2024-12-31-accounts

GREAT WITCHINGHAM FUEL ALLOTMENT CHARITY

Registered Charity No.: 210554 A/1

Trustees’ Annual Report April 2025

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 in 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.

Although Peter Dilloway will remain as a Trustee, he has after 29 year’s service passed the ‘Treasurers’ baton over, and we welcome Helen Davison onto the Trustees as treasurer. The Trustees would like to thank Peter for all his work in the past and are grateful that with his knowledge and experience he is remaining as a trustee. Furthermore 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 a safe environment to enjoy.

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.

The Trustees were pleased to make beneficial payments to 28 eligible applicants and village activities totalling £11,600. 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 £21,660 from which 20% in the form of rent, 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 £2,000 p.a.

To maintain the high regard in which the fishery is held, the Charity has purchased a welfare toilet and shower unit to replace the hired chemical toilets. This was due to be installed last year but, due to the amount of other works required, this was delayed. The plan is now to have this completed this year. 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.

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 Audit Report and the Charity’s audited accounts is appended.

Trustees: Mark Pead (Chair), Peter Dilloway, Susie Thomson, Freda Bunton, Daniel Stolady, Maeve Sykes, Helen Davison, Sally Acloque.

Fishery Report

The fishery at Great Witchingham provides the Charity’s main source of income for the distribution of benefit.

Summer 2024 proved a difficult period for some parts of the fishery with warm temperatures and light winds allowing an algal bloom to form in the Tench Lake. This somewhat spoilt the fishing all summer until early autumn saw the return of some cooler temperatures and the algal bloom subsided. The Environment Agency confirmed that this was a problem throughout the region.

So far, the fishery has survived the worst of the flooding this winter and unlike last year, we have remained open for most part. However, the storms and strong winds have been challenging.

Many plans are in place for the fishery this season and the hope is that the delayed installation of our new welfare facilities will be completed later this year.

As we progress through the cooler months the fishing is slower, but the fishery can still produce some great quality fishing. Our members are now awaiting the new season and the return of the warmer temperatures to get them on the bank.

Our fishery remains arguably one of the best mixed specimen syndicate fisheries of its type in this region and especially for big carp, with many of our fish in the 30 – 40 pound range.

Continued investment has provided our members with the fishing they look for when choosing the waters they want to join season after season, in a safe well managed environment.

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. The fishery has something for everyone, and an enjoyable day’s fishing can always be had. We endeavour to continue with our aim to grow the fishery in stature and prominence as a superb place to fish.

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, Maeve Sykes, Helen Davison, Sally Acloque.

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

27 February 2025

Dear Peter and Helen

Please find below, the methodology for the audit of the Great Witchingham Fuel Allotment Charity accounts for the year 2024

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

• a. Supporting invoices or receipts

• b. 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