for the Period Ended 31 March 2024
Directors report | |
Profit and loss | |
Balance sheet | |
Additional notes | |
Balance sheet notes | |
Community Interest Report |
Directors' report period ended
The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 March 2024
Principal activities of the company
Additional information
Detailed account of company activities and community benefit - see Report
Directors
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 April 2023
to
31 March 2024
The director shown below has held office during the period of
1 April 2023
to
2 February 2024
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006
This report was approved by the board of directors on
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
for the Period Ended
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The notes form part of these financial statements
This report was approved by the board of directors on
and signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
The notes form part of these financial statements
for the Period Ended 31 March 2024
Basis of measurement and preparation
for the Period Ended 31 March 2024
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for the Period Ended 31 March 2024
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Woody (Hyndburn) C I C Report of Activities and Impact for Year 2023/24 The directors present their report for the year ended 31st March 2024. Woody was incorporated as a Community Interest Company (CIC) in March 2012. As part of the regulation surrounding CIC’s we report each year to the Regulator as to how we have satisfied the ‘Public Benefit’ activities that we specified when we incorporated Woody. Below is a copy of the text from our CIC report for the year from April 2023 to March 2024. Promoting a sustainable woodland economy through the development of locally made wood products and the creation of markets As we have always done, we continue to work solely within the local authority area of Hyndburn in East Lancashire. During the year we worked in Hyndburn woodlands with local volunteers and we used the materials arising to make and sell products to customers primarily within Hyndburn, but with a small number also in adjoining districts. We feel this demonstrates that there is the demand, capacity and ability to support a small woodland economy on a district scale by working with local partners such as Hyndburn Borough Council, Lancashire County Council, The Prospects Foundation and local residents. We all feel that the benefits of this local model includes financial support and investment going back into our local economy through training, skills development, work experience and mental wellbeing for local residents as well as pro-active management of local woodlands to increase future yields. To help realise this potential we work alongside other organisations with complementary aims, demonstrating the need for local woodland services. Our £11,748 income in this year was reduced on the previous year but we still made a surplus of £2817. The year began with completing some felling work, tidying and some dead-hedging from the winter before in April 2023 (not an ideal situation, but necessary) and some firewood deliveries from site. Timber processing on the mobile mill started in May. Felling resumed in late October. Up to 31st March 2024 we extracted and supplied to our growing number of regular local customers 37 loads of felled timber primarily for firewood, totalling approximately 75 tonnes. These firewood sales do help to replace or reduce fossil fuels in domestic heating, thereby contributing in a small way to carbon emission reductions. In accordance with regulatory requirements we give comprehensive advice to customers regarding cutting, splitting, stacking and - most importantly – drying, prior to burning. Additionally we fulfilled one order for 200 hazel stakes for hedge laying in Yorkshire. Though small, the total value of these sales (£4660) together with the other product sales at £2888 is very important for the business to keep making a surplus. The important thing here is that this income, directly from the woods, helps enable us, as a community interest company, to provide a cost-effective service for the benefit of those very woodlands – and the benefit of the many people who enjoy them - with all the consequent environmental, natural and social benefits. Large amounts of voluntary time and “gifts in kind” use of personal assets also enables this. In addition we aim to add value to what we do by engaging with local people and developing skills in individuals. On 17th June Woody volunteers held a stand at the PROSPECTS Eco-Fest in Accrington town centre and helped members of the public – and Hyndburn’s Mayor, Councillor Mike Booth - make bird nest boxes to take home free of charge, for their gardens. Woody obtained a small Windfall grant for this work. We also, on the day, carried out a green woodworking pole-lathe demonstration which was hugely popular with the public – many thanks to our volunteer Mark Hope. Adding value to woodlands through the promotion and protection of biodiversity For all our major works we tender competitively for woodland management contracts from our Hyndburn Council and on occasion Lancashire County Council, who both try within tight budgets to sensitively manage their woodlands to enhance their habitat value, encourage greater diversity and provide assets of recreational importance, thus contributing to well-being and community use. We also on occasion carry out contract work for the PROSPECTS Foundation in its delivery of grant funded projects. This project funding often comes from charitable sources. So there is double benefit in these arrangements as all Woody’s earned income from contract work is used either to invest in the running of the CIC business or in skills training and personal development. All of the works were based around increasing the diversity of tree species within the woodlands, starting the establishment of new woodland or helping to improve access for the public. In this year, and the last two, a large proportion of the felling work has been of ash trees