Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Charity registration number: 1204328
This is Dorset CAN’s second annual report since it became a registered charitable incorporated organisation in August 2023. The receipts and payments accounts presented alongside this report cover the year 1[st] January 2025 to December 31st 2025.
Dorset CAN’s charitable objects are:
A) To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment by working with others to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote biological diversity and restoration of nature.
B) To advance the education of the public in the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in Dorset.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inspire community led action to cut carbon emissions, adapt to our changing climate and restore nature across Dorset.
How we plan to deliver our mission
Dorset CAN aims to build and sustain an open, accessible and flexible network and alliance which puts climate and ecological awareness at the heart of all decision-making. We provide a voice for all who care about these issues; inform, educate and support people throughout the county; and serve as a hub for information, engagement and action. We act as a positive partner and critical friend to local community groups, town and parish councils and Dorset and BCP Councils.
Dorset CAN has a three-year strategy and a business plan which guide how we allocate resources. The strategy and its aims are reviewed annually.
Organisational Structure and human resources
At the year end the charity had twelve trustees, supported by two paid, part-time self-employed coordinators. The Charity Trustees have delegated much of the decision making on day-to-day matters to the Action Team which meets regularly, and the project coordinators where applicable. The Great Big Dorset Hedge project also involves a further 6 paid part-time contractors. No trustees were paid during the relevant period.
At the year-end Dorset CAN had 1069 individual members and 84 organisations which are members.
Total Number of active volunteers 269 (excluding trustees).
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
How our work delivers public benefit
The Great Big Dorset Hedge project, launched in 2021, has evolved from a fully volunteer-driven initiative to a hybrid model, blending the enthusiasm of volunteers with the expertise of specialised contractors. Our mission is to restore and expand hedgerows across Dorset. Although we acknowledge that it may take up to 10 years to have a significant presence on every farm in the county, we are proud to have already engaged 120 farmers, making significant strides toward this ambitious goal.
The project approach brings together volunteers and farmers on an unprecedented scale. It begins by conducting hedge surveys to identify areas for improvement, then focuses on planting projects during the winter months. In the future, the plan is to develop a group of volunteers trained in hedge-laying, which will further extend our impact.
The project continues to grow, with over 400 volunteers registered—around 200 of whom are actively engaged. It is focused on strengthening relationships with these volunteers while also finding new ways to engage the others. For example, car-sharing is arranged and weekend events organised to accommodate those with full-time jobs.
The launch of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) had been a pivotal moment, as many farmers eagerly joined us, knowing that our surveys could help them meet their SFI obligations. While SFI funding is on hold until next year, other new opportunities have arisen. Recent participants have been introduced through Wessex Water’s hedge planting initiative in the Poole Harbour Catchment area, as well as through the Brit Valley Landscape Recovery Project. Attendance at the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show also helped form new connections with farmers.
One of the ongoing challenges has been managing the scheduling and documentation of our activities. While volunteers bring dedication and passion, the combination of skills, capacity, and stamina required to handle all aspects of the project are not to be found in most volunteers. However, for a few volunteers, part-time contracted roles have proven to be a good fit. Approaching the end of 2025, the project secured a full team of contractors. To maintain growth, securing additional funding will be crucial.
Funding partners have been instrumental in 2025. Dorset National Landscape significantly increased its support, Dorset CPRE stepped in at a critical moment. Clipper Teas has continued to offer valued support, and the formal partnership with Wessex Water through a Memorandum of Understanding provides confidence in the long-term sustainability of the project. Additionally, the number of funding farmers has grown to 28.
Of those 28 farmers, a dozen have embarked on hedge-planting projects this season in which our volunteers will play the vital role of getting the plants into the ground. The project will go from strength to strength if a surge in funding can be secured.
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Dorset Greener Homes aims to tackle the 22% of Dorset’s carbon emissions which come from people’s homes. Making technology accessible to homeowners requires trustworthy sources and opportunities to discuss doubts and benefits. This year 29 greener homes were open by appointment throughout the year, and 53 held open days over two weekends in September. This allowed 119 visitors to get the unvarnished facts about green improvements from the homeowners themselves. While visitor numbers on the open days were down on previous years, visitors continued to contact the householders for specific advice at other times.
In Lyme Regis a Solar roofs event had three installers and an independent advisor make a pitch for PV panels on roofs, with the benefit of bulk purchasing. 62% of the attendees said they were getting quotes.
Dorset CAN cooperated with Wessex Community Assets in running a series of webinars on Retrofit Reimagined and working towards improving the training of retrofitters and the provision of advice, assessment and installation of better insulation.
