April 2019 – March 2020

 

Activities

  • 30 tours and talks, with nearly 800 attendances

  • 39 performances of theatre and music with over 1500 attendances

  • 2 external community outreach events with 195 attendances

  • 2 London Marathon runners who raised £1909

  • 2 Fayres with attendance of approx. 2500 at each fayre

  • 3 days of Forest School with 40 attendances

  • In addition to Hackney Council Abney Unearthed and Conservation volunteering the Trust has worked with 44 active volunteers, over 234 volunteering sessions.

  • Volunteers have given approximately 470 hours of time to support the Trust’s work.


Fundraising

  • Over £28,000 raised to date through events, donations, trading and services

  • Hackney Council Grant of £20,000 per year

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission Grant of £4,000 per year


Board of Trustees

The Board has been strengthened through:

  • Trustee training undertaken in October 2019

  • Business planning training undertaken by one trustee in December and cascaded

  • Board away day in January focusing on business planning, fundraising and maintaining financial stability

  • Recruitment of a trustee to take responsibility for HR, staff line management and board recruitment

  • Managed succession of key trustee roles

  • Joining the Institute for Social Improvement and continuing membership of Locality

  • Sub committees of the board continued to drive and deliver key areas of the Trust’s work


Projects

  • Restoration of Isaac Watts' monument completed – project led by volunteer trustee

  • Archive Project commenced – project led by volunteer trustee


Staff and Operations

  • Robust financial processes and procedures consolidated. Reporting and forecasting improved.

  • Wireless card reader and software introduced to make it easier for the public to purchase and donate, and to improve detailed sales reporting

  • Billing cycles for regular services rationalised

  • Website maintained by a staff member and experienced trustee

  • New e-newsletter template honed for better branded look and to improve traffic to website Regular E-newsletters and social media updates

  • Appointment of new Trust Coordinator


Partnerships

  • The Trust worked intensively with Hackney Council and consultants during the finalising of the National Heritage Lottery Fund application activity plan.

  • Trustees and staff continued to meet regularly with Hackney Council Abney Park Manager regarding operational matters.

  • Abney Park Trust staff continued to liaise with Hackney Council staff on a day to day basis on operational matters

  • Abney Park Trust staff and Hackney Council staff worked in partnership with other agencies to tackle antisocial behaviour on site, including Police, Enforcement and Positive East

  • Relationship with Hackney CouncilEvents Officers strengthened through close liaison between Abney Park Trust and Hackney Council staff, and learning session for Abney Park Trust

  • Events Committee volunteers delivered by Hackney Council Events Officer.

  • Relationship with London Borough of Hackney Archive developed by trustee volunteer leading Archive Project