TEES VALLEY WILDLIFE TRUST LIMITED
(Company Limited by guarantee – not having a share capital)
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
For the year ended 31[st] March 2023
Registered charity number 511068
Company Registered in England: Number 1528307
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts LEGAL & ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Trustees | John Dear | Chair |
|---|---|---|
| Keith Hissitt | Secretary | |
| Mark Fishpool | Treasurer | |
| Jackie Henderson | ||
| Julie Mason | ||
| Mike McNulty | ||
| Brian Nicholson | ||
| Alan Simkins | ||
| Paul Swalwell | ||
| Siobhan Callaghan | ||
| Anne Johnson | ||
| Lynne Hammond | ||
| Chief Executive | Jeremy Garside | |
| Charity number | 511068 | |
| Company number | 1528307 | |
| Registered office | Margrove Heritage Centre | |
| Margrove Park | ||
| Saltburn | ||
| TS12 3BZ | ||
| Website | www.teeswildlife.org | |
| Independent examiner | Draycott & Kirk | |
| Cleveland House | ||
| 92 Westgate | ||
| Guisborough | ||
| TS14 6AP | ||
| Bankers | Barclays Bank PLC | CAF Bank |
| PO Box 235 | Kings Hill | |
| Stockton on Tees | West Malling | |
| TS17 6YJ | Kent | |
| ME19 4TA |
CAF Bank is a subsidiary of the Charities Aid Foundation
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts CONTENTS
| Trustees’ report | page 3 to 11 |
|---|---|
| Independent examiner’s report | page 12 |
| Statement of financial activities | page 13 |
| Balance sheet | page 14 |
| Notes to the financial statements | page 15 to 23 |
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
The trustees, who are also the directors of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Limited for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that 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 Companies Act 2006. 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.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1[st] January 2016).
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Summary of Activities in 2022/23
The Tees Valley Wildlife Trust’s operations have become increasingly pressing in light of the growing ecological emergency; the continued loss of species and the precipitous decline in biodiversity with wildlife, and indeed humanity, facing multiple challenges from the collapse of natural systems and a warming climate. Since the origins of many environmental problems lie in people’s attitude and behaviour, people are key to nature’s recovery. We need nature more than ever, yet we are increasingly disconnected from our natural environment.
The Trust’s work encompasses both the conservation of wildlife and the engagement of people with the natural world. Central to this is demonstrating the essential role that nature plays in issues as varied as the climate crisis, plant pollination and people’s wellbeing.
The following highlights reflect the breadth of activity and the achievements made during the year.
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48 households in Roseworth received a free tree pack from our Wildlife Gardening Champions project. A sapling birch, bird cherry or rowan tree was provide with information on planting and care.
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A record number of barn owls were raised through the Barn Owl Nestbox Network. The first clutches of eight eggs were recorded and overall owlet survival was up with a marked increase in owlets ringed; 170 compared with 53 in the previous year.
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Holidays and Food sessions were delivered on four days a week for four weeks of the school holidays. These ensured children who would benefit from a free school meal continued to be fed through the holidays as well as enjoying outdoor activities at a nature reserve with pond dipping, nature walks, bird and seal watching.
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17 new large wildlife ponds were excavated in rural parts of the Tees Valley. These were primarily to benefit great crested newts; a species which has suffered a massive decline and is now legally protected. We surveyed 5 ponds which we had created through this scheme in the previous year and found that 3 of these had already been inhabited by great crested newts.
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The first national conference on nature’s recovery was held in the Tees Valley and was attended by representatives of government, banks, businesses and financial institutions as well as voluntary conservation organisations.
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Volunteer teams completed key seasonal tasks at Portrack Marsh including vegetation cutting to maintain snipe numbers and the preparation of an island ready for its breeding colony of common terns.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
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Mink control was extended to a further 5 mile stretch of the River Tees, removing this vicious predator in a bid to restore populations of water vole – one of Britain's most endangered mammals. We received positive reports about the recovery of bird life following mink removal, with a marked increase in the number of water birds fledging and surviving to adulthood.
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A weekend volunteering group was established with the involvement of residents at Bonny Grove on Marton West Beck in Middlesbrough. This Local Wildlife Site was suffering from neglect with a decline in most of its meadow flowers. Work included the restoration of areas which had been invaded by scrub and some of the meadow-indicator species have already re-appeared at the site including great burnet.
