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2023-03-31-accounts

Registered company number: 02811046 (England and Wales) Registered charity number: 1020670

Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023 For Sensory Trust

Lang Bennetts Audit Limited The Old Carriage Works Moresk Road TRURO Cornwall TR1 1DG

Sensory Trust

Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 13
Independent Examiner's Report 14
Statement of Financial Activities 15
Balance Sheet 16 to 17
Cash Flow Statement 18
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 19
Notes to the Financial Statements 20 to 29
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 30 to 31

Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Objectives and Activities

Our aim is to make the outdoors accessible and engaging for all people, regardless of age, ability or social circumstance. Our work benefits young and older people, people living with disability and health issues, together with their families and carers, and people experiencing social deprivation. We work throughout the UK and share our approaches internationally with a wide network of organisations and individuals.

The Trust has a reputation for its positive, creative approach. Our team includes: landscape, resource and information designers; writers; trainers; and community engagement specialists. We work with design practices, local authorities, greenspace organisations, health, education and care professionals and disengaged communities to change the way that places are designed, built and managed. We bring nature-based experiences into the lives of people who need them most.

We work directly with individuals and community groups using nature-based activities to improve their health and wellbeing. Our work spans urban parks, healthcare and residential environments, schools and education centres, heritage sites, visitor destinations, wildlife sites and countryside.

Achievements and activities during 2022/23

Key achievements during the year therefore include:

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Public benefit

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. Participants in grant funded projects can engage in our activities free of charge, or in the case of training and professional development activities, for a charge which covers the cost of providing that training or development. We have also developed a telephone advisory service, as an effective way of supporting smaller projects.

We balance providing services for some of the most vulnerable members of society, with making relevant products available to a wider audience who could benefit but are not able to participate directly in projects either through their geographical location or level of disposable income. This has been welcomed by individuals and organisations who have responded positively.

Our website and social media are our primary means of disseminating our techniques and resources as widely as possible. For example, in the past year, we had just under 13,000 views of our guidance on how to improve access,15,000, views of our guidance on sensory design and 77,000 views of our blog We have also introduced an online enquiries function and a diary that was developed with carers and people with dementia.

We have seen a 66% increase in online web enquiries. This is a testament to our growing web presence as well as our national and international reach through project work and product sales. Many of these enquiries have led to some form of consultancy or project work and we expect to see these numbers rising into 2023/24.

Monitoring and evaluation are essential for us to gauge how our work is impacting people. We therefore build it into all our programmes of activity and have developed inclusive techniques to ensure people with communication challenges can participate independently rather than relying on someone else. This is strengthened by our close working relationships with University of Exeter, European Centre for Environment and Human Health and evaluation specialists such as ArtsWell.

Achievement and Performance

Sensory Trust is based in Cornwall, with much of our research and pilot work grounded in the county. However, we are a national organisation bringing the results of our work to the whole of the UK and internationally through our website, consultancy and training. Our approach is to pilot new work in the South West, using our well-established networks of individuals and sites. This helps us to create and test new ideas and then share the results nationally, often through collaboration with other organisations. This means we can create tools and resources based on the real, rather than assumed, needs of the people we are aiming to benefit.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

Our priorities for the year ending 31st March 2023 are using the outdoors and naturebased activities to:

1. Make places accessible , raising awareness and skills so the health and social benefits of engaging with nature can be shared by all people.

2. Foster inclusive communities , increasing nature-based community opportunities for socially isolated people to engage with.

3. Encourage and enable sensory engagement , creating and sharing nature-based

resources to encourage people to engage with nature and the outdoors.

1. Make places accessible

This area of work responds to the reality that barriers to access prevent many people living with disability and health issues from using and engaging with the outdoors. Our work includes improving the accessibility of outdoor destinations, heritage venues and nature sites. All aspects of accessibility are covered, from physical access and site design, through information and interpretation, to education and policy issues. Sensory Trust is now seen as a leading source of expertise in this area with much of our advice freely available through our website. We are also regularly commissioned by major environmental bodies, design practices, healthcare and education settings, and visitor destinations in the UK.

1.1 Deliver advice on access and inclusive design

Our work helps practitioners and communities improve accessibility of their sites, through tools, guidance and advice. We are skilled in identifying barriers to access in all types of greenspace, finding effective solutions and working with organisations to take on inclusive practices.

Significant work during the year has been a commission from Paths for All to launch the new national Outdoor Accessibility Guidance . This new guide reflects the wider application of the Equality Act 2010 and the key reference for managers and owners wanting to make greenspace inclusive to the widest range of people. Work involved significant consultation with user groups and environmental and diversity organisations bringing real-life insights into the policies and approaches.

