## **TREASURER’S REPORT FOR AGM 10TH MAY 2025** 

Our financial year runs from January 1st 2024 to December 31st 2024 and the main figures are as follows: 

||**Unrestricted Funds**|**Restricted Funds**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**|£69,312|£19,000|£88,312|
|**Expenditure**|£67,586|£1,100|£68,686|
|**Net Income**|**£1,726**|**£17,900**|**£19,626**|
|**Balance from 2023**|£127,156|£61,364|£188,520|
|**Balance as at 31/12/24**|**£128,882**|**£79,264**|**£208,146**|



General funds held by the Society are known as ‘unrestricted’ funds and grant funding for specific purposes is known as ‘restricted' funds. 

Overall, total funds held by the society as at 31st December 2024 were £208,146 - this is an increase of approximately £20,000 on the previous year (2023) 

## **Unrestricted general funds** 

This amounted to £128,900 which is an increase of about £2,000 in the year. 

Main areas of income include: 

- £10,500 from the Adrian Swire Trust. 

- Membership fees totalled approx £27,000 and total paying membership numbers were 593 up from 553 on the previous year. 

- Bank interest received during the year was £4,000 

- We also received £5,000 from the King Charles III Charitable fund. 

Main items of expenditure include: 

- Newsletter costs £4,000 

- Lantra accreditation assessment £6,000 

- Website development £17,400 (we have since received in 2025 grants from The Tree Council towards this cost) 

- Affiliated groups training grants £1,800 

- Chainsaw grants £1,000 

- Employee costs £8,700 

- Travelling costs £3,500 

- General admin costs £3,100 

- Insurance £1,000 

- Legal fees £1,100 



## **Championship 2024** 

Income and expenditure from the championships is also part of unrestricted funds. 

The event generated income of £10,500 through sponsorship, entrance fees, draw ticket sales and stall holders. 

However, expenditure totalled £15,000 which included £3,600 for hedge laying materials and £1,600 on traffic control. 

This resulted in a net cost to the society of approx £4,500 for the event. 

The balance of £128,882 held in unrestricted funds at year end includes approximately £24,000 as the value of assets held by the society (trophies, trailer and merchandise) 

## **Restricted funds** 

This relates to grants for specific purposes.  During the year we received a further £15,000 from the Ernest Cook Trust for apprenticeship funding as well as a new grant of £4,000 from The Nelson and Jean Dance Trust (New Quadrant) specifically for career change assistance. 

The society currently holds approx £80,000 in ‘restricted’ funds with a large amount of this having been received many years ago.  Over the next year we will endeavour to review how these funds can/should be spent. 

## **Summary** 

The society’s  funds (including assets) stood at £208,000 at year end 2024 and we are in a very sound financial situation.  The trustees are continuing to explore ways of how best to promote hedge laying and support all those people interested in the craft. 

The accounts have been independently examined by Chris Wade of Lealindis Ltd and have found to be accurate.  (A few copies of the full accounts are available for viewing but are some 19 pages long). The society is obliged by law to submit a copy of the accounts to the Charity Commission. 

_**John Vickery Treasurer 10th May 2025**_