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2024-03-31-accounts

Registered Charity No: 802905

FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

REPORT

and

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

Contents

Page
Legal and Administrative Details 3-4
The Objectives of Friends of Battersea Park 5
Trustees’ Report 6-8
Independent Examiner’s Report 9
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12-15

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

Legal and Administrative Details
The Committee of the Friends of Battersea Park are the Trustees of the Charity. The officers (starred
below) are initially elected for a term of three years; they are eligible for re-election thereafter.
Fenella Barber
Kate Bock (elected September 2023)
Karen Buckle
Julia Camara (resigned November 2023)
Russ Coffey
Inge Darling
Adrian Flook Treasurer*
Miles Kerstein
Peta-May Law
Juliet Lyon-Smith Secretary*
Sara Milne
Briony Newman
Michèle Marriott (resigned September 2023)
Sally Orman
Frances Radcliffe
Annabel Stein
Garon Watkins Chairman*

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

Legal and Administrative Details (continued)

TSB, Clapham Bankers Shawbrook Bankers George Coe Independent Examiner

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

The objectives of the Friends of Battersea Park shall be for the public benefit to secure the preservation, protection and improvement of Battersea Park (hereinafter called “the Park”) as a place of historic and ecological interest, beauty, rest and recreation; to promote the conservation of the natural plant, animal and bird life of the Park and, in particular, its retention as a semi-natural habitat for wildlife; and to educate the public in the history, natural history and other aspects of the Park.

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

The Trustees present their Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Activities

Trustees Report 2023/24

The year ending 31 March 2024 was, as ever, eventful for Battersea Park and the Friends’ community. Your committee met 10 times, principally via Zoom but also, on occasion in person which we value as an opportunity for better interaction and for newer members to form a stronger connection with colleagues. Our meetings were also attended by Neil Blackley, Head of Parks, at Enable Culture and Leisure who manage Wandsworth open spaces on behalf of the Council, and his colleague Valter Goncalves who fulfils a valuable liaison role for Friends’ groups and Management Advisory Committees (MACs) across the Borough. As of year-end, Friends’ membership stood at 676.

Your Annual General meeting was held at All Saints Church on 12 September 2023 and was attended by 41 Friends. Following the formal business of approving the Trustees Report and Accounts, there was an open forum session with Neil Blackley and Inspector Steve Biggs of the Parks Police answering Friends’ questions.

In terms of governance, Adrian Flook, your Treasurer, and Juliet Lyon Smith, Secretary, were both re-elected for a further three year term and George Coe ACCA was appointed as our Independent Financial Examiner. Miles Kerstein, previously co-opted, and Kate Bock were elected as Trustees, while long standing and valued trustee Michèle Marriot left the committee after her move out of London. Following the committee’s announcement of a search for a new chairman in the summer of 2023, Kate Bock has been appointed Acting Chairman from 1 April 2024 pending Friends’ approval at the Annual General Meeting.

I continued to represent the Friends on the Wandsworth Greenspaces Forum where Friends’ Groups and MACs from across the borough meet with Councillor Judi Gasser, the Executive Cabinet member responsible for greenspaces, Council officers and Enable to address concerns and issues facing our parks. Particular focus this year has been on illegal cycling which is a perennial problem. There is now an initiative, nearing completion, to review and replace signage in open spaces to leave no doubt as to where cycling is prohibited. There are also plans to establish periodic police focus points in key areas to enforce the law.

The Friends’ BBQ was again a highlight of the summer and for the first time was held at the Bowling Green. As well as being our main fundraising event, it has always been a lovely opportunity for the Friends’ community to enjoy an evening together. My thanks as ever to Peta May Law and Inge Darling and the great team of volunteers and sponsors who made this event possible while also raising over £7,000 for the Friends to invest in the Park.

Following the popularity of the party in the Old English Garden to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, a Friends’ team led by Sara Milne organised another party to mark the coronation of King Charles which was also very popular, despite wet weather. Our lunchtime lecture series organised by Annabel Stein delivered two well attended events in November and March on spiders and mosses in the Park. As usual, the Friends contributed to the Wandsworth

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

Heritage Festival with a walk in the Park led by Frances Radcliffe. We also organised a tree walk led by ex-tree warden Greg Packman.

The Friends had stands in the Park at Summer at the Bandstand and the Police Dog Show: these are valuable opportunities to recruit new members and hear from Park users. We are very grateful to the Parks Police for kindly donating to the Friends the profits of the Dog Show which were over £740.

