## **Chairmans Report for 2026** ## **Thanks to** our members, committee, the Volunteers and Adopt a Plot people for their continued support in maintaining Jesmond Dene. And thanks to Mark Risi who has continued to provide a meeting room for us. ## **Items** Membership is approximately 125 (going by email addresses). Also covers families so actual people will be higher) and numbers remain about the same – (new members join to replace the attrition rate) . The ownership and management of the Parks have returned from Urban Green to Newcastle City Council, and we thank NCC for supporting the FOJD. The Facebook group now has 11,737 members. Many beautiful photos are posted regularly. The FOJD received a substantive legacy from Mrs. Myra Harper. We are working with NCC to discuss schemes we may wish to fund. Especially Pets Corner. **Yvonne to talk later.** We continue to foster relationships and work with other groups, for example : NCC staff, Newcastle Parks Forum, The Armstrong Project (Banqueting Hall), Jesmond Community Festival, Jesmond Residents Association, took part for the first time in Jesmond Walking Advent Calendar last year. Heaton history Group. Wildlife Trust, The Reece Foundation. Basil Dean has been appointed as Programme Development Manager for the Ouse burn Way, and we have met him to discuss where we can help. We are joining the Wildlife Trust Event on 4[th] July to sell plants etc. and raise the profile of the FOJD. ## **Events 2026** Dawn Chorus Nature Walk, Heritage Tour and talk about Busy Cottage Iron Foundry and Millfield House, Heritage Walk in Jesmond Vale. For the last several years arranged a heritage walk for Heaton history group - last year in August in Jesmond Vale. We continue to provide a Website, Newsletter (twice yearly for members) Noticeboard, and Facebook page as a communication means with our members and the public. - Deal with general enquiries about Jesmond Dene - Help with student projects. ## **Going forward.** - We have a healthy Committee. - An improved working relationship with NCC staff. - Continue to work with and influence groups and individuals in the surrounding community. - Be involved with initiatives where appropriate and according to our constitution. - Be proactive when necessary and in keeping with William Armstrongs Legacy. Clive Gerrard, Chairman 15" May 2026 Independent Examiners Report to the trustees & members of The Friends of Jesmond Dene (Charity Number 702260) on accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 31.12.2024 £874.00 £443.00 £0.00 £0.00 £361.97 £120 69 £1,799.66 Income 31.12.2025 £829.00 £28,326.75 £70.00 £49.52 £325.04 £0.00 £29,600.31 Subscri tions Donations Sales Affiliate income Interest Sund other income eratin Income Ex enditure £0.00 £208.25 £0.00 £0.00 £128 53 £592.82 £0.00 £000 £000 £0.00 £929 60 Posta Tools & E ment Nature Su lies Plants and h sical enhancements Insurance Publici & Website Meetin /Event Ex enses Sundries Bank char es Maintenance of previous projects eratin ex enditure £000 £138.37 £0.00 £0.00 £166.95 £154.30 £0.00 £000 £29.75 £0.00 £489.37 £870.06 eratin rofit loss £29,110.94 £36,601.26 £37,471,32 enin Closin Bank Account balance for Bank Balance for the ear £37,471.32 £66,582.26 ear Re resented b £10,000.00 £16,810 27 £10,66105 Investment Account Bank Account Pro ect Bank Account £10,325.04 £45,764 29 £10,492.93 £37,471.32 Total Bank Balances £66,582.26 Signed Jacki Holmes, Treasurer . Date2¢January 2026 rep()rt lo IIIL 'I'rLi%ILL5 011 Iiiy Lxainiiiatic)11 ol-llie liiiaiiLial statLmLiils of"i~hL I,"riLnds c)r JLSllI()Iid l)LIIL Ic)r Ihe JLar LiidLd 31 DLLLiiibLr ?0? 