Report and Accounts

TRUSTEES’ REPORT  FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

Charity Number: 1187736

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/fawdoncoxlodgecommunity/

Facebook: @fawdonandcoxlodgetogether

Email: fawdonandcoxlodgetogether@gmail.com

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The trustees of the charity present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2026.

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Charity Number: 1187736

The principal office of the CIO is in England at 3 Bloomsbury Court, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 4LW

TRUSTEES

The trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:

Thea Ravasi (Chairperson)

David Alan Faulkner (Secretary/Treasurer)

Ann Marie Nicol

Robin Beveridge

BANKERS

Barclays Bank, Percy Street, Newcastle upon Tyne  NE1 4QL

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES                                                                                                                         

The charity’s purpose as set out in the objects contained in the Constitution is: To further or benefit the residents of Fawdon and Coxlodge and the neighbourhood, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Fawdon and Coxlodge Together (referred to in this report as FACT) is a charity in England, registered on 4 February 2020 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), whose only voting members are its trustees. The charity is governed by its Constitution dated 6 December 2018 and amended on 21 January 2020. The Charity number is 1187736.  Since mid-2017, interested parties had been meeting informally to develop and pursue a project called “Fawdon and Coxlodge – Past Present and Future”. In late 2018 it was decided to create a constitution for the group under the name ‘Fawdon and Coxlodge Together’, trustees were appointed, and a bank account was opened in February 2019. It was then decided to apply to the Charity Commission for registration as a CIO and adopt the ‘Foundation’ model constitution.

The trustees meet periodically, sometimes together with other non-trustee members acting as advisers, to administer the charity and review strategy and future activities. The charity has no paid officers, nor any office accommodation of its own.

The charity’s financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the organisation’s Constitution and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS102).

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE DURING THE YEAR

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2011, to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing FACT’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and how they will contribute to the aims and objectives they had set.

Fawdon and Coxlodge Together continues to manage the grant funding from the Community Foundation for Tyne and Wear, and other income, on behalf of the local Friendship Choir. A regular 20-30 singers meet fortnightly at Fawdon Community Centre to enjoy the occasions. In the year we received a grant from the CSR Committee of NorthStandard Group, via one of the choir members.

Following the winding up of Fawdon Coxlodge District History Society, FACT - working with Fawdon Community Library - had taken on some of the role of researching and promoting the history and heritage of our local area. Three presentations were made in the year.

The book that we researched and had published about the former sweet/chocolate factory Nestlé (formerly Rowntree’s) in Fawdon continues to be available through Newcastle City Library, Fawdon Community Library and the publisher Summerhill Books. Much of the  funds received from sales, after distribution costs, have been donated to Fawdon Community Library for its book fund, and a further disbursement was made in the year.                                                                                            

We conceived the “Fawdon and Coxlodge Greenways” project last year, with the aim of enhancing bio-diversity and creating a cleaner, greener neighbourhood. It’s a community-led initiative to re-wild, plant, and protect our local green spaces, many of which have been neglected. To this end, we applied successfully for an award under the “Small Sparks Plus” programme, a small grants scheme for the Newcastle Voluntary and Community Sector  (administered by Connected Voice) to improve community health and well-being. Our grant of £3000 will be deployed in the Dykefield area of Fawdon in the autumn of 2026, working with North Fawdon Primary School.       

We organised a well-attended community Christmas event at Fawdon Community Centre in  December, supported financially by a grant from the Fawdon Ward Committee of Newcastle City Council. In addition to planning and coordinating the event, and providing Santa for the occasion, we are pleased that the event raised valuable funds for Fawdon Community Library.

An intergenerational heritage project was proposed by us to North Fawdon Primary School and has met with support; the pupils will be researching the lifestyles, circumstances (home and  neighbourhoods) and memories of those among families, friends or neighbours who are two generations older. The Lord Mayor of Newcastle launches the project in September 2026 and the creative output will be displayed online and at Fawdon Community Centre.

In March it was announced that Fawdon South (including Red House Farm, North Kenton and part of Coxlodge) is to become part of the national “Pride in Place” initiative. The area will benefit from a £20 million Government investment over the next ten years to support local regeneration, strengthen neighbourhood pride, and deliver meaningful improvements for residents. FACT met with Council Officers and with Catherine McKinnell MP to outline some of our ideas for the area, and we will be proactive within our community to help deliver the objectives of the programme.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 

The Trustees regularly examine the risks to which the Association is exposed. Currently, we carry a small reserve which represents about 30 per cent of unrestricted expenditure. Our fixed costs are negligible. It is our intention that we continue to organise much of our activity by working with and through other organisations in our community, or on projects that we will take forward only if grant funding is found. 

APPRECIATION

The trustees wish to record their appreciation of the time given by non-trustee members of the management committee, and of the support of those organisations and individuals with whom FACT works in partnership.

DECLARATION

I declare, in my capacity of Trustee of the charity, that the trustees have approved the report

above and have authorised me to sign it on their behalf.

David Faulkner

4 August 2026