Sustainable Crediton Annual Report 2024-25
Report to The Charity Commission of England & Wales
Contents
Trustees report
Structure
Governance
Management
Objectives & Activities
Key achievements
Project & group reports
Plans for the future Financial Statement Independent Examiner’s report Legal and administrative information
The Big Green Fair
Trustees Report
Structure, governance, management
Sustainable Crediton Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) was registered with the Chairty Commission on 10th July 2024.
The Trustees’ primary responsibility is to ensure that we operate as a CIO in accordance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and especially in accordance with our charitable objects.
The Trustees will also:
Offer practical support to the work of Sustainable Crediton and especially to members of Core Group;
Sign off the annual programme and budget prepared by Core Group (see Financial Processes and Controls (FPC) document);
Deal with any financial matters which are in its remit as per the FPC
Be responsible for developing policies and working practices as required by the Charity Commission (CC);
Prepare and submit annual returns to the CC;
Liaise will the CC over any regulatory issues which arise.
The operational management of Sustainable Crediton is carried out by Core Group.
As a minimum, Core Group will consist of a Convenor who will generally chair meetings, a Treasurer and Secretary. These posts will be elected annually at our Annual General Meeting.
The role of Core Group is to:
Co-ordinate and oversee all our activities, be they ongoing projects, events or campaigns.
Produce an overarching plan and indicative budget
Monitor expenditure against budget;
Maintain necessary insurance cover;
Manage health and safety risks and procedures
Consider for approval ad-hoc proposals for new activities, as they arise.
Objectives and Activities
Our charitable objects as given in our constitution:
To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public in Crediton and the surrounding area by: (a) The preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources
(b) The promotion of sustainable living, economies and societal structures locally and in the context of global developments. By ‘sustainable living’, we mean lifestyles which support sustainable development as defined at (c) below.
(c) Advancing the education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection of, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large. Sustainable development means “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
A wide range of projects and activities are supported by Sustainable Crediton, all led and delivered by volunteers.
Key Achievements
Sustainable Crediton has existed as an unincorporated organisation for over 15 years developing a significant range of activities and events. In 2023 the decision was taken to apply for charitable status in order to provide a structure with the potential to grow the organisation and increase its impact. The transition to becoming a charity has been achieved;
the Board of Trustees has appointed officers and agreed initial priorities, including beginning the process of reviewing the strategy for the organisation. A working relationship and methodology have been agreed between the Trustees and the Core Group who manage the operations of Sustainable Crediton.
This report covers the 18 months from when the charity was first established in July 2024 to the end of our first full financial year in December 2025; it was a very active and successful period. The programme of events has grown and reached more people than ever; highlights included two Big Green Fairs, two Seed Shares, a Clothes Swap and The EcoCrafternoon. Regular activities have flourished including the Food Larder, Pollinator Plots, The Repair Cafe and Woodland Management amongst many others.
Engagement: We now have 835 newsletter subscribers, 1,100 Facebook followers, and over 80 volunteers.
Tree planters taking a well-earned break
Project & group reports
Sustainable Crediton has led and supported a wide range of projects for many years. Each is reviewed periodically to assess its value and viability. It is exciting to evaluate new ideas and look for new opportunities to increase our impact.
Details of these events and activities can be found under Projects at: https://sustainablecrediton.org.uk/
New Developments : The Ecocrafternoon, a collaboration with Significant Seams, a local social enterprise, was a new initiative designed to encourage creativity and re-use of materials; it was a great success attended by 150 people.
The Clothes Swaps , organised by Gail Hines and Esther Mann. Its aim was to underline the environmental cost of fast fashion and encourage re-use easily and locally. It was a fun event with hundreds of items of clothing offered for exchange, and surplus clothing collected for Ukraine.
The Repair Café has become established as a regular monthly event. Volunteer menders fix household items, including sewing, electronics, and mechanical, to reduce waste and share knowledge and skills. Will de Gros from local business, Technology Shop is the co-ordinator.
The Cop26 Group have campaigned for many years to establish the Boniface trail cycle route to Exeter. Following a public consultation in 2025, Devon County Council have committed to building a new route, mostly traffic-free – a huge victory to all who have worked for this.
The Tree Warden Scheme began August 2024. Ed Dolphin, chair of Sidmouth Arboretum, mapped all trees in the town and walks are organised to encourage interest.
Sustainable Crediton supported Haywards Heroes Day at Haywards School on the theme of sustainability. Sus Cred Volunteers spent the day at school making bird feeders and doing a quiz for 400 children.
A number of documentary film events have been organised including Six Inches of Soil and System Update. A panel of experts led a discussion on issues raised at each event.