REVIEW OF PERFORMANCE AGAINST OBJECTIVES
Protecting and Restoring Nature
In last year’s report we described how the Trust was seeking to restore space for nature at greater scale, to allow ecosystems to function at sustainable levels. At the same time we recognised the important role that nature reserves can play as safe havens for wildlife in an increasingly degraded landscape.
In July, we worked with Natural England, the government’s advisory body for the natural environment, to hold the first national conference on Nature Recovery Networks in the Tees Valley. Hundreds of representatives including from the biggest organisations and businesses in the country gathered for the first time to map out how they could work together to reverse nature’s decline
In his speech to the conference, Natural England Chair, Tony Juniper emphasised that nature restoration can no longer be the preserve of environmental charities and passionate specialists, but that it must be a shared endeavour across society. The conference explored the collaborative action needed to help drive delivery of Nature Recovery Networks, which will see England moving beyond the conservation of protected sites to active restoration of the natural world.
During the year, we restored habitats in the rural districts to the west of Hartlepool; both within our own nature reserve there and in the wider landscape. The Howls and The Batts form a continuous area of natural habitat along Char and Dalton Becks. The Howls is an area of ancient semi-natural woodland and has been a Tees Valley Wildlife Trust nature reserve since 1991. The Batts is an area of former farmland to the south of Dalton Piercy which has been purchased by the Parish Council with the intention that it be managed for wildlife and to benefit the community.
The steep slopes of Char Beck pose a particular challenge at The Howls, with erosion and soil slippage leading to tree loss with the resulting breaches in the tree canopy leading to growth of brambles. We worked to reduce erosion by restoring a path loop which encourages visitors to keep to a single route through the woodland. This involved the replacement of two bridges across Dalton beck, as well as installing various steps and path revetment works along a circular route. A new course was chosen and dug out for a flight of steps, the old one having followed a flow of water into the valley which had become susceptible to damage. Volunteer teams also thinned sycamore saplings to improve the structure of the woodland and allow germination of ash and holly, which are both characteristic species there. 30 bird boxes and 2 tawny owl boxes were constructed and installed throughout the reserve. Brambles were removed from the upper banks of the wooded valley to improve conditions for early purple orchids.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
In the Batts we established patches of wildflower-rich habitat within an extensive area of rough grassland, by blading-aside topsoil and using this to create insect-friendly bee banks. The benefit to pollinators has been noted by visitors.
We also worked with local residents to manage two small plantations that required thinning to create space for larger species like oak to grow to their fullest, and to remove some more competitive species, like beech and horse chestnut. This will also help diversify the age structure of the wood and create gaps for shrubs like hazel and holly.
Access routes around the site were improved by cutting paths, clearing wind-fall debris, and cutting back vegetation. To support the Parish Council's plans to increase use and local understanding of the site, we also designed and printed an information board and provided additional signage to address littering and vandalism.
In last year’s report we also said we would be increasing our coastal and marine conservation work locally and in partnership with the North Sea Wildlife Trusts. Our Wilder Coast project focussed on the shore and marine environment south of the River Tees and extending south to Staithes. This area is subject to pressures ranging from the impacts of offshore industry to the effects on sea birds of recreational activity. During the year, the project engaged nearly 1400 people through a variety of events including beach cleans, cetacean and bird surveys and family activities. It sought to change people’s behaviours affecting the coast and received nearly 600 Wilder Coast pledges.
Connecting People with Nature
Last year, we set out our long term strategy for connecting people with wildlife, with the objective that 1 in 4 people will be active for nature by 2030. In order to achieve this, we need to empower communities to take a lead in their own activities and interventions for wildlife. This became the focus of Nextdoor Nature, a new project in 2022/23 working with communities in Stockton-on-Tees.
Nextdoor Nature is part of a nationwide community mobilisation project operating across The Wildlife Trust with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Its intention is to create a legacy stemming from the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by bringing communities together to help nature flourish where they live and work.
Here in the Tees Valley, Nextdoor Nature began its work with groups in the Norton area of Stockton where the Quaker Friends Meeting House, Bright Minds Big Futures and Focus Norton redesigned and improved their own greenspaces for wildlife and opened these to benefit the wider community.
