2026-03-31-accounts

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

Growing Places – Berkshire

Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO No. 1097671)

Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2026

	Page
Annual Report	2
Independent Examiner’s Report	5
Statement of Assets and Liabilities	6
Statement of Financial Activities	7
Notes to the Accounts	8

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

Growing Places - Berkshire (GPB) is a charity and is governed by its Foundation Constitution which was granted on 10 December 2021 when it converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Membership is restricted to the Trustees. Prior to its conversion to a CIO GPB was registered with Companies House, this registration closed on 9 December 2021.

The Objects of GPB are defined in the Foundation Constitution as the relief of people with learning disabilities in Wokingham and surrounding areas (the area of Benefit) in particular, but not exclusively, through the provision of therapeutic opportunities, training and constructive work experience in horticulture. The primary activity is to grow, from seed and stock, plants and other similar products for sale. The income is retained within GPB to fund the Objects.

Also, GPB develops more extended relationships with other supportive organisations to attract sponsorship, grants and similar to procure items for use in the horticultural activities and invest in the infrastructure of the growing areas (known as the ‘Farm’ based at Turgis Court Farm) where the horticultural activities take place. The Trustees are supported by a team of volunteers who make and repair Farm items and help maintain all of the growing and conservation areas.

GPB is administered by the Trustee Board for all constitutional, strategic planning, financial control and project investment matters. The Operations Committee reports to the Trustee Board and is delegated to manage all aspects involved in the growing and selling of plants and similar items. The Trustees and members of the Operations Committee provide their services free of charge. GPB employs no staff nor hires contracted staff.

During the year the Trustee Board met 5 times and the Operations Committee met 4 times and the AGM was held within 3 months of the year end. The Foundation Constitution requires the Trustee Board to comprise a Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer plus two other Trustees, three shall form a quorum. During the year and to the date this report was approved, the Trustees were:

Chairman: David Baker Secretary: Brian Stainton Treasurer: David Baker Trustees: Neil Dunlop Robert Sinclair Michael Westrop

At the AGM 2025, Trustees David Baker, Michael Westrop, Robert Sinclair and Neil Dunlop were re-appointed for further terms of 3 years and confirmed on individual anniversaries at the relevant Trustee meeting: all re-appointments are recorded in the Trustee meeting minutes.

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026 (cont’d)

Members of the Operations Committee are appointed by the Trustee Board with consent of the nominee. The Operations Committee has representatives from three Trustees, Partner teams such as Optalis and has two members with learning disabilities as an integral part of the Operations Committee: who are supported by their Advocate.

Volunteers: The Trustees wish to sincerely thank all the volunteers who, throughout the year, have given their time, skills, effort and often brought their own tools and materials to maintain and service the Farm. GPB is about growing confidence and growing friendships to help the adults with learning disabilities have a valuable and enjoyable time at the Farm.

Business Profile - The total incoming resources for the year ended 31 March 2026 was £11,328 including donations. The main income stream was the sale of spring and summer plants raising £6,054 (up 31% on 2025) plus a good Christmas wreaths sale raising £939. Spring bulbs raised £860 (up 32% on 2025).

Non-plant sales income: This was all from a wide range of donations and events. During the year GPB benefited from donations in both cash from David Wilson Homes, Worshipful Company of Gardeners and some smaller individual donations. The total raised for the year 2025/26 was £2,887. Full details of income and expenditure is shown on page 7.

Fixed Assets: A full asset check was carried out in March 2026 for year end 31 March 2026. During the year, old and damaged assets were scrapped and replaced with new items: manual and powered garden tools. The total cost of new fixed assets purchased was £2,074. The major costs were for a raised growing bed in a polytunnel for wheelchair access, footbridge in the conservation area, battery Strimmer and Leaf Blower. The Asset Register value was at £nil as the policy is to write down to nil value on purchase.

The Guide to Operations and Service Levels continued successfully to support the working relationship with the main Client Optalis. This enabled the transfer of all fixed (assets) structures to Optalis ownership with GPB retaining ownership of all powered and manual tools, DIY tools, sales display tables and a range of marketing equipment.

Remuneration: None of the Trustees or members of the Operations Committee received remuneration or incurred personal expenses that required reimbursement during the year. There were reimbursements against receipts when Trustees purchased items with the prior agreement from the Trustee Board.

The Trustee Board regularly reviews the Objects of GPB and takes due regard of guidance published by the Charity Commission on public benefit. The Trustee Board consider the activities to be for the public benefit because the services of GPB are available to the class of

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

beneficiaries as set out in the Objects and within its resources, free of charge at the point of delivery.

Reportable Incidents: All Trustees are now DBS cleared for another 3 years. The Trustees confirm with regards to Safekeeping and GDPR legal requirements there were no incidents to report in the year.

Policies: The AGM in June 2025 confirmed the acceptance of the 8 Policies in place:

1. Financial Controls	2. Conflict of Interest Declaration
3. Investments and Reserves	4. General Data Protection
5. Trustee Eligibility Criteria	6. Health and Safety at Work
7. Social Media	8. Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities

Marketing: increased activity in both website and Facebook visitors has led to improved sponsorship in the year. A Donate button on the Growing Places website and the facility with CAF Bank operated successfully during the year. GPB has continued to approach a wider range of sponsors in 2025/26 and has been successful in gaining support for the acquisition of new assets and tools.

Chairman: Growing Places - Berkshire Secretary: Growing Places - Berkshire

Name: D W Baker Name: B R Stainton Date: 11 June 2026 Date: 11 June 2026

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Growing Places - Berkshire

I report on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, the Statement of Financial Activities and the Notes to the Accounts (together the Accounts) for the year ended 31 March 2026, which are set out on pages 6 to 8.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and the Independent Examiner

The Trustees of GPB are responsible for the preparation of the Accounts and consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• ●Examine the Accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

• ●To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

• ●To state whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the Trustees have not met the requirements:

• ●To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

• ●To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act.

M P Bailey Rafters Heathlands Road Wokingham Berkshire RG40 3AR

11 June 2026

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 MARCH 2026

Notes CURRENT ASSETS Cash at National Westminster Bank 3 Petty Cash TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS RESERVES Balance brought forward 1 Net income/(expenditure) for the year Balance carried forward	2026 £ 11,751 - 11,751 11,256 495 11,751	2025 £ 11,256 - 11,256
		11,434 (178) 11,256

Accounts approved by:

B R Stainton

D W Baker

Chairman and Treasurer

Secretary

11 June 2026

11 June 2026

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE Page7of9 Growing Place5-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office.. Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, W005ehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG413DR Contact.. [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026

INCOME Sale of plants Sale of sweatshirts Donations TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Seeds and compost Van Hire Shirts Fuel Repairs to equipment Equipment and Site improvement Website Subsistence Sundry expenses TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR	2026 £ 8126 31 5 2,887 11,328 4,965 218 579 19 1,982 2,074 681 - 315 10,833 495	2025 £ 6,917 - 3,927
		10,844
		2,985 392 - 52 1,213 6,083 29 51 217 11,022 (178)

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]

GROWING PLACES - BERKSHIRE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The Accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis under the historical cost convention in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities 2005, the Foundation Constitution and comply with the Charities Act.

2. GRANTS

There were no Grants to any external organisation during the year.

3. FUNDS

GPB has only one fund which is an unrestricted income fund. The purpose of the fund is to enable the provision of therapeutic opportunities, training and constructive work experience in horticulture for adults with learning disabilities. The year end bank balance includes a donation of £553 from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners on a specific project and is a Restricted Reserve.

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Growing Places-Berkshire Charity No. 1097671 Office: Acorn Community Centre, Fernlea Drive, Woosehill, Wokingham, Berkshire RG41 3DR Contact: [e-mail]