Charity Règistration No. 1004264 Company Registration No. 02600844 (England and Wales) SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024 SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trustees and Directors M J Russell S Bradshaw E Bryan A Connors R Davies C Lundberg J Martin {Chairperson} (vice Chairpetsonl Directors (SR T Trading Limited) M J Russell K Siddiqui Chadick Secretary (Charity) K Siddiqui Chadick Chief Executive K Siddiqui Charlick Charity number 1004264 Company number (Charity) Subsidiary undertaking Company number (Trading Company) Principal address and registered office 2600844 SRT Trading Limited 0771543 Civic Centre 161-163 High Street Berkhamsled HP4 3HD Auditor Gowers Limited The Old School House Bridge Road Hunton Bridge Kings Langley WD4 8SZ Bankers HSBC Bank pl 181 High Slreel Berkhamsted HP4 3HQ CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling ME19 4JQ Solicitors Ha￿owell & Atkins Boxwell House 275 High Slreet Berkhamsled HP4 1 BW SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) CONTENTS Page Trustees, report Statement of trustees, responsibilities Independent auditorfs report Statement of financial activities Balance sheet 14 Statement of cash flows 15 Notes to the financial statements SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) The Iruslees present their report and consolidated financial 5talements for the year ended 31 March 2024. The accounts have been prepared in accordan￿ wlh the accounting wliaes sel out in note 110 the accounts and comply with the chantable company's Memorandum and Artides of AsSocial￿n, the Companies Act 2006 and 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities= Statement of Recommended Pradice applicable to chanties preparing their a¢xounts in accordatKè wth the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102} {effectTrve 1 January 20191". Objectives and activitie5 Purposes and aims Our charitable aims and objectives as sel oul in the charitable companls Memorandum and thdes of Association are lo provide training and employment opportunities for young peO￿e and adults wrth learning disabi5ibes. OUR VISION Sunnyside Rural Trust has a vision of an inclu55ve community where all people are valued and enriched within a sustainable environment. OUR MISSION STATEMENT Sunnyside Rural Trust has a mission to FKovide services that will empower individuals lo tulfil their polents'al for their benefit and for the benefit of the wider community and environment. OUR VALUES 1 We value our people and work as a team. We: Listen lo each other and show rasp8d Ernpower people lo reach their goals in a safe enmronment Support everyone in a fair and inclusive way 2 We care deeply about our environmenL We offer inventive and sustainable seriices to the community. We stand for: Quality & stewardship Enterprise Reliability 3 We have a passionate."can do" approach to ourwork. We are: Resilient Creative Dedicated AIMS OF SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST 1 Provide exceptional day care services for at least 175 individuals wlh leaming disabilthes across three working horticultural sites 1150/0 of Hertfordshire's learning disabilities comrnunity}. 2 Provide work and skill oevelopmenl Dpportunitses for 50 vulneTabie individuals exduded from making ecor￿MiC and community Contributions due lo learning, mental health, or soaal disabilities. 3 Provide Iherapeuts'c inleNenlions for al least 200 vulnerable indivrduals iequiring support due to leaming, mental health, or social disabililies. 4 Maintain and Inc￿aSe our Social enterprise activities to supplement the income of day care servi￿, cieate ernployment opportunities and underpin the ongoing sustainability of Sunnyside Rural Trust. 5 To actively improve our envir(Mfflent eSpec￿llY through growjng local f(￿. stewardship of the land. promoting biodiversity and suslain8bility by taking ￿sitive acb.on lo become a sustainable, environmentally friendly Ofganisalion, tackling climat& change. 6 Maintsin and increase ¢Jur community presence with an excellent repulab.on across all areas of service delivery. acliviknes, and projects. 7 Maintain and increase our strong digital presence, publicity. and marketing strategy. 8 To onsure wo are financially robust and have diverse income streams lo meel our aims and obje¢livcs. 9 To create and maintsin excellent govemancè and stralegic suptK)rt to ensure we operate to the highest stsndards and best practice. 