Dorset CAN has been involved in Community Energy Projects in Loders, Martinstown and Dorchester. DCAN is working with Eggardon CIC to develop the Loders Community Energy project, with the help of a grant from the Community Energy Fund to run a feasibility study for a network of solar panels, batteries, charging and possible wind turbines. As plans for North Dorchester Development progress, DCAN applied for a grant to run a feasibility study for one or two wind turbines, to make the proposed new development carbon neutral. These turbines would be partially owned by the community.
Dorset CAN also arranged two trips to the Alaska Wind farm near Wareham. Four 2MW turbines have been installed in a disused quarry, and alongside a solar farm produces enough electricity to power Wareham and Swanage.
Carbon Literacy training for town and parish councils and community group leaders in Dorset is part of the educational and community outreach work carried out by the charity.
Carbon Literacy is defined as:
“An awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.”
Dorset CAN delivers online workshops to town and parish clerks, staff, councillors and community group leaders as part of the Carbon Literacy Community Pot funding award, which enables Dorset CAN - whose experienced facilitators are unpaid - to charge affordable fees for the two half-day workshops and offer reduced or free training to be fully accessible.
Dorset CAN’s practical, peer-led and interactive learning enables participants to achieve accreditation as Carbon Literate. The online workshops and resource packs provide the information they need to understand town and parish council roles in responding to the climate emergency and to communicate the significance of climate change and the changes needed collectively and individually in their communities.
Between January and June 2025, we delivered six half-day workshops and continued to achieve a 100% pass rate for our attendees, clerks, staff, councillors and community volunteers, who were accredited as Carbon Literate. Online workshops were offered every month.
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Dorset CAN was commissioned by Swanage Town Council to run three face-to-face bespoke workshops for all their employees and several councillors, as they had expressed an aspiration in their Corporate Development Plan for everyone to be accredited as Carbon Literate. Over 30 participants attended full day workshops which were co-facilitated with Planet Purbeck.
Dorset CAN is working jointly with community groups in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area to develop a Carbon Literacy training package with Climate Fresk, a card-based game, through community groups, with the aim for them to cascade the training locally. A more flexible training package is being developed to cover adaptation and nature recovery alongside emissions reductions, with Climate Fresk as another delivery option. Our ambitions are limited only by the availability of volunteers.
Carbon Literacy training delivers Dorset CAN’s charitable objects by providing practical tips, ideas and toolkits on reducing carbon emissions for participants to share with their fellow councils, community groups and with the general public. By sharing case studies and examples from similar organisations and by facilitating discussions between participants about projects or awareness campaigns they could introduce themselves, Carbon Literacy training inspires new ideas and enables participants to deliver both cultural change and practical proposals in their wider communities.
Furthermore, the ‘Train the Trainer’ peer-led approach facilitates the roll-out of further training, sharing of best practice, proven techniques and ways of talking to the public about climate change once participants gain accreditation.
Dorset Deserves Better is a campaign that was set up in 2021 to persuade Dorset Council to rethink their Draft Local Plan and make it consistent with the county's Climate and Ecological Strategy. Initially it was very successful, with an alliance of 66 member organisations and town/parish councils representing over 30% of the population of Dorset. However, the plans were kicked into the long grass, not helped by changes of Planning Ministers and proposed changes to the Planning rules. In 2025, the new government brought forward targets for development on greenfield sites, without properly tackling the lack of affordable of social rental housing. At the same time, Dorset Council launched a huge Local Plan sites consultation including over 240 sites across Dorset. Dorset CAN has written to Dorset Council with its concerns and responded to the sites’ consultation. The future of the campaign is now being considered.
Dorset COP is a unique annual networking event for the 200+ local environmental, climate and community organisations across Dorset. It now has a steady track record and an excellent reputation for enabling local communities to have their say on the climate and ecological issues. This year’s event was held in Sturminster Newton on 1st November and brought together over 300 people with the event theme of "Turning Environmental Ambition into Action”. Dorset COP26 was declared a great success with attendees describing the day as "powerful, hopeful and deeply connecting". Organisers noted that the event was oversubscribed, reflecting the strong local interest in climate action. The event successfully highlighted how communities in Dorset are leading the country in local climate initiatives. Plans for next year are being developed.
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Networking and facilitating action by others
Dorset CAN held 43 public online or in person meetings, events and training sessions in 2025 including Carbon Literacy Training, Regular Action Meetings, Food Resilience, Waste, Energy, Rivers and Beaches and a Dorset Local Plan Meeting. Of these, our main networking subject specific events outside of Action Meetings and Carbon Literacy Training attracted 635 participants to sign up for the events with over 320 attending. We followed up all events with public recordings of the events and follow up emails to all registrants with meeting information to ensure a wide reach and dissemination of the event findings. We actively encourage those that are interested but cannot attend to register, to ensure they receive all information following the event. Our recordings of these events received 295 views in 2025.