The Trust also started new activity with communities in East Middlesbrough under a Growing Active partnership involving Environment City, Groundwork and Barefoot Kitchen, commissioned by You’ve Got This; a Sport England initiative on tackling inactivity. Our work centred on Greystone Wood, a sizeable area of woodland on the edge of Grangetown with significant problems and potential. Considerable effort was given to addressing fly tipping and anti-social uses, while reaching out to the community through key venues such as the bingo club and boxing club. A programme of woodland restoration work was coordinated by the Trust and involved Council work teams and an expanding group of local volunteers. A series of family wildlife events was oversubscribed and enthusiastically received, demonstrating a great interest and demand for nature-themed activities in the area.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
New activity was also started at the Trust’s base at Margrove in East Cleveland. The Heritage Centre originated in 1876 as a school for the children of local ironstone miners and was located within a short distance of a series of mining settlements including Charltons, Margrove Park and Boosbeck. It was a logical step to offer space at the centre to re-engage with these neighbouring communities and our Wild Workshop project was opened in 2022 with support from the Prince’s Countryside Trust and the Sirius Minerals Foundation.
It used the “Men’s Sheds” model to provide support, tools and materials enabling people to come together to connect, converse and create while tackling loneliness and isolation.
Participants constructed bird and bat boxes, bird feeders and outdoor furniture. They also germinated wildflower plants and trees, all of which made an important contribution to the Trust’s wider work. Items that were produced could be purchased by our own projects, so ensuring long term sustainability for the Wild Workshop.
Tackling the Climate Crisis
In our 2021 report we said that the Trust would continue to review our carbon footprint and implement actions towards achieving our ambition of being carbon neutral by 2030. We also planned to work to establish the links between nature and wider environmental issues including promoting the carbon sequestration benefits of habitat restoration such as tree planting.
The Trust is a partner in Climate Action Middlesbrough, a wide ranging programme of awareness raising and behavioural change aimed at reducing the town’s greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the now inevitable effects of climate change. Our role in the project is to guide the delivery of natural climate solutions on sites; enhancements which will increase the sequestration of atmospheric carbon by natural habitats.
An important element of our work has involved the development of a community tree nursery which will provide local tree stock for current and future planting schemes. It will ensure that saplings are produced with attributes that are well-suited to local conditions while avoiding the amount of transportation involved in commercial nurseries. This has a carbon impact as well as increasing exposure to pests and tree diseases. Some of the tree seeds gathered by volunteers in previous years take considerable time to germinate and during the year, these efforts were rewarded with the emergence of the first rowan, hawthorn, crab apple and elm saplings.
Meanwhile the project team was kept busy planting new copses, hedgerows and woodlands on a wide variety of sites across Middlesbrough. During the 2022/23 season they planted a total of 6451 trees, working with 14 different community groups. Their most successful event was at Stewart Park, where 900 trees were planted in a single day
The Trust was also pleased to extend its nature-based solutions work into the Redcar and Cleveland Borough when it was asked to develop a new and challenging Biodiversity Strategy for the Council. Central to this was a review of Council owned greenspaces and the production of recommendations on how these might contribute to the borough’s climate targets by reducing intensive grass cutting regimes and replacing them with tree and hedge planting or with permanent, wildflower-rich grasslands.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
FOCUS FOR NEXT YEAR AND LONG-TERM STRATEGIES
The Trust sets out full details of its objectives in an annual Business Plan. From these, we can highlight the following objectives for 2023/24.
Protecting and restoring nature
Local Nature Recovery Strategies are a new approach to setting priorities for nature at a local level in England and are a statutory requirement of the Environment Act 2021. During the year, the Trust will be an active contributor to the planning and development of a Local Nature Recovery Strategy for the Tees Valley.
Our nature reserves are managed as the building blocks for nature’s recovery as well as spaces for people to reconnect with nature. Portrack Marsh is one of our most important reserves for wildlife and people, located at the very centre of the Teesside conurbation. During the year we will undertake new initiatives around this flagship reserve.
People taking action for nature
Our long term strategy is for personal support and action for nature to become the norm in society, with an objective that 1 in 4 people will be taking meaningful action for nature by 2030. To achieve this we need to support and encourage communities to take a lead in their own activities and interventions for wildlife.
