Danesmead Community Meadow & Orchard (DCMO) Trustees’ Annual Report Year Ended 30 November 2025
Structure and Governance
Danesmead Community Meadow & Orchard (DCMO) was set up as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and registered with The Charity Commission on 15[th] January 2025, whose only voting members are its Charity trustees. Before this date, the land was managed by a residents' committee with no charitable status.
Type of governing document : A Constitution governs DCMO based on the “Foundation Model” provided by the Charity Commission.
Charity registration number : 1211704 Principal office address : 9 Redman Close, York. YO10 4NX
Names of the trustees who managed the charity during the period :
Mrs F Swann Mrs H England Mrs C Bruce Mrs S Baughan Mrs Y Lyons Mr R Bulmer Mr A Swann
Mrs A Ellis
All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.
Names of charity trustees for the charity holding title to the property: NYK127759 Fiona Swann & Helen England
Trustee selection methods : Trustees are appointed by a vote of the existing board of trustees and serve a three-year term. New trustees are recruited based on • the skills and experience required to effectively manage the charity.
Additional governance issues (optional): The trustees have considered the major risks to the charity and have implemented procedures to manage them, including insurance and financial controls.
Fiona Swann/ May 2026
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Objectives and Public Benefit
Summary of the objects of the charity as set out in its governing document:
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1) For the public benefit, the conservation, preservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. In particular, through the establishment and maintenance of a community orchard in Danesmead and the surrounding area which supports a diverse and species-rich ecosystem.
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2) To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Danesmead and the surrounding areas, the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who require such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the conditions of life of said inhabitants.
DCMO Activities
In line with our objectives, DCMO carried out the following activities during the year under review: -
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Regular work parties to maintain the orchard and wildflower meadow as a facility for recreation and to foster the environment, and to encourage wildlife.
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Harvesting and gifting the orchard crop.
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Organising an Easter Egg Hunt for the children and their families to socialise as well as to raise funds through donations for the maintenance of the orchard.
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Organising a function in a city centre venue (St Crux) to raise awareness of the meadow & orchard and to raise funds for the maintenance of the meadow and orchard by offering baked goods, refreshments and a Bric-a-Brac stall.
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The planting of two new gifted Rowan Trees
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Organising a family fun day with a band for entertainment and a large raffle with free tickets, and voluntary donations were collected on the day.
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Organising a carol singing event around the estate and finishing at Home York House, where refreshments were offered. All donations for this event go directly to the Salvation Army to support their work in York with the homeless.
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Organising an apple tree pruning day with an experienced guide to ensure the trees are well-maintained.
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Progress has been made on cultivating a flower meadow
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Gaining a licence from our city council and running our first successful 50/50 lottery.
Fiona Swann/ May 2026
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Financial Summary
At the end of the 2024-25 Financial Year, DCMO held a cash balance of £4,133.00
Income of £4,843.82 was derived as follows:-
Donations with Gift Aid £ 1,076.50 Fundraising Activities £ 2,409.57 Gift Aid £ 269.13 Other (gifted proceeds from DRAMA £ 1088.62
| Expenditure of £720.82 was incurred on the following:- | Expenditure of £720.82 was incurred on the following:- |
|---|---|
| Insurance | £ 249.27 |
| Maintenance including Mower & Petrol | £ 6.58 |
| Costs related to fundraising | £ 383.51 |
| Costs for Printing and Post | £ 57.21 |
| Previous a/c bank charges | £ 24.25 |
DCMO has no outstanding Debts at 30th November 2025
Future Plans
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To continue to develop Danesmead Community Meadow & Orchard to preserve and conserve the flora and fauna.
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To hold an Eggstravaganza at Easter as a popular community event, as well as to help raise funds for the maintenance of the orchard.
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To continue to either harvest our crop or offer it to the community
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To raise the profile of Danesmead Community Meadow and Orchard within the community, in order to ensure continued support and funding, and to encourage more volunteers to assist in work parties.
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To hold a quiz centred around the River Ouse and its 3 nearest bridges on 11[th] July 2026
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To establish links with other community groups with a view to sharing ideas.
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To arrange another family fun day on 29[th] August and to promote this to the nearby community
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To continue the working parties and hedge -grass cutting rota
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To arrange for the Salvation Army band for carolling at Christmas time to support the Salvation Army efforts.
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To replace the notice board at the meadow gates.
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To look at the renewal of the lease for the land rented by the City of York Council.
Fiona Swann/ May 2026
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Financial Account for DCMO
Year Ending 30 November 2025
| Unrestricted funds |
Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest |
£ | to the nearest | £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest | £ | |||
| A1 Receipts | ||||||||||
| Donations (git aid applicable) | 1,076 | - | - | 1,076 | - | |||||
| Donations No Giftaid | 2,269 | - | - | 2,269 | - | |||||
| Lottery Fundraising | 480 | - | - | 480 | - | |||||
| Other Fundraising | 748 | - | - | 748 | - | |||||
| Gift Aid | 269 | - | - | 269 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment |
4,842 | - | - | 4,842 | - | |||||
| sales, (see table). | ||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Total receipts | 4,842 | - | - | 4,842 | - | |||||
| A3 Payments | ||||||||||
| Printing, Postage & Administration | 57 | - | - | 57 | - | |||||
| Fundraising Costs | 383 | - | 383 | - | ||||||
| Bank Charges | 24 | - | - | 24 | - | |||||
| Meadow Maintainence | 7 | - | - | 7 | - | |||||
| Insurance | 249 | - | - | 249 | - | |||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 720 | - | - | 720 | - | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment | ||||||||||
| purchases, (see table) | ||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Total payments | 720 | - | - | 720 | - | |||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 4,123 | - | - | 4,123 |
- | |||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 10 | - | - | 10 | - | |||||
| Cash funds this year end | 4,133 | - | - | 4,133 | - |
The CIO is entitled to an exemption from audit under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 for the year ended 30[th] November 2025
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 137 of the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees, and authorised for issue, on and were signed on its behalf by:
Dated ……30[th] May 2026
Fiona Swann - Chair
Dated ……30[th] May 2026
Alex Ellis -Trustee
Fiona Swann/ May 2026
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