Our guidance writing continues with commissions from Natural Resources Wales and Natural England to update the By All Reasonable Means guidance. This brings the two nation's guides together into one document and aligns it with the new Outdoor Accessibility Guidance.

We continue to contribute to the Cornwall Design Review Panel , advising on landscape and inclusive design issues. The panel is informally aligned with Cornwall Council and provides an optional review service for architects and developers planning capital projects in Cornwall.

We were commissioned by Wake the Tiger to advise on inclusive design of their new arts visitor destination in Bristol. We advised on inclusive design aspects in the early stages and undertook an access review after the venue opened.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

New access-focused training packages have been delivered to East Devon AONB, Action for Conservation and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). These have increased skills for landscape managed teams, including in how to undertake access reviews of public rights of way.

1.2 Develop sensory-rich interpretation to connect people with natural heritage

This work opens up heritage to the widest audience, ensuring that people with disabilities can engage in ways that are meaningful and memorable for all visitors.

Our project More Than Words is opening up natural heritage to new and wider audiences enabling everyone to engage regardless of age or ability. Support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund enables us to work with industrial heritage sites across Cornwall to co-design new interpretation activities and features with people with disabilities and longterm health conditions. Examples include sensory stories and sensory trails. This will inform new, national guidance for improving access to the countryside and green space. Work during the year includes creating case study evidence of our approach with Kresen Kernow and Hayle Heritage Centre in Cornwall. We have delivered training to people working and volunteering in Cornwall's heritage sector on how to make inclusive and engaging visitor experiences. Independent evaluation has demonstrated its success in raising the skills and confidence of people in welcoming a wider range of people to heritage sites. We plan to build on this during the next year, rolling the training out across the UK.

"Thank you so much for the excellent training yesterday. It was absolutely brilliant, and I left feeling inspired and fired up!" Heritage training participant from Royal West of England Academy, Bristol.

We are a member of a consortium running a three year EU-funded project called PANCAKE . Sign languages in many countries lack official signs for plants and naturerelated words. Fingerspelling of scientific names can be long and laborious and can result in many people ultimately being left out of important discussions. The PANCAKE project has been created to produce new sign language symbols for nature. Led by Friends of the Earth Malta the project is creating new signs in Malta, Italy, Spain and the UK, for which we are proud to be the UK partner and lead. Exciting progress so far includes a range of new BSL signs developed by the Deaf-led team at Edinburgh University.

Language of Nature is a two-year project funded by Heritage Lottery, running from January 2022. We are opening up connections with nature and the outdoors for people who use Braille, Widgit, Makaton, BSL and Easy English for primary communication. We have a strong group of partners in Liverpool, London, Devon and Cornwall which includes special schools, Deaf scientists, Trees for Cities, National Wildflower Centre, Eden Project and Forestry England. Development of new sensory resources includes tactile guides to trees and wildflowers, wildflower learning materials in Widgit, and nature-based curriculum materials for Deaf children.

"Our students have been raving about the day ever since and we are inspired to set up our own wildflower patch for next summer. The activities provided were so engaging and wellpitched, I think they all took a lot from it." Special school teacher

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Our developing expertise in this area has led to some exciting new commissions to produce inclusive communication for natural heritage sites. This includes producing a series of plant labels with Braille and Widgit developed for Stephens House and Garden, London, as part of making the garden more inclusive. And a commission from Cornwall Heritage Trust for an access review and information and interpretation review of the iron age hill fort (scheduled ancient monument) Castle an Dinas. Followed by the preparation of pre-visit information and Widgit education resources.

1.3 Develop tools and guidance for practitioners

We are experts in developing guidance and resources on inclusive approaches to support the work of practitioners and to help marginalised people engage more closely with nature and the outdoors.

The development of tools such as the Access Chain , and guidance such as By All Reasonable Means , are important ways of sharing our approach and encouraging more inclusive practices in environmental design and management.

"I was also introduced to Sensory Trust's Access Chain, which is a really neat and deceptively simple model for thinking about good access to lots to transport services and facilities beyond simply outdoor spaces." Comment following the launch of the Outdoor Accessibility Guidance.

Trees for Cities commissioned us to advise on how to make their evaluation techniques and public events more inclusive.

Your Park Bristol and Bath is a small young charity focused on connecting communities with their local parks. In a pilot project funded by Natural England, we were commissioned to advise on creating a community assessment tool and involving local people in reviewing and inputting to their local parks. Following this successful pilot we have been further commissioned to undertake more work and build on this relationship.

Our expertise and experience in funding and strategy was recognised by The Daniell Trust , a trust funder. They have commissioned us to advise on a new a strategic direction and funding mechanisms, including application forms and decision-making criteria.

