REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 04572319 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1110683

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 October 2025

for

Bollington Initiative Trust

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

5

Independent Examiner's Report

6

Statement of Financial Activities

7

Balance Sheet

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9

to

13

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

BIT is a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) and a registered charity (no. 1110683) which helps to preserve Bollington's unique environment and heritage, for the benefit of our local community through the acquisition and management of land and buildings which may otherwise be lost to community use. BIT's work focusses on providing sustainable places to support local community groups, residents, families and businesses and provide places where people can meet, work, learn and have fun together.

Public benefit

The charity's trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

BIT is locally rooted and has supported the local community to deliver crucial community projects and businesses, to build a stronger community, protect its heritage and support enterprise in the town. Projects have saved three community assets, supported two local businesses, enabled twelve jobs in Bollington and provided access to woodland for thousands of people every year.

BIT's current properties include:

Tinkers Clough Wood

This delightful area of mixed woodland is in community hands through the efforts of BIT. Many years ago, a path was built through the Clough but subsequently there was little care and maintenance. BIT has restored the Clough, returned it to public use and now maintains access.

Significant funds were raised to produce a management plan, to fell over-mature trees, improve the drainage, create more light to the ground flora, reconstruct a footpath and bridge and erect a stone plinth-mounted sign.

The previous Bollington Neighbourhood Plan produced a map of local wildlife sites and maps of habitat distinctiveness. Five areas were identified as local wildlife sites of high value. One of these five areas was Tinkers Clough.

In addition, community feedback gathered for that Neighbourhood Plan identified Tinkers Clough as the fourth most important specific open space in Bollington.

The Clough is leased and maintained by BIT and is an important natural habitat for people and particularly children to visit as well as providing a vital link between the Middlewood Way and the canal towpath.

In 2024-25 BIT's focus has been on maintaining the watercourses, pathways and the bridge through the Clough and ensuring the trees within it are properly cared for.

BIT regularly inspects the trees in the Clough to ensure they are safe and healthy and identified more work that needed to be done, particularly on the Ash and Elm trees which were affected by disease. This work was necessary to keep the Clough open to the public and a further tranche was carried out in January 2025. BIT needed to raise additional funds to pay for this and is incredibly grateful to the Adelphi Group, Bollington Town Council, Cutler Cleaning Supplies Ltd. and R. A. Smart for their very generous contributions which supported this work. Further work and fund raising may well be necessary in 2026.

The stone walls in the Clough that border the canal towpath are the responsibility of the Canal and River Trust (C&RT). BIT has, for some time, been notifying them of our concerns about the integrity of part of the wall and we took precautionary measures to move the pathway away from the wall and fence off the area. Sadly, in February 2025, part of this wall collapsed. BIT has been in regular contact with the C&RT seeking to get them to repair their wall and enable BIT to reopen that part of the path.

In September 2025, the Kerridge Ridge and Ingersley Vale (KRIV) volunteers turned out in force to do maintenance work in the Clough. KRIV carried out essential maintenance work on the steps, cleared the pathways, cut back overgrowing vegetation at the entrance and ensured the fenced off area around the C&RT's collapsed wall was safe and secure. BIT once again thanks KRIV for their tremendous support. Looking forward, BIT will need to raise funds and make provision for the replacement of the bridge.

Tinkers Clough remains an important natural asset for use by the local community, as indicated in the responses to the previous Neighbourhood Plan. It continues to be used by thousands of people each year including families, dog walkers, joggers and those just out for a stroll in the open air. It is also used by groups on an organised basis. This year, groups have used it for open air meditation, for woodcraft training and as part of the route for the annual Bollington Three Peaks Fell Race organised by Bollington Harriers.

Turner's Lodge

The disused toilet block in Bollington stood empty and had been deteriorating for several years.

BIT identified its potential and value locally and secured an asset transfer. With partners, BIT raised funds to restore and convert the building to an energy efficient office. In doing so, the project was recognised by Historic England as an exemplar.

In 2024-25, BIT's emphasis has been on ensuring the relationship with the existing tenant, Simplicity Granite, remains good and BIT can continue to support a local business remaining in Bollington. BIT is pleased to report that Simplicity Granite have renewed their lease.

