Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date
Charity name: North Devon Environmental Trust
Charity registration number: 296707
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To re-connect and engage local people and visitors to nature and heritage around Braunton and across North Devon, by increasing understanding, awareness and enjoyment of natural, coastal, farmed and historical landscapes |
| 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 |
The principal activity of the NDET is the management of the Braunton Countryside Centre (BCC), which is held on a 99-year lease to the Trust from Braunton Parish Council. The Centre provides a visitor interpretation and information hub with displays and information covering many of the areas’ special features including the wider North Devon Biosphere Reserve, the famous dune system of Braunton Burrows, Braunton Marshes and Estuary, the rocky coast, farming and the historic 'Great Field'. The NDET organizes many activities such as botanical walks on the Burrows, birdwatching in the Taw estuary, Bat walks, wildlife talks, children’s nature craft workshops and community events such as plant and seed swaps and apple pressing days |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The Trustees are aware of their responsibilities to the NDET and the public. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements |
where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| SORP reference | ||
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | The volunteers contribute over 2,900 hours to the running of the NDET each year. |
| 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 | Following the successful NLHF grant application in 2022 for the Connect to Nature (C2N) project, the Trust commenced a two-year programme of activities and improvements. These included: upgrading its social media platforms, Facebook and website; creating a monthly newsletter; hiring temporary support staff to manage many events inside and outside of the BCC; training courses for the BCC volunteers and Trustees. During 2024 there were visits from local schools and disadvantaged groups. These included Afghan refugee families currently housed in nearby Chivenor. Also of note were the Braunton Wellbeing walks arranged in co-operation with Live Well in Braunton group and Caen Medical Centre. They are very popular and of great benefit to many elderly people who enjoyed the gentle local walks and socializing with refreshments in the Centre afterwards. |
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As a result, the status of the BCC as a
community hub has been enhanced.
Demand to hire its facilities, visitor and
local footfall, recruitment of volunteers
and Trustees have all increased.
----- End of picture text -----
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
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Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives Para 1.41
set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
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Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | Healthy balance in credit. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | No set policy but sufficient funds retained to cover maintenance and running costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
| 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 | Donation boxes, sales of environmentally related items such as booklets, identification charts, wildlife cards, local maps. Donations for organised activities. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | No secure sources of core funding |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Deed of Trust |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Unincorporated Association |
| 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 | Potential candidates are identified and invited to join the trustees, subject to references, informal vetting and approval by the full trustee board. The trustees check that the candidates have not been disqualified from acting as trustees, and candidates are asked to confirm in writing that this is the case. New Trustees receive an information pack of important documents which include a copy of the deeds of the Trust, and a copy of the Charity Commission’s’ Essential Trustee Guide - What You Need to Know’. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | North Devon Environmental Trust |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses | Braunton Countryside Centre |
| Registered charitynumber | 296707 |
| Charity’s principal address | Braunton Countryside Centre Caen St. Car Park Braunton EX33 1AA Devon |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. Rutherford | Chair | Resigned 31/12/24 | ||
| M. Breeds | ||||
| B. Price | ||||
| R. Price | ||||
| D. Jenkins | ||||
| S. Batstone | ||||
| S. Gilbert | ||||
| I. Davis | ||||
| K. Boyd | ||||
| M. Ward | ||||