10 To ensure we have the best operatiNJ strucbjres for our people, animals and siles. SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) Strategic Objectives To ensure we maintain our posihve felationship with day opporbjnilies commissioners and meet their standards operating within the Connected Lives model. To create a robust financial plan that will ensure cAJr work is possible and sustainable. twe have received a number of new contracls and need to ensure we have succession funding (multiply, IEP. Lottery social prescribing funding, orchard project elcl. We need to streamline our budgeting to ensure we can empower OUT managers and Irack progress efficiently}. To develop and enhance our social enterprises to allow us lo offer work experien￿, paid ernploymenl and independent income. To build upon our social prescribing contracts and ensure thal this much needed proviS￿n ¢xnlinues in the long temi. To maintain and grow aur supported employment and leaming contracts. To maintsin and build on our partnerships and networks wthin Dacorum and new afeas ofwork. To develop and deliver a coherent and effective maikeling strategy. To wnlinue valuing and developing our Workfo￿ induding volunteers, paid staff and trainees investing in their wellbeing and skills. To develop and maintain an enwronmenlal sustsinability strategy. To develop and maintain coherent operab'ons plans for all SRT siles and develop a Svnnyside'operalions Toolktr lo assist in the delivery of those plans. To use our sites to work in partnership with specialist Ofganisations so we can suprKsrt people with dementia and mental health issues. To develop mre land-based sites in a wider area across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Ensuring our work delivers our aims We rèview our aims. objeelives and activities each year in line with our stralegsc plan. This rewew assesses our achievements and performance in the previous year. We give particular attention lo assessing the impact our work has had on the lives of adults with learning disabilities, their carers and the local community. We have ￿ferred lo the Charity Commission s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our fvlure activilies. In particular, the senior management team and Iruslees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims arml objectives they have sel. Our rnain objectives for the year conlinued lo be offering training and employment opw1unib.es lo young people and adults with leaming disabilities- and to develop our social enlerpnses. The year was dominated with the severe financial environment and a huge increase in people's anxiety and stress levels. We have pulled together as an organisalion and supported each other. We feel very proud of our efforts and perfomiance al every level and feel o)nfidenl we are in a strong poS￿.0n going forwards. Achievements and perf0m￿nCe Awards We maintained our Gold Standard in Investors In Peo￿e. Hemel Food Garden {HFG) won a green flag award fyom Keep Britain Tidy. This award recojnised the ex￿llent communty facilities offered lo the community and environment from Ouf sile. We achieved the Hertfoidshire Care Providers Association IHCPAI Gold Award for cgre prowders. Trainee services For a third year, we secuied a Small contract with Hertfordshire County Council IHCCI to Tun therapeLrtic work with older people antt adulls wilh Oisabiliiies an¢J some a(Jdiiional lun(Jing trom grants. A Uiffereni group lo who we usually work with. 11 involves horticulture, animal and music and movemenL We Continued lo run our 3 cafés.. Hemel Fixxl Garden, Northchuich and at the Forum, the headquarters of Dacorurn Borough Council IDBCI in Hernel Hempstead. The new bakery service is now very popular and offering thetapeutic activity as well as supplying our cafes and shops. We continued to meet the exacting standards of the HCC contract offering a Servi￿ lo over 160A of the leaming disability population in Hertfordshire and surrounding counties. Our Inclusive Employment Project contract ended in December 2023 and was re￿aCed with Roads 2 Employment, funded by HCC (Slep5 2 Ski115 and UK Share(I Prospenty fund). This proiecl suptx)rts hundreds of vulnerable people a year lo build their skills and confidence. We held various trainee parties and Tegular celebrations of work. New project workers across the board Tecruiled and added lo the budget to support group sizes. Revised files and improved goals and link working process. SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) Horticultural work and 9nvironmental impact We have undertaken a number of creab.ve and innovative (Imimunity gardens acmss Dacorum including a barge planter al Durranls hill playing fields by the canal. butterffly garden in Wamers End, Planet gafden off Salum Way in Highfields and a shield in Keens Field. W& continue lo work dosely with Dacorum Borough Counul lo enhance our green presence in the community. We are building our repL'tab'on for designing and creah'ng gardens. We grew a third of the plants for Carol Klein's Horbcullural rcon gaiden al 2023 Hampton Court. We plan lo grow lor Aril Anderson's RHS feature garden at Hampion C¢)urt Flower Festival 2024. We continue lo grow the bedding contract for DBC and support their move lo pe￿nn1a1$. We have collected data lo improve Ihe long term effectiveness of our environmental campaign. Ensured environmental impact is priorilised in all deciston maknng. Continuing peal f￿e gTowing, as one of the first producers of peal free bedding in the U Growing rnore perennials in an effort to be moTe sustainable and erwuraging our customers lo rnake the rnove trom bedding. Taking on eco- maintenance gardening projects across the county, with backing fron7 the Comrnunity Green Fund. Maintaining our Green Flag award status. Maintain our chemical free growing practice. On all our siles