Annual re ril 2024 A ril 2025 The Calllster Trust Chari no: 520017 Contact address: 29, Grafton Street, Prenton CH43 4UJ Trustees: Catherine Warren, Allan Brame, Melanie Routledge, Laura Penn, Mary O Neill Introduction The chariWs purposes are 'for the welfare of gir15 and women in Birkenhead. and derive th from a declaration of trust within a conveyance dated April 20 1925. The charity owns a property in Argyle Street, Birkenhead tenanted by Wirral Children and Young People's department. The lease was renewed in March 2023 for a further four years. The Charity also owns a half acre garden in Slatey Road, Birkenhead which had been boarded up and neglected for 15 years up until the appointment of new trustees in 2018. The plan for April 2024125 was to continue developing and restorlng the Garden and to expand the use of the Garden for community activities. The trustees would also proceed with plans for the new garden pavilion. The public benefit of the charity is as stated in the introduction. The Trustees have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission's policy on public benefit. The trustees do not at present have a policy on reserves, l. Tasks lanned for 2024 25 The main tasks for 2024125 were: l. To continue the restoration and improvement of the garden for its use for the purposes of the charity. 2. To proceed with plans for the new garden pavilion with a view to commencing the build in September 2024. 3. To enable the volunteer gardeners comprising long term local residents and recent arrivals, mainly refugees and asylum seekers to continue gardening throughout the year. 4. To work with local community groups to run small events to further the purposes of the charity. 5. To apply for local grants for community activities in the Garden and to continue to work in partnership with other local organisations. 6. To continue the 'hops' projert working with Make Hamilton Square, local growers and Brimstage brewery. 2. The Pavilion The trustees looked forward to bringing this project to fruition offering an indoor space to support the work of the charity, offer modern, accessible facilities and enable the Garden to be used all the year round. The trustees continued to work with the architects, to follow the funding plan for the new Pavilion and to proceed to
contract with the builders identified by the tender process with a view to commencing the build of the new garden pavilion in August/September 2024. The trustees continued to identify small grants for the fit out of the new pavilion and were delighted to receive further grants from: Wirral Green grants, Hubbub, the Duchy of Lancaster, Medicash, Pilkingtons, the Hemby Trust, the Price Parry trust, the Cheshire Freemasons, The Oxton Society and other donations from local community organisations and individuals. The trustees would continue to work on plans for the running of the pavilion. 3. Activities: A ril-jul 2024 a. Women's s- community organisation Neo Ladies group used the Garden for a summer event. Heswall ladies gardening group visited and Grow- Wellbeing CIC ran 2 x Nature Babies sessions for mothers/carers and babies under one which were greatly appreciated. b. Weekl readin rou This continues to be held outdoors as long as weather makes it possible. enDa s and ublic access: This year those that live in the neighbourhood have been encouraged to make use of the garden. The Garden is now open for volunteers every Wednesday and Saturday and is open to the general public every Saturday. A 'twilight' gardening session was held durin8 Sprin&lSummer 24/25 to encourage volunteers who were working in the day time. Over 100 visitors came to the Garden as part of the 'Oxton Secret Gardens, event. d. Gardenin ro ramme with local refu ees and As lum seekers.. Attendees from this pro8ramme have become much valued members of our volunteering team. e. EsSENtial earl ears: The nursery for children with additional needs have continued to use the garden on a regular basis and held a summer event attended by over 60 family members. f. Occasional events included a Wirral Poetry Society afternoon, a visit by the Urban Sketchers and a celebration of the installation of a blue plaque on the family house of Mallory the climber attended by the Mayor of Wirral. g. Attivities except for the maintaining of the garden and harvest of the hops ceased during the build of the pavilion from mid August 2024- March 2025. h. March 2025 saw the recommencement of community workshops on Spring gardening, Composting, Womens wellbeing, and Growing food/shared meal. rou 4. Links with local or anisations: GROW- Wellbeing CIC delivered woodland and wellbeing workshops. Wirral Environmental Network delivered gardening sessions. Members from Spider (Recovery project) continue to grow vegetables in a designated area in the Garden. EsSENtial early years have delivered forest school sessions for their children.
Heart for Refugees have participated in gardening and family outdoor activities. Local community groups have used the Garden for outdoor events. The Callister Trust became part of the Cool Wirral network and became a 'Nature Hub,. 5. RHS North West in Bloom: The Callister Garden was visited by the judges from RHS North West in Bloom in July 2024 and was again awarded an 'outstandin certificate. The feedback was very useful and has informed work in the Garden going forward. Conclusion The continued work and dedication of the volunteers throughout the build of the pavilion has enabled the garden to develop and flourish during the year April 2024- 2025. The work of the volunteers continues to improve both the appearance of the Garden, its pathways and hedges, the variety of plants and encouragement of biodiversity. Opening to the public on Saturday mornings has brought local visitors and those from further afield and also added to our volunteers. Workshops have all received very positive feedback. The income from the property in Argyle Street ensures maintenance costs for the garden and the new pavilion. The trustees were delighted that the new pavilion was nearly complete by the end of March 2025 and would be ready for use and a formal opening soon after the charitvs centenary in April 2025. The trustees thank all the volunteers for their hard work and thank community groups and local people for their support and enthusiasm. They would also like to thank all their grant funders, the architert and the builders whose commitment to the garden pavilion project has led to the completion of a resource for the charlty and for the local community for years to come. This report wos approved by the Trustees ot their annual meeting on 05/01/26 and it wos agreed that the Chairperson should sign on their behalf. Signed...
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Independent Examinerfs report to the trustees of The Callister Trust I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Callister Trust (the trust) for the year ended March 2025 Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011('the Act'l 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}Ib) of the Act. Independent Examlnerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination givin8 me cause to believe that in any material respect: l. Accounting records We not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed.. Name: Address.. O Sk42cLosgLJ£Y R(r) , 014S £H /S dANuWaY 20 Date: