## Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 

for Friends of Clapham Common (a Charitable Incorporated Organisation) 

**Charity number** 1199785 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

|**Contents**|Page|
|---|---|
|Report of the Trustees|3 - 9|
|Reference and Administrative Information|3|
|Objectives and Activities|4|
|Achievements and Performance|4|
|Financial Review|7|
|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 -17|



2 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

The trustees of the charity present their report and unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. 

## **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 2023 to date of this report** 

|||
|---|---|
|Shirley Kermer|Trustee and Chair of the Board of Trustees (appointed)|
|Edward Allnutt|Trustee (appointed)|
|Michiel Kermer|Trustee and Treasurer (re-elected 8 November 2023)|
|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 

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

The Friends of Clapham Common was founded in 1996 as an Association but has since developed in size and scope and was registered as an (unincorporated) charity with the Charity Commission on 20 April 2020. Following a decision by the trustees 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 trustees took the opportunity to review and expand the objects of the charity which are now as follows. 

1. To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of Clapham Common including to promote biodiversity on Clapham Common. 

2. 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 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** 

2023-24 has again been a year of much 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 back 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. The Friends have supported Lambeth BC in their work to create new wildflower meadows on Westside and Battersea Rise with their associated scrub islands and the planting of a yew hedge by the children’s wet play area. 

## Tree Planting 

This year we were approached by Thomas’s Schools to mark their 30[th] anniversary by executing their fully funded proposal to plant 30 trees on the Common. The trees were purchased with funds from Thomas’s and planted in groups of 3 across the Common with a variety of species including English Oak, winter flowering and Wild Cherry, Tulip Tree, Crab Apple, Turkish Hazel, Norway Maple, Indian Horse Chestnut and Black Poplar. 

## Memorial Trees 

The Friends arranged for 4 memorial trees for residents, comprising two Quercus Bimundorum, one Elm and one Indian Horse Chestnut. 

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

## Hedges 

Ably assisted by volunteers and Duke of Edinburgh students, the Friends planted an extensive mixed hedge along the railings in the children only area by the bandstand, stretching from Mount Pond. Whips were also planted in the area along the railings opposite the pedestrian crossing of the South Circular by the entrance to Windmill Drive. 

## Wetland 

In November 2024, our flagship project to restore the wetland behind Eagle Pond received full funding and planning permission and will be constructed during the winter months for completion by 31 March 2025. The design was overseen by Gareth James and Wild Clapham and will 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. After a long gestation period we are excited to finally see this project being realised and particular thanks go our trustee, Gareth James for his expertise and dedication in stewarding this project and in securing grants from the Mayor of London Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The trustees also wish to thank Lambeth BC, CCMAC, Froglife, Wild Clapham and our generous sponsors, some of whom wish to remain anonymous but include Consano Earth and Sophie and David Till. 

## **Educational outreach and community engagement.** 

The Friends have supported a number of 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. 

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. 

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

This year we expanded our charity work. In December 2023, we held our Christmas carol singing event on the bandstand. This is an increasingly popular event with local people and raised over £3,000 for a local charity, Royal Trinity Hospice. We collaborated with Omnibus Theatre to organise a fun dog show and to stage a Christmas Grotto, providing an opportunity for disadvantaged children to visit Father Christmas. Finally, the Friends have organised collections for West Norwood & Brixton Food Bank and Little Village, a charity supporting families with babies and young children. 

## **Large-Scale 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 many 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. 

5 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

## **Large-Scale events on Clapham Common (continued)** 

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? 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. Although the decision was disappointing the Inspector did agree 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. 

Following the decision, the Friends took legal advice and issued a Pre-Action Letter to DEFRA to request a judicial review of some aspects of the Inspector’s decision. However, we were not required to follow through as Festival Republic notified Lambeth BC that they would not be holding the largescale music events planned for Bank holiday weekend in August 2024. This decision does not preclude a resumption of such events in 2025 or beyond but we shall remain vigilant to protect our valuable green space. 

## **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. We would also like to thank Aspire for sponsoring our Easter Egg Hunt and Pumpkin Patch events as well as the Christmas Carol event in support of Trinity Hospice and Richard and Suzanna Roxburgh who hosted our Summer Party in July 2023 in their beautiful garden and to 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 £4.9k which was contributed to our Legal Fund. 

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. 

