**Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for the** # **Year Ending 31 December 2023** **www.greatouseriverstrust** ## **Charitable Incorporated Organisation** **Registration number 1201688** ## **Contents** ## **1. Trustees** ## **2. Structure, governance and management** ## **3. Trustees Report** ## **4. Financial statement** 2 ## **Great Ouse Rivers Trust** The Trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31[st] December 2023 **Trustees** Helen Boothman Rob Cathcart Rob Cunningham Genevieve Madgewick Howard Osborne Phil Rothwell Simon Wightman **GOVT address** C/O Houghton & Wyton Parish Council St Mary’s Centre Chapel lane Houghton Cambs PE282AY **Charitable Incorporated Number 1201688 (England and Wales) Bankers The Co-operative Bank Website** www.greatouseriverstrust.org **Email info@greatouseriverstrust.org** 3 ## **2. Structure, Governance and Management** ## **Governing Document** The Great Ouse Rivers Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation which was set up in January 2023. The Trust is governed by its Constitution approved by the Charities Commission at that time. ## **Appointment and Recruitment of Trustees** As set out in the Constitution, one third of elected Trustees, who make up the Trustee Board, shall retire from office every year at the Annual General Meeting. The elected Trustees will determine amongst themselves the officers of Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. New Trustees are found through word of mouth, newsletters and website promotions. All new Trustees receive a copy of the Charity’s constitution, the Charity Commission’s Essential Trustee Guide and a full induction ## **Organisation** The Board of Trustees meets monthly in order to manage the affairs of the charity. The Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. The Board is occasionally joined by invited specialists who give their time and expertise, but they do not have a vote. ## **Financial reserves policy** As the Charity is new and has not raised income there is no reserves policy but this will be put in place when the charity is up and running. ## **Advisers** The Charity is extremely grateful to everyone who gives their advice and expertise freely, especially from the Rivers Trust movement ## **Charity Object** The objects of the CIO are (1) To conserve, protect and improve the rivers, streams, watercourses and water impoundments of the catchments comprising the River Great Ouse from source to sea including adjacent estuarine and coastal areas, for the advancement of environmental protection or improvement for the benefit of the public. (2) To advance the education of the public, or any association, institution, voluntary organisation, local authority, administrative or governmental agency or public body or representative body in: - (a) The understanding of rivers, river corridors and river catchments, including their fauna, flora, biodiversity, economic or social activity, and river catchment management. (b) The need for, and benefits of, conservation, protection and improvement of aquatic environments. ## **3 Trustees Report for year ending December 2023** The Great Ouse Rivers Trust is a new environmental charity (charity number: 1201688), dedicated to protecting the Great Ouse and its tributaries, lakes, wetlands, and wider catchment for the benefit of people and nature. Our ambition is to be a powerful voice for the river, its communities, river users and wildlife. 4 Our Trustees include environmentalists, ecologists, and water sports enthusiasts. Each has a personal connection to the Great Ouse and its wider catchment. GORT is proud to be part of the Rivers Trust movement, a network of local charities working to protect and improve rivers across Britain and the island of Ireland. The Trust was officially ‘launched’ in June 2023, our thanks to Cause PR for helping and supporting us in achieving national and Regional Coverage of the creation of the 65[th] Rivers Trust. The Trustees have been busy establishing a vision and longer-term plan for the Trust as well as meeting with various stakeholders involved in the overall catchment of the River Great Ouse as well as researching potential funding sources. ## **4. Financial Overview** In 2023 we received a grant of £500 to pay for the official ‘launch’ of the Great Ouse Rivers Trust. **Summary of Accounts for Great Ouse Rivers Trust 2023** |**Summary of Accounts for Great Ouse Rivers Trust 2023**|**Summary of Accounts for Great Ouse Rivers Trust 2023**|**Summary of Accounts for Great Ouse Rivers Trust 2023**| |---|---|---| |||| |**Income**|**2023**|**2022**| ||**£**|**£**| |Donations|0|| |Grants|500|| |**Total**|**500**|**N/A **| |||| |**Expenditure**||| |Marketing|420|| |IT|0|| |Office Supplies|0|| |Bank charges|0|| |**Total**|**420**|**N/A **| |||| |**Surplus**|**80**|**N/A **| |||| |**Bank Account Balance**|**80**|**N/A **| |||| |**Approved by: Howard Osborne, Treasurer**||| The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy, at any time, the financial position of the charity and enable then to comply with SORP. ## **Trustees declare that they approved this report on September 23, 2024** ## Phil Rothwell Signed: Phil Rothwell, Chairman 5