The Water Street Centre

Our largest property is the Water Street Centre. Following a community asset transfer from Cheshire East Council, BIT has successfully managed the Water Street Centre - a former secondary school in the centre of Bollington and in the conservation area. Had BIT not taken the property into community hands, it is most likely that the building would have been sold and turned into flats thus removing a vital space for community use.

The centre hosts a thriving, charitable, pre-school on the ground floor and highly successful troops of rainbows, brownies, girl guides and rangers on the first floor. The pre-school renewed their lease in October 2024.

BIT's vision is to create an accessible and vibrant family hub in Bollington over two floors at the Water Street Centre. The building required refurbishment and reconfiguration to achieve this.

In previous years BIT has:

- installed new boilers and toilets on the first floor. This work was completed in 2021.

- sympathetically replaced the Victorian roof using the existing roof slates. This was a major exercise and was completed in 2022.

- replaced some internal ceilings, repainted rooms and installed new floor coverings on the first floor. This work was done in February and March 2023.

- moved and reconfigured the kitchen area. This work was completed in April 2023.

In total, BIT has raised around £350,000 in funding all of which has been invested in refurbishing the building.

In 2024-25, much of BIT's energies have again been focussed on the Water Street Centre and BIT is delighted to report that further progress has been made towards the overall vision.

The first floor is open for additional community uses and has a mixture of additional regular users and one-off bookings. Activities in the year have included groups such as Cheshire East Chatters - speech and language therapists supporting families, yoga classes, pilates classes, dancing groups - including the Argentinian tango, art groups and the usual one-off children's parties. This diverse set of community users demonstrates the Centre's value and helps provide important financial support. BIT continues to promote awareness of the Centre and, in July 2025, in conjunction with Bollington Pre-School, held an open day and tabletop sale.

BIT has also sought to further improve and develop the physical environment of the Centre. For 2024-25, BIT is delighted to report that funding was raised for the installation of secondary glazing to the ground floor of the Water Street Centre. This will improve the sustainability performance of the ground floor and reduce heating costs for the pre-school. A total of around £18,000 was raised and invested. This is a significant achievement for a very small charity, in difficult times. BIT is extremely grateful to Cheshire East, a trust which prefers to remain anonymous and the Bernard Sunley Foundation for their grants. The work would not have been possible without their support.

Further improvements have already been carried out in 2025-26, with grant funding received from Cheshire East Council's "Digital Communities Fund" to install Wi-Fi to the first floor, supporting both present users and increasing BIT's ability to attract others.

Looking forward, BIT needs to continue to grow usage of the first floor and, in due course, create better access through the installation of a lift. Creating this access will be expensive and can only take place as funding permits.

Looking across the charity more generally, one of our biggest risks is being able to attract enough volunteers to help us practically, to join our Management Committee and to become Trustee Directors. As Chair of the Board of Directors and Trustees, I am delighted to report that, in 2024-25, BIT has welcomed new volunteers, added to the Management Committee membership and added a new, additional, Trustee Director.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those in the community who have supported BIT in so many ways. As we rapidly approach our silver anniversary in 2027, this is very much appreciated. I would also like to thank the companies, trusts, foundations and individual donors who have seen the community potential in the properties BIT is managing. Without their trust and confidence, BIT would not have had the resources needed to make progress. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Trustee Directors, members of the Management Committee and the host of individuals who have volunteered equipment and their personal time and effort. All these offer their time, energy and commitment on an entirely voluntary basis for the benefit of the local community. Without them, BIT could not have come so far in acquiring, developing and maintaining the three properties for which the charity is responsible.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Reserves policy

The trustees' policy on reserves is to maintain reserves such that our budgeted operating costs of the charity can be covered for the next 12 months at any point in time. For 2024 / 25 this has been forecast as £12,000. The reserves policy is kept under annual review.

