2024-03-31-accounts

Hyde War Memorial Trust

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Charity name: Hyde War Memorial Trust

Charity registration number: 228670

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	To look after the 1stWorld War Cenotaph standing in a prominent position on Trust land. To maintain Trust land and other assets for the health and well-being of the community. To hold memorial services each year to commemorate Peace Day and Armistice Day.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	To maintain the 1stWorld War Cenotaph as place of remembrance. To jointly manage Werneth Low Country Park with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council (TMBC) for the benefit of the people of Hyde (and surrounding areas) To hold two memorial services every year. To provide access to the historical records held by the Trust of the 710 men of Hyde killed in 1stWorld War and the history of the Hyde War Memorial Trust To engage with the local community and generate income by utilising Lower Higham Visitor Centre (Visitor Centre) and other assets. The Visitor Centre and outside space is used for: • Café 710 – community café run by trustees and volunteers and open on Sundays. Provides hospitality on remembrance days and at themed

		community events organised by the Trust. • Greenspace volunteers and TMBC Greenspace Officer • Regular events for the Country Park volunteers • To educate visitors and local community about the different countryside environments in the Country Park • To hold one-off events in partnership with TMBC targeted at low-income families in school holidays • Pre-school environment themed activities – provided by specialist education provider • Education activities for special needs high school pupils - provided by specialist education provider • To meet family members of 710 men of Hyde killed in 1stWorld War
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	Trustees have each received a copy of the guidance and contents have been discussed at Trustee Board.

Additional information

Contribution made by volunteers	Para 1.38	Greenspace volunteers, managed by a Tameside Council ‘Greenspace Officer’ spend one day each week working in the Country Park. Duties include planting, pruning, tidying, path and fence maintenance, hedge laying, dry stone walling and endless countryside duties. Trustees and community volunteers run the Café 710 which opens on Sundays and for any one-off community events. All trustees are volunteers. Estimated to be around 50 volunteers (including trustees).
Other

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The attached report “Chair’s Report for Annual General Meeting on 24 October 2024” was presented to attendees at the most recent AGM on 24.10.24 This was a public meeting held in accordance with the Trust’s governance framework.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against objectives set	Para 1.41	Please see AGM report.
Investment performance against objectives	Para 1.41
Other		The Trust has engaged an independent bookkeeper to manage day to financial affairs and provide regular reporting to the Trustee Board, in accordance with the Financial Procedures Manual.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	The Trust is in a healthy financial position. Expenditure slightly exceeded income this year due to accruals from 2022/23 being repaid. The Trust holds substantial financial reserves.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	Reserves are held in anticipation of maintenance and improvement of the Cenotaph, Visitor Centre and Country Park. A full structural survey in August 2022 (report available if required) identified maintenance work required over the next 5 years. This was estimated, then, to cost around £120k. Our plan is to enhance the property at the same time this work is completed. For example, to fit heritage windows and doors and enhance the interior. This estimated expenditure is likely to increase. Our Land & Estate Group will oversee this project and we have suitably experienced and qualified advisers for this work.
Amount of reserves held	Para 1.22	Approximately £376.6k
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern	Para 1.23	None

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	Rental income from: • Farm business tenancy • Golf Club land rent • Private property land leases • Community café income • Income from investments
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	We have an annual review of our investment portfolio with the fund manager, Evelyn.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	• Godley Green Garden development – 2400 houses proposed adjacent to the Country Park on green belt land has been approved. Timescale is uncertain and there is considerable opposition from the local community and some Tameside Councillors. Because the development is adjacent to the Country there is an environmental risk to our habitat and

wildlife from displaced wildlife from the developed greenbelt land, and the increased footfall from visitors to the Country Park. • This development may present an opportunity from increased visitors numbers who may want to contribute to the protection and development of the environment in the Country Park. • There is a risk that Tameside may withdraw support for joint management responsibilities in the Country Park but we are in the process of signing a new 25 year agreement so the probability of this is very low. Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Trust deed
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Unincorporated
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	• Individuals nominated by community groups • 3 elected representatives – allowed to self-nominate before AGM with voting (if necessary).