2. Foster inclusive communities

Sensory Trust has a strong reputation for its inclusive and creative approach to working with communities and reconnecting marginalised disabled and older people with their local places and communities. Inclusive techniques make the process more engaging and productive for all audiences.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

2.1 Increase participation of young people with disabilities in nature- based interests and activities

This work focuses on young people with disabilities and health issues, their parents, siblings and carers. The wellbeing benefits that children and young people gain from spending time outdoors can be particularly important for children with disabilities, but they typically have the least opportunities to engage. Feedback from families and teachers shows they need more opportunities for their children. Many realise the importance of the outdoors, but don't know how to facilitate this. Children may have access to occasional outings to outdoor destinations, but lack day-to-day opportunities to bring sustained health and developmental gains.

We are working with special schools and young people who use Makaton, Widgit, BSL and Braille through our Language of Nature project. Interactive sessions at Haldon Forest, Exeter involve exploring trees and woodlands with young Deaf people and young people with learning disabilities.

Language of Nature is bringing wildflower preparation and planting into two special schools in Cornwall and one in Liverpool. We are creating Widgit resources to support the practical processes of ground preparation and seed sowing. Each school will have a new wildflower area that they will use for data collecting and monitoring in the summer term.

"It is a delight to have students catered to at their level of need. Resources are engaging and are both symbol and sensory based. Both profound and multiple learning disabilities and severe learning disabilities students are catered for." Special school teacher

2.2 Increase participation of older people with dementia in nature-based interests and activities

This work focuses on engaging people living with dementia, their families and carers with nature and the outdoors, bringing significant health and social benefits. This reflects our ambition of building on our work that shows the effectiveness of our nature-based approach in helping people build coping strategies and enhance their wellbeing.

Our Creative Spaces programme has been supporting people living with dementia, families and carers, for over ten years and is now widely known for its innovative, naturebased approach to dementia care. It demonstrates how connections with nature and the outdoors can enhance the wellbeing and coping mechanisms of people living with dementia by inspiring new interests and social connections and reducing isolation and dependency.

Providing on-the-ground support for people living with dementia in their own homes continues to be a major focus. We have secured four years of support from National Lottery Community Fund to continue our nine outdoor activity clubs. These meet regularly across Cornwall, inspiring socially isolated people living with dementia to become more active, meet others and take on new social activities as part of their daily lives. The groups foster new interests and build on partnerships with artists, community groups and organisations, such as Tate St Ives, Leach Pottery, Falmouth University and Brickfield CIC.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

"I'm happier, I've made some lovely friends. Anyone who comes here is welcomed with open arms. It really lifts your spirit. It's so good mentally and physically" Joan from Wednesday Wanderers walking group.

The groups are supported by a dedicated group of 25 volunteers. Supporting our volunteers with relevant training ensures they are skilled and confident to support the groups and ensure we can continue to welcome new members to the groups.

We continue supporting North East Fife Community Hub and University of St Andrews who are following our model of dementia friendly activity clubs to grow this activity in St Andrews. This is demonstrating how our approach can be replicated elsewhere, embedding a new activity club into the community.

We are a co-investigator in a major new dementia-related research study led by University of Exeter and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. ENLIVEN (extending active life for older people with cognitive impairment through innovations in the visitor economy of the natural environment) is a three year project to investigate what can be done to make outdoor places easier for older people living with cognitive impairment (including people with young-onset dementia) and their family members of all ages to visit. Our contribution includes advising on plans, activities and interview questions and linking up with our activity groups.

2.3 Increase intergenerational opportunities through nature-based interests and activities

This area of work nurtures the skills and interests of older people in nature; whilst empowering young people to take community action to support the environment. It builds ongoing relationships, forging relationships between two generations who are often stigmatised and perceived to not understand each other.

We are part of a cohort of 11 organisations in England's largest intergenerational project, testing and evidencing the benefits of intergenerational connections between young and old. Care Home Friends and Neighbours: Intergenerational Linking is a partnership between two organisations, My Home Life England and The Linking Network, funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust.

Our role has fostered connections between 10 care homes and 10 schools, inspiring social action in young people. This has resulted in new resources which are being shared nationally, supporting young and older people to develop their common interests. This activity is also informing our future plans, with the launch of a new intergenerational activity group, embedding intergenerational work into our ongoing Creative Spaces programme.

3. Encourage and enable sensory engagement

Sensory Trust works to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can access the health and social benefits that come from engaging with nature and the outdoors. We use techniques such as sensory mapping and sensory-rich experiences to create engaging, meaningful and memorable connections with nature and the outdoors.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

3.1 Inspire nature engagement and action for health and environmental benefits

This reflects a growing team interest in 'completing the circle', not just connecting to nature but benefiting nature. This has been implicit in previous work but is now coming into focus with targets and delivery plans.

Dig Deeper is using nature exploration and discovery to support working age adults with mental health challenges. It is immersing people in the micro and hidden worlds of nature, for example by using digital microscopes to explore soil and water. We have been able to pilot a new bespoke training programme during the year, helping people with anxiety and depression to develop nature-based coping mechanisms. Participants are gaining tools and confidence to develop sustained techniques and embed this into regular routines. This helps them regain self-esteem, form supportive networks and increase confidence to participate in community life. The ambition is to grow this programme of work over the next year.

"It helped me build up the confidence to seek further help with my depression and anxiety. I'm currently embarking on a support program with Pentreath (a mental health charity) I don't think I would be doing that if I had not gone to Dig Deep first" Dig Deeper participant

3.2 Develop and share nature-based resources, guidance and tools

This work involves developing, promoting and sharing new nature-based resources. Some are free, some for sale through our trading subsidiary, Orange Spiral Limited. Some are targeted at specific audiences, while others are of broad appeal. All are designed to encourage people to engage with nature and the outdoors.

Our resources put our philosophy into practice and increases our reach, both in terms of beneficiaries and geography. They include the gofindit scavenger hunt card game, Sensory Trail Markers, and dementia-specific resources. New resource development work is now built into most project budgets.

Resources for sale generate unrestricted income, supporting our plans to diversify income. Our trading subsidiary, Orange Spiral Limited (OSL) , has now completed its seventh year of operation with an average turnover of £265k during this time. It is reaching markets across the UK, America, Europe and Australia. We have updated the OSL business plan to focus activity on domestic and international priorities with further expansion into Germany including a German language version of our gofindit game.

We have new garden design consultancy packages on our website following a detailed review of the demand for services and internal capacity. There is an emphasis on advising on existing gardens and sensory planting, rather than solely complete redesigns.

3.3 Develop and deliver sensory designs

This capitalises on our skills and experience through the expansion of our consultancy services. We deliver advice and designs for green space and occasional building projects, ranging from care homes to large capital building projects.

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

This includes the design of a new outdoor sensory space as part of the renovation of a heritage building and its botanic garden into offices and community resource in Morrab Gardens , Penzance. It is funded by Heritage Lottery and funds have been secured to support the construction phase and our own ongoing design input.

An outline garden design was delivered for Langholme care home in Falmouth to provide greater accessibility and opportunities for sensory engagement in the garden. It involved community engagement to involve the residents in design ideas.

We continue our collaboration with Unlocking Landscapes , a research partnership between Exeter and Northumberland Universities, led by Dr Sarah Bell. It focuses on exploring landscape meaning and developing inclusive approaches to outdoor experiences, with a particular focus on blind and partially sighted people. Input includes contributing to a workshop at Westonbirt and co-developing the report 'Unlocking Landscapes: The inclusive role of sensory histories of people and place'.

Green Minds Plymouth commissioned us to engage students at Arts University Plymouth on how to engage the senses in the outdoors. Students then went on to use these new skills in their own design for a sensory trail.

Financial Review

We continue to prioritise a sustainable, financially robust business model. This includes harnessing support from a diverse range of funders, combining multi-year agreements with funders such as the National Lottery alongside shorter-term commitments for smaller-scale initiatives.

We continue to minimise our overheads by maintaining efficient administrative systems. As with many voluntary organisations, our biggest challenge is resourcing our core costs which relate to activities such as promotion, advocacy and dissemination, but we have made excellent progress by applying full-cost recovery to our fundraising and building income through consultancy and trading.

Overall, our total income was £492,282; total expenditure was £503,994 which resulted in a deficit of £11,712. The closing position of £471,885 includes unrestricted reserves of £472,497 alongside restricted funds of (£612). Many of our grants during the year are funded retrospectively, hence the current closing balance of our restricted funds in deficit. However, funds are secured to cover those funds currently in deficit.

We have three designated funds within unrestricted reserves, which are reviewed annually:

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

This leaves £359,500 as general free reserves. This represents 10 months of our core operational costs. Our reserves policy is to build and maintain reserves of 9 - 12 months of core operational costs to allow a more realistic timeframe for the charity to adapt to change and respond to crises. This protects the future resilience of the charity, which is particularly important as we respond to increased demand for services, increased competition for funds and increased costs of delivery.

Future Plans

Our strategic plan enables us to prioritise and plan future work and development. This has allowed us to focus on the following:

  1. Make places accessible

  2. Launching new national guidance on improving access to public greenspace and natural heritage.

  3. Build new training packages to support professional practice.

  4. Develop new resources to support people with sensory impairments and learning disabilities to engage with natural environments.

  5. Foster inclusive communities

  6. Build on our intergenerational activity.

  7. Maintain a focus on our regular outdoor activity groups to support people with dementia and carers.

  8. Build on our work with young people with additional needs to support families and schools.

  9. Encourage and enable sensory engagement

  10. We have a new focus on environmental action especially in relation to providing opportunities for marginalised groups to take climate action.

  11. Build evidence for using the theme of resilience and nature in supporting people's mental health.

  12. Expand our range of nature-based resources for schools and families, including free and those which generate income.

We have also prioritised the following strategic enablers to help us strengthen the organisation:

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

B. Monitoring and evaluation

C. Financial sustainability

D. Develop trading, consultancy and training

E. Ways of working

Structure, governance and management Governing document

The Sensory Trust is a registered charity (No. 1020670) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 02811046).

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Sensory Trust is governed by a board of trustees who are also directors of the company. New trustees are recruited and appointed by targeting a wide range of organisations and networks to maximise the chances of recruiting people from a diverse range of abilities, backgrounds, ages and circumstances. It is a baseline requirement for trustees to have personal or professional awareness of diversity issues.

Induction and training of new trustees

Induction training is provided for new trustees and further support and guidance is provided by existing trustees and staff members, particularly the director, company secretary and chair.

Remuneration of key management personnel

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Sensory Trust

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

A remuneration working group is a sub-committee of the board comprising the chair, treasurer and up to two other trustees. Members of the senior management team attend in an advisory capacity.

The working group make recommendations to the board regarding the remuneration of the director. They also undertake an annual review of pay scales, informed by benchmarking information and recommendations from the senior management team.

In the last year we implemented a 5% cost of living increase after consideration of inflation (as measured by the current retail prices index and the consumer prices index including owner-occupiers' housing costs), Unison recommendations and average increases in other similar charities. The pay ratio between the median salary and the most senior salary is 1:1.9.

Risk management

The major risks to which the charity is exposed have been identified and are reviewed through a comprehensive risk assessment undertaken by staff and reported to trustees every four months.

This covers governance, operations, legal, financial and external risks. We consistently monitor our own performance as well as keep abreast of best practice in the wider sector in order to ensure the organisation is identifying and addressing all risks.

Reference and administration details

Registered Company number

02811046 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1020670

Registered office

ESAM 7 Carluddon Technology Park Carluddon ST AUSTELL Cornwall PL26 8WE

Trustees

Dr G Mantle Mr M Beck Mr P C Hunter (resigned 16/11/2022) Mr M Page Ms K Mitchell Dr K E Braithwaite Chair Mr C Phillips Treasurer Prof R Garside Researcher (appointed 29/11/2022)

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Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Sensory Trust

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sensory Trust ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

James Pearce FCA Lang Bennetts Audit Limited The Old Carriage Works Moresk Road TRURO Cornwall TR1 1DG

15/11/2023 Date: .............................................

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Sensory Trust

Statement of Financial Activities

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
Income and Endowments from
Donations and legacies
2
29,916
-
Charitable activities
5
Advancement of education
41,872
342,108
Other trading activities
3
76,899
-
Investment income
4
1,487
-
Total
150,174
342,108
Expenditure on
Charitable activities
6
Advancement of education
175,875
328,119
Net Income/(Expenditure)
(25,701)
13,989
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward
498,198
(14,601)
Total Funds Carried Forward
472,497
(612)		 2023
Total
funds
£
29,916
383,980
76,899
1,487
492,282
503,994
(11,712)
483,597
471,885		 2022
Total
funds
£
81,184
313,363
71,045
298
465,890
474,989
(9,099)
492,696
483,597

The notes form part of these financial statements

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Sensory Trust

Balance Sheet 31 March 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
Fixed Assets
Intangible assets
13
482
-
Tangible assets
14
4,784
448
Investments
15
1
-
5,267
448
Current Assets
Debtors
16
33,544
66,994
Cash at bank
442,805
(50,557)
476,349
16,437
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
17
(9,119)
(17,497)
Net Current Assets/(Liabilities)
467,230
(1,060)
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities
472,497
(612)
Net Assets
472,497
(612)
Funds
18
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total Funds		 2023
Total
funds
£
482
5,232
1
5,715
100,538
392,248
492,786
(26,616)
466,170
471,885
471,885
472,497
(612)
471,885		 2022
Total
funds
£
4,018
7,944
1
11,963
159,861
343,616
503,477
(31,843)
471,634
483,597
483,597
498,198
(14,601)
483,597

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

The notes form part of these financial statements

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15/11/2023

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 17

Sensory Trust

Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2023

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
1
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents
in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the reporting period		 2023
£
50,120
50,120
(2,975)
1,487
(1,488)
48,633
343,616
392,248		 2022
£
53,361
53,361
(7,533)
298
(7,235)
46,126
297,490
343,616

The notes form part of these financial statements

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Sensory Trust

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Reconciliation of net expenditure to net cash flow from operating activities

Net expenditure for the reporting period (as per the Statement
of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Decrease in debtors
Decrease in creditors
Net cash provided by operations		 2023
£
(11,712)
9,223
(1,487)
59,323
(5,227)
50,120		 2022
£
(9,099)
9,087
(298)
66,883
(13,212)
53,361

2. Analysis of changes in net funds

At 1/4/22 Cash flow At 31/3/23
£ £ £
Net cash
Cash at bank 343,616 48,632 392,248
343,616 48,632 392,248
Total 343,616 48,632 392,248

The notes form part of these financial statements

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Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1. Accounting Policies

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Website development costs

The cost of developing the charity's website is recognised as an intangible asset and the expenditure is released to the Statement of Financial Activities evenly over a period of four years.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Fixtures and fittings - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Page 20

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

f or the year ended 31 March 2023

2.
Donations and Legacies
Donations
Donations from related company
3.
Other Trading Activities
Consultancy
Other income
4.
Investment Income
Deposit account interest
5.
Income from Charitable Activities
Activity
Grants
Advancement of education
Conferences and training
Advancement of education
Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:
Baily Thomas Charitable Fund
Cornwall Community Foundation
D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Duke of Cornwall's Benevolent Fund
Carew Pole Charitable Trust
Elmgrant Trust
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Cornwall Heritage Trust
Comic Relief
Groundwork UK
Natural England: Nature Friendly Schools
Asda Foundation
HMRC: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
ERASMUS
Persimmon Community Champions
Dunhill Medical Trust
Economic and Social Research Council
Blanchminster Trust
Postcode Local Trust
Carried forward		 2023
£
4,284
25,632
29,916
2023
£
74,899
2,000
76,899
2023
£
1,487
2023
£
374,525
9,455
383,980
2023
£
5,000
17,500
5,000
2,000
1,000
500
181,685
-
-
-
-
-
-
17,225
-
6,367
10,000
-
17,556
263,833		 2022
£
8,719
72,465
81,184
2022
£
54,858
16,187
71,045
2022
£
298
2022
£
313,063
300
313,363
2022
£
-
5,000
-
-
-
-
61,363
500
2,584
1,000
145,547
500
8,105
4,160
1,000
31,000
10,000
1,000
14,747
286,504

Page 21

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

5. Income from Charitable Activities - continued

2023
£
Brought forward
263,833
Sport England
-
National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities
49,772
Tesco Community Fund
1,000
Active Cornwall
2,298
Norman Family Charitable Trust
1,000
Clare Milne Trust
12,206
ArtsWell
2,000
Awards For All
10,000
Helvellyn Foundation
30,516
Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum
1,900
374,525
6.
Charitable Activities Costs
Direct
Support
Costs (see
costs (see
note 7)
note 8)
£
£
Advancement of education
459,616
44,378
7.
Direct Costs of Charitable Activities
2023
£
Staff costs
381,030
Promotion and dissemination
5,717
Staff travel expenses
16,714
Project materials and events
38,008
Volunteers expenses
-
Training
2,846
Staff private medical expenses
4,171
Recruitment
914
Evaluation
3,000
Beneficiary travel expenses
7,216
459,616
8.
Support Costs
Governance
Finance
Other
costs
£
£
£
Advancement of education
605
35,351
8,422		 2022
£
286,504
2,000
24,557
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
313,063
Totals
£
503,994
2022
£
340,346
5,701
11,134
59,684
1,048
3,237
3,732
1,394
-
6,894
433,170
Totals
£
44,378

Page 22

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

8. Support Costs - continued

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:

Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
2023 2022
Advancement
of Total
education activities
£ £
Bank charges 605 361
Insurance 3,385 3,145
Postage, stationery and phone 15,713 14,865
Rent 7,030 6,143
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 3,537 3,537
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 5,686 5,550
Accountancy and legal fees 3,168 2,889
Bookkeeping fees 5,254 5,329
44,378 41,819

9. Net Income/(Expenditure)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

2023 2022
£ £
Depreciation - owned assets 5,687 5,550
Website amortisation 3,536 3,537

10. Trustees Remuneration and Benefits

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2023 nor for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Trustees' expenses

There have been travel expenses totalling £2,191 paid to the trustees throughout the year (2022: £nil).

11. Staff Costs

Staff Costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2023
£
335,859
28,900
16,271
381,030		 2022
£
301,429
24,806
14,111
340,346

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

2023 2022
Staff 13 11

Page 23

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

11. Staff Costs - continued

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

12. Comparatives with 2021/22

12. Comparatives with 2021/22
Unrestricted Restricted Total
funds funds funds
£ £ £
Income and Endowments from
Donations and legacies 81,184 - 81,184
Charitable activities
Advancement of education 8,404 304,959 313,363
Other trading activities 71,045 - 71,045
Investment income 298 - 298
Total 160,931 304,959 465,890
Expenditure on
Charitable activities
Advancement of education 127,322 347,667 474,989
Net Income/(Expenditure) 33,609 (42,708) (9,099)
Transfers between funds (5,881) 5,881 -
Net movement in funds 27,728 (36,827) (9,099)
Reconciliation of Funds
Total funds brought forward 470,470 22,226 492,696
Total Funds Carried Forward 498,198 (14,601) 483,597
13. Intangible Fixed Assets
Website
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 14,147
Amortisation
At 1 April 2022 10,129
Charge for year 3,536
At 31 March 2023 13,665
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2023 482
At 31 March 2022 4,018

Page 24

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

f or the year ended 31 March 2023

14. Tangible Fixed Assets

14. Tangible Fixed Assets
Fixtures
and Computer
fittings equipment
Totals
£ £ £
Cost
At 1 April 2022 1,550 17,793 19,343
Additions - 2,975 2,975
At 31 March 2023 1,550 20,768 22,318
Depreciation
At 1 April 2022 620 10,779 11,399
Charge for year 310 5,377 5,687
At 31 March 2023 930 16,156 17,086
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2023 620 4,612 5,232
At 31 March 2022 930 7,014 7,944
15. Fixed Asset Investments
Shares in
group
undertakings
£
Market Value
At 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 1
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2023 1
At 31 March 2022 1

There were no investment assets outside the UK.

The company's investments at the balance sheet date in the share capital of companies include the following:

Orange Spiral Limited was incorporated on the 16th February 2017 with the object of expanding trading activities of the Trust, with effect from the 1 April 2017.

16.
Debtors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income		 2023
£
73,769
24,211
2,558
100,538		 2022
£
84,941
72,398
2,522
159,861

Page 25

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

f or the year ended 31 March 2023

17. Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Accruals and income in advance		 2023
£
10,342
7,416
8,858
26,616		 2022
£
4,178
7,232
20,433
31,843

18. Movement in Funds

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Trading subsidiary resilience fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Dig Deeper
Total Funds		 Net
movement
At 1/4/22
in funds
£
£
370,433
(22,645)
71,000
-
11,375
(3,056)
45,390
-
498,198
(25,701)
12,348
(12,941)
(3,928)
(6,424)
(16,601)
19,405
(6,420)
3,309
-
10,640
(14,601)
13,989
483,597
(11,712)		 Transfers
between
funds
£
11,712
-
-
(11,712)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 At
31/3/23
£
359,500
71,000
8,319
33,678
472,497
(593)
(10,352)
2,804
(3,111)
10,640
(612)
471,885

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Dig Deeper
Total Funds		 Incoming
Resources
Movement
resources
expended
in funds
£
£
£
148,274
(170,919)
(22,645)
-
(3,056)
(3,056)
1,900
(1,900)
-
150,174
(175,875)
(25,701)
78,935
(91,876)
(12,941)
75,037
(81,461)
(6,424)
131,354
(111,949)
19,405
17,225
(13,916)
3,309
39,557
(28,917)
10,640
342,108
(328,119)
13,989
492,282
(503,994)
(11,712)

Page 26

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

18. Movement in Funds - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Trading subsidiary resilience fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Nature Friendly Schools
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Total Funds		 Net
movement
At 1/4/21
in funds
£
£
340,020
36,294
71,000
-
13,450
(2,075)
46,000
(610)
470,470
33,609
1,593
10,044
-
(7,601)
20,633
(22,130)
-
(16,601)
-
(6,420)
22,226
(42,708)
492,696
(9,099)		 Transfers
between
funds
£
(5,881)
-
-
-
(5,881)
711
3,673
1,497
-
-
5,881
-		 At
31/3/22
£
370,433
71,000
11,375
45,390
498,198
12,348
(3,928)
-
(16,601)
(6,420)
(14,601)
483,597

