LONDON IN BLOOM TRUSTEES, REPORT for the year ended 31st October 2023 Charitable Objectives The charity's objectives are the promotion of floriculture and horticulture, to advance the education of the public, particularly school children, in ecological sustainability and natural resource conservation, and to enhance the lives of older adults in London. Governance The charity is managed by its Council of Trustees/Directors. The other trustees/Directors nominate new Trustees/Directors. All retire at the Annual General Meeting and are eligible for re-election. Trustee Meetings are held throughout the year. The Chairmen and Campaign Managers attend meetings with the Britain in Bloom organisation. Though not a legal requirement, the Trustees have appointed an Independent Reporting Accountant to report to them on the Annual Report and Accounts. Achievements and Activities: Aim of London in Bloom for 2023 The aims of London in Bloom for 2023 were to secure sufficient funds to cover the planned expenditure, bring participation back to pre-pandemic levels, update the judging and assessment criteria and guidance documents to meet the needs of a changing climate, and further encourage community participation. Achievements in 2023 London in Bloom reached participation levels that surpassed those before the pandemic. Grosvenor Properties Ltd hosted a seminar for judges and entrants, with support from Grosvenor Landscapes. The awards ceremony, hosted by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, was attended by 400 guests and was a success. The guidance notes for participants and judges/assessors were modified to reflect environmental and climate change considerations. Despite a highly competitive situation for securing charitable funding,-sufficient income was raised to cover all expenses and provide a modest surplus. .The London in Bloom websites received updates to improve functionality and user experience.
Objectives for 2024 l. To convert to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation [ClO]. 2. Undertake a review and re-define where required the purpose and aims and objectives. 3. Develop a more formal structure to its management and governance (board and campaign management) with defined terms of office. 4. Meet the needs of succession, with a plan to replace the retiring board members and recruit additional trustees to the board. 5. Continue to adapt competition materials to meet climate changes challenges through updated judging and assessment criteria, guidance to participants, and training for judges & assessors. 6. Participate in Britain in Bloom Federation meetings and workshops to agree on common aims & objectives across the regions of Britain in Bloom, ensuring Bloom remains relevant and attainable for its participants. 7. Develop and enhance our regional objectives wherever possible and increase participation across all areas of the Region(s). 8. Provide mentoring and, where possible, support participants understanding of gardening methods fit for the future. 9. Work with and develop partners and partnerships across Greater London to mitigate local flooding, reduce heat islands, increase opportunities for nature encourage entries to increase "Greening projects to reduce the effects of climate change in the charity's Region 10. Ensure all Trustees play a full role in the future of Bloom, safeguarding the governance and fiscal management already achieved. 11. Continue to update the two Bloom websites and use affordable technology to increase efficiency and reduce manual administration systems. 12. Ensure sufficient judges and assessors are available to meet the projected increased participation and that judges and assessors meet the standards of a representative of London in Bloom and Bloom overall. Public Benefit Statement The 9.5 million general public of the Greater London area, including residents and visitors, benefit from raising standards of beautification, greening and environmental responsibility, resulting from the London Cities, Boroughs taking part in our campaign. Not only Councils but wide-ranging Business and voluntary community groups participate in presenting and managing their areas. awards are given for the standards achieved, and advice on improvement is provided.
Financial Position The campaign managers, heroic work in keeping in touch with entrants during the COVID standstill still pays dividends, with a record number of entrants willingly participating. A modest increase in entry fees was accepted with no problems. With the higher numbers of entrants and support from long-standing loyal supporters, sufficient funds were raised to cover costs and provide a surplus. Regrettably, despite all efforts, no headline sponsor was secured. A small surplus for the year resulted, with the reserves remaining adequate at £14,000. The Statement of Financial Activities and the Balance Sheet are on pages ' to * following. Rlsk Management The Trustees have considered the risks to which the charity is exposed and are taking the appropriate action. Reserves Policy The Trustees have adopted a reserves policy that as soon as circumstances permit, the General Reserve should cover the net fixed assets, provide for a minimal Annual Award Ceremony and for essential administrative expenditure to continue for a reasonable time (at least six months) if funds were temporarily unavailable. It will take time to build up to this level, as sponsors will rightly expect that their contribution will be spent on direct charitable expenditure rather than put into reserve. Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities Charity Law and the Charity's Deed of Trust require the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give an accurate and fair view of the state of affairs of the Trust and of the income and expenditure of the Trust for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent reasonable and prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the Trust will continue. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which reasonably accurately disclose the Trust's financial position at any time and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charity Act and the Trust Deed requirements. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Trust and hence for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. Peter G D Holman - Co-chair & Managing Trustee Geoffrey R Hyde - Trustee & Treasurer Dated 20th November 2023
LONDON IN BLOOM London in Bloom is a company limited by guarantee no 3859876 and a Registered Charity no 1079979. It was formed in 1999 to take over from the previous London in Bloom, an unincorporated association founded in 1967. 23rd ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS st For the year ended 31 October 2023 London in Bloom organises community-led sustainable horticultural and environmental annual competitions that the councils, schools, commercial interests, and residents for the 31 Boroughs and 2 Cities of Greater London. Grades of awards are given for excellence with an emphasis on the environment, community involvement and horticulture. Some high achievers may enter the National Finals of Britain in Bloom.
