FRIENDS OF
SANDFORD PARK
sandtordpark +r Sends
uk/
2023-24ANNUAL REPORTTO THE
CHARITYCOMMISSION
1. REFERENCE &ADMINisfRATIVE DEfAILS
The Friends ol Sandford Parks {FOSP) is a Charit8ble Incorporated Organisation ICIOI
that was registered on 22 May2023, and its registered charity number Is 1203191.
Thls report cover8 the accounting period from 22 May 2023 until 31 August 2024.
FOSP'S registered address and principal office address is:
4 BeLgravia Court, 116 London Road, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. GL52 6HJ
The current FOSPTrustees are:
Richard Dominic Dickenswooley-chair, appointed 22 May2023
Anne Evans OBE. MA-Wice Chair, appointed 22 May2023
Celia Mary Macnab, appointed 22 May2023
Kenneth Charles Lynton Ross. CC Contact appointed 22 May 2023
NigelGilhead. appointed 24July2023
lan Alexandefjohnstone. Treasurerappointed 14 October 2024.
Barbara May served as a trustee from July 2023 until March 2024.

2. sfRUCTURE. GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMEMr
The Friends of Sandford Park IFOSP) was e$tab￿'shed as an unincorporated
membership group in 2014. The members conductfund raising. litter picking and park
maintenance activities. FOSP liaises with Cheltenham Borough Council and campaigns
to preserve and enhance the Parks'facilities. With revenue exceeding £5.000. it
became necessaryto registerthe organisation as a charity and, in May 2023, FOSP was
registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation {ClO).
FOSP is an independent CIO and is governed by a constitution that closelyfollows the
Charity Commission's Model Constitution fora CIO wtth 8 Voting membership
('Association Model Constitution'l. General Meetings forthe membership are held
qU8rterly, and the trustees meet everyfourto sixweeks to manage the charity's
activrties. The Constitution requires a minimum of fourtrustees.
In August 2024, FOSP'S membership included 74 subscribing members and 11 honorary
members.
FOSP has no 8mpioye8s and does not own or lease any land or buildings. FOSP'S
8ssetS are limited to cash funds plus materials and equipment. Thetotalvalue ofthe
materials and equipment is less that £200.
As FOSP'S gross income is less than £500,000, the charity's accounts have been
prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and have been subjected to an
independent examination.
3. OBJECTIVES AND ACTivrriES
General
FOSP'S Obj8Ctlves are for the benefit of the inhabitants of Cheltenham and the
surrounding area ("the area Ot benefit") to provide or assist in the provision of facilities
for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interests of socialwelfare with
the object of improvingtheir conditions of tife forthe inh8bitants of the area of benefit in
particular but not exclusively bythe preserrfation. promotion. support, assistance and
Improvement of Sandford Parks.
FOSP raises fundsfor Park infr8Structure such as lighting. exercise equipment, seating
and table tennis tables. We al80 raisefundsfor planting and horticultural restoration.
Our members helpwith park maintenance and conduct regular litter picking. We are
currently campaigningto raisefunds for installing heritage infomiation signs and for
upgradingthe Sandford Park playground. FOSP liaise closelywith the Cheltenham
Borough Council {CBC) who own and manage the Sandford Parks.

2023-24 Activities
The Friends of Sandford Parks (FOSP) has experienced a successful 2023-24financial
year. Our membership numbers have increased, as have our local helperswho
volunteerfor monthly gardening and forfortnightly litter picking. Our Ioc81 community
has expressed thanks and pride in the care of their two local parks. FOSP has raised its
profile through regular newsletters and social media, resulting in being a respected
voice in the community. It is one ofthe four chosen charities to contribute to and
benefit from the Cheltenham Mayor's fundraising.
Since May 2023, we have se8n the installation of Phase One Fitness equipment.
consisting of four items of outdoor exercise equipment. This phase was secured via 8
grant of £2,000 from the CBC Coronation fund and £4,770 from the funds that Were
transferred from the FOSP Membership Group tothe FOSP CIO in May 2023. The
success of Phase One was followed by furtherfundraisingfor PhaseTwo, bringing in
additionalfunds of £7.087 which purchased additional mobility and wheelchair
accessible items. We wish to express our particularthanks to the Gloucestershire
Disability Fund and to Cheltenham Round Table forth8ir grants of £2.500 and £3.200.
FOSP provided a further £1.386 usingthe surplus from our2022Jubile8 Jolly event.
We Tesponded to a community request, conducted careful research and applied for
funds to enable the'safer Sandford. lighting project to take place. The award of a grant
tor £13.000 from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund
2023 was matched by a grant of £13,000 forsaferstreets from the Office of the Police
Crime Commissioner IOPCCI plus a contribution of £3,000 from Gloucestershire
County Council IGCCI. The result is six new streetlightswhich line pathways and make
the park routes safer afterdark.
Afurther grant of £7,400 was awarded from GCC'S Build Back Better fund forthe
installation of security bollard8 at park entrances. These became important after
Several incursions by tr8veller8 who had taken up residence in Sandford Park.
Ourthanks also go to the Jockeyclub's Gold Cup 100 Fund for £2,000 for new park
seats and to Cheltenham North Rotary Club fortheir £800 donation towards seating.
Cheltenham North Rotary Club also donated purple crocus bulbsvthich were planted
by pupils of Stjohn's School in the autumn of 2023. More were added last autumn as
part of Rotary's campaign to eradicate polio across the world.
FOSP is one ofthe Mayorof Cheltenham's (2024-25) charities and 88 such, is involving
our members In several activities. A large music event in the p8rkwas held in
September 2024 but some ofthe revenue and expendtture relates to this financialyear.
Similarly, an event involving Dame Prue Leith is led by FOSP butwill be reported next
year. It has been an active period forthe Friends of Sandford Parks and marks ourfirst
accountingyear as a regTStered charity. Ouraim is to enhance opportunitiesfor all our

