2022-12-31-accounts

GREAT WITCHINGHAM FUEL ALLOTMENT CHARITY Registered Charity No.: 210554 A/1

Trustees’ Annual Report March 2023

Charity Report

The Charity was formed in 1811 by the provision of land under the Act of Enclosure and has provided residents of Great Witchingham, who are in need, hardship or distress, with charitable benefit in one form or another. Since that time, benefit has taken the form of a winter fuel payment in money or kind and applications for benefit are sought from September onwards. Charitable benefit is not limited to this period as need, hardship and distress has no such calendar boundaries. The Trustees will consider any written request for relief at any time.

Income is derived from the Charity’s land, which is vested in The Charity Commission and governed by the Trustees. Contrary to popular belief, the land is private. Access to Charity land is, and has always been, by permission of the Trustees. Presently and for the foreseeable future, granting of that permission, by way of an annual permit, is delegated by a Management Agreement issued to the Fishery Manager.

Once the core aim of the Charity has been satisfied, The Charity Commission permits the Trustees to grant aid to groups or individuals in the Great Witchingham Parish to satisfy a particular need, which may exist in the Parish. The Charity is not permitted to relieve rates, taxes, or any other public funds but may supplement relief provided by public funds. The Charity is also not permitted to commit to repeating or renewing benefit granted on any occasion. The Trustees will consider all individual applications upon their merit.

2022, saw life begin to return to normal save for the fact that Covid appears to have changed some anglers’ work/life balance. The fishery was busier and required the Trustees to reduce the number of permits available to reduce the pressure on our fish. The effect upon income was kept to the bare minimum. The traumatic cost of living increase experienced in the autumn of 2022 gave rise to particular hardship for some people. Our ability to support the parishioners in greatest need within Great Witchingham remained unaffected. The Trustees were pleased to make beneficial payments to 30 eligible applicants and village activities totalling £14200. In addition, The Trustees agreed to fund a defibrillator for the village to be purchased in the New Year. The Trustees will continue to accept requests for support from parishioners at any time of year.

This financial year gave rise to a net income from the sale of fishing permits of £26,006, from which a 20% share is paid to Great Witchingham Church Lands Charity. The Charity also holds a permanent endowment in the form of COIF shares, which provides an income of approximately £1,900 p.a.

Storm damage continues to be an annual event as the climate changes and we are working towards pre-empting the problem with pro-active maintenance. The Trustees are actively pursuing providing on-site facilities for the benefit of members which will allow our fishery to compete favourably with other high quality venues in the county. The Charity continues to maintain contingency funds to withstand a prolonged loss of income without detriment to the benefit to those people and organisations we serve.

Despite a year which ended in financial turmoil which appears to have gathered fragile stability, the value of our COIF investment shares has remained level over the last twelve months and dividend yield remains very much at a premium compared to ordinary investments.

The Trustees would like to thank all the people who give their time freely, particularly those who act as volunteer Bailiffs, without whose contributions the benefits that our charity is able to offer would be greatly reduced. The work of our Fishery Manager and his team of volunteer Bailiffs continues to be invaluable to the Trustees, managing both the land and the fishery in accordance with the Trustees rules and wishes and in a wholly professional manner. The Trustees are exceedingly grateful to our team of bailiffs who have worked so hard in providing members safe environment to enjoy.

Trustees: Mark Pead (Chair), Peter Dilloway, Susie Thomson, Freda Bunton, Daniel Stolady, Karen Christianson, Rev Helen Rengert, Sally Acloque.

We look forward to being able to continue to enjoy another near normal year, which we very much hope will allow us to continue and indeed improve upon our good work in the Parish.

Our thanks to Clare Morton, Chair of Weston Longville Parish Council, for kindly carrying out the annual audit of our accounts. A copy of the Charity’s audited accounts is appended.

Fishery Report

The fishery at Great Witchingham provides the Charity’s main source of income for the distribution of benefit. 2022-23 has again so far been a good very year for the fishery. Our members have yet again enjoyed some superb fishing and have been using the opportunity to spend as much time on the bank as possible and enjoy the surroundings. The fishery remains arguably one of the best, mixed specimen syndicate fisheries of its type, in this region and especially for big carp.

We continue to see year on year growth in our big carp with many fish well over thirty pounds and several fish now close to or over forty pounds.

The fishery is managed as a traditional mixed species fishery, and on any day, members can not only catch large carp, but large Bream, huge Tench into double figures, or large catches of smaller fish. We will continue with our aim to grow the fishery in stature and prominence as a superb place to fish.

Investment and sound management have ensured a sustainable aquatic environment, which also supports the wider environment around the fishery. The fishery will continue to be developed on an environmentally sustainable basis, to provide an excellent outdoor experience and most importantly, meet the aims and needs of the Charity in supporting the community.

Mark Pead

Chair of Trustees

Trustees: Mark Pead (Chair), Peter Dilloway, Susie Thomson, Freda Bunton, Daniel Stolady, Karen Christianson, Rev Helen Rengert, Sally Acloque.

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Clare Morton 2 The Cottages Breck Rd Weston Green Weston Longville Norwich NR9 5LQ

6 February 2023

Dear Peter

Please find below, the methodology for the audit of the Great Witchingham Fuel Allotment Charity accounts for the year 2022

I have looked at each financial transaction and have cross checked each with :

• a. Supporting invoices or receipts

• b. Cheque book stubs (where applicable) and bank statement entries.

• c. The record of said transaction within the Trustee minutes where applicable.

• d. Eligibility of recipients

I have noted the basis for budgeting for the Charity to fulfil its requirement to distribute funds to the intended recipients and checked that the subsequent pay-outs were valid.

In all, I have found no evidence that the Charity’s financial control is not being adequately managed.

I have therefore signed the audit return and such summary documents as you have produced.

Yours sincerely

Clare Morton.

Mr Peter Dilloway Woodstock Bungalow Etling Green Dereham NR20 3EY