2024-03-31-accounts

Friends of Freeman’s Wood CIO

Charity Number 1202583

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24

Friends of Freeman’s Wood CIO was registered on 1st September 2022. Four new trustees were appointed and managed the closure of the community organisation and the transfer of funds to the new CIO.

Freeman’s Wood was purchased using funds raised through a successful campaign which invited £5 donations to “buy” a square of land corresponding to a What Three Words location across the site.

A wood management plan has been drawn up to help manage the site better for nature, to increase and improve access and to deal with the industrial pollution on the site. As part of this, treatment for the Japanese knotweed at the woods has been started and has been successful. Options are also being considered for deterring the motorbikes and quad bikes that illegally use the woodland.

Monthly walks, covering a range of topics, such as wildflowers, foraging, local history and a bat walk have been well attended.

A tree planting scheme is currently being worked on which should come into fruition by Spring 2025.

A new bank account has been set up and many policies have been drawn up and approved.

Since registration, two new trustees have been appointed. Trustee meetings are held quarterly and are attended by trustees and other valued advisors.

During the year, we were awarded £56,000 to create a new accessible path through the Wood which has opened up the space for wheelchair users and buggies. The money will also be used to create benches and new signage.

Prepared by Date Signed Reviewed by Date Signed	Bethany Haughey 4thJune 2024 BethanyHaughey
	Peter Fielding Bethany Haughey (Jun 4, 2024, 7:42pm) 25 Jun 2024

Peter Fielding (Jun 25, 2024, 8:40am)

Issuer The Winston Club Ltd Document generated Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:28:50 UTC Document fingerprint cdd9d45fa1d5a0fabdcbfab0f9ebca2d

Parties involved with this document

Document processed Party + Fingerprint Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:54 UTC Bethany Haughey - Signer (b29fb75034c6176ceed7afe92d3d8499) Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:40:31 UTC Peter Fielding - Signer (a0f86eb6d954c6dca05f3ed7a3daa8f2) Audit history log Date Action Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:40:32 UTC Peter Fielding viewed the envelope (90.196.176.234) Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:40:32 UTC This envelope has been signed by all parties (90.196.176.234) Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:40:31 UTC Peter Fielding signed the envelope (90.196.176.234) Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:38:50 UTC Peter Fielding viewed the envelope (90.196.176.234) Tue, 25th Jun 2024 8:38:45 UTC Peter Fielding opened the document email. (66.249.93.34) Thu, 6th Jun 2024 11:43:32 UTC Peter Fielding viewed the envelope (51.155.17.65) Thu, 6th Jun 2024 11:43:23 UTC Peter Fielding opened the document email. (66.249.93.34) Thu, 6th Jun 2024 11:02:19 UTC Peter Fielding opened the document email. (66.249.93.33) Wed, 5th Jun 2024 6:08:13 UTC Peter Fielding opened the document email. (66.249.93.34) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:43:11 UTC Bethany Haughey opened the document email. (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:55 UTC Bethany Haughey viewed the envelope (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:54 UTC Bethany Haughey signed the envelope (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:37 UTC Bethany Haughey viewed the envelope (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:33 UTC Bethany Haughey opened the document email. (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:32 UTC Peter Fielding opened the document email. (66.249.93.35) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:25 UTC Document emailed to [e-mail] (18.168.151.166) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:25 UTC Sent the envelope to Peter Fielding ([e-mail]) for signing (86.179.15.204) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:25 UTC Document emailed to [e-mail] (18.133.247.93) Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:42:25 UTC Sent the envelope to Bethany Haughey ([e-mail]) for signing (86.179.15.204)

Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:30:47 UTC Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:30:47 UTC Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:29:09 UTC

Peter Fielding has been assigned to this envelope (86.179.15.204) Bethany Haughey has been assigned to this envelope (86.179.15.204) Document generated with fingerprint cdd9d45fa1d5a0fabdcbfab0f9ebca2d (86.179.15.204)

Tue, 4th Jun 2024 19:28:50 UTC Envelope generated by Bethany Haughey (86.179.15.204)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

Email trail below – report in GREEN, response in YELLOW.

