Trustees. Annual Report for the period Pertod start date Peric#J end dale 31 December 2024 From 02 JaDuary 2024 Section A Reference and administration details Charity name Friends of Bedfield Hentage Other names charity is known by NIA Registered charity number (rf any) 12ffi355 Charity's principal address 6 Lodge Cottages, Southom Road, Bedfield, Woodbndge Suffolk Postcode IP13 7HH Names of the chaiity trustees who manage the chartty Dates acted rf notfor T*holÈ ear Trustee name Office lif any) Name of person lor body) entitled int trustee ifan Jane Sullivan Chair Christopher Leverick Treasurer Linda Vance Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees) Name Dates acted rf not for whole ear None Names and addresses of advisers (Optional inforniationl e of adviser Name Address None Section B Structure, overnance and mana ement Description of the charity's trusts Constitution dated 6 September 2023. Type of goveming document How the charity is constituted CharTiable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) approved by the Chanty Commission on 2AJ January 2024. Trustee selection methods As set out in the Constitution, every future trustee must be appointed for a lenn of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the tharty trustees having regard to the skills, knowledge and experien￿ needed for the effective administration of the CIO. TAR Marth 2012 Additional govemance issues (Optional infomiatlon) Over the last year we have adopted several policies to assist in the govemance of the chatity: Grant Making Safeguarding Heahh and Safety. You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about.. policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees- the chartty's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works", The Chair has been ￿rtified under the Disclosure and Barring System and both the Chair and Linda van￿ have undergone both Basic and Foundation Safeguarding training. Public liability insurance has been purchased to ensure that all our activities are covered, and each event is subject to a Risk Assessment. relationship with any related parties., Our funds were originally being administered by the treasurer of the Parochial Church Council. We have opened a new bank account specffically for the Friends, and all financial matters are now being dea with by our Treasurer. trustees. consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them. We are in the process of streamlining our govemance arrangements to be a small group of Trust￿ wtth spectfic task and finish groups to run io.ects and events. Section C Ob"ectives and activities To maintain, repair, restore, preserve and improve for the benefit of the public the fabric of St. Nitholas Church. Bedfield, tts fixlures, fittings. furniture, stained glass, omaments. associated buildings and landscaping. We are a fundraising group aiming to support the upkeep of the historic fabric of St. Nicholas Church and improve the facilities it offers to be at the heart of village lrfe. Summary ofthe objects ofthe charity set out in its governing document We are working on a priority prqect which is to fundraise and to project manage the provision of a composting toilet in the grounds of the ChurGh. The building would be fully accessible and open to all. It will enhan￿ the facilities at the church for existing activities such as services. weddings, funerals and when the local primary school are using the church as a teaching resource_ It will also enable the timescale of events to be lengthened as well as serving users of the local footpaths and btidleways which intersect in the vicinty. TAR March 2012 In this reporting year we have run four main activities as follows. l. Open Gardens Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June 2024 This was a tsvo-day event where eighteen gardens were opened for public viewng. A Welcome Centre was set up at the Communty Hub where guests could buy tickets, receive a guide, enter the tombola and buy plants. Two cafes were run in two of the gardens for guests to enjoy snacks, lunch and ice-creams. 149 people purchased tickets to go around the gardens over the weekend. Distance Travelled to Open Gardens 2024 so. Iromks_ 5% Ifjltraosk￿s 3(K50D*5_ 5% ?0.￿ l>im 41% ¥.20 IU-1Sm 15% Summary ofthe main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within thss section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit} •ts5rffaes • 5.10fft*s I 10. Igny￿ . I5.3}thy￿S • 2fy))￿e$ • 3fyWmde5 I 90. Iojmdes • 1(A)mI￿SpI￿S This event was only possible due to our local volunteers - 23 people running the Welcome Centre and cafés. bakers and numerous gardeners and helpers in the gardens. Generous donations were received for the tombola and plant stall together with sponsorship from Clark and Simpson. a local estate agent. All the volunteers were inviied to tour around the open gardens together with drinks and nibbles on the Friday evening before the weekend as a thank you for all their efft)rts. S()urces of Income Open &rdens 2024 Othwgde5 tk)naions& )Oll50rship. Food TAR March 2012 2. Christmas Crathng 1- December 2024 A full day of Christmas Crafting was run by an experienced florist who is one of our volunteer5. Two sessions were run, with nine guests attending per session. In the moming, they V￿re shown how to make their own mantelpiece garland using fresh foliage and plant Paperwhrtes into terracotta pots using moss and natural sticks for a stylish take on winter bulbs. In the aftemoon, guests made a wntemporary wired 5ft garfand using dried fruit. pinecones and nuts and then, a Christmas table ontre with fresh greenery and candles. Several volunteers helped with the session - collecting greenery and baknng before the event and on the day wrth serving refreshments, setting up and Glearing up afterwards. 