local community, regardless of age and ability. in orderthat they may benefit from local
resources. We are proud to be achievingthese aims and bringingadded value to our
local community.
4. ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE
Duringthe 15-month accounting period. we applied for and received restricted grants
totalling £30,900. Our other receipts totalled £8,834. We contributed £33.560 to five
separate projects within the Sanford Parks. In May 2023. we received £6,758 as the
balance of funds from the FOSP Membership Group and at the end of the accounting
period we had a balance of £4.797, including £394 in our general account.
During this financial period. our subscribing membership increased from 64 to 74. Our
members completed numerous litter picks. monthly park maintenance activities and
duringthe last three months, they were involved in preparingforthe Mu8ic event that
was held in Sandford Park (East) on 8 September 2024.
In 2023, Sandford Parks secured a national Green Flag award, and a new flagpole w8S
erected in early 2025. We now hope to workwith Cheltenham Borough Councilto
secure Green Heritage status in 2025.
5. FINANCIAL REVIEW
The total receipts for the accounting period up to 31# August amounted to £39,734.
This figure includes restricted funds totalling£38.575 and £1,159 in unrestricted funds.
Included within these figures are £6,157 in restricted and £601 in unrestricted funds
received in May2023 from the prevlous FOSP Membership Group.
The tot81 expenditure amounted to É34,937. including £33,560 of restricted funds that
contributed to five projects within the Parks. £611 of restricted funds were used for
fundraising expenses and £766 of unrestricted funds were spent on publicity and
administrative expense8.
Cash funds at the end of the financialyearamounted to £.4797. This figure is
comprised of £4,404 in restricted funds and £394 in unrestricted funds.
FOSP seeks to ensure that membership subscriptions are sufficient to cover our general
and marketing costs. However. for this financialyearoursubscription income was
£448, and our total unrestricted costs amounted to £766.
Our Reserves Policy is to ensure thatthere are sufficient unrestricted funds to cover
general and marketing costs for at least six months. TheTrustees considerthai a

reserve of £200 is sufficientforthis purpose. Expenditure on charitsble projects is
always limited to the restricted fund that have been received.
6. FUNDS HELD AS CUSTODIAN TRusfEES ON BEHALF OF OTHERS
Each charity project is separately accounted for. and the pertinent details are as
follows:
Exerclse Equlpment Project- Phase I
In May 2023. we received restricted funds for this project from the previous FOSP
Membership Group in the sum of £6.157. These funds were comprised of £3.357 raised
from the Jubilee Jolly event held in June 2022. a surplus of £1.800 from theirTable Tennls
project and £1,000 in private donations. In July 2023, we also received 8 grant of £2,000
from CBC'S Coronation Fund.
In September 2023, four items of outdoor exercise equipment were installed in
Sandford Park (East) at a cost of £6,770. leaving a balance of £1,387 to help fund Phase
11 of this project.
Safer Sandford Lighting Project
In August 2023, were athqsed that FOSP'S grant application to the Cheltenham
Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy {CIL} Fund had been successfuL FOSP were
awarded £13,000 tOW8rds the Safer Sandtord Lights'ng project. This project resulted from
several years of campaigning for impr￿e0 ￿'gfvting within the park and involved the installation
of six new lights. The instsllation work w88 carried out by Gloucestershire County Council
{GCC) in March 2024 at a total cost of about £29,000.
To avoid liability insurance costs. th8 FOSP awardfunds were held in trust by CBC until
payment was made to GCC in April 2024.
Securlty BoUard8 Project
Due to the intNsion of unauthorised caravan campers wbthin San(Iford PaFk (East), 8 project
for installing additional security bollards was quickly arranged and FOSP received a
successful grant application from the CBC'S Build Back Better fund in the sum of £7.400 in
February 2024. This amount was paid to CBC after they had completed the instslL8tion work
in March 2024.
Exercise Equipment Project- Phase11
Phase11 of this project involved the instalLation of four addrtional items of outdoor exercise
equipment, th￿e of which are designed for disabled users. The contract cost for installingthis
equipment amounted to £7.829. A total of £7.087 v￿S raised by FOSP for this phase of the
project. This sum is comprised of a grant of £2.500 from the Gloucestershire Disability Fund,