In addition, the trustees consider it essential to carry forward reserves sufficient to meet the vision of the charity and, in particular, to meet future obligations on the maintenance and repair of both Water Street School and Tinkers Clough.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Appointment of trustees is governed by the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Organisational structure

The charity is a charitable company, limited by guarantee and was incorporated on 24th October 2002. It is governed by a memorandum and articles of association. The charity registered with the Charity Commission on 2nd August 2005. The trustees are responsible for plotting the strategic direction of the charity and overseeing all areas of its operation.

Induction and training of new trustees

New trustees are advised of their duties by the existing trustees and are provided with copies of previous years accounts. They are offered access to training, if required, and are informed of information and publications available through the Charity Commission.

Risk management

The trustees have examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks. This included establishing a risk register which is formally reviewed at least annually and can be updated at each board meeting if necessary.

Conflicts of interest

BIT has a standing agenda item, at the beginning of each trustee meeting, to enable declaration of any actual or potential conflicts of interest. A trustee should declare any interest which they have in an item to be discussed at the earliest possible opportunity and certainly before any discussion of the item itself. If a trustee is uncertain whether or not they are conflicted, they should err on the side of openness, declaring the issue and discussing it with the other trustees. If a trustee is aware of an undeclared conflict of interest affecting another trustee, they should notify the other trustees or the Chair.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

04572319 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1110683

Registered office

Water Street Centre

Water Street

Bollington

Macclesfield

Cheshire

SK10 5PB

Trustees

G C Barrow

Ms J Flynn

Ms K M Gooding

L G Humphreys

P S Hunter

S W Spinks

M P Wilkins

D D P Laffan (appointed 2.10.25)

Company Secretary

P S Hunter

Independent Examiner

Nathan McLaughlin FCPA

NHM Accounts

2 Kingfisher Business Park

Arthur Street

Redditch

B98 BLG

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 7 May 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

S W Spinks - Trustee

Respective responsibilities of directors/trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect, the requirements:

- to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the Charities Act; and

- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting records, and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met, or

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of

the accounts to be reached.

Nathan McLaughlin FCPA

NHM Accounts

2 Kingfisher Business Park

Arthur Street

Redditch

B98 BLG

7 May 2026

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

283

4,150

4,433

2

Charitable activities

General

2,696

13,707

16,403

7,810

Investment income

2

20,853

-

20,853

20,732

Total

23,832

17,857

41,689

28,544

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

3

-

-

-

653

Charitable activities

General

15,250

24,246

39,496

17,231

Total

15,250

24,246

39,496

17,884

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

8,582

(6,389

)

2,193

10,660

Transfers between funds

10

(7,652

)

7,652

-

-

Net movement in funds

930

1,263

2,193

10,660

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

40,317

4,684

45,001

34,341

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

41,247

5,947

47,194

45,001

2025

2024

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

funds

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

7

1

-

1

1

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

8

4,297

-

4,297

3,417

Cash at bank

41,086

5,947

47,033

41,583

45,383

5,947

51,330

45,000

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

9

(4,137

)

-

(4,137

)

-

NET CURRENT ASSETS

41,246

5,947

47,193

45,000

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

41,247

5,947

47,194

45,001

NET ASSETS

41,247

5,947

47,194

45,001

FUNDS

10

Unrestricted funds

41,247

40,317

Restricted funds

5,947

4,684

TOTAL FUNDS

47,194

45,001

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 October 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 7 May 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

S W Spinks - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

2.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2025

2024

£

£

Rents received

20,840

20,719

Deposit account interest

13

13

20,853

20,732

3.	RAISING FUNDS

Raising donations and legacies

2025

2024

£

£

Support costs

-

653

4.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 October 2025 nor for the year ended 31 October 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 October 2025 nor for the year ended 31 October 2024.

5.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

funds

funds

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

3

(1

)

2

Charitable activities

General

2,460

5,350

7,810

Investment income

20,732

-

20,732

Total

23,195

5,349

28,544

EXPENDITURE ON

Raising funds

653

-

653

Charitable activities

General

14,655

2,576

17,231

Total

15,308

2,576

17,884

NET INCOME

7,887

2,773

10,660

Transfers between funds

(1,338

)

1,338

-

Net movement in funds

6,549

4,111

10,660

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

33,768

573

34,341

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

40,317

4,684

45,001

6.	COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Each member of the company undertakes to contribute £1 upon the winding up of the company.

