## Snailslynch Wood Community Project ## Report and accounts for the period from 22 August 2022 to 31 March 2023 Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 ## **Trustees’ Annual Report** _for the period from 22 August 2022 to 31 March 2023_ ## **Principal address** 45 Bridgefield, Farnham , Surrey GU9 8AW ## **Trustees** Stephen Pallant (appointed 22 August 2022) Simon Cryer (appointed 22 August 2022) Stephen Linton (appointed 22 August 2022) Geoff Shutler (appointed 22 August 2022, resigned 12 December 2023) ## **Structure, governance and management** Snailslynch Wood Community Project is a Charitable Incorporate Organisation (CIO), charity number 1199983, formed under a constitution dated 29[th] July 2022. Under the constitution, there must be at least three trustees. One-third, or the number closest to one-third, of the charity trustees retire at each AGM. The trustees to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. The vacancies so arising may be filled by the decision of the members at the AGM. New trustees, including any vacancies not filled at the AGM, may be appointed at any time by the members or trustees provided the total number of trustees does not exceed twelve. ## **Objectives and activities** The objectives of the Project are to promote, for the benefit of the public, the conservation, protection and improvement of the flora and fauna of Snailslynch Wood in Farnham, Surrey, as a natural habitat in perpetuity for the benefit of the local community and users of the North Downs Way, which passes through the property, mainly but not exclusively by: a. The purchase of Snailslynch Wood b. Restoring and maintaining ease of access to the public right of way across the land and to enhance the enjoyment by the public of the natural environment. ## _Public benefit_ The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. ## **Achievements and performance** As mentioned in the objectives above, the main focus of the Trustees has been in raising the funding required for the purchase of the site from the present owner. The purchase cost of the land is £60,000 and there will be legal costs associated with the purchase. A number of sources of funding were identified and investigated by the trustees and other residents. Capital funding from councils, local and county, have been investigated but have so far not been able to realise capital for the purchase of the site. However, despite the difficult economic climate, approaches to the residents of Bridgefield and The Fairfield Page 2 Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 have realised significant donations which, with the addition of Gift Aid, has given the trustees confidence that it will be possible to raise the remaining funds to proceed with the purchase of the land. There are a number of organisations who have offered help to audit and manage the land once the purchase has been made, with services ranging from baseline environmental audits to potentially offering saplings to plant on the land. ## **Financial review** Funds are principally sourced from donations and these have initially come from local residents. The trustees hope to raise enough donations, supplemented by Gift Aid, to purchase Snailslynch Wood, and thereafter to raise funds for conservation, protection and improvements from further donations and from grants. At this early stage the Charity has not formulated a reserves policy or an investment policy. This will be revisited after the purchase of the site but there will be an annual requirement to purchase public liability insurance for the site, with associated cost. ## **Declaration** The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Stephen Pallant Chair 09 Jan 2024 Page 3 Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 ## **Independent examiners report** _for the period from 8 August 2022 to 31 March 2023_ ## **Report to the trustees of Snailslynch Wood Community Project** on the accounts for the period from 22 August 2022 to 31 March 2023 set out on page 5. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the period ended 31 March 2023. As the charity 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 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** 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: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## Signed: David Protheroe, FCA 14 Bridgefield, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 8AN 9 January 2024 Page 4 Snailslynch Wood Community Project Charity number 1199983 ## **Receipts and payments** _for the period from 8 August 2022 to 31 March 2023_ |**Receipts**
Donations
Other income (refund of bank charges plus compensation)
Total receipts
**Payments**
Bank Charge
Total payments
**Net of receipts and payments**
**Cash funds at the end of the period**
**Statement of assets and liabilities**
_at 31 March 2023_
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank
**Other monetary assets**
Debtors – gift aid receivable
Signed on behalf of the trustees by:
Simon Cryer
Treasurer
09 Jan 2024|**_Period to 31_**
**_March 2023_**
35,951
44
35,995
7
7
**£35,988**
**£35,988**
**_31 March_**
**_2023_**
35,988
8,925
**£44,913**| |---|---| Page 5