or people on a freelance basis.

13

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet Balance Sheet
Notes Assets Notes Liabilities
31/03/2023 31/3/2022 31/03/2023 31/3/2022
Current Assets Current Liabilities
HSBC £64,341 £6,549 6 Creditors £600 £10,986
PayPal / Metro £52 £41,588
PettyCash £55 £0 7 Advance Income £0 £796
Total Cash £64,448 £48,138
5 Debtors £5,355 £8,752
Prepayments £0 £0
Total Debtors £5,355 £8,752
Total Current
Assets		 £69,803 £56,890 Total current liabilities £600 £11,782
8 Designated Reserves
Legal Fund £33,826 £17,291
Wild Clapham £3,347 £7,152
£37,173 £24,443
Unrestricted Funds
Reserves b/fwd £20,664 £20,821
Gain/Loss currentyear £24,096 £24,287
Transfer to Designated
Reserves		 -£12,730 -£24,443
Reserves c/fwd £32,030 £20,665
Total Unrestricted Funds £69,203 £45,108
Total Assets £69,803 £56,890 Total Liabilities £69,803 £56,890

notes to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2016) - (Charities SORP (FRS102)).

Shirley Kermer Chair Date: 9[th] January 2024

14

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1. Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year and in the preceding year.

(a) Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2016) - (Charities SORP (FRS102)).

(b) Fund Accounting

(c) Income

(d) Expenditure

15

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Accounting policies (continued)

Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of transaction. Exchange differences, where relevant, are taken into account in arriving at the operating result.

2. Going Concern

The committee acknowledges that the charity relies on donations, grants and sponsorship to support its continuing ability to fund events in pursuit of its aims and objectives. A reserves policy has been established to ensure that investments made in planting and improvements can be maintained without relying on immediate receipt of subscription income or donations. The committee are satisfied that reserves are adequate to sustain the charity’s current programme of projects and activities.

3. Trustees Remuneration and Related Party Transactions

No trustees received any remuneration during the year (2022: Nil) or were reimbursed for any costs incurred in pursuit of their duties (2022: Nil).

No trustee had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (2022: Nil).

The charity does not employ any staff. All activities are carried out by volunteers, contractors or individuals contracted on a freelance basis.

4. Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. Gift Aid is accrued and recognised on all eligible donations made in the year and accounted for as part of the category of funds raised to which the eligible donations relate. The Charitable Incorporated Organisation has been recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid purposes.

5. Debtors

Debtors represent amounts receivable as at year end

Debtors represent amounts receivable as at year end
2023 2022
Gift Aid receivable from HMRC £2,539 £8,377
Memorial bench contributions due £1,816 -
Sponsorship income due £1,000 -
Post year end banking of subscriptions received £
-		 £
375
£5,355 £8,752

16

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

6. Current Liabilities

Creditors represent costs incurred but not settled prior to 31 March 2023.

2023 2022
Wildflower meadow costs - £10,686
Independent examination fees – 2022 £300 £.
300
Independent examination fees – 2023 £300 -
£600 £10,986

7. Advance Income Received

Advance income received represents income received less costs incurred prior to year end for events that will take place after that date. In 2022, the event in question was the Easter Egg Hunt which took place on 2 April 2022. This amount was released to the income and expenditure statement in 2023, together with any additional income received and costs incurred for the Easter Egg Hunt in that year. There was no advance income received in the financial year ended 31 March 2023.

17

8. Unrestricted Funds

The charity realised a surplus of £24,096 for the year of which £16,535 was attributable to the campaign to fight large scale events on Clapham Common. Wild Clapham incurred more costs than new funds raised in the year and this resulted in a deficit of £3,805. After accounting for the results attributed to the Legal Fund and Wild Clapham, the remaining surplus totalled £ 11,365 and this was added to the general reserves brought forward resulting in general reserves of £32,030 and total reserves of £69,203 carried forward.


reserves of £69,203 carried forward.
2023 2022
General Reserves brought forward £ 20,665 £ 20,821
Transfer to Legal Fund £ - £ (2,000)
Surplus for the year £ 11,365 £ 1,844
General Reserves carried forward £ 32,030 £ 20,665
Legal Fund brought forward £ 17,291 -
Surplus for the year £ 16,535 £15,291
Transfer from general reserves £ - £ 2,000
Legal Fund carried forward £ 33,826 £17,291
Wild Clapham Fund brought forward £ 7,152 -
Surplus / (deficit) for the year £ (3,805) £ 7,152
Transfer from general reserves £ - -
Wild Clapham Fund carried forward £ 3,347 £ 7,152
Total Unrestricted Reserves £69,203 £ 45,108

The trustees reserves policy requires that £2,000 should be maintained within general reserves to fund ongoing maintenance and overhead costs without relying on receipt of membership income or donations.

Although the Legal Fund and Wild Clapham Fund represent separate reserves set aside for designated purposes, the terms and conditions of donations to those funds have made it clear that any funds no longer required to fulfil those purposes will be treated as general donations to fund other activities in support of the objects of the charity. These reserves are therefore treated as designated funds and not restricted funds and are part of the total unrestricted reserves of the charity.

18