3. Willage Christmas Tree December 2024- January 2025 A Chnstmas tree was erected on the village green in December. A generous donation by a villager paid for the tree and lights. A team of villagers had a challenging but enjoyable day, firstly felling the tree at a local supplier, transporting it and then erecting it and adding the lights. It was a focal point forthe village for a month and many people commented on how nice it was lo have such a joyful feature over the festNe period. There was a second challenge to remove the tree, and this again was undertaken by volunteers. Their success was ￿lebrated by holding a drinks and nibbles paty around a bonfire where the tree was disposed of. 4. Caml Singing e December 2024 A village Christmas Carol event was held on the evening of 6 De￿Mber. It had been intended that this would be around the village Christmas tree but unfortunately. the weather was too bad, and the event was moved into the church of St Nicholas. Around 40 attendees enjoyed an evening of carol singing and refreshments. Volunteers ran the event- putting the music and song sheets together and cooking and serving refreshments. Public Benefft We have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to guidance on public benefft published by the Commission. TAR March 2012 Additional details of objectives and activities (Oplional information) You may choose to include We have a Grant Making Policy which was adopted in August 2024. This further statements. where sets out how any request for support should be made to the Friends, how relevant, about.. the Friends will consider such a request and subsequent actions required policy on grantmaking- for any agreed support or piojed. policy programme related investment", contribution made by volunteers. The Friends can only operate with the support of volunteers. All Trustees and supporters are volunteers. Their skills, knowledge, time and resource contributions are invaluabie in all our fundraising efftjrts and achievements. Section D Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year The main achievements of the chaty. this year are as follows. 1. Fundraising In 2024 we raised £4171 through fundraising acttvtiies and donations. This has increased the total amount of funds that we now have to meet our objectives to £8392. 2. Progress on our Priority Project We have made significant progress on our priority project with: A new project team in pla Plans drawn up of the Composting toilet Posrtive pre-planning application advi￿ being recetved from the Districl Council Public consuttation undertaken Approval of the prop)sal from the DI0￿Se Advisory Commrttee and their statutory consuttees A planning application in preparation Grant advi￿ continues to be sought from various bodies including the Diocese Grants Officer. When achEved. this project will make a beneficial dn7erence to those using the church and the local area. 3. Tower Survey The church retains a set of six bells in the bell tower dating back to 1738. They have not been rung on a regular basis for many years. To consider whether rt would be possible for the bells to be regularly rung, a structural survey needed to be carried out to assess the condrtion of the tower. The Friends organised a group of bell ringers to ring the bells at the same time as the survey was undertaken and in the presence of the Bells Advisor for the Diocese. The moming was highly successfvl with the bells pealing out over the village. Some of the nngers had rung the bells many years before - and enjoyed retuming to the church. Refreshments V￿re laid on by our volunteers. Unfortunately. the conclusion of the survey was that the tower is weak and further, detailed investigaknons are needed to fully assess if the bells can be rung again. but substantial worf(s would be required in any event. The Parochial Church Council have considered the report and have concluded that this is not a priority at this time. TAR March 2012 4. Community Spirit By running the various activities this year we have enhanced the community spirit of the village of Bedfield. We have enabled people to come together, for a common cause but also in an enjoyable and fun manner. Our volunt￿rS all come from the local community and our achievements are not possible without their enthusiasm, goodwill. time and resources. Section E Financial review Brief statement of the charity's policy on reserves We are not responsible for any material assets. A minimum of £500 should be held in reserve as we need to ensure that we have sufficient monies to pay for any public liability insuran￿, a float and for usFfront expenses in adVaTr￿ of any events we run. Details of any funds materially in deficit None Further financial review details (Optional inforniation) You may choose to include additional information, where The principal source of funds is from fundraising and from donations. relevant about". the charity's Principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)-, how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity., investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted. Section F Other optional information Section G Declaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary. Chair. etc) AAJbe ki12rtii--Ji S(jUl￿￿¥￿' Date l& itrli+ilCkl ZL2f TAR M8rc* 2012 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALE5 f208355 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perfod To 01Kiir2024 3111212024 Section A Receipts aiid payments Unrestricted Restrieted Endowme fund• Total fund• Lagty•ar A1 Re¢el Xmas ot￿￿r leg of su n G8rfen6 251 61 251 61 875 975 4,171 4.171 8ot and Investm•nt sal•s. tabl•l. 4171 A3Pa Xrnss InsurBr F￿￿ for wt 319 187 120 319 187 120 Sub total A4 ABs•t and Inv•8lment purchayes I tabl• Sub total 616 A6 Tran8fers belween htnds Afj CA¥h funds last year •rKI 4,848 Cash funds this ywend 8,393 CCXX Rl ISSI 1110212025 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrnstrict Restricted fund¥ funds to rnaTe5t£ Endowm•nt fundy to neave8tÉ Categories to ntr•r