## **Chairman’s Report 2024/5**
I am delighted to report on our many activities since the last AGM
Core activities have been extremely well received and supported by our membership. Through our projects and media activity, in concert with the conservancy, we are seeing a steady increase in awareness of the needs of the harbour and surrounding land.
Our focus this year has been on small scale, high impact environmental and community support projects which have an immediate effect on the harbour. These suit our scale and resources and we hope appeal to our members. They include funding for Oysters in EYH, Emsmet, Itchenor cycle path, bird roosts, binoculars for visitors on the Solar Heritage boat, and Cobnor Youth Sailing Centre, We have also been involved in funding projects adjacent to the harbour at Pagham and Sidlesham in partnership with Sussex Ornithological Society and RSPB. These may be outside the precise boundaries of the harbour, but wildlife doesn’t respect borders.
Our core activities to support the conservancy with funding and workforces on wider projects have been ever busy as this year, and well supported by our members.
Working Parties are as popular as ever and attracted a moving population of around 70 people, thank you for your time and commitment. The weather this year has ensured a good turnout to most events, and much muck has been moved, pathways improved and trees planted.
Our volunteer events team have run another programme of imaginative events this year, report attached at the end. Thank you to all of you. The events are advertised on the website and via emails to members. The are often over-subscribed so you need to be on the look-out for booking dates.
Oyster Boat Terror has had a very successful season. Bookings were up on 2024 and cancellations due to weather conditions were much reduced. Berthing for 2 weeks in Itchenor generated much interest and many bookings and will be repeated next year subject to CHC agreement. There are 43 volunteers involved with Terror, to whom we offer our thanks.
Membership and business members.
Work to increase the membership has stalled since the sudden resignation of the trustees involved, and will be resumed by the new trustees.
With around 12,000 Harbour Plaque holders in the harbour who have a vested interest in the environment of their Harbour, they represent an obvious target for membership recruitment.
Business members rest at 27 and we will be actively recruiting in the coming year with a view to them having hands-on involvement with the work of the harbour
We again provided funding to the Harbour Conservancy Education team to assist with schools field trips and workshops held both inside the centre in Dell Quay and out of doors.
We continue to be a member of the Harbour Conservancy Planning Committee and the Advisory Committee, where we have a primary responsibility for ensuring that the Authority furthers the National Landscape Purposes and Duty, rather than as a delegate representing the interests of the Friends of Chichester Harbour
Our team of trustees has undergone some changes this year, as is the norm for organisations such as ours which depend upon volunteers giving their time and expertise freely.
Paul Dale has worked tirelessly to identify and assess candidates for these roles and the result of his work is that we have co-opted 5 new members. They have each provided a brief summary of their interests at the end of this report.
We have a new vice chairman, Jim Lines and a new treasurer, Nigel Foskett
Our work streams are headed up by specific trustees who also rely on volunteer help to carry out their work.
Here is how these work streams are organized
|Chris Harvey|Events and Working parties|
|---|---|
|Gavin Crick|Oyster Boat Terror|
|Julian Matthews|Projects and funding|
|Nikki Mugford|Membership Team|
|Paul Dale|Business membership & Trustee recruitment|
|Mary Jones|PR Press relationships|
|Cassie Magee|Digital Comms & Merchandising|
|John Wilkinson|Strategy and Public Affairs|
|Michael Bromley-Martin|Harbour Relations|
With the recruitment of some excellent new Trustees, it became evident we need a branding refresh to remain recognisable, relevant and inspiring to our members and non-members alike and to making the Charity more attractive to a younger membership. We are proposing that our name should become _Chichester Harbour Friends,_ with upgrades to our website and social media platforms. It’s a small change – but one that helps us to sit clearly alongside our partners, Chichester Harbour Conservancy and Chichester Harbour Trust. Rest assured, our values, aims and activities will remain the same.
Generous membership renewals & donations since we re-launched our website in 2023-2024 have continued to increase funds, leaving us with a surplus for which we
are looking for interesting and innovative projects to fund. The membership can become involved in helping us find works that will appeal to the wider community (suggestions to the vice-chairman@friendsch.org)
Finally, I would like to thank all the trustees who have worked so diligently this year and have agreed to continue to do so to further our objectives and to keep the membership involved, informed and engaged. We are looking forward to 2025/6
Heather Baker Chairman
October 2025
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From Period start date 1.4.2024 Period end date 31.3.2025**
## **Charity name: The Friends of Chichester Harbour**
## **Charity registration number: 1201872 (incl 1051162)**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**To maintain and improve Chichester**
**Harbour and its amenity area and**
**protect and preserve the countryside**
**and wildlife, to advance education of the**
**public in relation to the harbour, and**
**any other activities in support of the**
**above objectives.**|
|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|**Support to Chichester Harbour**
**Conservancy and other groups; through**
**Grants and provision of volunteers.**|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**In supporting grants, the Trustees have**
**due regard for public benefit.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
The charity awards grants to support
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 projects undertaken by the Conservancy
and other bodies that meet the charity’s
aims detailed at para 1.17
Policy on social investment Para 1.38 n/a
including program related
investment
Volunteers from the Friends are actively
Para 1.38 involved with the work of the
Contribution made by Conservancy through; weekly Working
volunteers parties; tasking of the Volunteer
Rangers; the work of the Education
Centre; and the Harbourwatch scheme
n/a
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Achievements and Performance**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
SORP reference
**----- End of picture text -----**
||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|**The Harbour Conservancy has 3 full-**
**time paid rangers. The charity’s main**
**achievements are measured against**
**projects undertaken by volunteers in**
**support of the Rangers including:**
**Footpath repairs; tree planting; scrub**
**clearance; ragwort clearance; and litter**
**picking – tasks which are aimed at**
**improving the environment for harbour**
**users and, where appropriate, local**
**landowners.**
**In addition to the volunteering that**
**directly increases the capacity of the**
**Conservancy’s Rangers, the Charity**
**also makes financial grants to projects**
**around the harbour undertaken by the**
**Conservancy and other local groups.**|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 Voluntary net receipts: £61k
financial position at the end Grants Recd: £7 k (Coward Foudation
of the period etc.) Expenses (Newsletter; website;
Oyster boat; Events) £34k Grants made
£29k Surplus - payments less receipts:
£5 k Cash at bank £136k
Statement explaining the Para 1.22 The charity holds reserves against a
policy for holding reserves number of eventualities, including £1k
stating why they are held maintenance for Oyster boat “Terror”
and £14k West Wittering Benefit.
“Pump out stations” lottery grant
balance £4k, Conservancy Education
Budget £50k, Other Harbour projects
£20k for future project expenditure.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £132k unrestricted: £4k restricted
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 n/a
reserves
Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 n/a
deficit
Explanation of any Para 1.23 n/a
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern
**----- End of picture text -----**
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements|**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|**The main source of income are**
**membership subscriptions.**
**Return of the Oysters, Grants received**
**£7k for project work undertaken during**
**the year.**|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**(i)**
**Reduction in membership**
**subscriptions**
**(ii)**
**Reduction in commitment of**
**volunteers**|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**Constitution**|
|How is the charity
constituted?|Para 1.25|**CIO**|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection methods Para 1.25 The Constitution stipulates the number
**----- End of picture text -----**
|(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|||
|---|---|---|
|Trustee selection methods|Para 1.25|**The Constitution stipulates the number**|
|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||**of Trustees (not less than 10 nor more**
**than 12). Expressions of interest are**
**sought from the membership and**
**interviews undertaken by the Chairman/**
**Vice-chair. Any co-option is endorsed**
**by the full Executive and confirmed at**
**the next AGM**|
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
No training is undertaken. All new
Policies and procedures Trustees are briefed by the Chairman
adopted for the induction and supplied with a copy of the
and training of trustees Para 1.51 Constitution and relevant Executive
minutes and Financial papers
The charity’s organisational The Charity is administered and
structure and any wider managed in accordance with the
network with which the Para 1.51 Constitution by the members of the
charity works Executive Committee.
A close relationship exists with the
Chichester Harbour Conservancy, the
Relationship with any Para 1.51 statutory body responsible for the
