2024-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report					for theperiod
**From **	Period start date			To	Period end date
	01	01	2024		31	12	2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name The Friends of Upton Country Park Other names charity is known by FUCP Registered charity number (if any) 272450

Charity's principal address Upton Country Park Poole Dorset Postcode BH17 7BJ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole **year **	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Mr M. Yeomans	President
	Vacant	Chair
	Mrs L. Mumford	Treasurer
	Ms K. Dinmore	Secretary
	Mrs D. Butler	PublicityOfficer
	Mrs M. Carr
	Mr R. Griffin		12/06/24 to 31/12/24
	Mrs C. Hall
	Mrs C. Leppan
	Mrs M. Wood
	Mr N. Woods
		Additional Executive Committee Members - Non Trustee
	Mrs B. Baggs	Membership Secretary
		Group Nominated Representatives - Non Trustee
	Mr P. Wemyss	Creekmoor CommunityAssociation
	Mr J. Biggs	Poole and East Dorset Art Society
	Mrs S. Preston	Lytchett Minster and Upton Floral Club

Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Type		Name	Name	Name	Dates acted if not for whole year
Bankers			Barclays Bank plc
Insurers			Markel International Insurance Company Limited	20 Fenchurch Street, London. EC3M 3AZ
Independent Examiner			Mr Sau Kee Li CTA ATT	87 North Road, Poole, Dorset. BH14 0LT

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document Adopted 29[th] March 1999 (eg. trust deed, constitution) Amended: 4[th] April 2005, 3[rd] April 2006, 8[th] April 2013, 30[th] March 2015, 20[th] June 2022 How the charity is constituted Independent Association of Members (eg. trust, association, company) Elected and nominated from the membership annually and approved at Trustee selection methods the AGM. Co-opted during year by Executive Committee if required. (eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Youmay chooseto include additional information, where relevant, about: •policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees; •the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works; •relationship with any related parties; •trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

Membership of the Charity is open to individuals and organisations interested in Upton Country Park and Upton House. The FUCP activities are managed through an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee met on 3 occasions during the year. (owing to the vacancy of the Chair position, the President has acted as Chair and will do so until a new Chair has been elected) All members of the Executive Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the objects of the charity set out in its governing document Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

To promote the educational and physical recreational aspects of Upton Country Park. To improve the area and facilities and amenities within it.

• Liaison with BCP council, regarding refurbishments, improvements and upgrades in the Park and House. • Raise, or assist in raising of funds for Upton Country Park • Represent collectively all persons and organisations interested in Upton Country Park and to encourage the use of Upton Country Park. • Operating the Kiosk at the rear of Upton House. • Providing stewards to enable the public to view parts of Upton House and generate not only local interest, but also the interest from holiday visitors. In all these activities, the Trustees have given consideration to the Charity Commission guidelines on public benefit. These main activities have contributed finances and support to enhance the facilities within Upton Country Park. The final element of the Welcome Centre project was completed in 2024 with opening of a new volunteer area. Volunteers interface with the Public whilst undertaking their roles, providing invaluable help and information about Upton Country Park.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

Youmay chooseto include further statements, where relevant, about: •policy on grantmaking; •policy programme related investment; •contribution made by volunteers.	Volunteers have been instrumental in fund raising and ensuring that visitors have been kept informed about Upton Country Park and FUCP.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year	FUCP and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) have met during the year to cooperate on fundraising schemes in support of enhancements to the Park and House. In 2023 FUCP successfully obtained a grant of £780 from the International Tree Foundation, for some hedgerow trees. This grant was used in 2024 purchasing 700 Whips (one year old trees) to restore the hedge lines. In 2023 FUCP had agreed to fund £3,500 for the acquisition of some wildlife monitoring and surveillance equipment for use in the Park by our volunteer group. During 2024, £3,004.93 was used to acquire the equipment. £840 was donated for the Walled Gardens box hedging. The FUCP Refreshment Kiosk was open by our volunteers on 127 days during the year, between February and December. This generated a sales income of £22,780. This is down approximately 2.5% on previous year. The kiosk also decided to open during the UCP Christmas Fayre in late November/December for two days. This proved to be successful raising over £500. Upton House was opened to the public by FUCP volunteers on 17 occasions for house tours and sales of books and souvenirs. This generated £1,064 in income, a decrease of 27.5% over last year. 7 new members joined FUCP during the year, and membership as at 31st December 2024 comprised 128 of which 3 are Honorary Members. As Treasurer, I wish to acknowledge the support and help of the charity's invaluable volunteers and trustees without whom the achievements during this period would not have been possible.
Section E Financial review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
	Cash at bank at 31/12/2023 was £84,868comprising £83,911in unrestricted funds. £160,000 was again re-invested in 2 separate interest bearing 1 year bonds. (£80,000 each)

Details of any funds materially None in deficit

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Summary of Project Funding 2024:You may choose to include additional information, where Projects completed by FUCP:- relevant about:

Projects completed by FUCP:- Moth Traps & Surveillance to date £3,005 Walled Gardens Box Hedging £840.00

• the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising); Donations to the Borough of Poole for Projects:-

• • how expenditure has Library & Dining Room Restoration £3,800 Glass on Cabinet in Dining Room £190.00

• supported the key objectives of the charity; Total £ 7,835

• • investment policy and objectives including any Contingent Liabilities Allocated:-

• ethical investment policy Moth Traps and Surveillance Equipment £957

• adopted. Total £957

Section F Other optional information

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report, prepared by Lindsey Mumford (Treasurer and Trustee 01/01/24 to 31/12/24), above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)	Mike Yeomans	Lindsey Mumford
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)	President	Treasurer and Trustee
Date	30/04/25	30/04/25