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Nature Friendly Schools
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Total Funds		 Incoming
Resources
Movement
resources
expended
in funds
£
£
£
160,931
(124,637)
36,294
-
(2,075)
(2,075)
-
(610)
(610)
160,931
(127,322)
33,609
92,389
(82,345)
10,044
62,863
(70,464)
(7,601)
145,547
(167,677)
(22,130)
-
(16,601)
(16,601)
4,160
(10,580)
(6,420)
304,959
(347,667)
(42,708)
465,890
(474,989)
(9,099)

Page 27

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

18. Movement in Funds - continued

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Trading subsidiary resilience fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Nature Friendly Schools
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Dig Deeper
Total Funds		 Net
movement
At 1/4/21
in funds
£
£
340,020
13,649
71,000
-
13,450
(5,131)
46,000
(610)
470,470
7,908
1,593
(2,897)
-
(14,025)
20,633
(22,130)
-
2,804
-
(3,111)
-
10,640
22,226
(28,719)
492,696
(20,811)		 Transfers
between
funds
£
5,831
-
-
(11,712)
(5,881)
711
3,673
1,497
-
-
-
5,881
-		 At
31/3/23
£
359,500
71,000
8,319
33,678
472,497
(593)
(10,352)
-
2,804
(3,111)
10,640
(612)
471,885

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Asset replacement fund
Development Fund
Restricted funds
Creative Spaces
More Than Words
Nature Friendly Schools
Language of Nature
PANCAKE
Dig Deeper
Total Funds		 Incoming
Resources
Movement
resources
expended
in funds
£
£
£
309,205
(295,556)
13,649
-
(5,131)
(5,131)
1,900
(2,510)
(610)
311,105
(303,197)
7,908
171,324
(174,221)
(2,897)
137,900
(151,925)
(14,025)
145,547
(167,677)
(22,130)
131,354
(128,550)
2,804
21,385
(24,496)
(3,111)
39,557
(28,917)
10,640
647,067
(675,786)
(28,719)
958,172
(978,983)
(20,811)

Page 28

Sensory Trust

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued f or the year ended 31 March 2023

19. Related Party Disclosures

During the year the charity recharged an amount of £2,000 (2022: £16,187) to its wholly owned trading subsidiary Orange Spiral Limited in respect of overheads incurred on its behalf. The subsidiary made a gift aid donation of £25,632 (2022: £72,465) to the charity. An amount of £24,215 (2022: £72,399) was included in Debtors at the year end.

20. Purpose of Restricted Funds

Creative Spaces : Creating opportunities for older people with dementia and their carers to improve their environments, strengthen their communities and play a more active part in society.

More Than Words : Making heritage accessible through co-designed, sensory-rich, inclusive interpretation.

Nature Friendly Schools: Improving children's learning, health and wellbeing through nature.

Language of Nature: Creating new language-based resources using Makaton, Braille, Widgit, British Sign Language and Easy English to connect a wider range of people with nature.

PANCAKE: Working with D/deaf communities to develop sign language supporting greater engagement with nature.

Dig Deeper : Taking a deep dive into nature to support people living with anxiety and depression.

Page 29

Sensory Trust

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2023

Income and Endowments
Donations and legacies
Donations
Donations from related company
Other trading activities
Consultancy
Other income
Investment income
Deposit account interest
Charitable activities
Grants
Conferences and training
Total incoming resources
Expenditure
Charitable activities
Wages
Social security
Pensions
Promotion and dissemination
Staff travel
Project materials and events
Volunteers expenses
Training
Staff private medical expenses
Recruitment
Evaluation
Beneficiary expenses
Support costs
Finance
Bank charges
Other
Insurance
Carried forward		 2023
£
4,284
25,632
29,916
74,899
2,000
76,899
1,487
374,525
9,455
383,980
492,282
335,859
28,900
16,271
5,717
16,714
38,008
-
2,846
4,171
914
3,000
7,216
459,616
605
3,385
3,385		 2022
£
8,719
72,465
81,184
54,858
16,187
71,045
298
313,063
300
313,363
465,890
301,429
24,806
14,111
5,701
11,134
59,684
1,048
3,237
3,732
1,394
-
6,894
433,170
361
3,145
3,145

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 30

Sensory Trust

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2023

Other
Brought forward
Postage, stationery and phone
Rent
Amortisation of website costs
Depreciation of fixtures and fittings
Depreciation of computer equipment
Governance costs
Accountancy and legal fees
Bookkeeping fees
Total resources expended
Net expenditure		 2023
£
3,385
15,713
7,030
3,537
310
5,376
35,351
3,168
5,254
8,422
503,994
(11,712)		 2022
£
3,145
14,865
6,143
3,537
310
5,240
33,240
2,889
5,329
8,218
474,989
(9,099)

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 31