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...

[@]

, llll Th,IL lltll

Illl

111111
111111
111111
1111
1111
1111
11111
11111

11111
111111111
111111111

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) , 014*S £H
/S dANuWaY 20
Date: