## **Trustees Annual Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2024** 

**Charity Name** : The Far Forest and District Horticulture Society 

Working Name: The Far Forest Society 

## **Registered Charity Number** :205210 

**Charity’s Principal Address** :  Far Forest Pavilion, Tenbury Road (A456), Callow Hill, Rock, Kidderminster, DY14 9DA 

**Trustee Names** : Ray Attwood 

David Bell 

Dennis Dudley 

Muriel Bell 

John Guy 

Michele Lace 

## **Structure, governance and management.** 

**Type of governing document** constitution adopted 7[th] March 1962 amended 9th March 2020 



**How the charity is constituted** : Association of members 

**Trustee Selection Methods** : Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the AGM. 

## **Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its** 

**governing document** : The provision of space and facilities for sport and other leisure time occupation in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving conditions of life for local inhabitants of Far Forest and surrounding areas. 

The provision and maintenance of the pavilion for the use of the inhabitants of Far Forest and surrounding areas without distinction of gender, political, religious, or other opinions including use for meetings, lectures and classes and other forms of leisure occupation with the object of improving conditions of life for local inhabitants. 

The promotion of agriculture and horticulture by organising an annual countryside show to encourage local interest and stimulate friendly competition in horticulture and other associated activities. 



## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation these objects** 

The Society uses its site to play host to a local football club which has teams from 5 years old through to 18-year-olds with a membership of over 100 players, a tennis club with junior and adult members. The Pavilion is available for rent for functions and the use of local organisations such as the Women’s Institute. It is also used as the local polling station for local and general elections. The Society hosts a monthly luncheon club for elderly citizens. Regular film nights are provided for Society members and friends of the Society.  An annual two-day show is held in August of each year which is attended by around 10,000 visitors. Six car boot sales are held at the site each year. 

Attendance at the countryside show was good. Once again it was well supported by volunteer helpers and was a great success. 

Improvements have been made to the Invergorden access track surface, the meeting room has been decorated, new drainage has been carried out on the show camping field and car parking space has been increased by the installation of ground reinforcement on a grassed area.  Projects projected for this year include improvements to the overspill car parking area and the track between the entrance and the show office. 



## **Risk Management Statement** 

The society has the following policies in place to protect our volunteers and visitors along with the necessary public liability and premises insurances. 

- Health and Safety 

- Safeguarding 

- GDPR and Data protection/privacy statements 

- Equality and Diversity 

- CCTV Policy 

- Social Media Policy 

- Legionella Policy 

Our trustees/committee are elected in March each year at our AGM and attend most monthly meetings and are aware of the risks involved in the running of our society and take any necessary steps to reduce any risks identified. 

**Financial Review** : We hold cash at bank of approximately £60.000. It is our policy to hold at least £18,000 in reserve to cover one year’s running costs in the event of poor weather for the annual show which is the main fund-raising event. A dual authorisation system with our bank is in place to prevent fraudulent payments and theft and all necessary security measures taken when handling cash. Financial reports are given at each of the monthly meetings and accounts are independently examined at the end of our financial year in December. 



**Details of any funds materially in deficit:** Not applicable. 

**Further Financial Review Details** : The charity’s main source of funds is the annual show. Further income comes from car boot sales, rent from football and tennis clubs and lettings of the pavilion. 

Most of the income is applied to maintenance and improvement of facilities at the site. In recent years this has included the rebuilding of the viewing gallery, extending electricity coverage to the lower field, installation of solar panels, re-painting of the exterior of the pavilion, the purchase of a storage container, purchase of the show office, improving and extending car parking provision, decorating the meeting room, installation of a staircase to the loft space, resurfacing of the track from the Invergorden entrance and improved drainage for the football pitches and the show camping field. 

**Future Plans** : we continue to explore solutions to the problem of the leaking roof of the pavilion, extending car parking space and improving the surface of access tracks. 



## **Declaration** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s. 

report above. 

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees. 

John Michael Guy 

Chair 28[th] February 2025