## Trustee Report 

## **Kent ACRE** 

## **Registered Charity No:1208953** 

## **For the period 4 July 2024 – 31[st] March 2025** 

## **1. IntroducGon** 

The trustees of Kent ACRE present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2025. The report has been prepared in accordance with the Charity Commission’s guidance for small chariEes. 

## **2. ObjecGves and AcGviGes** 

## **Charitable Purpose:** 

To promote any purpose which is charitable according to the laws of England and Wales in the county of Kent and the Unitary Authority of Medway primarily to improve the lives of the people in the rural communiEes. 

## **Main AcGviGes:** 

- Village and Community Hall Advisory Service 

- Community Resilience Planning 

- Advocacy for Kent & Medway rural communiEes 

## **Public Benefit Statement:** 

The trustees confirm they have complied with their duty to have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

## **3. Achievements and Performance** 

- Set-up acEviEes including:- recruitment of further trustees;  establishment of bank account; creaEon of relevant policies and procedures. 

- CreaEon of a Village and Community Hall Advisory Service assisEng c. 100 different halls over this period. 



- Establishment of a pilot Parish “cluster” approach to building a community emergency plan across 4 parishes in West Kent. 

## **4. Financial Review** 

## **Summary of Income and Expenditure:** 

- Total income: £12,632.50 

- Total expenditure: £5,497.45 

- Surplus/deficit: £7,135.05 

## **Reserves Policy:** 

As funds raised it is the trustees intenEon to build reserves to cover 6 months of the chariEes expenses. 

## **Financial PosiGon:** 

AS at 31[st] March 2025, the charity had only acquired funding via ACRE for one quarter and was sEll establishing the process for further fundraising to cover operaEonal costs. The surplus at the end of the period was carried through to the next financial year to support immediate costs. 

## **5. Structure, Governance and Management** 

## **Governing Document:** 

CIO FoundaEon dated 3rd July 2024 

Trustee Recruitment and Appointment: As of 31 March 2025, there were six trustees. Three founding trustees were recruited by the consultant appointed to establish the charity. They in turn interviewed and appointed 4 new trustees over the period by mutual agreement, whilst one founding trustee stood down. All trustees completed a trustee eligibility form and together completed a trustee skills audit. 

## **Management:** 

During this period the operaEonal acEviEes of the charity were managed by Kerry Outlaw, who was appointed as interim Chief ExecuEve Officer. There were no other staff or volunteers. 

## **6. Risk Management** 

Trustees have considered the major risks facing the charity, including operaEonal, financial, and compliance risks. These are managed through appropriate policies, insurance, regular reviews, and financial controls. 



## **7. Plans for the Coming Year** 

-  Revise and update a business plan for the next 3 years and a budget. Discuss with stakeholders and potenEal beneficiaries. 

- Establish a fundraising strategy and commence applicaEons for appropriate funding to commence acEviEes outlined in the business plan. 

- Seek to increase the capacity of the charity to undertake acEviEes per the business plan as funding is received. 

- Increase stakeholder engagement, parEcularly across local government, parish councils and village hall management commieees 

- Establish a webpage and social media accounts to establish a greater presence amongst rural communiEes . 

- Seek opportuniEes to secure collaboraEve partners to increase charitable acEviEes and reach. 

## **8. Trustees** 

- **Chair** - Robert David Howells 

- **Treasurer** -Leanne Terry 

## - **Other Trustees** : 

Steen Carndorf – resigned 21[st] August 2024 Henu Cummins Maehew James Bridger Sacha Taylor Shaun Fishenden 

## **9. Statement of Trustees’ ResponsibiliGes** 

The trustees are responsible for preparing the report and accounts in accordance with charity law and ensuring proper financial records are kept. 

## **10. Approval** 

This report was approved by the trustees on 25[th] January 2026. 

Signed: 

**Leanne Terry on behalf of Robert David Howells -  Chair of Trustees as of 31 MARCH 2025.** 



## **Balance Sheet** 

## Kent ACRE As at 31 March 2025 

||**Account**|**31 Mar 2025**|
|---|---|---|
|**Current Assets**|||
||**Cash at bank and in hand**||
||Kent ACRE Charity account|7,089.05|
||**Total Cash at bank and in hand**|**7,089.05**|
||Accounts Receivable|45.00|
|**Total Current Assets**||**7,134.05**|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
||Repayment of loan|(1.00)|
|**Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**||**(1.00)**|
||**Net Current Assets (Liabilities)**|**7,135.05**|
||||
||**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**|**7,135.05**|
||||
||**Net Assets**|**7,135.05**|
|**Capital and Reserves**|||
||Current Year Earnings|7,135.05|
|**Total Capital and Reserves**||**7,135.05**|