Additional information

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	• Induction training – a one to one session working through an overview of the history, working arrangements and financial policies and procedures at the Trust • The essential trustee – online training • Safeguarding training – online training • Trustee Code of Conduct issued to every Trustee
		Trustee Board

The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	4 x Sub-Groups • Governance & Finance • Land & Estate • Events • Café Joint Management Committee – Chair rotates between Trust and Local Authority. Committee includes 5 Trustees and representatives from Local Authority.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	Joint Management Committee for the management of the Werneth Low Country Park. The Park comprises 200 acres; 150 owned by the Trust and 50 owned by the local authority, Tameside Metropolitan Trust.
Other

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	Hyde War Memorial Trust
Other name the charity uses
Registered charity number	228670
Charity’s principal address	Lower Higham Visitor Centre Higham Lane Gee Cross SK14 5LR Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	BettyAffleck			Tameside Council
	Peter Ainger			Hyde United FC
	ShibleyAlam			Tameside Council
	John Bell	DeputyChair		Gee Cross CommunityCentre
	Phil Chadwick			Tameside Council
	Jane Durkin	Chair		HolyTrinityChurch
	Richard Ekin			Scouts Association
	Susan Ellis	Secretary		Gee Cross Neighbourhood Watch
	Margaret Halliday
	Carole Longson
	Susan Plackett			Brabyns GX Neighbourhood Group
	Andrew Richardson			POP Culture Centre
	Lynn Bird			Gee Womens’ Institute

Additional information (optional)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Financial	Ian Wicks	Scott, Roberts Taylor Accountants, Hyde
Financial	Alice Robinson	Bookkeeper
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)

Other optional information

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
	Jane Durkin	Susan Ellis
	CHAIR	SECRETARY
	24.1.25 24.1.25
	24.1.25

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds tr nearest£ Restrictsd fund8 Endowment funds Categories Oetails to neare¥t£ to n￿r￿tE B1 Co$h fvnd$ BMKA¢¢OUNTS 54,828 3,989 CASH ACCOUNT 1X) BANK IWESTMENTS 99,181 Total Cash fvnds 161,129 3,989 Unrestrtcted funds Restrlcted fijnds Endowment nds Details to nearnst £ to nearest £ Fund to whkh vront ¥alu• Detaits Equity invesbwd CoBtlopiionall B3 Investment assets Unrestrfctgd Equity inveslm 10.130 Funij to whi¢h Curront v•luo Details Propertyand Gr￿ThJ Rents Cost loptionall B4 Assets retained for the charitys own use 67.032 2.1¢NJ PA System 173 Shath Hoover 179 St￿king chaIr￿upboardIDesk8 Hea￿ Duty Tabks phoen￿ Fire Commarwjer Saf? Fridgernaster 175 Inde$rt Freezer Fund to which li•bi Amourt duo ot Whett du8 Detsils 85 Llabilltles Signatufe Print Name Date of val Signed by one or two trustees on hatt of all the trust888 CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 2010112025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustsesl members of Hyde War Memorial Trust (Lower Higham Fann) On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charity no {if any) 228670 Set out on pages 1and2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity {°the Trust.) for the year ended 3110312024. Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's Re￿iptS and Payments accounts carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matters have come lo my attention in Connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material respect.. Independent examinerfs statement accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Acl or the accounts do not aGcord with the accounting records I have no concems arKI have come across no other matters in Connection th the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: 2&-01-302S Name: lan David Wcks FCCA Relevant professional qualifiGation(s) or body lif any): Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certtfied Accountants Address: cjo Scott Roberts Taylor & Co Central Buildings. &7 Corporation Street Hyde, Cheshire. SK14 1AG IER October 2018