## **The Friends of Holland Park** **Report and Accounts – Year to 31 December 2021** **Charity number 281348** **The Friends of Holland Park Accounts for the Year to 31 December 2021 Report of the Trustees** ## **Legal Structure** The Friends of Holland Park (“The Friends”) is a registered Charity (registration number 281348) governed by its constitution and rules. The constitution (with the exception of the clauses relating to Objects, Dissolution and Amendments) can only be amended in relation to the Charity’s name and application of income and property by the assent of not less than two thirds of the members present at a general meeting and in relation to the remainder of the constitution by the assent of a majority of members present at a general meeting. The president is Sir Angus Stirling. The trustees who held office since 1 January 2021 were: NJW Brockmann GGR Franklin SA French RDN Hopkins JA Kettlewell, Chairman RJ Kulczycki - Resigned 7 November 2021 JE Puritz SP Spassov, Treasurer AM Walker RM Wood, Secretary ## **Objects and Policies** The objects of the Charity are for the public benefit to secure the preservation, protection and improvement of Holland Park as a place of historical and ecological interest and beauty; to promote the conservation of the natural plant, animal and bird life of the park, in particular, its retention as a natural woodland habitat for wildlife; and to educate the public in the history, natural history and other aspects of the park. ## **Management and Organisation** The officers of the Charity are the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers and committee are elected by members at the AGM. The trustees do not receive any remuneration or benefits from the organisation and no staff are employed by the Charity. ## **Review of Activities and Achievements during the Year 2021** Work to carry out The Friends’ charitable purposes for the public benefit is in four main areas: - Monitoring the condition of the historic assets of the park and working with the council to create and implement acceptable conservation solutions - Donations and sponsorship for park projects in accordance with our objects - Raising funds through events and sale of merchandise, though this was limited in 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic - Education of the local community on the history and natural history of the park. 2021 was a second atypical year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Live events inside, were again cancelled, including the annual art exhibition, but lifting of restrictions allowed us to hold our Christmas Concert. Lack of face-to-face events meant fewer opportunities to sell merchandise and to recruit new members. Projects for improvement of the park continued, though were more complex and slower to complete, and it was still possible for The Friends to contribute a sizeable sum in grants to Holland Park. ## _Conservation of historic assets:_ Phase 1 of the conservation of Grade 1 listed Holland House was completed, prior to Opera Holland Park taking over the site in March 2021. The work on the East Wing, supervised by conservation architects, Allies & Morrison, was on time and on budget. The Friends were consulted throughout. Phase 2 started in October 2021. ## _Donations and sponsorship to fund Holland Park projects:_ Having worked closely with RBKC on a ten-year Management Plan for Holland Park, The Friends regularly discuss progress on implementation of the plan with Park Management. Priorities were agreed and provided a focus for donations and sponsorship during the year: - Development of a new garden as a quiet area for those that find busy areas of the park challenging. The Friends sought private donors for this project and a sum of £45,000 was paid into The Friends bank account, ring-fenced for this purpose. £17,162 was paid out of this sum for costs of the project in 2021. - Proactive tree care work continued with a grant of £380. The Friends achieved agreement to plant a row of mature trees along the north fence of the sports field and the long-term relationship with Bartletts resulted in the tree experts generously planting the trees at no cost. - Base habitat surveys were carried out (£6,371) as a precursor to starting the Woodland Management Plan. - New signage was created and installed at the entrance to the Kyoto Garden (£665) - Funding of on-line wildlife talks, organised by the Ecology Centre, so that there was no charge to participants (£1,615). _Education:_ The Kyoto Garden and Notable Trees guides were updated and reprinted (£3,708). The programme of History and Decorative Art tours, led by Blue Badge Guides, was re-started and a guided walk on the identification of the birds in Holland Park took place in September 2021. The Friends engaged with the Dalgarno Trust and Nova charities to encourage people from the north of the borough to visit Holland Park and make them welcome. Regular Friends’ pop-up stalls in Holland Park served to inform visitors about the park, generate funds through sales of merchandise and sign up new members. _Building relationships_ : The Friends continue to work closely with council officers, the Parks Police and elected councillors, who all involve The Friends in decisions concerning Holland Park. The Friends also maintain productive contact with Opera Holland Park and other stakeholders in the park. _Gift Aid_ : Repayments from HMRC Charities received in 2020 were: - £1,694 for Membership Subscriptions - £1,038 for Donations. The number of members was marginally fewer than in pre-Covid years, due to lack of opportunities to meet in person and to artists not joining for the Art Exhibition. The AGM was held by Zoom on 13 October 2021. Voting was carried out electronically at the meeting, all trustees being re-elected. The trustees have complied with their duty to have regard to the guidance of public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and duties. ## **2022 – achievements to date and plans for the remainder of the year** Stage 2 of the conservation work on grade 1 listed Holland House, and some of the listed structures under its curtilage, finished on 7 March 2022. The work has been carried out to a very high standard, on time and on budget. The Friends have been invited to inspect throughout the work. It is expected that Holland House will be removed from Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register. The Friends continue to work with Opera Holland Park to ensure commitment to reduce the build and remove time for the temporary opera buildings, so that the re-landscaped Holland House terrace can be open to the public for a longer period each year. Opera Holland Park sought input to their planning application for 2022-24. _Donations and sponsorship to fund Holland Park projects:_ Decompaction and aeration of the Trumpet Sculpture Lawn was completed in January for the health of the trees and for the regeneration of grass. The Friends contributed £5,000 to the cost. Work on the new quiet garden has been progressed, with completion due in mid-April. Plants