affected by the ash dieback disease, which is now endemic and becoming a safety hazard in public access woodland. The work continues to diversify the species mix and change the balance to predominantly native broadleaf species. The Council, whose contracts we mostly work on, is notable in taking pro-active measures to deal with the landscape and habitat impact this disease will have over coming years. This year, the felling of larch at the Coppice, to allow space and light for development of broadleaf species, was achieved mostly through a six-day training and assessment course for three of our chainsaw operators and one member of staff from PROSPECTS, all funded by the CIC. The timber was milled throughout the summer with our mobile sawmill, making boards for bird, bat, owl and hedgehog homes for sale later in 2024. Through feedback with site users, photographs and our own observations, we know that these habitat homes are in use by their intended occupants very soon after installation and this activity will continue to be a feature of our work. The vast majority of woodland in Hyndburn is less than fifty years old and so it is important to try and mimic – in these relatively young woods - the nesting sites in cavities that are usually found in much older trees. We also resumed the milling of larger section timber for constructing other products – benches, picnic tables, signs and cladding. Managing, protecting and enhancing the amenity value of woodlands in Hyndburn for healthy lifestyles As in previous years all of our work was conducted in woodlands that are held in public ownership, either by Hyndburn Borough Council or Lancashire County Council. This means that the public has open access to use the woodlands and this is actively encouraged by both Councils. Safety of course remains of paramount importance. The works that we undertook during the year were primarily for the benefit of the woodland habitat but we also help to contribute to an overall woodland environment that is more pleasant and welcoming for the general public and this complements the other habitat work that PROSPECTS carries out. As can be seen from the above, all our work is focused around the enhancement and management of woodlands, almost entirely with complete public access. In addition to this we plant trees, install benches for people to use, install habitat homes to encourage wildlife and help remove invasive species. We also make and install picnic tables, benches and bollards to order to enhance the amenity value of the Borough’s woodland. All of this is carried out by local volunteers who benefit from physical activity and social contact with others of like mind and shared values. Universally, our work is welcomed and complemented by passers-by – see below. Working with volunteers, the community and partner agencies to protect enhance and create sustainably managed woodlands. From early April 2023 to the end of March 2024 we worked on 45 days, equalling 270 person-days. Some normal working days were lost to bad weather, for safety reasons. As in previous years all woody operatives are volunteers. Naturally one or two volunteers sometimes move on and we will be looking to recruit new people and help them increase their skills range. The number of core-team dedicated volunteers remains around 10. All volunteers are properly provided with personal protection equipment, chainsaw and first aid training courses and in April 2022 we undertook extra First Aid training specific to forestry - F+. This resulted in our decision to acquire specialist bleed control dressings etc and a mobile defibrillator for taking on site. These items now go everywhere we work. Expenses for work-days are paid if claimed. Woody CIC showed its appreciation to volunteers through the organisation of a (late) Christmas meal in February 2024 . As per our CIC 36 Form (Declaration on Formation of a Community Interest Company) we stated that if the company makes any surplus it will be used for: Woodland development and woodland creation projects in the Borough of Hyndburn; also volunteer training and engagement activities linked to woodland projects in the Borough of Hyndburn. We are looking to increase training and equipment this year and the possibility of funding a woodland regeneration project. Insurance We continued our cover with Zurich Insurance as this allows us to provide personal accident cover for our volunteers. In addition, public liability insurance is essential for working under contract on council sites. This year we upgraded our insurance to include employer’s liability cover. Although the CIC has no employees, this was deemed necessary by an educational institution for us to provide work experience and training for one of their students and we will continue with this. Management Support Woody no longer pays PROSPECTS for management and administration and those roles are now carried out by our Chairman on a voluntary basis. This provides for site inspections, price quotes and tender processes, liaison with Hyndburn Borough Council / Lancashire County Council / PROSPECTS Foundation, administering payments and income, purchasing goods and equipment, maintaining stocks of consumables, training records, management accounts and annual accounts, annual returns and reports, arranging at least one board meeting per year, monitoring, work-day coordination, organising training events and socials, transport, risk assessments and method statements, co-ordination of volunteers, sales and customer liaison. This arrangement saves the business £3000 per annum. Directors The directors who held office during the year were as follows: Mr David Michael Clarkson Mr David Daly Mr Philip Vincent-Barwood (Chair) Mr Edward Copeland (resigned 2 February 2024) Mr Gordon Sudworth On behalf of the board Mr Philip Vincent-Barwood, Director (Chair) 22nd November 2024
Woody Directors Woody volunteers PROSPECTS Foundation Trustees and Staff
No remuneration was received
No transfer of assets other than for full consideration
This report was approved by the board of directors on
30 November 2024
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: All
Status: Director