| D. Stephens-Borg | Joined 29/05/24 | |||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
N/A
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 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Mark Ward | ||
Co-chair of Trustees |
||
| 17/07/2025 | ||
| 17/07/2025 |
North Oe¥oTr EnvlionmentalTrust Income and Expendilurn Account lorth•y•ar•ftd•d 310•c•mbei2024 Z716/L _LKo,:
North Devon EmTlronrneni4lTru Income and ExpendlluweA¢¢ouMtsrthey•wended31 December2024 2024 2024 Mo•e¥ Aestrtcted Unrnstrlcted 2024 Tolal 2023 Total Inc¢m• Giant Income FunrJrai3lng Income Other Income £98.546 £2.070 £2 £98.546 £16,924 £1.043 £49.994 £13.946 14,854 £843 Totallncoffl• E15,697 £116.513 £84.1 Expendlture fuDdialsing Cosrs Diroct Gr4nt Expondbture Stattcosts Offi'ce and Aiknlnlsv8tfveCostg Oveiheads £7A91 .167 EIO.OS8 E7,781 £0 £31,883 18,398 E5.706 £40.037 £25030 £2.582 £40,037 £26,630 9.405 TOtalExnI1wr4 3,748 É24A7• BNY(I Income and Expndlture Funds I laDuary2024 11,789 E36,577 £24.788 £23,605 ¢lwd Income •nd Expendltw• Funds 31 D•¢ember2024 EU007 £4U04 £55,171 t24,788 Norttt O•von En¥lmTrmentilYrust ststemenl of A¥Jets U•bMltl¢g ot Ji r)•e•Mb•w 2024 2024 2024 2024 rotal 2023 Totil ¢urr¢TrtAs$•ts Cash in bank <28.958 £234 E28,968 E234 £25.033 £30 É1.938 £1,928 E24.791 Debtors Cr•dltsrn Duewlthln l yr HMRC NEST TlL¢urr•t itsbllllles E24.791 £275 £0 £275 £83 £750 Mi Net centAll¢ E53.232 £1.938 £55,171 E24.788 Assets retalned fortho Chartty'sown use ont¢nt$ FreehoLdpropertyLangsWood £36,0) £5 £36.000 £500 The118craIst•terctswere8pprw8dbyeTrwStet$Oft.. And 5igrnd on thelibenalf by. Markward Co-chalr North Dwon EnvlMmentsiTrust 271L/z r
Noio¥totheA¢¢owts Nole l-GraThl kncom• 2024 202J Totsl Restrfeied reStrted Trtal LF £X746 .746 £46.994 £3,000 Fuuabwook BrauThton Par4sh Council Devott County Council North Dewm C4slylci Councll El.250 £1,250 £550 £650 Tot•1 l1¢0m £¢4 £98,548 U9.991 Not• 2. Fundralalni 2024 R•thct•d lknr•iirki•d .070 £7.285 2024 Tot•1 E9,355 21123 Totsl £3,307 Cash ind Cardsales t7.21S ,307 Tilks and Evonts LF EventtKrt Waik5 1.188 £1.186 £0 £218 £325 El,563 El,759 É2.516 £1.598 É2.578 £810 £499 £1.270 ÉL.989 É1.895 £2 E32S É1.$63 £1.759 .516 Hlr¢ Cfalt Market Oon8tlons Churn18ox Donotlons oth•r Fundr•lilnxin¢om• É10.039 T#ialFundral$ln$ IneoM• £2.070 214.854 218.924 £13. FundFalsln#CD Athertislng and Promotlon Puichases forsalesande¥ent5 £1.241 E2.261 £2,675 El,714 21,241 £3.687 £3.416 £1.714 É731 E6.011 £1.039 £1,426 £741 Volunteer C06t$ Eveni Co$1 Tot41 Fundralsln¢coSt¥ .117 f lQ.OSI £7,781 Nel Incornq from Ful1{$1# 45.821 £12.687 £6.185 Ilote 3.Olher kneomè 2023 Totsl £935 R•3trf¢l•d Unrestrt¢t•d £É76 £67 Totsl £676 E67 ElgciiSciiyF¢¢d IDTanff Interesi Recefvable otherlncorne Totil Oth•rln¢ome f5$ E2 £1 £1.043 £991 P)t• 4- Dlre¢tGrantExpendlture 2024 2024 2023 171 Ll21- NPÉI
Total Coffee Machlne OtheF Trfal Dlrectoiant EApendllw• Noto5.siaff Co 2024 2Q24 Restrlcted UnFe5tr1ct•d 2J24 Ttstsi 2023 TiavelExpense5 Wages Penslon C06ts HMRC Tr•lnlng E601 £32.862 £603 £4.501 £1.470 É601 £32,862 È431 £24,709 £614 £4,871 £1)38 É4,501 £1.470 Totalstjff Cosii o,oJ? É40.037 E31.863 Note e. Omlu indAdmlnliiiakn CMts 2024 2024 A•strt¢ied Unr•strlci•d £60 2024 2023 Totsi T¢t Bank Chaiges ITCost5 Phoneand Broadband Professionalse¢0s GeTrerBIAthmisiraiion Trf•I OM¢•nd Admlnlstrntlon £80 El.061 £637 £1&640 É33 £18 £24.548 El,233 £33 £693 £671 £24.548 £1,296 221,8YJ £63 f600 £U.3•B N•t•7.Ov•rh•ad• 2024 R•trfd•d ilnmtri¢t•d £1.253 É2,978 f2.232 É362 2Q24 Tot•l £1,253 t6.558 £2,232 £362 2023 Insurince5 R¢p&irs and Malntsnan¢e Elqttrlclty Water £1.254 £2.348 El,840 Totol Ov•rhud• ,823 t9,405 É5,70• ¥716f i
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
| Report to the trustees On accounts for the year ended Set out on pages Responsibilities and basis of report |
Charity Name North Devon Environmental Trust |
Charity Name North Devon Environmental Trust |
Charity Name North Devon Environmental Trust |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Charity no (if any) |
296707 | |
| 1 - 4 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) |
|||
| I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31/12/2024. As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. |
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Independent [ ~~The charity~~ ’ ~~s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to~~
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examiner's statement ~~undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]~~ ]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination ( ~~other than that disclosed below *~~ ) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Name: TRACEY MUNRO
Date: 30[th] June 2025
Relevant professional ASSOCIATION OF CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS (ACCA)
1
Oct 2018
IER
qualification(s) or body (if any):
Address:
5 YORK CLOSE
EXMOUTH
DEVON EX8 4EQ
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2
Oct 2018
IER