Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1[st] January 2025 to 31[st] December 2025
Charity name: The Otford Society
Charity registration number: 272974
Objectives and Activities
Purpose of the Charity
Our purpose is to preserve, as far as possible, all aspects of Otford’s character and village life and when required, to act as the voice of our community.
Summary of the main activities
In 2025 the society has organised events and made donations to support its purpose.
Specifically…
The society has organised….
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The Summer Village Fete
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A Summer BBQ
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A Christmas Fayre
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Santa’s Grotto
The society has made contributions to help fund….
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Watering of Apple Trees for the village
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A bench and planter outside the library
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An Easter treasure hunt for local children,
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Food for local families at Christmas
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Christmas lights for the village
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Christmas Tree for the village
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Flowers at Otford Station
Trustees Guidance
The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Contribution made by volunteers
Total volunteer numbers were at 143. A peak event total of 45 volunteered to help with the Summer Fete in May.
Achievements and Performance
In 2025 the Otford Society continued to play an important role in helping to enhance life for residents of Otford. It did this in four main ways.
The Society managed events and projects that brought the community together. These included: Easter treasure hunt for local children, the Village, the Summer BBQ, and Christmas Fayre. Christmas Grotto, Christmas lights for the village and Christmas Tree for the village
The Society formed the “Otford Protection Committee” in response to the Sevenoaks District Council emerging local plan which included developments on Green Belt Land around the village. The committee organised a survey of residents and an extraordinary meeting of all members. It has resolved to fight the developments in 2026.
The Society added to its “Fighting Fund” designed to enable it to act as a voice for the village. At the extraordinary meeting (see above) it was resolved to use as much of the fund as necessary to fighting inappropriate developments mentioned in the emerging local plan. The fund was subsequently renamed the “Village Protection Fund”.
The Society made contributions to other charities that helped local families and had a wider benefit to society, specifically Food for local families at Christmas and the Kent Air Ambulance via book sales at Otford Station .
Financial Review
During 2025 the Society generated a surplus of £12,221, increasing funds available from £46,354 at the start of the year to £58,125 at year end.
During the year, the Society’s gross income rose to £33,652 (it was £28,198 in 2024). £2,508 of income was from Membership and other donations (a slight increase from the previous year’s 2,078). The Society managed to raise £11,610 from projects such as the Great British BBQ, Santa’s Grotto and the Christmas Fayre, a substantial increase over the £6,664 raised in 2024. Meanwhile, the organisation of the Otford Village Fete brought in £16,599 a small decrease from £17,715 in 2024.
Meanwhile, expenditure increase only slightly in proportion to income, rising from £17,393 in 2024 to £21,430 in 2025. £10,055 (£6,326 in 2024) of the total was spent on our village projects whilst £5,942 (£6,295 in 2024) went on the organisation of the Otford Village Fete. We also spent £3,324 (£2,822 in 2024) on charity contributions and £958 (£915 in 2024) on insurance.
During the year, the Society transferred a further £10,000 into our savings account at United Trust Bank and by the end of the year the total in the account was £50,000. Interest totalling £1,676 (£1,421 in 2024) was transferred to our current account in November.
The Society’s continued financial strength is attributable to the dedication and commitment of its volunteers, Trustees and Managing Committee. In particular, the incredible investment of volunteer time and effort has paid off financially. Their collective contribution ensured the successful delivery of the Otford Village Fete, Summer BBQ, Christmas Fayre and Santa’s Grotto as well as other initiatives throughout the year.
Policy for holding reserves
The society is committed to holding reserves in order to mitigate the risk of an unforeseen emergency or other unexpected need for funds as well as to provide a small contingency fund to meet unforeseen operational costs
Reserves held
During the year the Society transferred £10,000 into its savings account at United Trust Bank. At the end of the year there was £50,000 in the account.
Structure, Governance and Management
The charity is governed by a Constitution (2024)
The Charity is an unincorporated association
Trustees are elected for up to three years (2024 Constitution)
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Otford Village Society |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | The Otford Society |
| Registered charitynumber | 272974 |
| Charity’s principal address | Claremont House Shoreham Road Otford Kent TN14 5RW |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simon Featherstone | Co-Chair | Allyear |
| 2 | Carol Bent | Secretary | Allyear |
| 3 | Chris Sutton | Treasurer Co-Chair |
All year |
| 4 | Graham Bignell | Allyear | |
| 5 | Phil Clucas | To April 2025 | |
| 6 | Claire Croft | Vice Chair | Allyear |
| 7 | HarryOldham | From April 2025 |
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 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Christopher James William Sutton | ||
Co-Chair |
||
| 03 /06/2026 | ||
| 03 /06/2026 |
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31/12/25 OTFORD SOCIETY - ACCOUNTS 2025
2025 2024
Receipts Payments Net Total Receipts Payments Net Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Member donations 2,508 2,508 2,078 2,078
Other donations 1,258 1,258 60 60
Projects 11,610 10,055 1,555 6,664 £6,326 338
Otford Fete 16,599 5,942 10,657 17,715 £6,295 11,420
Charity payments from Fete Fund 3,324 -3,324 £2,822 -2,822
Other income 1,676 1,676 1,681 1,681
Insurance 958 -958 £915 -915
Website 224 -224 £0 0
Other payments 926 -926 £748 -748
Total receipts / payments for year 33,652 21,430 12,221 28,198 £17,106 11,092
Funds at start of year 46,354 35,262
Funds available 58,575 46,354
Asset purchases 450 0
Total funds at end of year 58,125 46,354
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