Annual Report 2012

Trustees Report for the year ending 31 December 2012

Aims and Purposes

The aims of the Barton under Needwood & Dunstall Key Trust (‘the Trust’) are to distribute the income derived from investments , including rent from land, in accordance with the Trust Deed , whilst maintaining adequate reserves in line with future planned commitments.

Objects and Activities

The objects of the Trust are to meet the needs of the residents in the area of benefit as laid down in the Trust Deed, including:
- contributing to the upkeep and maintenance of the Parish Church in Barton under Needwood,
- relief of persons who are in need, hardship or distress, and
- for the general benefit in such charitable ways as the trustees think fit.

Achievement and Performance

Trustees

At a Special Meeting of Trustees in October we were pleased to welcome Julie Skinner as a new Trustee.  Mrs Skinner has extensive experience of working with young people in our community and in computer programming.  Her appointment further strengthens our Board and broadens the skills available to help deliver our Objectives.

We are very fortunate to have a Trustee board with a wide ranging knowledge of our community, commercial acumen and experience of managing charitable organisations.  I thank them and our Clerks for their dedication to making this Trust a major force in Barton & Dunstall.

Tragically, Pam Wright clerk to the Trust and its predecessors for many years, passed away during the year and will be sorely missed.  We are very grateful to Mrs Sheila Sharkey for becoming Interim Clerk until we are able to fill a permanent post. Following the production of a detailed Job Specification & Personal Profile the role was advertised widely and four potentially suitable applicants are to be interviewed for this self employed job in January 2013.

Finance & Investments

Rents at our Dogshead Lane Allotments were increased to reflect the area of each plot, local market rents and those suggested nationally by the Allotment Association.  Subsequently we have invested substantially in a much needed mains water supply and have completely resurfaced the roadway through the plots.

For our land off Brick Kiln Lane we have established a Right of Access and invested in legal advice to secure this for the future.

Although very content with the performance of our present Investment Manager, including their detailed reports and annual investment meeting, Trustees deem it prudent to review results, consider alternatives and testing the market on a four year cycle.

Administration costs have been contained at a modest level of 14% of investment income.  The increase on 2011 being represented mostly by one-off costs for the new Website and depreciation of newly purchased IT equipment.

Grants

During the year 9 grants have been awarded to individuals and 6 to local organisations totalling £14,135.. One individual grant of £500 to underwrite a project was refunded following its success.

Additionally our Christmas voucher distribution increased by 15% to £4,230. These together with £5,531 paid to St James’ Church represent 62 % of our net investment income for the year.

We continue to receive a good variety of applications from community organisations and are ready to support more individuals particularly as other sources of grant aid are reducing.

Marketing

www.bartondunstallkeytrust.co.uk showing examples of projects we have supported and enabling potential applicants to download our Terms & Conditions and our Application Form went live during the year. It has attracted much positive comment and is a valuable source of current information and promotion of the Trust.  In the 11 months since its launch 576 on line visits have been made by 417 people with 72% being first time visits.

Additionally we have promoted the Trust by updating and redistributing promotional posters and taking free or low cost closely targeted advertisements in local magazines and guides as well as requiring sponsored projects to promote the Trust in their literature and by plaques on buildings.

Despite the relatively small area of benefit and tightness of our communities it is evident that many people & local organisations are unaware of how we might assist.  In addition to our poster and advertising campaigns we have secured substantial free coverage of our activities in the local Press and are planning to continue this.

Public Benefit Requirement

The Trustees feel that the performance in the year demonstrates that the Trust continues to meet the Public Benefit criteria whilst complying with the Trust Deed

 

Approved on behalf of the Trustees on 1 February 2013 and signed on their behalf by:
Adrian Wedgwood, Chairman