related parties AONB. At the Executive level, the
Manager of the AONB is invited to the
Charity’s quarterly Executive Committee
meetings to report on the state of the
AONB and to make project bids. At the
practical level, the Conservancy’s
Rangers manage the ongoing Working
group programme.
Other
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Friends of Chichester Harbour|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|nil|
|Registered charity number|1201872 (incl 1051162)|
|Charity’s principal address|c/o The Harbour Office, Itchenor, Chichester PO20 7AW|
|||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for whole
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee (if
year
any)
1 Heather Baker Chairman Appointed 20 [th] Oct 2018
2 Jim Lines Vice-Chairman Appointed 25 [th] July 2023
3 Nigel Foskett Treasurer Appointed 9 [th] July 2025
4 Norman Payne Secretary Resigned Oct 2024
5 Chris Harvey Events From October 2012
6 Gavin Crick From April 2021
7 Charlotte Doherty Resigned June2025
8 Paul Dale Dec’d Oct 2025
9 Nicola McCarthy Resigned Mar 2025
10 Nigel Seymour Resigned Jan 2025
11 Sophie Robinson Resigned Oct 2025
12 Phoebe Cooper Resigned Oct 2024
13 Thomas Reding Resigned Mar 2025
14 Mary Jones Appointed 9 [th] July 2025
15 John Wilkinson Appointed 16 [th] Sept
16 Julian Matthews Appointed 16 [th] Sept
17 Michael Bromley-Martin Appointed 16 [th] Sept
18 Cassie Magee Appointed 16 [th] Sept
19 Nikki Mugford Appointed 16 [th] Sept
20
**----- End of picture text -----**
– 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 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)**
|**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**adviser**|||
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s)** Jim Lines **Position (eg Secretary,** Vice-Chairman **Chair, etc) Date** 29 January 2026
## _**The Friends of Chichester Harbour**_
## **Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Charity Number 1201872**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Year to 31.3.2025 Year to 31.3.2024
FY25 FY24
A1 Receipts
Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted TOTAL
a) Voluntary Sources
Annual Subscriptions £ 24,317 £ 24,317 £ 21,988 £ 21,988
Life Subscriptions £ - £ - £ - £ -
Donations under £100 £ 2,247 £ 2,247 £ 2,457 £ 2,457
Donations over £100 £ 2,531 £ 2,531 £ 2,310 £ 2,310
Corporate Subscriptions £ 7,985 £ 7,985 £ 3,525 £ 3,525
Legacies £ 3,750 £ 3,750 £ 10,708 £ 10,708
Events £ 6,974 £ 6,974 £ 2,993 £ 2,993
Terror Tickets £ 8,088 £ 8,088 £ 9,425 £ 9,425
Income tax GAD rebate £ 5,241 £ 5,241 £ 6,963 £ 6,963
Total from Voluntary Sources £ 61,133 £ - £ 61,133 £ 60,369 £ - £ 60,369
b) Grants Received
Heritage Lottery Fund - Return of the Tern £ - £ 18,230 £ 18,230
Coward Endowment - Oyster Restoration £ 7,000 £ 7,000 £ - £ -
Total from Grants Received £ 7,000 £ - £ 7,000 £ - £ 18,230 £ 18,230
c) Assets
Bank Interest £ 544 £ - £ 544 £ 581 £ - £ 581
Total from Assets £ 544 £ - £ 544 £ 581 £ - £ 581
Total Income £ 68,677 £ - £ 68,677 £ 60,950 £ 18,230 £ 79,180
A2 Payments
a) Grants
Chichester Harbour Conservancy £ 16,975 £ 16,975 £ 29,232 £ 29,232
Bird Nesting Tower / EMSMET weather station £ 5,550 £ 5,550 £ 5,000 £ 5,000
Oyster Regeneration Projects £ 6,431 £ 6,431
Total Grants £ 28,956 £ - £ 28,956 £ 34,232 £ - £ 34,232
b) Expenses
Newsletter £ 684 £ 684 £ 1,089 £ 1,089
Social media, New website and communications £ 8,386 £ 8,386 £ 12,548 £ 12,548
Accounting and administration £ 3,887 £ 3,887 £ 4,287 £ 4,287
Insurance £ 401 £ 401 £ 271 £ 271
AGM £ 490 £ 490 £ 622 £ 622
Sundry Expenses £ - £ - £ - £ -
Independent examination £ 540 £ 540 £ 540 £ 540
Paypal and bank charges £ 834 £ 834 £ 485 £ 485
£ 15,222 £ 15,222 £ 19,842 £ 19,842
Events/Marketing £ 4,736 £ 4,736 £ 1,431 £ 1,431
Terror Operating Costs £ 14,859 £ 14,859 £ 8,690 £ 8,690
Pump Out Project costs £ - £ - £ 5,734 £ 5,734
Return of the Tern £ - £ - £ 20,232 £ 20,232
£ 19,595 £ - £ 19,595 £ 10,121 £ 25,966 £ 36,087
Total Expenses £ 63,773 £ - £ 63,773 £ 64,195 £ 25,966 £ 90,161
Charitable surplus / (deficit) £ 4,904 £ - £ 4,904 £ (3,245) £ (7,736) £ (10,981)
**----- End of picture text -----**
## _**The Friends of Chichester Harbour**_
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31st March 2025
Charity Number 1201872
31.3.2024 31.3.2025
B/Fwd Income Expenditure Transfers C/fwd
Charitable Funds
Return of the Tern £ - £ -
Lottery Community Fund £ 4,256 £ 4,256
Restricted Funds £ 4,256 £ 4,256
Designated Funds
Conservancy Education Fund £ 50,000 £ 50,000
Sea Grass & Oyster bed projects £ 20,000 £ 7,000 £ (6,431) £ 20,569
Terror Exceptional Maintenance £ 5,000 £ 880 £ (5,000) £ 880
West Wittering Village £ 13,735 £ 13,735
Designated Funds £ 88,735 £ 7,880 £ (11,431) £ - £ 85,184
General Funds C/Forward £ 38,521 £ 60,797 £ (52,342) £ - £ 46,975
Total Funds £ 131,512 £ 68,677 £ (63,773) £ - £ 136,415
Assets and liabilities
CASH at bank £ 131,563 £ 136,629
Accounts receivable and prepaid £ - £ 2,735
Accounts payable and accrued £ (51) £ (2,949)
Total Funds £ 131,512 £ 136,415
Signature
Full name Jim Lines
Position Treasurer
29 January 2026
Date
**----- End of picture text -----**
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
## **THE FRIENDS OF CHICHESTER HARBOUR**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FRIENDS OF CHICHESTER HARBOUR**
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
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 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.
## **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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records
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.
Katie Wilson FCA For and on behalf of Blue Spire Limited Date 29 January 2026
Cawley Priory South Pallant Chichester West Sussex PO19 1SY