6 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** 

The year’s financial results were dominated by the campaign to prevent large scale events taking place on Clapham Common. In the financial year 2024 we received further donations towards our Legal Fund, set up in 2021, and incurred all the legal costs to prepare for and participate in the public inquiry that took place in June 2023. All donations and costs were accounted for in a designated Legal Fund. The final result was that costs exceeded donations by £12.5k and this shortfall was made good by a transfer from the general reserve to close the Legal Fund. This year the Friends commenced work on the design of a wetland and reedbeds on Clapham Common and incurred design and consultancy costs of £8.7k. A fundraising campaign was initiated and the first donation of £2k was received. A separate Wetland Fund has been established to record all donations and grants received and costs incurred on the project. 

Core activities comprise fundraising through membership subscriptions, donations and community events to enable the planting up and maintenance of Clapham Common. Membership at year end comprised 541 subscribers, representing 771 members when family subscriptions are taken into account, and generating subscription income of £7.9k.  Events were notably successful in 2024, generating a surplus of £24.4k and primarily accounts for a financially successful result in our core activities. 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. Overheads declined year on year due to one off expenditure incurred in 2023 for PR (new logo design) and Governance (transition to Charitable Incorporated Organisation). The net result of all these activities was a surplus of £19.1k. 

The combined result of all these activities is a loss of £34.3k, of which £46.3k was incurred by the actions covered by the Legal Fund and £6.7k for the wetland project. Core activities of organising community events and funding for planting up and maintaining the Common generated a surplus of £19.1k. Wild Clapham incurred costs of £470. At the beginning of the financial year, the charity had general reserves brought forward of £32k, to which the surplus from core activities of £19.1k has been added and the deficit arising on the Legal Fund of £12.5k made good by a transfer from the general reserves. The Legal Fund is closed, the Wild Clapham reserve will be transferred to the Wild Clapham charity in 2025 but the Wetland Fund will be carried forward to account for further income raised and costs incurred in 2025. General reserves of £38.6k are available to carry forward for funding activities in the future. 

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. 

## **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 2021 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. In 2024 the Wetland project was initiated. Donations to each of these initiatives are distinguished from funds raised for other activities and are credited to specific, designated, funds. The detailed breakdown of funds raised is set out in the statement of financial activities on page 12. 

7 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **FINANCIAL REVIEW (continued)** 

## **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. 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT** 

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 and Susan Hayday as Membership Secretary. 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 2024, the board held 8 meetings. The first AGM for the newly incorporated CIO 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. 

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. 

8 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE and MANAGEMENT** 

As at 1 April 2023 the following people served as trustees: 

- Shirley Kermer Trustee and Chair (appointed) 

- • Michiel Kermer Trustee and Treasurer (elected) • Margherita de Dominicis Trustee and Board Secretary (appointed) • Ed Allnutt Trustee (appointed) • Gareth James Trustee (appointed) • Emma de Cassan Trustee (elected) • Samantha Walker Trustee (elected) • Harriet Hall Trustee (elected) 

During the period from 1 April 2023 to the date of this report, the following appointments were made: 

- 8[th] November 2023: Emma de Cassan, Samantha Walker, Harriet Hall and Michiel Kermer were reelected as trustees by the members for a term of 3 years 

- 9[th] January 2024: Ed Allnutt was reappointed by the board as trustee for a term of 3 years from 26[th] July 2023 

- 5[th] November 2024: Shirley Kermer was reappointed by the board as trustee and Chair for a term of 3 years from 26[th] July 2024 and Margherita de Dominicis was reappointed by the board as trustee for a term of 3 years from 26[th] July 2024. 

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: 15th January 2025** 

9 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **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 2024. 

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: 

· the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 

· the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 

· the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

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: 15th January 2025** 

10 



- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|**Statement of Financial Activities for theyear ended 31 March 2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||||
|||**2024**|||||**2023**||
||Notes|Unrestricted<br>Funds||Total Funds|||Total Funds||
||||||||||
|Gross Income in the reporting<br>period||£76,862||£76,862||||£67,413|
|Total Expenditure in the reporting<br>period||£111,203||<br>£111,203||||£43,317|
|Tax Payable|4||-||-|||-|
||||||||||
|Net Income / (loss) for the<br>reporting period||£|(34,341)|£|(34,341)|||£24,096|
||||||||||
|Reconciliation of Funds:|10||||||||
|Total Funds brought forward|||£69,203||£69,203|||£45,107|
||||||||||
||||||||||
|Total Funds carried forward|||£34,862|||||£69,203|
||||||||||
|Comprising:|||||||||
|Legal Fund|||£    -|||||£33,826|
|Wild Clapham Fund|||£2,877|||||£3,347|
|Wetland Fund|||£(6,668)|||||-|
|General Reserve|||£38,653||£38,653|||£32,030|



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

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

||**2024**|**2024**|**2023**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Funds Raised**|||||
|DonationsGeneral|£3,678||£5,304||
|Donations Wetland/WildClapham|£2,000||£1,044||
|Donations Legal Fund|£20,100||£19,545||
|Donations Memorial Trees|£1,970||£2,280||
|Membershipsubscriptions|£7,920||£8,900||
|Grants received|£0||£0||
|**Total Funds Raised**||**£35,668**||**£37,073**|
|**Income from Events**|||||
|Tickets sold|£26,579||£23,404||
|Bar take|£1,076||£777||
|Event sponsorship|£4,250||£4,600||
|Other Income|£9,289||£1,560||
||**£41,194 **||**£30,341**||
||||||
|**EventCosts**|||||
|Artists fees&staff costs|-£2,000||-£1,677||
|Materials|-£3,061||-£7,859||
|Consumables|-£9,530||-£2,161||
|Equipment hire|-£2,049||-£712||
|Other|-£197||£0||
||**-£16,838**||**-£12,409**||
|**Income/(Loss) from Events**||**£24,356**||**£17,932 **|
||||||
|**Cost of Activities**|||||
|Equipment and materials|-£493||-£547||
|Biodiversity projects|-£8,893||-£3,412||
|Plantingmaterials and labour|-£9,335||-£11,640||
|Legal Fund costs|-£71,277||-£6,493||
|**Cost of Activities**||**-£89,998**||-£22,092|
||||||
|**Overheads**|||||
|IT&software costs|-£1,013||-£1,860||
|Insurance|-£310||-£286||
|PR costs and materials|£0||-£2,412||
|Audit&Accountancy|-£800||-£300||
|Admin incl. bank charges|-£860||-£901||
|Governance|-£988||-£3,012||
|**TotalOverheads**||**-£3,972**||**-£8,771**|
|**Misc. Expenditure**|||||
|FacilitiesCapex|£0||£0||
|Grants made|£0||£0||
|Charitable donations|-£350||£0||
|Sundryexpenses|-£45||-£45||
|**Total Misc. Expenditure**||**-£395**||**-£45**|
||||||
|**Surplus/ (deficit) for theyear**||**-£34,341**||**£24,097 **|



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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **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 £3,347 as at the beginning of the financial year. The intention is to transfer any remaining reserves to Wild Clapham once it has been established as an independent charity and the reserve was reduced to £2,877 by further expenses incurred in 2024 to develop its logo. 

3. A campaign to fight large-scale events on Clapham Common was initiated in 2021 and this resulted in an unspent Legal Fund of £33,826 as at the beginning of the financial year. An additional amount of £20,100 was donated in the current financial year and £71,277 was expended on legal fees in conducting this campaign and participating in the public inquiry. Net income raised by the Summer Party of £4,897 was allocated to the Legal Fund. The net result is a deficit of £12,454 which was made good by a transfer from the general reserve which closed the Fund. 

4. An initiative to create a wetland with reedbeds on Clapham Common was pursued in earnest this year and costs of £8,668 were incurred on design and consultancy work. These costs are accounted for as biodiversity projects. The first donation of £2,000 towards this project was received and the net deficit of £6,668 was retained in a dedicated reserve for the Wetland project. 

5. 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. 

6. Overheads are costs incurred which relate to operating the charity. Admin and bank charges were flat year-on-year. Audit & Accountancy costs increased by £500 in 2024 due to financial advice sought in connection with incorporation of the charity and tax implications. In 2023 PR costs reflected the costs incurred in creating a new logo for the charity and £1,437 for the Wild Clapham logo and Governance costs represented legal and consultancy fees incurred in transitioning the charity from an Unincorporated Charitable Association to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. These PR and Governance costs were one off and accounts for the reduction in overhead and miscellaneous costs in 2024. 

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

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024** 

|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|**Balance Sheet**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Notes|**Assets**|||Notes|**Liabilities**|||
|||31/03/2024|31/3/2023|||31/03/2024|31/3/2023|
||**Current Assets**||||**Current Liabilities**|||
||HSBC|£35,861|<br>£64,341|<br>6|Creditors|£6,056|£600|
||PayPal|£422|<br>£52|||||
||Petty Cash|£30|£55||Advance Income|£0|£0|
|||||||||
||TotalCash|£36,313|£64,448|||||
|||||||||
|5|Debtors|£4,605|£5,355|||||
||Prepayments|£0|£0|||||
||**Total Debtors**|£4,605|£5,355|||||
|||||||||
||**Total Current**<br>**Assets**|**£40,918**|**£69,803**||**Total current liabilities**|**£6,056**|**£600**|
|||||||||
|||||7|<br>**Designated Reserves**|||
||||||Wetland Project|-£6,668|£0|
||||||Legal Fund|£0|£33,826|
||||||WildClapham|£2,877|<br>£3,347|
|||||||**-£3,791 **|<br>**£37,173**|
|||||7|<br>**Unrestricted Funds**|||
||||||Reserves b/fwd|£35,513|£20,664|
||||||Gain/Loss currentyear|-£34,341|<br>£24,096|
||||||Transfer to Designated<br>Reserves|£37,481|<br>-£12,730|
||||||Reserves c/fwd|£38,653|£32,030|
||||||**Total Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**|**£34,862 **|<br>**£69,203**|
|||||||||
||**Total Assets**|**£40,918**|**£69,803**||**Total Liabilities**|**£40,918**|**£69,803**|