The Climate Action Team working with Crediton Town Council have held a series of annual Community Conversations to inform statutory planning consultations, including development of the Old Deer Park area, and Town Council policy. The events have been well attended and the output used to update the Neighbourhood Plan and inform CTC responses to Mid-Devon and Devon County Councils. Support for the creation of a Community Land Trust has been established and is in the process of being set up.
To raise the profile of Sustainable Crediton’s activities, space in an empty retail unit was given by Crediton Town Council for use on market days. Named the Sustainabubble , it acts as a contact point for supporters, volunteers and the public on two Saturdays each month and has promoted various activites including Graham’s Bikes, bug hotels, swift boxes, swift walk, craft sessions.
Plans for the Future
Next steps: The strategy review will lead to agreement on the priorities for future working. It is hoped that by taking a more strategic approach Sustainable Crediton can raise its profile, undertake larger, more significant projects and increase its impact.
In development: a Library of Things, a Community Land Trust, and events such as the Big Green Fair, a Craft Swap and a series of visits to local farms.
A busy day at the Clothes Swap
Financial Statement Recei ts and ents accounts For the period To 1Mf2025 12rJir2025 Section A Receipts and payments Unretn¢ted Re¥tricted Endowtrnt Total lunds Last year Furha 4153 t93 3.742 Toral 4193 P•JThent8 ¥enue h 3J24 2.115 Toral 039 Nei 0fp{payMentsl Cash funds This year end 269 269 204 204 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted EiidowiTJVI)t Cot¢gori Det•ll¥ ID nNf•5tt to rknimtE b) n&Thl£ cash Jnd5 Toi* cash ftmds Ufftstricted Ratricted Fthidtowhith Detail8 Assets retained lor the Det?ils L1X11t1e5
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteegl mèmbers of SustainatAe Creditr On accounts for Ihè yèar ended Charily no {if any) 3111212025 1209069 Sot out on pag88 I report to the trustees on my examinatK)n Olthe accounts of the above Gharity {"the TTUSt'> for the year ended 31112r2025. Re8FX)n81bilitie8 and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparabon ba81• of roport of the accounts in accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act'i. I report in respect of my examinaltin 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 DirectnS given by the Charity Ccfflmission under section 14515)Ibl ofthe Act. I have completed my examinatK)n. I confirm that no material matters have 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 accordan with sectlon 130 of the Act or • the accounts do not acrd with the accounting records Independent examiner's ststement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection wilh the examinalion to which attent$ should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the a¢xounts to be reathed. Dato: 0710412026 Signed: Namo: Dave Harris {Greener Acrunting} Relevant profe89ional qualificalion(8} or body (if any): ACCA Addr888: 6 The Village. Newton St Cyres, Exeler. EX5 5BU IER October 2018
Beautiful materials at the EcoCrafternoon event
Legal and administrative information
Status: Sustainable Crediton CIO is a charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales
Trustees:
Gerald Conyngham John Craythorne Andrew Davey Nicola Frost Claire Johnstone David Nation
Charity number 1209069
Registered office 8a North Street, Crediton EX17 2BT Website address https://sustainablecrediton.org.uk
Bankers
The co-operative Bank
,l(I r4
| Charity Name | No (if any) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Crediton | 1209069 | ||||
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||
| For the period from |
1/1/2025 Period start date |
To | 12/31/2025 Period end date |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - 4,193 - - - - - - 4,193 - - - 4,193 3,924 - - - - - - - - 3,924 - - - 3,924 269 - - 269 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 2,050 - - - - - - - 2,050 - - - 2,050 2,115 - - - - - - - - 2,115 - - - 2,115 - 65 - - - 65 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 2,050 4,193 - - - - - - 6,243 - - - 6,243 6,039 - - - - - - - - 6,039 - - - 6,039 204 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| Grants/Fundingbids | - | 2,800 | ||||
| Fundraising | 4,193 | 3,742 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
4,193 | 6,542 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 6,542 | ||||||
| Running costs including materials and venue hire |
3,924 | 4,343 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 3,924 | 4,343 | ||||
| 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 |
||||||
| 4,343 | ||||||
| 269 | - 65 | - | 204 |
2,199 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 269 | - 65 | - | 204 | 2,199 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details PAT tester 2 x Gazebo Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Bank/Building Society accounts Details Total cash funds Details Folding table Signature Invoices for running costs (website, ~~materials)~~ |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 269 - 65 - - - - 269 - 65 OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 12,540 - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) restricted - restricted - restricted - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) unrestricted 1,248 - - - - Print Name |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
2