Food Resilience 2025
Dorset county succeeded in becoming a member of the Sustainable Food Places network in June 2024, creating the countywide ‘Feeding Dorset Partnership.’ This resulted from Dorset CAN's partnership with Jon Sloper and Barbara Evans from #helpandkindness in the Food Strategy and Governance Team.
In 2025, Dorset CAN hosted 2 further Food Resilience public online events, in January and in September, seeking to map out from the grassroots what the needs are within our food system and where the gaps are. These Zoom events attracted over 160 participants in total.
We also presented a double workshop at the third Dorset COP, attended by around 100 people. These interactive sessions culminated in the question: ‘What are the urgent and important actions that you could take personally or together with others to respond to the opportunities and challenges within Dorset?’
We are currently analysing and collating our results and moving towards establishing core facilitators for each of the 6 Sustainable Food Places themes. Dorset CAN continues to be crucial as part of the Governance team in nourishing and stimulating a countywide network of participants.
Other Networking events
Other online events have included: Building a Dorset Waste Innovation Group, a series of three online networking events which brought together a network of 114 Community Groups and individuals specifically interested in waste innovations and building a waste network for Dorset. Whilst this has had to be paused for the meantime whilst we find someone with the time to grow what has potential to be a huge success, it has served to provide a remarkable networking opportunity for those involved.
For 2025 we introduced further abilities to network with groups and individuals through emails about our events and now keep in regular contact with a growing number of like-minded supporters beyond our membership. This has helped to improve our reach and make sure a great deal more people are aware of our work and how they can participate, resulting in a greater number of participants in the events we promote using these tools such as the waste events, and also the Local Plan event, for which the event attracted 178 individuals.
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
In person events
Dorset CAN was also represented at 32 in-person events during the year, raising the profile of the urgent need for action.
External Communications : Dorset CAN maintained a lively and interactive website https://www.dorsetcan.org/ which has continued to grow to meet the needs of Dorset CAN as it continues to expand. Dorset CAN also maintained and expanded upon its healthy social media presence in 2025 with regular topical updates, shares and promotions of our projects. Dorset CAN also has a growing collection of videos and recordings of meetings on YouTube which collectively have over 4500 views, with the most popular Video ‘Volunteering for the Great Big Dorset Hedge’ having been viewed 1500 times. It also enjoyed media coverage on various topics including a number of interviews with regional radio stations, and also featured in news outlets online and in print across Dorset covering Dorset Greener Homes, the Great Big Dorset Hedge project and the Dorset COP. Further to the membership base, Dorset CAN strives to keep the larger network of community groups and organisations in Dorset abreast of news and events that may concern or interest them through regular emails and a monthly newsletter.
Achieving our objectives
While we celebrate our achievements, we are still seeking a longer-term funding base to support our work, and particularly the role of paid coordinators. We identified this as a priority in our Strategy and aspire to multi year funding which would provide confidence in our plans going forward.
Maintaining our paid coordinator roles is vital to the achievement of our objectives.
Funding
We are grateful to the following for grants and donations:
Our members and supporters
Big Give Green Match Fund
Clipper Teas
Dorset Community Energy
Dorset Council
Dorset National Landscape (Farming in Protected Landscapes)
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)
The Raby Trust
Wessex Water
Donations from individuals and payments from businesses (including 28 different farms)
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Plans and Policies
The Strategy for Dorset CAN will be reviewed early in 2026.
The Trustees have ensured that all relevant policies (in line with Charity Commission guidance and including a safeguarding policy) are in place and will keep these under review. A checklist is attached to this report.
Risk Plan
The Trustees have led a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk plan is in place to manage risks and is reviewed annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. The projects involving on the ground activities – like the Great Big Dorset Hedge and Open Homes – have their own health and safety assessments and risk plans in place. These are kept under more regular review. The biggest risk to the organisation remains a lack of reliable funding. There have been no serious incidents to report.
Financial Position
As at 31st December 2025, the charity held £31,094 in net current assets, of which £11,134 was held in restricted funds, leaving £19,960 available for core funding. Total income was £66,004 for the year to 31 December 2025.
Reserves
DCAN splits all income and expenditure between:
-
that which is restricted for a particular purpose or project and
-
that which is unrestricted, all of which is designated for the Charity’s future core funding.
