## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From** 1 January 2024 **Period start date To**
31 December 2024 **Period end date**
**Charity name:** Friends of Waterton’s Wall (FOWW)
## **Charity registration number:** 1203426
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To preserve for the benefit of the people of
Walton, Wakefield and the nation: the historic
and architectural heritage of the wall and its
immediate vicinity surrounding what was
Charles Waterton’s nature reserve in Walton;
and to educate the general public in the
architecture, geography, natural and social
history of the area of benefit.|
|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|Education and awareness via:
● The Internet: website and social media;
● Emailed newsletters to >200 people;
● WordFest 2024;
● Literature eg FoWW Pamphlet revised;
● 8 talks to societies and groups
including: launch of Wakefield District
Heritage Framework, Wakefield
Historical Society, We Are Wakefield
and several others;
● 6 guided walks;
● Newspaper articles eg The Times,
Guardian and others;
● Broadcast media ie ITV and BBC;
● Walton Parish Council newsletter;
● We Are Wakefield newsletter;
● Wakefield District Heritage newsletter.
The Walton Parish Council newsletter has a
potential reach of >3000. Our social media
presence now includes FaceBook, LinkedIn and
YouTube. Some posts have a reach in excess of
4000. These contribute to the educational
element of our object.
Articles in a wide range of newspapers,
journals and magazines resulted in a national
reach.
There have been pieces on both BBC and ITV
regional news bulletins.
We have joined the business networking group
‘We Are Wakefield’. This has a membership of|
>200 businesses from across West Yorkshire and has allowed us to make new connections as well as raise awareness of the charity and its object. There were in total >350 attendees at guided walks, talks and at WordFest 2024 Partnership work with ● Wakefield Metropolitan District Council; ● Waterton Park Hotel; ● Waterton Park Golf Club; ● Wakefield District Badger Group. These partnerships directly supported the charity’s object. **Waterton Park Hotel** ● Provided a venue for WordFest and talks enhancing public awareness of the wall’s historical significance and attracting new members and supporters. ● Collaborated on marketing efforts, promoting FoWW initiatives to their guests and clientele and their production of a leaflet of local walks. **Wakefield District Badger Group** ● Assisted with ecological appraisals of the wall’s surrounding area, identifying habitats and wildlife supported by the wall. ● Provided expert advice on conservation practices to ensure preservation efforts align with biodiversity needs. **Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (WMDC)** ● Supported FoWW in identifying wall ownership and facilitating access to the wall. ● Undertook tree felling and ground clearance in preparation for the lime mortar workshop. **Waterton Park Golf Club** ● Allowed access to portions of the wall on their property for surveys and site visits, contributing to the overall preservation planning process. ● Site access for the lime mortar workshop. ● Permitted access to areas of the parkland not normally permitted to the public e.g. the Grotto area. In 2024, Friends of Waterton’s Wall engaged diverse audiences through educational talks, guided walks, media coverage, and online platforms, fostering inclusivity and raising
|||awareness of the wall’s heritage across varied
communities.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees confirm that they have had due
regard to the guidance issued by the Charity
Commission on public benefit when exercising
any powers or duties to which the guidance is
relevant. This consideration is integrated into
our decision-making processes to ensure that
our activities consistently align with our
charitable objectives and deliver tangible
benefits to the public.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||SORP
reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|**N/A**|
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment.|Para 1.38|The Trustees do not have a social investment
policy and have no plans to make any social
investments.|
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The time invested by volunteers (both Trustees
and many others) has been considerable, for
example:
● Research on history of the wall;
● Site meetings;
● Local information about wall
ownership;
● Guided walks;
● Graphic design eg website;
● Photography;
● Advice on ecological matters;
● Financial;
● Administration of the charity;
● Attendance at lime mortar workshop.|
## **Achievements and Performance**
|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|Our efforts led to Historic England recognising
the wall as a grade 2 listed building (March
2024) and the parkland as a grade 2 listed
parkland and garden also in March 2024:
bringing the wall and parkland to the attention
of national and local media.
In May we took part in Wakefield’s WordFest
which enabled us to record oral history from
attendees.
During September we took part in the National
Heritage week for the first time - bringing
Waterton’s legacy to a wider audience.
Also, in September we held a Lime Mortar
workshop. Work started on the preservation of
a section of wall - fundamental to our charitable
object.