During the year we will extend this community-empowerment approach to more of the Trust’s people and wildlife work while still supporting those in society who are least able to act or who suffer most from a disconnection from nature by enabling them to be active participants in nature’s recovery.
Nature-based solutions
In 2023/24 we will continue our work to demonstrate the central role that nature plays in wider environmental issues including the climate crisis, air pollution, soil protection, managing water, plant pollination and making a positive change to people’s physical and mental health.
We will continue to review our carbon footprint and implement actions towards achieving our ambition of being carbon neutral by 2030.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During 2022/23, the Trust was supported to deliver a wide range of projects and activities by grant giving bodies including the National Lottery Community Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Prince’s Countryside Trust, Tees Valley Community Foundation and Sirius Minerals Foundation. Further financial support for projects came from the Environment Agency, Natural England and the area’s five local authorities. Subscriptions from members and donations from the public continued to make a critical contribution to the Trust’s operations.
The high rate of inflation resulted in a significant challenge to the costs of running the charity and delivering projects. This was offset to some degree, by the Trust’s ongoing efforts to drive down overhead costs and reduce the use of fossil fuels. There is increasing concern about the impact of inflation and the general cost of living crisis on the charity’s employees. The Trust is doing all it can to balance this pressure by increasing salaries, although it is always aware of the need to remain financially sustainable.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
New financial arrangements designed under the Environment Act to support nature’s recovery are beginning to operate and offer potential to expand the Trust’s work in the near future. However, it is still of concern that the level of funding available for wildlife conservation does not yet reflect the urgency and scale of the threat that biodiversity loss presents to business, agriculture and society in general.
Reserves Policy
The free reserve is an important part of the Trust’s risk management process, protecting the organisation from a number of potential risks such as a short-term downturn in fundraising income or, as at present, rapid inflation in the cost of materials and travel. In addition, with some of the Trust’s project income paid in arrears of expenditure, the free reserve is also essential for managing cash-flow.
The trustees have agreed to establish a level of financial reserve that would support the operational costs of the charity for between 3 and 6 months. The funds currently available to the charity are £165,773. The trustees have reviewed the level of its free financial reserve against current staff numbers and the budgeted expenditure for the current financial year. They have concluded that this meets their requirements.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Structure and Governance
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Limited is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and is also a company limited by guarantee. It was founded in 1979 and was formerly known as the Cleveland Nature Conservation Trust and Cleveland Wildlife Trust. The organisation’s governing document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association. Anyone can become a member of the Trust.
The Council of Management of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Limited comprises a minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 trustees, who are also the directors of the company limited by guarantee. The Council is responsible for setting policy and strategy and for approving major commitments. A Chief Executive is appointed by the Council to manage the day to day operations of the charity. Trustees are elected from the membership and all members can nominate trustees prior to the Annual General Meeting. Trustees must retire at the third AGM following their election, although they are eligible for re-election. Council may co-opt additional trustees at any time. Trustees appointed by this method must not exceed one third of its elected membership and must retire from office at the next AGM.
New trustees undertake an induction following a written procedure, to brief them on their legal obligations under charity and company law and the management and operation of the charity. An induction pack is provided and includes items such as the governing document, trustee minutes and audited accounts. New trustees meet key employees of the charity and have the opportunity to visit its nature reserves and current project sites. The charity encourages training for trustees where this helps them to undertake their duties.
The Wildlife Trusts
The charity is a member of the Wildlife Trusts, a federation of 46 Wildlife Trusts which cover every part of the British Islands, along with the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (charity number 207238). While each member of the partnership remains entirely independent in terms of governance, The Wildlife Trusts work together collectively towards agreed strategic goals while sharing best practice, skills, and knowledge. They help each other to ensure that leadership and governance structures within Wildlife Trusts and across the movement
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
are underpinned by robust systems that promote a culture of sharing, learning, respect, and mutual trust, so that we can optimise opportunities for change.
Environmental Report
The Trust is committed to minimising any negative environmental impacts that result from our activities as part of our contribution to tackling the climate and ecological emergency. In order to assess and address these impacts we completed a third audit of our carbon footprint in 2021/22 following the standards of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. A summary is provided below.