The Friends continued to support the restoration of the Winter Garden following the damage it suffered during the Covid lockdowns. The Friends covered the costs of Dan Pearson’s annual visit to advise on appropriate future planting as well as the cost of the plants themselves. As Friends will be aware, the Garden was temporarily fenced off to allow for unhindered regrowth. The full cost of proper fencing in keeping with other areas of the Park is too much for the Friends alone to bear, but we are prepared to make a significant donation and have been actively seeking further funds from other sources. The temporary plastic fencing, removed at the end of January and the subsequent wet weather have greatly improved matters and it is possible that permanent fencing may not be needed. Outcome awaited.

The Friends have also engaged with the Enable over the poor condition of the roses in the Russell Page Garden and plans are in place to make improvements in the spirit of the original design.

As part of our remit to educate, we contributed £3,600 last year to fund the development of Parkbased science lessons for primary schools. This teaching material is now available. We have also agreed to fund visits from more elderly residents through a programme run with the Katherine Low Settlement.

As Friends will have read in Review , the 50[th] Anniversary of the Big Dipper tragedy was in 2022 and the families of those involved have been campaigning for a permanent memorial in the form of an environmentally sustainable children’s theatre in the Park. The Friends have extended their support in principle to this project, but are awaiting further details before a full endorsement.

Wandsworth Council held a consultation on Parkrun in May and June. Your committee urged all Friends to make individual submissions as views vary within the membership. The committee took a neutral position and wrote to the Council to say that should it take place we would want a trial period, a limitation on the numbers taking part and satisfactory arrangements in place to ensure access during the runs to playgrounds and All Weather Pitches which are popular on Saturday mornings. The committee continues to engage with the Council as we have yet to hear of how these issues are to be managed.

The Friends continue to monitor planning applications that may impact the Park. We supported the proposal to allow the temporary Evolution Building on the British Genius Site to remain for a further four years without being taken down because of the environmental costs involved, but our support was on the understanding that the building would remain defined as temporary and that there will be another planning application in 2027 if it is to be retained. We also supported a proposal to extend the Pear Tree Café to provide additional lavatories. We objected to the

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

TRUSTEES’ REPORT (continued)

proposed 38 storey tower next to Battersea Bridge in the context of an application about the scope of the Environment Impact Assessment. This would be visible from large parts of the Park.

The Review team have once again produced and distributed three issues of the magazine which remains popular with Friends. Our thanks go to Frances Radcliffe, the Editor, and her team as well as all those Friends who help to distribute it by hand thus saving on ever increasing postal costs.

Particular thanks this year go to Russ Coffey for all his work on upgrading our website.

The Trustees would like to thank sincerely all those who work to maintain and enhance the Park and also to the Friends’ community for their support, particularly the Winter Garden volunteers. May I, as your retiring chairman, also express my thanks to the Trustees for their support, dedication, and passion for our Park during my tenure and offer my heartfelt good wishes for the future.

Responsibilities

Financial

Charity legislation requires the Trustees to prepare the Statement of Financial Activities for each financial year which gives a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of that period. In preparing Financial Statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and apply them on a consistent basis making judgements and estimates that are prudent and reasonable. The Trustees are also responsible for maintaining adequate accounting records, for the safeguarding of the assets of the Charity and for preventing and detecting fraud and other irregularities. The Trustees are required to indicate where the Statement of Financial Activities is prepared other than on the basis that the Charity is a going concern.

Approval

This report was approved by the Trustees on 5 September 2024 and signed on behalf of the Trustees by

Garon Watkins

Chairman

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 10 to 15.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited for this year under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011.

In carrying out my examination, I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

It is my responsibility to:

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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items disclosed in the accounts 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

George Coe 10 August 2024 Independent Examiner

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Incoming resources Funds Funds this year last year
£ £ £ £
Voluntary income
Subscriptions 8,891 0 8,891 7,860
Gift Aid HMRC refund 5,370 0 5,370 0
Miscellaneous donations and Rattle Boxes 1,931 0 1,931 3,503
Activities for generating funds
Events 18,736 0 18,736 13,893
Advertising 2,690 0 2,690 4,915
Book Sales 156 0 156 92
Stock Sales 303 0 303 335
Investment income
Bank interest 828 0 828 328
PayPal increase in year end income 349 0 349
_______
Total incoming resources
39,254		 0 39,254 30,926
______
Resources expended
Costs of generating funds
Costs of generating voluntary income
Membership Expenses 1,239 0 1,239 1,475
Review Magazine costs 2,146 0 2,146 3,427
Event expenditure 7,655 0 7,655 6,997
Postcards 0 0 0 0
Charitable activities
Investment by FoBP
Thrive 0 0 0 384
Walter St John Charitable Trust 0 0 0 6,440
Dan Pearson advice 737 0 737 678
Yew clipping 420 0 420 420
Winter Garden Planting 2022 0 0 0 4,058
Winter Garden Planting 2023 0 0 0 4,167
Merchandise (Mugs) 780 0 780 0
Winter Garden Planting (Autumn 2024) 2,376 0 2,376 0
Daffodils 185 0 185 0
Governance Costs
Professional Services & Fees 1,959 0 1,959 684
Insurance 456 0 456 373
_______
Total resources expended 17,953 0 17,953 29,103
_______
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources 21,301 0 21,301 1,823
_______
Total bank balances carried forward 99,282 0 99,282 77,981