47 people have signed up to membership of the
charity, in direct response to the awareness and
marketing campaign of FoWW.|
|---|---|---|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|||
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Education in the architecture, geography,
natural and social history of the area of benefit
is gathering momentum (see above) and is
supported by correspondence from Sir David
Attenborough. This was a notable achievement,
leveraging his endorsement as a testament to
the importance of FOWW’s work.|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives set|Para 1.41|We have raised £1,802 through public
donations and £3,212.94 in grants and for
services rendered from Wakefield Metropolitan
District Council and Walton Parish Council.|
## **Financial Review**
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end of
the period|Para 1.21|As at 31st December 2024, there was £3,616 in
the bank.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement explaining the policy
for holding reserves stating
why they are held|Para 1.22|N/A|
|Amount of reservesheld|Para1.22|Zero|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|Funding is currently for day to day expenses, or
for specific grant funded projects. No
commitment is made without the required funds
(including external grants) to for the work /
project. We don’t have any capital projects for
which a contingency is needed.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|N/A|
Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity N/A continuing as a going concern
## **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|Donations and grants|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any social
investment policy adopted|Para 1.46|N/A|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|● Capacity: Trustees are proactive and
committed but time is a limited
resource.
● Financial: lack of funds to carry out the
charity’s object.
Although we currently hold no reserves,
growing membership, public donations, and
grant funding provide a strong foundation for
future growth.
To address capacity and financial risks, the
Trustees are actively working to recruit
additional volunteers to support the charity’s
activities and reduce reliance on limited
resources. Efforts are also being made to
identify and apply for further grants, leveraging
existing partnerships and exploring new
funding opportunities. Additionally, plans are
underway to launch targeted fundraising
campaigns, including community events and
online initiatives, to ensure the sustainability of
preservation and education projects. These
strategies aim to secure the resources needed to
achieve the charity’s objectives effectively.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Descriptionofcharity’s trusts:||N/A|
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document|Para 1.25|Trust Deed|
|How is the charity constituted?|Para 1.25|CiO|
|Trustee selection methods
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|Para 1.25|Prospective Trustees are invited to apply either
in person or from the newsletter circulated to
our extensive list of contacts.
Elected at a full Trustee meeting.
Confirmed at an AGM.|
**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees|Para 1.51|Prospective Trustees are invited to attend and
observe a meeting prior to applying.
Successful applicants are invited to a ‘wall
walk’ to learn about Charles Waterton and his
wall.|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works|Para 1.51|Trustees work in one (or more) of the four work
areas:
● Development and Restoration
● 2026/Restoration/’Our Year’
● Finances
● Administration|
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|We enjoy good working relationships with The
Waterton Park Hotel, Waterton Park Golf Club,
Walton PC, WMDC.|
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Friends of Waterton’s Wall|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|N/A|
|Registered charity number|1203426|
|Charity’s principal address|℅ 6 Oaklands Croft
Walton
Wakefield
WF26LU|
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
||**Trustee name**|**Office (if**
**any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person**
**(or body)**
**entitled to**
**appoint trustee**
**(ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|1|Katharine Ann Dews|Secretary|||
|2|Dr Jonathan Gorst|Treasurer|1stSeptember, 2024||
|3|Alexander Russell
Moran||||
|4|Catherine Ann Nixon||||
|5|John Thornton Smith|Chair|||
|6|John Dennis Whitaker||||
|7|Alison Buckler||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
**Director name N/A**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
|**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**||
|---|---|---|
|**N/A **|||
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in N/A this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are N/A held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such N/A assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
**N/A**
**Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|**Signed** **on behalf of**|**the charity’s trustees**|
|---|---|
|**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)**||
|||
||John Thornton Smith|
|**Position**
**Date**||
||Chair|
|||
||11 February 2025|
## **AGM 2025 Financial Statement**
## As at 1[st] January 2024, there was **£3,313** in the bank.
|**Income:**||**Expenditure:**||
|---|---|---|---|
|General Public Donations|£1,802.00|Website Hosting|£249.60|
|Grants from WMDC|£2,962.94|We are Wakefield|£45.00|
|Walton Parish Council|£250.00|Lime Mortar Workshop|£959.30|
|Working for Walton|£500.00|Insurance|£373.30|
|Other|£141.80|Wall Workshop Film|£350.00|
|||Awnings|£1,226.95|
|||Ecological Study|£552.00|
|||Other|£1,566.90|
|**Total**|**£5,656.74**|**Total**|**£5,353.05**|
As at 31[st] December 2024, there was **£3,616** in the bank.
_To preserve for the benefit of the people of Walton, Wakefield and the nation: the historic and architectural heritage of the wall and its immediate vicinity surrounding what was Charles Waterton’s nature reserve in Walton; and to educate the general public in the architecture, geography, natural and social history of the area._
_Registered Charity Number: 1203426_