The split between restricted and unrestricted funds is shown in the note below. There are no endowment funds. Total monies held on behalf of other organisations as an exchequer service at the year-end totalled £272. The charity aims to hold sufficient reserves to deliver core charitable activities for the next twelve months.
| At 1 January 2025 | Income | Expenditure | At 31 December 2025 | |
| Total Unrestricted | 6,846 | 30,258 | 17,145 | 19,960 |
| Restricted | ||||
| Great Big Dorset Hedge |
10,134 | 34,745 | 33,879 | 11,000 |
| Dorset Greener Homes |
89 | 1,000 | 955 | 134 |
| Total Restricted | 10,223 | 35,745 | 34,835 | 11,134 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 17,070 | 66,004 | 51,980 | 31,094 |
There were no funds materially in deficit, and the charity is continuing as a going concern.
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Reference and Administrative Details
Constitution
The charity registered as a CIO Association on 11 August 2023. Charity registration number 1204328.
Correspondence Address
32 Award Road
Wimborne
Dorset BH21 7NT
Trustees
G Watts (Chair) (Appointed 28 May 2025) J Richardson (Treasurer) (Appointed 25 July 2025) J Griffith (Appointed 28 May 2025) J West (Appointed 28 May 2025) B Bawden (Appointed 28 May 2025) T Cossey
C Tracy
S Reeve
H Sumbler
H Lovegrove
V Elcoate
S Wilberforce
N Harris (Resigned 17 December 2025)
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Giles Watts Chair of Trustees, Dorset CAN 2025
8th January 2026
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Dorset CAN Trustees Annual Report for January 1[st] 2025 to December 31st 2025
Policies and Procedures
| Reference | Title |
|---|---|
| POL001 | Conflict of Interest Policy |
| POL002 | Delegation by Trustees Policy |
| POL003 | Environmental Policy |
| POL004 | Equality and Diversity Policy |
| POL005 | Ethical Sponsorship Policy |
| POL006 | External Communications Policy |
| POL007 | Financial Procedures Policy |
| POL008 | Financial Reserves Policy |
| POL009 | Grievance and Complaints Policy |
| POL010 | Health and Safety Policy |
| POL011 | Privacy and GDPR Policy |
| POL012 | Safeguarding Policy |
| POL013 | Volunteer Policy |
| PRO001 | Risk Assessment Procedures |
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| DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK | DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK | 1204328 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | |||
| For the period from |
1st January 2025 | To | 31st December 2025 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 14,811 12,000 161 3,009 278 - - - 30,258 - - - 30,258 - 1,325 344 181 923 534 12,830 1,005 3 17,145 - - - 17,145 13,113 - 6,846 19,960 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - 7,000 - 28,745 - - - - 35,745 - - - 35,745 - 34,835 - - - - - - - 34,835 - - - 34,835 911 - 10,223 11,134 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 14,811 19,000 161 31,754 278 - - - 66,004 - - - 66,004 - 36,160 344 181 923 534 12,830 1,005 3 51,980 - - - 51,980 14,024 - 17,070 31,094 |
Last period to the nearest £ |
Donations |
14,811 | 3,483 | |||
| Grants | 12,000 | 22,000 | |||
| Event Income | 161 | 559 | |||
| Income from Charitable Activities | 3,009 | 27,275 | |||
| Bank Interest | 278 | 419 | |||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 30,258 | 53,736 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| - | |||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||
| 53,736 | |||||
| - | - | ||||
| Costs of Charitable Activities | 1,325 | 31,790 | |||
| Event Costs | 344 | 505 | |||
| Advertisingand Publicity | 181 | 480 | |||
| Equipment | 923 | - | |||
| Website and IT | 534 | 400 | |||
| Coordinatorand SecretarialSupport | 12,830 | 12,269 | |||
| Insurance and other administrative expenditure |
1,005 | 833 | |||
| Bank Charges | 3 | - | |||
| **Sub total ** | 17,145 | 46,276 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||
| 46,276 | |||||
| 13,113 | 911 | - | 14,024 | 7,461 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 6,846 | 10,223 | - | 17,070 | 9,609 | |
| 19,960 | 11,134 | - | 31,094 | 17,070 |
CCXX R10 accounts (SS)
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| Receipts andpayments accounts DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK 1204328 |
Receipts andpayments accounts DORSET CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK 1204328 |
CC16a |
|---|---|---|
| For the period from 1st January 2025 To |
31st December 2025 |
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
Details n/a Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) n/a Details n/a Bank Current Accounts Less Cash held as agent Details n/a Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 20,231 11,134 - 272 - - - 19,960 11,134 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - Print Name Giles Watts Jenifer Richardson |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval | |||
| Giles Watts | 8th January 2026 | ||
| Jenifer Richardson | 8thJanuary2026 |
CCXX R11 accounts (SS)
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name Dorset Climate Action Network members of On accounts for the year 31 December 2025 Charity no 1204328 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-11 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2025.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Date: 08 January 2026 Signed: Name: Mandy Stansfield Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Marlswood Stapehill Road Wimborne Dorset BH21 7NF
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October 2018
IER