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2024 9:42 AM To: Bethany Haughey [e-mail] Subject: Re: FFW Accounts to 31st March 2024

Hi Bethany,

Now back from leave and have signed the accounts this morning - thanks for sending through the additional information.

Just let me know if you need anything else.

With best wishes,

Peter

On Tue, Jun 11, 2024 at 9:18 AM Bethany Haughey [e-mail] wrote:

Hi Peter > > I hope you had a lovely holiday. > > Thanks so much for doing the review. >

Regarding the Shed grant, I have only shown it separately for internal purposes. It is being used in part to fund the accessible path so made for easier reading by the other trustees in the accounts. > > Any questions, just let me know. > > Thanks > > Bethany >

-----Original Message----> From: Peter Fielding [e-mail] > Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2024 1:23 PM > To: Bethany Haughey [e-mail] > Subject: Re: FFW Accounts to 31st March 2024 > > Hi Betthany. > > Good to meet you again and thanks for talking me through the accounts. > > And thanks for link re the independent person - I agree with your assessment that I meet the criteria. Within that link was guidance (link below) as to what an independent examiner must and should do. > > It's quite a helpful guide actually and details what work I should do and also the requirement for me to keep working papers for future reference. > https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60d9dc0a8fa8f50abecebb89/CC32_independent_examination_of_charity_account s_Version_June_2021.pdf. > > So just two observations > > 1. I'm required to see a confirmation note from the Trustees confirming my appointment as the Independent Examiner. > > 2. Best practice is to see a copy of the actual bank statements for the year, so I wonder if you could send me copies of the two accounts? > > And one question on the accounts themselves. The accounts are showing a grant for a shed of £20,000 and a transfer from old FFW of £13,798. >

I've had a look back at the old accounts that you and I signed last year and it looks like the £20k was reported as income last year in the old FFW accounts. In total everything balances of course but I'm just wondering if you meant to show this separately? > > All the working papers are absolutely perfect and easy to follow. > > I hope the above queries are ok? I trust you of course 100% but think it would be good to cover o� the points above in case either of us are ever challenged.

I'm going away early tomorrow morning but very happy to sign before then if you are able to answer later today - or equally happy to sign in a couple of weeks when I'm back from leave.

Very best wishes,

Peter.

On Tue, Jun 4, 2024 at 8:42 PM Bethany Haughey [e-mail] wrote:

Hi Peter,

Great to see you earlier. >

£3.26m, and therefore do not need an audit. I am also happy that, even as treasurer of LGS, you still count as an “independent person”. Should you read the guidance and disagree with my opinion, please just let me know. >

Attached is the workings document I have used to collate the accounts, I hope it is straight forward to follow. You will shortly receive an email from Signable with the accounts to sign o�.

Any questions, just let me know and again, please don’t worry if this isn’t possible before your holiday.

Many thanks,

Bethany

From: Bethany Haughey [e-mail]

Sent: Tuesday, April 30, 2024 9:12 AM

To: Peter Fielding [e-mail]

Subject: Re: FFW Accounts to 31st March 2024

Hi Peter,

That’s brilliant, thanks !

No rush, so just let me know some dates when you’re ready. Mornings tend to work a bit better for me if that’s good for you too. >

Enjoy the sunshine,

Bethany >

On 30 Apr 2024, at 07:34, Peter Fielding [e-mail] wrote:

Morning Bethany >

See you soon

Best wishes

Peter

On Sun, 28 Apr 2024 at 21:57, Bethany Haughey [e-mail] wrote: >

Dear Peter

I hope you are well. How is life at Citizen’s Advice?

Would you mind casting your eye over the FFW accounts to 31st March 2024 and if happy, give a “true and fair” view?

I’d happily meet for a co�ee at The Storey again or if it’s more convenient, I can send the Excel working doc and then a PDF for signature.

I am of course more than happy to reciprocate if required.

Many thanks

Bethany