we have improvèd the biodNersity and promoted pdlinators populations through beekeeping, planting schedules and sympathetic mowing regimes. Human Resources We have grown as an organi>ation and over the last year we have spent time reslrucluring. recruiting new roles and consulting our stakeholders including the team. We have undertaken a huge amount of work lo ensuie we have the support and capacity to continue our wonderful services and thrive. We have" Continued our Iraining budget for the next year lo support career progression of staff. Conducted an organisalional pay review leading lo pay rises and new scales to work towards. Commilled lo the real living wage. Created new opportunities for pay. We created a team wellbeing budget and wellbeing strategy All policy and procedures updated including Efflployee Handbook remew. Sile budgets are in pla￿ and team development funds have been allocated. We are seeking to fecruit a Chief Finance and Adfflin Officer ICFAOI lo support the conts'nued growth of the organisalion. Site Development Money available for a￿ssIble gardening equipment. a site budget every quarter for managers to buy small items they need outside of their normal spending. Credit cards for managers lo increase the speed and efficiency of purchasing. purchasing a number ol new laptops and desktops. The Chief Operating Offiw ICOOI undertaking seasonal ops walk rounds and written ops plan in place, focused corporate support and resour￿$ encouraoed. dearinq of while qixxls from all siles. Specific sile improvements.. Northchurch Accessible tools and pathways created. WiFi lo Caravan and Sunmerhouse. Taken on the lease for what was Sunnyside NuFSèry. an addiliortal 1.3 acres. Air conditior>ing in shop. Car park plan foT restjrface. Hemel Food Garden Toilet block rebuild Roofing repairs across sile Complete refit of HFG café kitchen thanks lo Cardo Activity Centre Plans lo refurbish the building undeThYay SSN shed rèfit New vehide SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORTI The Orchard Nursery WÈ plan lo open in September 2024 and have spent much of the year raising funds and building Suvi Fisher Payne hired as manager from 1 April 2024 Greenhouse constructed Funding being sought for horticultural therapy work Communication l infrastructure Nvw Liudid Ivpuiliiiy aiid Ilubiee visiis to en[￿laYe open lines of direGt (ximffluniration between Board aryj teams. Trainee video feedback lo Boar(l and trustees. Response from trustees tetumed via video. Ho￿.CultUral contract meelings sel up and running so teams can see the work coming in and plan. CEO comms aimed al every quarter, giving broad strategic informaticffl. New IT system with additional support. New business plan wth extensive consultation. Partnership work Corporate volunleers have played a significant role in this year. Our new volunteer cwrdinalor has been instrumental in building this area of our work. We had had sUPPOrt from DLL, Boume Leisure, Caido: Henkel, HSBC, NFU Mutual, Hilton, ABC UK, Horohoe Constructs'on, Buuins, Wales group, TLC group. Wl)ipsnade Zoo. RHS, NGS, Serge Hill Project. The Grove, Watford Chamber of Commeroe, Dacorutn Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council. Financial matters including perfonnance and social enterprise We enjoyed our bc".t financial perfomance for tumover and Ihis was largely due lo work (x)ntracts and thg p9rfomance of social enterpnses. Grants to improve our sites including: Orchard Project Julia & Hans Rausing granted £100.000 to our new Orchard Nursery project. Randle Siddeley sponsoied the greenhouse at our Orchard Nursery piojecl. Screwfix Mercerfs Company Foundation Slockwell Cliffe Trust Foundatton Tom and Sue Stuart-smith Tough Ten cotnmittee Cardo supply toilets, kttchen and lloorin9 Supported Employment and training funds UK shared prosperity fund for Road 2 Employment Herttordshire County Counc41 IHCC)- Indusive Empioyment Project HCC - Muibply Project Social prescribing funding Hertfordshire Community Foundation IHCF) wellbeing funds HCC via HCF- community group fundirvJ HCC Physical activity grant The National Lottery granled us 3 year funding for community wellbeing. This f(Kms a whole new stream of work based on the work we undert￿k in COVID19. We wjll offer animal therapy, music and movement, horbcullural therapy and baknng. Environmental and gardening funds DBC-community gardens UK shared PTosperity fund SUNNYSIOE RURAL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT {INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) Capital funding Cardo- kitchen refil NFU Mutual- compost toilet al Northchurch Cllr Nigel Taylor fruit cages al rhe Activity Centre Cllr Terry Douris- Mr condiboning for Northchurch sh)p Cllr William Wyatt Lowe- tools for Hemel Food Garden HSBC . accessible pathway5 and tools DLL- site improvements How our activities deliver public benefrt The charity's trustees have complied with their duty lo have due regard io the gUIdan￿ on publtc benefit published by the Charilies Commission in exercising their powers and duties. We offer a range of benefits lo our community including.. Work skills and employment lo