a grant of £3.200 from Cheltenh8m Round Table (CRTI and £690 from the residual funds from
Phase l. CBC paid the balance of the invoiced costs in the sum of £742. The CRT grant was
paid directly to CBC.
In December 2024, FOSP'S remaining ba￿nce of Phase I funds, in the sum of £697, was paid
to CBC as a contribLrtion towards the cost of providing signs for usage instnjctions and donor
recognition.
Park Bench Project
In J8nuary 2024, we received an £800 grantfrom Cheltenham Rotary and in May 2024
we received a don8tion of £2.000 from the Jockeyclub's Gold Cup 100 fund. Th8S8
sums will be used to payfortwo wooden park benches thatwere installed in Sandford
Park (Westl by CBC in late 2024.
7. PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT
The purpose of FOSP is to help ensure thatthe Sanford Park8 retain their amentyvalue
forthe health 8nd benefit of park users and other inter8Sted members of the public.
Membership of FOSP does not provide any privileges other than wh8t is 8V8ilable to the
public. Based upon the Charity Commissions Guidance document (PB11, the Trustees
believe that FOSP has complied with section 4 of the 2006 Charities Act.
Signed on behalf of the FOSP Trustee8
. Kenneth C L Ross Trustee
Dated:
lan Ajohnstone
Trustee & TreasureT
Dated:

CHARITY COMM15510N
FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES
FWENDS OF SANDFORD PARKS (FOSPI
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
22th1ty.23
To
31-A￿-24
Section A Receipts and payments
fur￿$
funth
funds
Total fund•
Lasty8ar
10 th• n••r••t £
A1 Recelpts
Funds transferred Irun Memberslm Gr
Donatsoro
anis. LoGal Aulhthiti
Grants. OlhBr Chadl
(Sr8Trts-QherOr9ankialion$
MU￿c+* Fundr•i8iNJ Evelll
M•nt*rs' SubscTppbDns
6,151
6.758
110
22,400
8.500
2,￿0
1,518
448
Sub total (Gross income forARJ
A2 A••et and Inv8stm•nt •41u. (•••
None
Sub total
Tot* recelpts
38.675
?9.734
A3P
mants
Qonvral & Matheling Eyn
Clwrity Prohth Pay1￿1
Fur¥Jiai81
Event
Website E
33.560
011
n8•s
Sub totsl
7¢6
¥171
34,937
A4 A•••t and Inv••knont purchu••, (J
tsbl$
Sub total
Totalpaym•nts
7M
34.171
34,937
Net ofr6cWpts/(payM￿tsJ
AS Transf•r8 b•iw••n funds
A6 Cash lunds last y¢ar end
Cash funds thls y••r end
4.797
4797
Dated 20 Ou. 2024
FOSP 202>24A(counts for CCAnnual Retum June 2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Restrl¢t•d
funds
to nearnt£
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fun(ts
b) rt¥8sl£
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394
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B2 Other monotary asJ•t8
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KCLR
roth C L ROBB
041C¢12026
Lgn A Johnslone
lan A Johnslona
0410612025
Dated 20 Oct. 2024
FOSP 202>24 Accourfsfor CC Annual Return June 2025

Independent examiner's report to the trustees ot
The Friends of S8ndft>rd Park$ (FOSP)
I report to the trustees on my examination ofthe accounts of The Friends of Sandford
Parks (FOSPI for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Re8ponslbiliti88 and basls of report
As the charity trustees of FOSP you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts
in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'theAct').
I report In respect of myexamination ofthe Trust's accounts carried out under section
145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out myexamination I have followed allthe
applicable Directions given bythe Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ibl ofthe
Act.
Independent examlner's statsment
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matter8 h8ve come to my
attention in connection with the ex8minatlon giving me cause to believe that in any
material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of theTrust as required by section 130 of
the Act; or
2. the account8 do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the
examination to
hich attention Should be drawn in this report in order to enable a
proper und8rs
din
he accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: C￿1&T1￿￿ .
Relevant professional qualification or membership of profession81 bodies {if any):
Address:
23 J L49 QJ4T¥4 A
C4 ÉLF￿4￿. G Los 7(*&
Date: