LONDON IN BLOOM
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of London in Bloom will be held at 124 Gravel Hill, Croydon CR0 5BF on 25th April 2025 at 10.30am for the following purposes only:
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To receive, and, if agreed, to approve, the Annual Report and Accounts of the Trustees for 2024
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To consider and, if agreed, to elect those of the retiring Trustees willing to continue for a further year.
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To consider, and if agreed, to elect as Trustees those who have agreed to be nominated
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To consider and, if agreed, to re-appoint the Reporting Accountant
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To consider any other resolution notified to the Company Secretary before the meeting.
The meeting will also be available on ZOOM
By Order of the Council of Trustees
4[th] April 2025
Geoffrey R Hyde, Company Secretary
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.
For the year ended 31[st] October 2024
London in Bloom organises community-led sustainable horticultural and environmental annual competitions for the councils, schools, commercial interests, and residents of 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 2024
Legal and Administrative Details
COUNCIL OF TRUSTEES
Peter Holman, Co-Chair & Executive Trustee Mark Wasilewski Co-Chair Ian Boulton appointed 24 May 2024 Ruth Growney Nicholas Hagon appointed 11 June 2024 Geoff Hyde Company Secretary Ian Hyde Treasurer Miles Watson-Smyth
CAMPAIGN MANAGER
Kate Harris
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS and REGISTERED OFFICE
124 Gravel Hill Croydon Surrey CR0 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
LONDON IN BLOOM
TRUSTEES' REPORT
for the year ended 31st October 2024
Charitable Objectives
The charity's objectives are to promote floriculture and horticulture, advance the education of the public, particularly schoolchildren, in ecological sustainability and natural resource conservation, and 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 2024
London in Bloom’s goals for 2024 primarily focus on securing sufficient funding to support the initiatives. Recovering lost entries and fostering greater community and collaboration are also crucial. Additionally, the plan continues to revise judging criteria to better reflect the impacts of climate change. Lastly, there's a strong emphasis on reinforcing the board’s commitment to its core aims and objectives.
Achievements in 2024
The charity has made reasonable progress in securing funding, and the situation has improved; however, long-term sustainability remains the primary task. Participation in its programs has returned to anticipated levels.
Despite losing the agreed venue for the 2024 Awards Ceremony, the situation was recovered via an elegant award ceremony at the Surrey Gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, which celebrated achievements and reinforced the society's commitment to horticulture, the environment and community participation. Over 300 delegates attended and received recognition for their participation.
The charity revised its judging and assessment criteria to remain relevant in response to climate change and social issues.
The charity appointed a new trustee in 2024 who will bring fresh perspectives and insights into our development. This trustee's long-term commitment to Bloom as a participant and a judge will support this.
Objectives for 2025
The following are the main objectives of London in Bloom.
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Restructure the awards system to create opportunities for sponsorship, donations, and grant applications that align with the charity's key elements of work.
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Enhance the Trustee board by establishing a structure that enables all trustees to participate fully in management and charity development.
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Following the development of an action plan or strategy, consider the recruitment of new members to support the charity's objectives and ensure continuity.
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Develop strategies for income generation while evaluating the balance between achieving charitable aims and sustainability.
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Create digital platforms for entrant seminars.
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Continue reviewing regional Bloom activities, emphasising governance, finance, and operational development, in consultation with stakeholders.
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Adapt the charity’s programs in response to changes brought about by climate change.
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Update media to improve methods of communication and information dissemination.
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Participate in Britain in Bloom Federation meetings to support common objectives across regions and ensure the program remains relevant and achievable for participants.
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Ensure the availability of sufficient judges and assessors to meet the needs of its programs and to uphold the standards expected by London in Bloom and its participants.
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 participating 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 financial position of the Charity at the end of 2023/24 is similar to the previous year. Reserves remain adequate for the current activities. The year’s result was a break-even and funds allowed some compensation in the fee for campaign management, which had been static for several years despite the increase in entrant numbers. The unavoidable increase in the Annual Awards cost, following the unexpected and sudden withdrawal of the sponsor, and a reduction in sponsored income, was compensated by higher fees from entrants. The Statement of Financial Activities and the Balance Sheet are on pages * to * following.
Risk 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 allow essential administrative expenditures 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 that give an accurate and fair view of the trust's state of affairs and income and expenditures for that period.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently, make reasonable and prudent judgements and estimates, 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 that 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 trust's assets and, hence, for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
Peter G D Holman.......Co-Chair & Executive Trustee
Geoffrey R Hyde……….Trustee & Treasurer Dated 12[th] March 2025
Registered Number 03859876 LONDON IN BLOOM Micro-entity Acc(bunts 31 October 2024
LONDO IN BLOOM Registered Number 03859876 Micro-entity Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2024 oIL).Y 2024 2()23 Fixed Assets 753 I,466 Current Assets 18,375 23,392 Prepayments and accrued income Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Iyet current assets (liabilities) {4,850) (10,850) 13,525 12,542 Total assets less current liabilities 14,278 I4,008 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Provisions for liabilities Accruals and deferred income Total net assets (liabilities) 14,278 14,(108 Reserves 14,278 14,008 For the year ending 31 October 2024 tlie coinpany was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Coinpanies Act 2006 relating to small coinpanies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation ot. accounts. Tlic aLLouTils liave beeri prcparcd iri aLLordanLe willi ilie TiiiLru-eIiLily provisiuiis aiid delivered iri accordance with the provigions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. Approved by the Board on 17 December 2024 And signed on their behalf by: Peter GD Holman, Director Geoffrey R Hyde, Director
LONDO IN BLOOM Registered Number 03859876 Notes to the Micro-entitv Accounts for the period ended 31 October 2024 Employees 2024 202_1 Average number of employees during the period This document was delivered using electronic communications and authenticated in accordance with the registrar's rules relating to electronic forrn, authentication and manner of delivery under section 1072 of the Coinpanies Act 2006.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF LONDON IN BLOOM I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31st October 2024 which are set out on the attached pages. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER The Charitvs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Charitvs trustees consider an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities 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 Section 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 Act 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 ACCOUNTANTS 2 CARADOG VILLAS GLANHWFA ROAD LLANGEFNI. ANGLESEY LL77 7ED Signed