young people and adults learning disabilities. ConseN8lion work in the local environmenL High quality social enterprises where the community can shop and leel good about their pijichases. Challenge perception5 01 how the public see people with leaming disabilities, by showcasing their talents. Our social impact is sigriificanl. For every £1 spent al Sunnyside, £9 is saved in statutory services. Who used and benefited from our seThicÈ5 We supported over 170 adults aged 17 and above to use our services each week Ihroughout this period. In addition, we provided an indirect service lo parents and carers of people who attend Sunnyside by offering valuable respite. Over 11)0 people benefited from our supported employment and social presoibing work in 202312024. Strategic report The description under Ihe headings 'Achievemenls and perf0m￿n￿. and 'Financial reWe￿ meet the company law requirements for the tnjslees lo present a strategic tew)rt. Financial review The Trust continues lo seek ways lo dIVe￿fy ils incA)me lo ensure a robust financial future. The Trust has developed sound financial management systems and along with the support ol the team has generated a positive financial outcome for the period. The Trusl has had success in 9ranl applicaltons which are detsned eartier in this reporL Our principal funding Source is from our Hertfordshire County Council training and work contract. This funding 9￿S towards direcl service costs e.g. salaries, administration, service costs and transport. Reserves policy 11 is the policy of the tmslee5 to maintain free reseNes OT al least Ihree month's running costs lo enable the charity lo meet all the cornmensurale costs in the event of the extreme scenario of wnding-up, the running costs reserve is £600,000 al the year end. The level of reserves is monitored and reviewed annually by the trustees. Following the ￿nstrUction of the Comtnunity Hub al Northchurch we created a fund which matches the capital c05t of the Hub net of depieciation, this fund has deprecialion ol the assel diaiged lu il and the balance matches the net cost of the asset in the ffinancial statements. The strategic committee has created a developmenl fund of £250.000 in designated funds. The Trust wishes lo invest in agricultur81 land lo further ils, horticultural therapy work. Al the year end, we have reslricled funds carried fO￿ard of £236.001 {2023'. £255,911 I. After designations the unrestricted fund balance for general use carried forward is £423.07312023.' £200,829). Investment policy I reserves not required for day to day operational costs are invested tn a(￿Unts with the Charities Aid Foundab'on and Cambridge & CoL*nties Bank. SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED {A Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS, REPORTI Financial Risk Review Internal nsks are minimised by the impiementab'on of procedures for the authorisalion of all transactions and projects and to ensure consistent quality of delivery for all operational aspeds of the charity- These pl(￿l￿re$ are periodically rewewed lo ensure that they still meet the needs of the charity. The Directors have conducted their own review of the major risks lo which the charity is exposed and have estsblished systems lo miligale those risks. These rt5k5 indLMle damage to reputabon, criminal acts. dats loss, health and safety, and change lo funding sources. Plans for the future We want lo use the development funds we have secured lo build the skills within our team at all levels. We have begun lo think about what people resources we might need to siJpw)rt our growth and operations. We need to build capaaty wilhoul losing site of our aims and values. We have grown a lol in recent years, and we need to ensure we have the right senior leadership slruclure lo tske us forward. We will hire a CFAO by the end of 2024. We will have an updaled RACI model, organisational strucltire & skills matrix. We have re￿iVed a number of new contracts Imulliply. IEP, Lottery social prescribing funding, orchaid project elcl. We need lo streamline our budgeting to ensure we can empower our managers and track progress effiaenuy. We wll set largels for each work line. and this will be built into our intemal management system. We have developed operational plan for each site. and we need to build planning around their implementation. The COO will lead on this and ensure CO•producb'on with teams, trainees and key stakeholders are involved. This work should lomi part of a 3-year plan for each service. Officg space is a kay issu8 wth a growing team and g move away from paper to IT systems. We need to have a plan lo pn.qurp. niir team have the skills as well as 8 safe and positive space to work. the eqLtipment and support setvices. We plan lo move over lo Tearrs by the end of 2024. We need to ensure we support our team with their wellbeing, al a time of mUlti[￿e chalenges. We will continue lo develop and implement a wellbeing strategy, budget, HR support service. mentsl health champions and in house provision. In response lo the cost of living rises we have completed a pay scale rewew. implemented 1st April 2024. We will be reviewing our job evaluation procedure, so all our team are dear how to prcoress with aSSLKialed KPIS. All ))b desciiptions will be reviewed and built into the appraisal process. We need to revisit Ihe WOTk we completed in 2020 on cosl benefit analysis foT each work slream. Thi5 will provide the foundalion lo assess where we invest and grow. particularly social enterprise. We wll creale a thoughtful budget tOT this year lo cover the diversity of our funding and fluctuating costs. We need lo systemise our work lo ensure we are efficient. We have grown to a large medium size charity with 64 employees and need lo adopt a new way to record and store informab'on. The COO has implemented a new CRM system for HR matters, and this is a significant step forward. We need a dalabase for contacts, infomiab"on. for buildinq strong communication systems. To see our new projects come lo life, in parbcular the Orchard Nutsery, Rectory Fann. The Grove, Whipsnade Zi)0 partnership & Healhboume Green. Structure, govemance and management Governing Document, Company Status and Constitution The charity is controlled by its goveming document. a deed of trust. and (xjnslitules a company limited by guarantee as defined by the Companies Act 2006. Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committeè The Injslees, except as noted I'l, are also the directors lor the purpose of rA)mpany law. and who seTved during the year were.. M J Russell (Chairperson) J Laws (Vice Chairperson) S Bradshaw IViGe Chairpetsonl E Bryan A Connors R Davies C Lundberg J Martin W Conian. IResigned 08 September 20231 (Appoinled 02 October 20231 {Appoinle(103 January 2024} (Appointed 27 February 2024) IAppoinled 27 February 2024) SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED IA Company Limited by Guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS. REPORT) The directors of the company ale also chartrty tnjslees for th& purpose of charitylaw and under the company's Artides are known as rnembers of the management committee. Under the req¢Jirements of the Memorandum and Artides of Association the members of the management committee are elected lo serve fcf a per￿ of three years after which they musl be reelected al the nexi Annual General Meeting. All members of the managetnent corllmittee give their tyne volunlanly atyj receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses redaimed from the charity will be sel out clearfy in Ihe notes in the acccMJnts. New ttustees are invited onlo the Board by the exisiing Eruslees. having been made aware of Ihe aims and scope of the chanty and of their dut'es and responsibilities as trustees. The Injslees rellecl the needs of the charity and the dient group it serves and Dffers a wide range Df skills and expenence. The Chair of the Board of trustees meets each new thjslee to provide trustee inducti)n. The Chief Executive Officer PTovides a guided lour of all services, infomiatson on the history of the organisalion and current operations. Organisational structure The Board of Tfuslees consists of up lo 8 people and meets four times a year lo direct and oversee Ihe work of the charity. The Chief Executive Officer manages the charity on a day-to4ay basi5. The Trust has a number of strategic sub (x)tnmittees of the Board. These committees allow for Board members and operational staff to consult and diwjss matteT5 before advising the Board of Trustees. Related parties The Trust is guided by both loc21 and national tx)licy where it ￿lateS to the aims and objectives of the Trust. The Trust is particulady keen lo rneel the relevant policy and strategic aims of Hetttordshire County Council as its principal funding source. where they are in line with the aims and objectives Df the Trust e.g. Valuing People Now: personalis8lJon agenda and Health and Safety legislation. The Trust continues to work hard promobng its work and raising the local profile of Ihe charity. We have achieved this through developing partnerships with other local groups, speaking al local groupsleverrtslconferences, regular market stalls, presence al local events, our annual reportlcalendar, social media and website. Risk management The Iruslees have a duty lo identify and review Ihe risks to which the chanty is exposed and lo ensure appropriate controls are in place tt) provide reasonable assurance against fraud and effoT. Thts has been achieved through the risk management policy and is reviewed on an annual basis. The Iruslees and Ch￿f Executive Officei have agreed a strategic plan which has assessed all significant nsk to the organi581ion and a plan of acb'on for managing this. The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for managing all inlemal and operational nsk lo the organisation and reports to the tru51ees every 3 months. Auditor In accordance wlh the cOM￿ny,S artides, a resolution propK)sing that Gowers Limited be reappointed as auditors of the company will be pul al a General Meeling. The Iruslees, report was approved by the Board of Tnjstees. M J Russell Trustoe Date.. 26 November 2024 SUNNYSIDE RURAL TRUST LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES, RESPONSIBILITIES Tliv tru51ee5, who