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds income funds this year last year
£ £ £ £
Current assets
PayPal, Deposits & Cash at bank 99,282 0 99,282 77,981
Capital and Reserves
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources 21,301 0 21,301 1,826
Total funds brought forward 77,981 0 77,781 76,155
______
Total funds carried forward 99,282 0 99,282 77,981
______

Approved by the Trustees of the Friends of Battersea Park on 5 September 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Garon Watkins

Chairman

FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

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FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. Basis of Preparation

1.1 Basis of accounting

These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities – the updated second edition of the SORP (FRS 102) issued in 2019 and with Accounting Standards as detailed in the Charities Act 2011.

1.2 Change in basis of accounting

2. Accounting policies

INCOMING RESOURCES

Recognition of incoming

resources These are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity has received the resources.

Incoming resources

with related expenditure Where incoming resources have related

expenditure (as with fundraising income such as the BBQ) the incoming resources and related expenditure are reported gross in the SoFA except for PayPal and Stripe charges which are separately recorded below under bank charges.

Grants and donations Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the charity has unconditional entitlement to the resources.

Tax reclaims on donations Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the SoFA in and gifts the year in which it is received. Gifts in kind Gifts in kind are accounted for at a reasonable estimate of their value to the charity or the amount actually realised.

Gifts in kind for sale or distribution are included in the accounts as gifts only when sold or distributed by the charity.

Gifts in kind for use by the charity are included in the SoFA as incoming resources when receivable.

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There were no gifts in kind in this financial year.

FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

2. Accounting policies (continued)

INCOMING RESOURCES (continued)

Donated services and These are only included in incoming resources (with an Facilities equivalent amount in resources expended) where the benefit to the charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and material. The value placed on these resources is the estimated value to the charity of the service or facility received. Volunteer help The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees annual report. Bank Charges As a charity, the TSB does not charge us any fees for banking with them. Stripe (£481.33) and PayPal (£93.80) charges the charity a variable percentage of what is put through their system, which includes Zettle; in the last year in total these fees amounted to £575.13. PayPal and Stripe Without excess and unjustified effort, it is not possible to allocate payments to the penny received by PayPal or Stripe to their source (eg ticket sales, subscriptions, event sales, books mugs and postcards).

Gift Aid An application for the return of gift aid was made during the 2023-24 financial year which amounted to £5,370 for both 2021-22 and 2022-23.

Investment gains and losses The charity does not have any investments other than two interest bearing bank accounts at TSB and Shawcross.

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EXPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES Liability recognition Liabilities are recognised on a cash accounting basis meaning the Charity recognise liabilities when it pays them Governance costs Include, when applicable, the costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the cost of trustee meetings and the cost of any legal advice to trustees on governance or constitutional matters.

FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

ASSETS
Tangible fxed assets for
Charity has no tangible fxed assets		 The
use by the charity
3 Creditors and accruals
3.1
Analysis of creditors		 This year Last year
Invoices dated billed
before 31 March 2024
that were outstanding. £1,498
£0
3.2 Analysis of debtors
Advertising £795
£550

All of the outstanding balance of £550 for 2022-23 was received by 16[th] May 2023

The outstanding balance of £795 for 2023-24 was received before the end of June.

4. Analysis of incoming resources

The analysis of incoming resources is given in the SoFA

5. Analysis of resources expended

The analysis of resources expended is given in the SoFA.

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6. Details of certain items of expenditure

6.1 Trustee expenses This year
Last year
Number of trustees re-imbursed for expenses 7 7
(Postage, photocopying, stationery, AGM expenses,
and other events)
£7,546		 £7,082

7. Paid employees

There are no paid employees of the charity

8. Grant making

There were no grants made to other charitable organizations in 2023-24 other than in lieu of payment for the two lectures each year, when contributions of £50 are paid to charities of the speaker’s choice.

9. Security over assets

There are no outstanding loans, overdrafts or other creditors of the charity.

FRIENDS OF BATTERSEA PARK

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

10. Transactions with related parties

10.1 Remuneration and benefits

The charity paid no remuneration or other benefits to any trustees or related parties.

10.2 Loans

The charity had no loans with any trustees or related parties during the year or at the year end.

10.3 Other transactions with trustees or related parties.

The charity had no other transactions with the trustees or related parties.

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