Another successful year for Abney Park Trust

Ahead of the reopening of Abney Park and the completion of the transformative restoration project, Abney Park Trust has published its accounts and annual report.

In terms of highlights in the reporting period April 2022 to March 2023, the volunteer-led Trust continued to play a vital role in one of London's most treasured green spaces.

This included:

  • Delivering over 57 public events 

  • Selling or issuing over 400 tickets for events

  • Helping with over 220 enquiries about grave locations, and 65 full searches

  • Creating a permanent memorial for Victorian female aeronaut, Margaret Graham, after a successful crowdfunder to raise £5,000

  • Delivering hundreds of hours of volunteering days including upkeep of Commonwealth War Graves and regular landscape volunteering

  • Hosting BBC1's Antiques Roadshow and filming with host Fiona Bruce

  • Working with the council and other experts on successful progress of the Abney Park Restoration Project

The online Annual General Meeting approved the report and accounts and also heard from Abney team members about the Lottery Funded Abney Unearthed project, as well as future plans from Steph Gill, the Trust's new Events, Community Engagement and Programming Manager.

In terms of finances, the Trust broke even over with an income of c£45,000 and equivalent outgoings.  It has been a tough operating environment with the restoration works preventing a full programme of events and limiting activities during the year.  The accounts are now published via Companies House and the Charity Commission.

The members of Abney Park Trust also supported proposals for the Trust to review and refresh its founding articles, and to review and refresh the Abney Park Trust membership model to make it more open, transparent and representative of the community.

We will also look to recruit new Trustees and volunteers in the year ahead as we roll out a full programme of activities including those funded by the Lottery Fund and Hackney Council.

The Annual Report and Accounts are published here, and a folder containing summary slides used at the AGM covering achievements – and the financial summary – are here.

Adminstrator