COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST
We are an environmental charity seeking to protect and enhance urban green space in Birmingham by delivering projects such as Confidence Through Conservation, which aims to help the young and unemployed learn valuable transferable skills via conservation work, and Forest Schools, which engages with school children and uses open green space to provide learning opportunities.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity incurred a net expenditure of £41,117 for the year, a significant reversal from the previous year's surplus, driven by the loss of major school contracts and staff absences. Per the trustees' report, the organization remained financially secure due to strong reserves, which were held at £124,981 in unrestricted funds at the end of the period. The trustees acknowledge the need to identify new income-generating opportunities to ensure long-term financial resilience.
What the accounts disclose
“Income from Schools Forest Schools remained the largest single source of income during the reporting period. CET received £16,932 in unrestricted funds from participating schools.”
“It is the charity’s policy to ensure that the reserves account holds enough money to ensure that the charity remains financially secure, capable of meeting its obligations and maintaining its operations for at least three months.” — page 35
Trustees
- Beverley Karen Frost
- Dr Alison Wilkes
- MRS LYNNE WITKAMP
- Mary McManus
- Troy Yeomans
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £74k | £115k |
| 31/03/2024 | £168k | £132k |
| 31/03/2023 | £137k | £121k |
| 31/03/2022 | £107k | £112k |
| 31/03/2021 | £92k | £85k |
Common questions
Is COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity incurred a net expenditure of £41,117 for the year, a significant reversal from the previous year's surplus, driven by the loss of major school contracts and staff absences. Per the trustees' report, the organization remained financially secure due to strong reserves, which were held at £124,981 in unrestricted funds at the end of the period. The trustees acknowledge the need to identify new income-generating opportunities to ensure long-term financial resilience. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/05/2023 | £10k | Greening Communities |
| Birmingham City Council | 30/06/2021 | £6k | Cultivating Communities - Community Garden |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/03/2021 | £10k | Greener Communities |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 29/11/2018 | £7k | Green Communities Together |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 08/05/2009 | £9k | Castle Vale Forest Schools Project |