The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the 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: 15th January 2025** 

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **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 

- Unrestricted Funds are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. 

- Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the Trustees for particular purposes. 

- ● Restricted funds are subject to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal. 

## (c)        Income 

- All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. 

- Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations, gifts and sponsorship and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant. 

- Grants received but which are conditional upon the delivery of specified performance requirements are accounted for as the charity meets those performance requirements. The amount of the grant that is received but unearned is treated as deferred income. 

- Donated goods, services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts. 

## (d) Expenditure 

- Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. 

- Expenditure has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. 

- Governance includes those costs incurred in connection with administering the charity in compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. 

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **Accounting policies (continued)** 

(e) Foreign currencies 

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 (2023: Nil) or were reimbursed for any costs incurred in pursuit of their duties (2023: Nil). 

No trustee had any personal interest in any contract or transaction entered into by the charity during the year (2023: 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. The Charitable Incorporated Organisation has been recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid purposes. Effective the financial year 2024 Gift Aid is recognised on a receipts basis. 

## **5. Debtors** 

Debtors represent amounts receivable as at year end 

|Gift Aid receivable from HMRC<br>Memorial bench contributions due<br>Sponsorship income due<br>Memorial tree donations due|2024<br>£2,539<br>£1,816<br>£   -<br>£   250<br>£4,605|2023<br>£2,539<br>£1,816<br>£1,000<br>£- <br>£5,355|
|---|---|---|



The trustees have agreed that the amount due for the memorial bench can be settled by periodic instalments. An amount of £500 was received in May 2024. 

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- Friends of Clapham Common Annual Report 2024 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** 

## **6. Current Liabilities** 

Creditors represent costs incurred but not settled prior to 31 March 2024. 

|Artists fees (Easter Egg Hunt)<br> <br>Planting and labour costs<br> <br>Financial advisory work - 2024<br> <br>Independent examination fees – 2022<br> <br>Independent examination fees – 2023<br> <br>|2024<br>£    600<br>£ 4,356<br>£    500<br>£    300<br> £.   300<br> £ 6,056|2023<br>-<br>-<br>£.     -<br>£.    300<br>£.    300|
|---|---|---|
|||£     600|



## **7. Unrestricted Funds** 

The charity incurred a deficit of £34,341 for the year of which £46,280 was attributable to the campaign to fight large scale events on Clapham Common and £6,668 to the Wetland project start up.  Wild Clapham incurred more costs than new funds raised in the year and this resulted in a deficit of £470.  After accounting for the results attributed to the Legal Fund, Wild Clapham and the Wetland project there was a surplus of £19,077, generated from donations towards, less costs incurred, of planting up and maintaining Clapham Common. This surplus was added to the general reserves. As at year end, general reserves of £38,653 and total reserves of £34,862 are carried forward to fund future activities. 

|General Reserves brought forward<br>Transfer to Legal Fund<br> <br>Surplus for the year<br>General Reserves carried forward<br>Legal Fund brought forward<br>Surplus (deficit) for the year<br>Transfer from general reserves<br>Legal Fund carried forward<br>Wild Clapham Fund brought forward<br>Surplus / (deficit) for the year<br>Transfer from general reserves<br>Wild Clapham Fund carried forward<br>Wetland Fund brought forward<br>Deficit for the year<br>Wetland Fund carried forward<br>Total Unrestricted Reserves|2024<br>£ 32,030<br>£(12,454)<br>£ 19,077<br>£ 38,653<br>£ 33,826<br>£(46,280)<br>£ 12,454<br>£     0 <br>£  3,347<br>£ (  470)<br>£- <br>£  2,877 <br>-<br>£(6,668)<br>£(6,668)<br>£34,862|2023<br>£20,665<br>£     -<br>£11,365<br>£32,030<br>£17,291<br>£16,535<br>£-<br> £33,826<br>£ 7,152<br>£(3,805)<br>  - <br> £ 3,347<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>£ 69,203|
|---|---|---|



The 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, Wild Clapham Fund and Wetland 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. 

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