Index:
1.  Personnel as at 31st December 2009
2.  Structure, Governance and Management
3.  Achievements and Performance
4.  Financial Review

Structure, Governance and Management

The Friends of Lewes - the Lewes Civic Society is an unincorporated association  whose constitution was last amended in March 1997.  It is a registered charity (No 258756) usually known as the Friends of Lewes but referred to in this report as the Society.  Communications to it should be addressed to Lewes Town Council Offices, High Street, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2QS. Membership is open to all on payment of the relevant subscription.

Members of the Society's Executive Committee, who are elected at an Annual General Meeting, are the charity trustees. Officers are elected for one year whilst half of the other elected members retire each year but are eligible for re-election. The trustees in office on 31st December 2009, all of whom are members of the Society, are listed opposite; in addition Betty Lewis served until 26 March. The Executive Committee, which meets monthly, manage the Society’s affairs but annually appoint a Sub-Committee to examine all planning applications affecting Lewes and the surrounding area and another to provide services and events for members. 

The Society had a membership of 534 at 31st December 2009 (541 - 2008). The Charities Aid Foundation holds the Society’s liquid assets.  Its accounts are examined by Clifton Page Wood, Chartered Accountants of 11a Gildredge Road, Eastbourne BN21 4RB. The Society employs no staff and has not incurred fees from professional advisers during the year. 

On 31st December 2009 the Society's representatives on the following external bodies were: -

Objectives and Activities

The Society’s objectives are to stimulate public interest in the beauty, history and character of the town of Lewes and its surrounding area; to organise concerted action for protecting and enhancing the townscape of Lewes and the architectural, visual and historic interest of Lewes and the surrounding area; for preserving free access to the latter; and to co-operate with kindred societies. It does so by arranging meetings for members on conservation issues; lobbying relevant bodies to protect the historic environment of Lewes whilst recognising that the town needs to remain an economically vibrant place, and by supporting projects that fall within its objectives. The principal risks facing the Society are an inability to find sufficient volunteers to undertake these activities (something the Society intends to address in the coming year) and a possible decline in income through lower membership, lack of legacies and interest rates. This would limit the projects the Society is able to fund.