LONDON IN BLOOM ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 October 2023 Legal and Administrative Details COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES Peter Holman, Mark Wasilewski Ruth Growney Geoff Hyde lan Hyde Miles Watson-smyth Co-chair & Executive Trustee Co-chair Company Secretary CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT Kate Harris & Anne Holman PRINCIPAL ADDRESS and REGISTERED OFFICE 124 Gravel Hill Croydon Surrey CRO 5BF BANKERS Cafcash Limited West Malling Kent REPORTING ACCOUNTANT W Glynne Owen & Company Limited, Chartered Accountants 2 Caradog Villas, Glanhwfa Road Llangefni, Anglesey LL77 7EN
- 3g4 g1L tycL tD1 4q11 LONDON IN BLOOM Balance Sheet as at 31st October 2023 , Note Cost Deprec'n Deprec'n Deprec'n. BIFwd 2023 Total £0.00 £0.00 2023 2022 £.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 FIXED ASSETS Computer November 2020 Computer Dec 2021 Computer May 2023 649.00 393.00 216.00 609.00 659.00 183.00 220.00 403.00 1,358.17 0.00 188.17 188.17 40.00 256.00 256.00 1,170.00 476.00 2,666.17 576.00 624.17 1,200.17 1,466.00 732.00 TOTAL NET FIXED ASSETS 1,466.00 732.00 CURRENT ASSETS Cash at Bank: General Account Petty Cash Debtors/Prepayments 21,866.82 0.00 16,604.86, 0.00, 1,525.00 1,630.00, 23,391.82[_L 18,234.86 (10,850.00) (6,954.52). CREDITORS: IAmounts falling due within one year ,NET CURRENT ASSETS 12,541.82 11,280.34 TOTAL NET ASSETS £14,007.82 £ 12,012.34 ,RESERVES: General Reserves 12,830.86 12,012.34 0.00 , Restricted Reserves 1,176.96, 0.00 TOTAL RESERVES £14,007.82 £ 12,012.34 For the year ended 31 October 2023 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. Responsibilities of directors/trustees: (a) The members have not required the charitable company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act - however, in accordancewith section 43 of the Charities Act 1993 the accounts have been examined by an independent examiner whose report is attached. (b) The directorsltrustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements , of the Companies Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in acordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies, regime. Approved by the Trustees on 20th November 2023 , Peter G D Holman.. .Trustee Geoffrey R Hyde.,....Trustee
LONDON IN BLOOM STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES I For the year ended 31 October 2023 i Note General Restricted, Fundsl 2023 Total Total 1&2 Fund Funds Funds 2023 2023 2022 £.00 £.00 £.00 INCOMING RESOURCES , Incoming Resources from generated funds Voluntary Income 12,437.50 1,261.96 13,699.461 8,519.76 Activities for generating funds 0.00 0.00 0.00 Bank Interest 26.45 26.45 6.21 , Incoming resources from Charitable activities 28,276.26 28,276.26 28,575.91 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 40,740.211 1,261.96 42,002.171 37,101.88 RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable Activities 39,620.69, 85.00 39,705.69 36,679.30 Governance 301.00 301.00 301.00 ITOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 39,921.691 85.00 40,006.69 36,980.30 NET RESOURCES FOR THE YEAR 818.52 | 1,176.96 1,995.48 1 Surplus 12,012.34 121.58 Surplus 11,890.75 ', Fund Balances b/fiNd 1111122 12,012.341 0.00 FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD 31110123 £12,830.86 £1,176.96 £14,007.82 £12,012.33
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT THE TRUSTEES OF LONDON IN BLOOM st I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 October 2023 which are set out on the attached pages. RESPEcfivE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIREccfoRS AND EXAMINER The ChariVs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charitvs trustees consider an audit is not required for this year (under settion 43(2) of the Charitie5 Act 1933 (the 1993Act as amended by S28 of the Charities Act 2006) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:_ Examine the accounts (under section 43(3)(a) of the 1993 Act as amended):. Follow the procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission(under Sertion 43(7)(b)of the 1993 Act, as amended), and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedure undertaken do not provided all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention. l. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material aspect the requirements to keep accounting record in accordance with Section 386 of the Companies Art 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice. Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met . or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. W GLYNNE OWEN & CO LIMITED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT 2 CARADOG VILLAS GLANHWFA ROAD LLANGEFNI ANGLESEY LL77 7ED SIGNED