The year saw a return to office or hybrid working following the coronavirus lockdowns of the previous year, as well as the reinstatement of engagement and volunteering activity that had not been possible during the covid pandemic. Despite this, carbon footprint shows a clear reduction in emissions against the baseline year.
| Baseline 2019/20 (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent) |
Audit for year 2020/21 (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent) |
Audit for year 2021/22 (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff commute | 29.60 | 5.92 | 14.75 |
| Staff mileage(work related travel) | 4.00 | 0.43 | 3.28 |
| Transport fuel: Diesel | 16.00 | 2.87 | 6.94 |
| Volunteer mileage | 2.30 | 0.23 | 2.05 |
| Electricity (inc. transmission and distribution) | 2.80 | 2.29 | 3.05 |
| Heatingfuel(oil) | 2.30 | 3.05 | 1.14 |
| Water & wastewater treatment | 0.00 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Material use(carbon costs of work materials) | 2.85 | 2.46 | |
| Waste and recycling | 0.08 | 0.57 | |
| Well to tank(processing,production and deliveryof fuel) | 3.13 | 7.96 | |
| Workingfrom home(Allowance for home heat /power) | 4.45 | 2.24 | |
| Total | 57.00 | 25.32 | 44.45 |
Public Benefit
The work of the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Limited addresses threats to people and the natural world such as the unsustainable consumption of the world's natural resources and damage to the natural ecosystems which support the planet. Our report provides detail of the benefits to people’s health and wellbeing that come from engagement with nature and access to natural environments. Our activities are provided for all sectors of society and our sites, which are distributed widely across the Tees Valley, are made freely available to all.
In reviewing our aims and objectives and as part of the planning of future work, the trustees have taken account of the guidance given by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Careful consideration is given to ensuring that activities consistently contribute to the charity’s objectives.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
Investment Policy
The trustees, having regard to the liquidity requirements of the charity’s project programme, some elements of which receive payment in arrears from grant funders, and to the financial reserves policy, have operated a policy of keeping available funds in interest bearing deposit accounts with competitive levels of interest and with ethical investment policies.
Remuneration Policy
Our approach to remuneration is designed to ensure we can attract and retain the talented and motivated people we need to achieve our mission and deliver our strategic goals. It is applied consistently across the organisation.
The trustees aim to pay staff competitively in the not-for-profit sector within the context of affordability. Salaries are benchmarked across the Wildlife Trusts partnership and against other environmental charities working in the North East of England.
The Management of Risk
The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the organisation has a sound system of internal control to safeguard its assets and funds, and that they use their best endeavours to ensure that its policies are implemented and its aims and objectives met. For reasons of cost and practicality, the system of internal control is intended to manage rather than eliminate risks, and to give reasonable rather than absolute assurances.
The system of internal control includes:
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An annual Business Plan which is developed by the trustees and staff. This is a strategic plan which covers the aims and objectives of the organisation and is used to ensure that all activity meets with the Trust’s charitable objects. The plan also sets a project programme and budget for the year
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Council reviews progress against the Business Plan and budget four times each year through management accounts and a project report.
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A Review and Development Group examines the progress and performance of key projects. Their findings are reported to Council. The Group also provides a forum for the development of new strategy and project activity
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A Project Management System is used to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of expenditure on projects and the achievement of outputs and outcomes.
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A Risk Register is reviewed regularly during the year and is updated annually by Council
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A Health and Safety Policy and Procedures are followed. Council reviews Health and Safety issues at least every six months. External Health and Safety audits and reviews are made by the Local Authority and the Health and Safety Executive.
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A policy and detailed working procedures are followed on child protection and working with vulnerable adults. They are subject to annual update and review.
This report was approved by the Council of Management on 27[th] July 2023 and is signed on their behalf by the Chair:
John Dear Chairman
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF TEES VALLEY WILDLIFE TRUST
I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 31st March 2023 which are set out on pages 13 to 23.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees, who are also the directors of Tees Valley Wildlife Trust for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. The Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Certified Accountants.
Having satisfied myself that the Charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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to 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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, 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 no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and
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to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities;
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have not been met; or
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(b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the
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financial statements to be reached.