and custom-made benches have been ordered. A further £42,605 will be due when benches and posts are delivered, the major part being funded by a generous donor. The Friends are working with RBKC officers to deliver the actions set out in the ten-year Holland Park Management Plan. We have committed to funding further habitat and species surveys as the first stage of the Woodland Management Plan, continuation of the proactive tree health programme, and funding of the 2021 Ecology Service events for the public. We provided input to the borough Biodiversity Action Plan and the RBKC Local Plan. _Fundraising and Members’ social events:_ The Art Exhibition will run for the first time in three years, during which time a ticketed concert is booked. The Christmas Concert is scheduled to take place in The Orangery in December. _Education:_ There is a full schedule of Blue Badge guided History and Decorative Art tours in Holland Park, a guided tree walk and bird walks are planned. Regular pop-up stalls in the park will provide information to all, and activities for children will encourage their interest in the park. Further visits are planned for the Dalgarno Trust. The Friends are working with the Butterfly Conservation Trust to produce a guide to the butterflies of Holland Park. Information installations are planned to explain the history of Holland House and the families that lived in it. The Trustees consider that the present resources of the Charity are adequate to meet its obligations. ## **Risk Management** The trustees have given consideration to the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, reviewed and revised the Risk Register and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage those risks. The trustees will continue to monitor risks and to carry out an annual review. The charity has a Privacy Statement on its website and manages data in line with its Privacy Policy and the General Data Protection Regulation. ## **Reserves Policy** The trustees consider that the Charity should hold a minimum reserve equivalent to 50% of annual expenditure, to ensure that the quarterly newsletter can continue and other necessary expenditure can be paid if, due to unforeseen circumstances, the projected income is not received. Any reserves in excess of this are held pending expenditure on, or donations towards, projects related to the park in accordance with the Charity’s objects. The Friends made donations £30,535 to the park in 2021, an increase from £21,378 in 2020, which is gratifying considering the limitations imposed by the pandemic. It is expected that funding in line with our charitable objects will again increase in 2022, due to the quiet garden project for which generous donations have been received. The Charity continues to have substantial reserves due to many very generous donations from members. ## **Trustees’ Responsibilities** Charity Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any - material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. **Jennie Kettlewell (Chairman) 28 February 2022** The Friends of Holland Park ststoment of Flnanclal Actlviti05 forth• y•ar •nd•d 31 D0￿mber 2021 2021 Income from: Donations & legacles: Donations Legacies Charitable actlvltles: Subscriptions 78.770 39.495 78.770 39,495 12,546 12.856 Other trading incomo". Events Sale of merchandise Advertising Interest Total incoming r0￿UrCeS 2.313 3.437 1.810 1,258 2.038 1.811 7.560 88 98.964 5, 107 IT3 57.631 Exponditure on: Raislng funds: Fundraising Event expenses Cost of merchandise Charitable a¢tlvitlos: Newsletter Grants & aims expenditure Govemance 2,611 2,775 1.765 6.200 516 4.471 6,934 30,535 1.275 7.378 21,378 3024 38.744 31.rn) Total resources •xpond8d 36251 Net incom• Totsl funds brought forward 54.020 153.413 21.380 132.033 Total funds carried forward 207,433 153,413 Balance Sh8•t as at 31 Decembor 2021 Current assets". Debtors & prepayments Deposit & currerrt accounts Creditors: Amounts falling due bmthin C￿ yeor 2.1S6 206.350 208,$06 262 153,232 15&494 81 Net assets 207 433 153,413 ## **Notes to the accounts for 2021** 2021 was the second of two atypical years, due to Covid. However, the comparison between 2021 and 2020 are like for like. - The 2021 accounts have been independently examined. - Income increased from £57,631 in 2020, to £98,964 in 2021, due to much-appreciated donations. This included amounts of £25,000, £35,000 and £10,000, with a wish for the money to be spent on specific projects or types of improvement, as well as many other donations from generous members. - Event income and costs increased, year on year, although low compared to pre-Covid years. We were unable to run most of our Orangery events, but did run tours and pop-up stalls with associated income and costs. - Cost of merchandise, at £1,765, increased due to payment for Holland Park honey, which we re-sold at a profit. - Grants to the park, at £30,535, were up from £21,378 which was pleasing given the restrictions of Covid. - Governance costs were lower than in 2020, as a decision was made not to use an external voting service for the AGM. - The Gift Aid refund for 2021 was £2,732.11. Many of the larger donations were from trusts and not eligible for Gift Aid. - Net income was £54,020, v £21,380 in 2020. This is due to grant spend delayed until the first quarter of 2022. - Total funds carried forward stood at £207,433. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention, in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS102) and applicable accounting standards. _Cost of generating funds_ represents expenditure on membership, events and merchandise for sale. _Charitable expenditure_ includes all expenditure directly related to the objects of the charity and comprises grants paid, the production of the newsletter and the cost of administration. _Governance costs_ represent expenditure incurred in the organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. ## **Report of the Independent Examiner** I report on the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2021. This report is made solely to the Charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity's trustees as a body, for my work, for this report or for the opinions I have formed. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner** The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. They consider that an audit is not required under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 act; - follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commis- sioner under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 act; and - state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner's Report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent Examiner's Statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the require- ments: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 act; and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 act; have not been met; or b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. R Foreman FCA 2, Dalrymple Close Chelmsford, CM1 7RF Date: 4 March 2022