11 IiiLh is set ()ut c)11 pdgvL onL. Rc'.si?c)17,s'ibililie3 ciiicl b(i.s'i.s' o/'rc'i?orl As tliL cliariti s trustees, yuu are responsible fc)r the prLparation of thL financial statLinLnts in aLLordanLL Ith the rLquireinents of thL C haritiLs ALt 2011 ('the Act.). You coi)sidLr that tlie audit requirLments ot- secti()n 144 of the 201 l Act do Iiot apply and tliat an iiidLpLndent exaiiiiiiation is required. Having satisfled myself that the financial statemLnts are not required to be auditLd. I repc)rt in respLLt ot" Iny e.xamination of-the fiiiancial statemeiits carried out under seLlion 145 of-thL 201 I Act. In Larry'iiig out my exainination, I have folloii'L'd all thL applicable Directions givL'n bj, the Charitj, Commission under sLction 145(5)(b) of the 201 l Act. Jn(lepenilL?ni e.Yaniiiier '.s 31aiL'iiiL)nl I havL complLted my exainination. I confirin thal no material matters havL come to Iny attLlltion in conneLtion with the e.xamination gyivingy me cause to believL that in any matLrial rLspect: ( l ) accounting records were not kept in re.spect of the charity as required by seciion 130 Ot- the Act: or (?) thL financial statemLnts do not accord Ivith thc)se records; or (3) thL financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concLming the forni ajid content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Repc)rts) Regiulations ?008 other than any requirement that the accounts givL a 'true and fair vieii IN hiLh is not a matter considered as part of an independent e.xamination. I have n() Loncerns and have come across no oiher Inatters in conneLtion ith the .Namination to hiLh attention should be drai%'n in this report in ordLr to enablL a proper under%landing of the accounts to be reaLFied. Signed... ..DatelJanuary 2026 Geoffrey Carter, Auditor Independent Examiners Report to the trustees & members of The Friends of Jesmond Dene (Charity Number 702260) on accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 31.12.2024 £874.00 £443.00 £0.00 £0.00 £361.97 £120 69 £1,799.66 Income 31.12.2025 £829.00 £28,326.75 £70.00 £49.52 £325.04 £0.00 £29,600.31 Subscri tions Donations Sales Affiliate income Interest Sund other income eratin Income Ex enditure £0.00 £208.25 £0.00 £0.00 £128 53 £592.82 £0.00 £000 £000 £0.00 £929 60 Posta Tools & E ment Nature Su lies Plants and h sical enhancements Insurance Publici & Website Meetin /Event Ex enses Sundries Bank char es Maintenance of previous projects eratin ex enditure £000 £138.37 £0.00 £0.00 £166.95 £154.30 £0.00 £000 £29.75 £0.00 £489.37 £870.06 eratin rofit loss £29,110.94 £36,601.26 £37,471,32 enin Closin Bank Account balance for Bank Balance for the ear £37,471.32 £66,582.26 ear Re resented b £10,000.00 £16,810 27 £10,66105 Investment Account Bank Account Pro ect Bank Account £10,325.04 £45,764 29 £10,492.93 £37,471.32 Total Bank Balances £66,582.26 Signed Jacki Holmes, Treasurer . Date2¢January 2026 rep()rt lo IIIL 'I'rLi%ILL5 011 Iiiy Lxainiiiatic)11 ol-llie liiiaiiLial statLmLiils of"i~hL I,"riLnds c)r JLSllI()Iid l)LIIL Ic)r Ihe JLar LiidLd 31 DLLLiiibLr ?0? 11 IiiLh is set ()ut c)11 pdgvL onL. Rc'.si?c)17,s'ibililie3 ciiicl b(i.s'i.s' o/'rc'i?orl As tliL cliariti s trustees, yuu are responsible fc)r the prLparation of thL financial statLinLnts in aLLordanLL Ith the rLquireinents of thL C haritiLs ALt 2011 ('the Act.). You coi)sidLr that tlie audit requirLments ot- secti()n 144 of the 201 l Act do Iiot apply and tliat an iiidLpLndent exaiiiiiiation is required. Having satisfled myself that the financial statemLnts are not required to be auditLd. I repc)rt in respLLt ot" Iny e.xamination of-the fiiiancial statemeiits carried out under seLlion 145 of-thL 201 I Act. In Larry'iiig out my exainination, I have folloii'L'd all thL applicable Directions givL'n bj, the Charitj, Commission under sLction 145(5)(b) of the 201 l Act. Jn(lepenilL?ni e.Yaniiiier '.s 31aiL'iiiL)nl I havL complLted my exainination. I confirin thal no material matters havL come to Iny attLlltion in conneLtion with the e.xamination gyivingy me cause to believL that in any matLrial rLspect: ( l ) accounting records were not kept in re.spect of the charity as required by seciion 130 Ot- the Act: or (?) thL financial statemLnts do not accord Ivith thc)se records; or (3) thL financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concLming the forni ajid content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Repc)rts) Regiulations ?008 other than any requirement that the accounts givL a 'true and fair vieii IN hiLh is not a matter considered as part of an independent e.xamination. I have n() Loncerns and have come across no oiher Inatters in conneLtion ith the .Namination to hiLh attention should be drai%'n in this report in ordLr to enablL a proper under%landing of the accounts to be reaLFied. Signed... ..DatelJanuary 2026 Geoffrey Carter, Auditor