C Mason FCCA Draycott & Kirk Chartered Accountants Cleveland House 92 Westgate Guisborough Cleveland TS14 6AP
Dated:
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
| Notes Income from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities 3 Investments Other income Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Net (outgoing)/incoming resources before transfers Gross transfers between funds Net income/(expenditure) for the year / Net movement in funds Fund balances at 1st April 2022 Fund balances at 31st March 2023 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 2,061 212,580 160 40 214,841 267,299 (52,458) 9,817 (42,641) 866,366 823,725 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 202 402,303 402,505 396,959 5,546 (9,817) (4,271) 243,156 238,885 |
Total Total 2023 2022 £ £ 2,263 93,427 614,883 555,798 160 14 40 106,249 617,346 755,488 664,258 603,751 (46,912) 151,737 - - (46,912) 151,737 1,109,522 957,785 1,062,610 1,109,522 |
|---|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31[st] MARCH 2023
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 8 Current assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 10 Net current assets Net assets Income funds Restricted funds 14 Unrestricted funds - general |
£ £ £ £ 811,684 672,975 14,350 18,025 276,932 445,962 291,282 463,987 40,356 27,440 250,926 436,547 1,062,610 1,109,522 238,885 243,156 823,725 866,366 1,062,610 1,109,522 2023 2022 |
|---|---|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31[st] March 2023.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements. So far as applicable to the company.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 27[th] July 2023
J Dear M Fishpool Chairman Treasurer
Company Registration No. 1528307
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
1. Accounting policies
Charity information
Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Margrove Heritage Centre, Margrove Park, Saltburn, TS12 3BZ.
Accounting convention
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2016).
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
1. Accounting policies
Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the income will be received.
Legacies are recognised at the earliest of the date the charity is notified of an impending distribution or of the legacy being received.
Cash donations are recognised as income in the year in which they are receivable any income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Grants receivable are shown gross and are recognised in the SOFA to the extent that they relate to the period up to the year end. Where funding has been given for a period that spans the year end, the amount that relates to the following period is deferred and carried forward.
Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under the headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Direct charitable expenditure includes the direct costs of the activities and depreciation on related assets. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. Gifted assets are included at fair value.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
| Freehold land | nil |
|---|---|
| Buildings | over 50 years |
| Fixtures, fittings and equipment | over 12 years |
| Motor vehicles | over 4 years |
Equipment purchases for restricted projects is written off in the year it is acquired due to the often short term nature of the projects.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset and is recognised in the net income/(expenditure) for the year.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
Accounting policies (continued)
Pension costs
The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. The costs of contributions are written off in the year they are payable.
Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
3. Income from charitable activities
| Conservation Education Membership Total income |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 91,879 19,148 103,814 214,841 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 363,295 39,210 402,505 |
Total Total 2023 2022 £ £ 455,174 428,834 58,358 23,614 103,814 103,350 617,346 555,798 |
|---|---|---|---|
4. Expenditure on charitable activities
| Staff costs Direct costs Premises costs Office costs Accountancy Legal fees Depreciation Staff costs Direct costs Premises costs Office costs Accountancy Legal fees Depreciation Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
Conservation 2023 307,168 103,472 410,640 40,801 369,839 410,640 |
Education 2023 56,457 9,968 66,425 39,305 27,120 66,425 |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 110,400 113,532 17,816 16,284 3,000 1,584 4,683 267,299 Membership 2023 14,634 11,369 26,003 26,003 26,003 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 287,739 109,220 396,959 Core 2023 19,880 97,943 17,816 16,284 3,000 1,584 4,683 161,190 161,190 161,190 |
Total Total 2023 2022 £ £ 398,139 372,837 222,752 185,531 17,816 17,522 16,284 16,669 3,000 2,970 1,584 2,815 4,683 5,407 664,258 603,751 Total Total 2023 2022 398,139 372,837 222,752 185,531 17,816 17,522 16,284 16,669 3,000 2,970 1,584 2,815 4,683 5,407 664,258 603,751 267,299 195,440 396,959 408,311 664,258 603,751 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expenditure is allocated on a direct basis.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
5. Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
6. Employees
| Number of employees The average monthly number of employee during the year was: Management and administration Charitable activities The average number of FTE emplyees was: Management and administration Conservation Education Fundraising and membership Employment costs Wages and salaries Social security costs Other pension costs |
2023 2022 No No 3 3 15 15 18 18 1 1 8 8 4 4 1 1 14 14 2023 2022 £ £ 358,648 336,735 24,226 21,570 15,265 14,532 398,139 372,837 |
|---|---|
There are no employees who received total employee benefits of more than £60000.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
7. Pension costs
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme in respect of certain employees. The scheme and its assets are held by independent managers. The pension charge for the year represents contributions due from the charity and amounted to £15,265 (2022 - £14,532).
8. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1st April 2022 Additions Disposals At 31st March 2023 Depreciation and impairment At 1st April 2022 Disposals Depreciation charged in the year Carrying amount At 31st March 2023 At 31st March 2022 |
Land £ 596,692 143,392 - 740,084 - - - 740,084 596,692 |
Buildings £ 96,973 - - 96,973 26,814 1,462 28,276 68,697 70,159 |
Fixtures, fittings & equipment £ 18,335 - - 18,335 16,911 1,071 17,982 353 1,424 |
Motor vehicles Total £ £ 23,010 735,010 - 143,392 - 23,010 878,402 18,310 62,035 - 2,150 4,683 20,460 66,718 2,550 811,684 4,700 672,975 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
9. Debtors
| Trade debtors | 2023 2022 £ £ 14,350 18,025 14,350 18,025 |
|---|---|
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
10. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Amounts falling due within one year: Trade creditors Taxation Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2023 2022 £ £ 19,104 10,167 6,752 6,129 11,500 8,972 3,000 2,172 40,356 27,440 |
|---|---|
| 11. Financial commitments | |
| At 31st March 2023, the company had the following commitments under non-cancellable operating leases: Expiry date: Within 1 year 2 - 5 years |
2023 2022 £ £ 1,762 1,762 3,779 3,779 5,541 5,541 |
11. Financial commitments
12. Guarantee
The company is incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. The members of the company have each undertaken to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 towards any deficit arising in the event of the company being wound up. This guarantee applies during the period of membership and extends one year after membership ceases.
13. Transfers between funds
The transfers from restricted project funds to unrestricted funds represents management charges earned on projects and transfer of balances remaining on ceased projects.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
14. Movement in funds
| Restricted funds Conservation - main Conservation - landfill Education Unrestricted funds General funds Total funds |
Balance at 1.4.2022 Total £ 243,931 - (775) 243,156 866,366 866,366 1,109,522 |
Incoming resources £ 363,295 39,210 402,505 214,841 214,841 617,346 |
Resources expended £ (438,821) (31,620) (470,441) (193,817) (193,817) (664,258) |
Transfers Balance at 31.3.2023 Total £ £ 52,931 221,336 - 10,734 17,549 63,665 238,885 (63,665) 823,725 (63,665) 823,725 - 1,062,610 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-
Restricted funds are resources held by Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Limited for specific purposes.
-
Project balances include the following:
-
Conservation projects for which funds have been obtained to enable the Trust to manage and protect wildlife sites, habitats and species;
-
Projects which deliver the Trust’s conservation objectives that are funded through the Landfill Communities Fund. The Trust has been approved as an Environmental Body (reg. no: 310188) for the purpose of managing and distributing funds made available by landfill site operations under current legislation.
-
Education projects, which are conducted with the aim of raising awareness of natural environment issues and promoting public understanding, enjoyment and involvement in nature and its conservation.
15. The National Lottery Community Fund
Included in restricted funds under Conservation was funding received from the following organisations, all of which has been expended.
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Tees Valley Wildlife Trust – Trustees Annual Report and Accounts NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[st] MARCH 2023
16. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Fund balances at 31st March 2023 are represented by: Tangible assets Current assets Current liabilities |
Unrestricted funds 2023 £ 796,270 51,634 (24,179) 823,725 |
Restricted funds 2023 £ 15,414 239,648 (16,177) 238,885 |
Total Total 2023 2022 £ £ 811,684 672,975 291,282 463,987 (40,356) (27,440) 1,062,610 1,109,522 |
|---|---|---|---|
17. Contingent liabilities
The incoming resources of the company include grants which are subject to various terms and conditions. There is a contingent liability to repay all or part of such grants should the company breach any of the terms and conditions under which the grants are made. However, the Board are not aware of any such circumstances currently existing and therefore no provision is required.
18. Related parties
| The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows. Aggregate compensation |
2023 2022 £ £ 105,917 100,118 |
|---|---|
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