7.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Freehold

property

£

COST

At 1 November 2024 and 31 October 2025

1

NET BOOK VALUE

At 31 October 2025

1

At 31 October 2024

1

The Water Street property acquired by the trust in October 2014 has been included in the accounts at the £1 cost of acquisition.

8.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade debtors

1,360

839

Prepayments

2,937

2,578

4,297

3,417

9.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2025

2024

£

£

Trade creditors

2,937

-

Accruals and deferred income

1,200

-

4,137

-

10.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

Transfers

At

movement

between

At

1.11.24

in funds

funds

31.10.25

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

11,883

(3,035

)

8,000

16,848

Tinkers Clough

10,000

(1

)

-

9,999

Turners lodge

5,604

7,050

(4,000

)

8,654

Water Street

12,830

4,568

(11,652

)

5,746

40,317

8,582

(7,652

)

41,247

Restricted funds

Water Street

3,955

(7,155

)

7,652

4,452

Tinkers Clough

729

766

-

1,495

4,684

(6,389

)

7,652

5,947

TOTAL FUNDS

45,001

2,193

-

47,194

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

269

(3,304

)

(3,035

)

Tinkers Clough

-

(1

)

(1

)

Turners lodge

9,334

(2,284

)

7,050

Water Street

14,229

(9,661

)

4,568

23,832

(15,250

)

8,582

Restricted funds

Water Street

13,707

(20,862

)

(7,155

)

Tinkers Clough

4,150

(3,384

)

766

17,857

(24,246

)

(6,389

)

TOTAL FUNDS

41,689

(39,496

)

2,193

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

Transfers

At

movement

between

At

1.11.23

in funds

funds

31.10.24

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

15,212

(4,039

)

710

11,883

Tinkers Clough

-

-

10,000

10,000

Turners lodge

9,204

8,400

(12,000

)

5,604

Water Street

9,352

3,526

(48

)

12,830

33,768

7,887

(1,338

)

40,317

Restricted funds

Water Street

-

3,065

890

3,955

Tinkers Clough

573

(292

)

448

729

573

2,773

1,338

4,684

TOTAL FUNDS

34,341

10,660

-

45,001

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

896

(4,935

)

(4,039

)

Turners lodge

8,484

(84

)

8,400

Water Street

13,815

(10,289

)

3,526

23,195

(15,308

)

7,887

Restricted funds

Water Street

5,000

(1,935

)

3,065

Tinkers Clough

349

(641

)

(292

)

5,349

(2,576

)

2,773

TOTAL FUNDS

28,544

(17,884

)

10,660

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

Transfers

At

movement

between

At

1.11.23

in funds

funds

31.10.25

£

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

15,212

(7,074

)

8,710

16,848

Tinkers Clough

-

(1

)

10,000

9,999

Turners lodge

9,204

15,450

(16,000

)

8,654

Water Street

9,352

8,094

(11,700

)

5,746

33,768

16,469

(8,990

)

41,247

Restricted funds

Water Street

-

(4,090

)

8,542

4,452

Tinkers Clough

573

474

448

1,495

573

(3,616

)

8,990

5,947

TOTAL FUNDS

34,341

12,853

-

47,194

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

1,165

(8,239

)

(7,074

)

Tinkers Clough

-

(1

)

(1

)

Turners lodge

17,818

(2,368

)

15,450

Water Street

28,044

(19,950

)

8,094

47,027

(30,558

)

16,469

Restricted funds

Water Street

18,707

(22,797

)

(4,090

)

Tinkers Clough

4,499

(4,025

)

474

23,206

(26,822

)

(3,616

)

TOTAL FUNDS

70,233

(57,380

)

12,853

Unrestricted funds

The general fund represents the free funds of the charity which are not designed for particular purposes.

Restricted funds

Water Street

The fund is dedicated to distributing any donations and grants received towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Centre.

Tinkers Clough

The fund is dedicated to distributing any donations and grants received towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Clough.

11.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 October 2025.