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2024-03-31-accounts

Ridgeline Trust – East Reading Hor3cultural Therapy and Community-Based Training Ltd

Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2024

Foreword: maintaining public trust and confidence

The na3onal context

The Charity Commission regularly tracks public opinion of chari7es as part of their objec7ves to increase public trust and confidence and to promote charity compliance and accountability to donors, beneficiaries and the wider public. They reported in 20231 that chari7es con7nue to be well regarded and trusted by the public, who expect that a high propor7on of funds should directly resource charity objec7ves, and an7cipate tangible, posi7ve outcomes to be evident. Chari7es are required not only to live their values in what they achieve, but also in how they do so. Research on charity transparency found that small, local chari7es are more inclined to be trusted, where a personal connec7on to the cause is apparent.

The Commission makes it clear that while chari7es are well-regarded, ranking second only to doctors for trustworthiness, there is no room for complacency. High standards in governance and performance must be both set and met. Such findings are crucial for informing individual chari7es about how to respond, develop and survive - in short, how to be agile and effec7ve in a fastchanging world.

At Ridgeline Trust

Ridgeline has earned strong local trust and loyal support over many years and in May 2023 we proudly celebrated a significant milestone, our 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, we held a fundraising week culmina7ng in a garden party aKended by over 300 supporters. Generous dona7ons throughout the week were made to the Big Give Kind2 Mind campaign in aid of our Special Circumstances Fund, exceeding the £5,000 target. In September 2023 an illustrated summary of Ridgeline’s first 20 years, prepared by Graham Johnson (former Chair), was presented at a Friends’ tea party. This outlined the origin and growth of Ridgeline and provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contribu7on that so many have made to its successful development.

We are pleased to report con7nued growth to our services during 2023-24. We are grateful to local chari7es for suppor7ng our social prescribing sessions, as well as to other sources of funding which have helped with garden developments benefiYng our client gardeners. With much enthusiasm and 7me generously given by staff, volunteers and supporters, our popular Plant Sale in July and the Harvest Fete in September were eagerly aKended by the enthusias7c local community, raising significant income for reinves7ng directly into delivering our charitable objec7ves.

Managing our expenditure prudently remained a strong impera7ve. We began the financial year with a small surplus of £2,730, and built on this to achieve £7,877 in surplus at year-end 2023-24. Achieving a small annual surplus is important to demonstrate good management of our budget and enables us to fund modest, addi7onal improvements to our services and to the garden. It is also crucial for designa7ng funds towards maintaining our estate and in par7cular our all-weather pavilion, so that we can con7nue to offer hor7cultural therapy services all year round.

1 www.charitycommission.blog.gov.uk/2023/07/14/trustee-and-public-trust-research/

1. Overview

1.1 What we do

Ridgeline Trust offers social and therapeu7c hor7culture to people with mental and/or physical disabili7es and other special needs. Our professionally-trained hor7cultural therapists offer safe gardening ac7vi7es all year round in our beau7ful garden near Reading town centre. With our support, beneficiaries recover and develop their skills, confidence, and self-esteem and enjoy the opportuni7es provided for social communica7on in a calm, restora7ve environment.

We foster evidence-led approaches in the provision of social and therapeu7c hor7culture, delivered with a firm commitment to collabora7on, inclusion and professional prac7ce. All our ac7vi7es are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

2. Main ac3vi3es during the year 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Our ac7vi7es are set out in the form of the priori7es we agreed at the previous AGM, with brief comments on how well we have achieved them.

2.1 To build on the achievements of the past year to restore and expand client gardening sessions by increasing par3cipa3on across all our adult groups.

This has been achieved and is ongoing through 2024 (previous year figures in brackets) :

2.2 To con3nue to look for alterna3ve ways of funding the adult Hor3cultural Therapy sessions with a view to reducing our reliance on grant funding and ensuring that cost is not a barrier for those who would otherwise benefit from par3cipa3on.

This has been achieved and is ongoing:

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2.3. To maintain careful monitoring of our finances in view of the infla3onary pressures on our budget and to iden3fy where savings can be made that do not impact the quality of service we offer.

This has been achieved and is ongoing:

2.4. To achieve beSer outcomes by working in partnership with other organisa3ons including schools and to con3nue to develop exis3ng partnerships and establish new ones in order to achieve our objec3ves.

This has been achieved and is ongoing:

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was held at Green Park and aKended by staff from companies working there. About 40 chari7es and non-profit organisa7ons aKended, with 3 from RGWN - Ridgeline, Thrive and Green Health Thames Valley. Greenery from the garden enhanced our stand and aKracted aKen7on, enabling us to raise awareness of Ridgeline’s work.

2.5. To con3nue to develop the garden so that it can provide meaningful gardening ac3vi3es for an increasing number of client gardeners. This has been achieved and is ongoing:

2.6. To commit resources and energy to professional prac3ce and good governance. This has been achieved and is ongoing:

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3. Brief summary of significant ac3vi3es and developments since the end of the financial year, for informa3on:

4. Finance

4.1 Accounts for 2023-2024

The accounts have been circulated prior to the AGM. All figures quoted here will be subject to Independent Cer7fica7on. Last year’s figures are shown in brackets for comparison.

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restricted with the remaining £42,608 (£33,148) available in reserves for running costs, general garden development and con7ngencies.

• Since the year-end, grants totalling £12,640 have been received.

4.2 Grants from Organiza3ons during the financial year 2023-24:

Organisa(on Purpose Amount
Reading Dispensary Trust For Social Prescribing client gardeners £1,606 (£1,866 including £260
refunded in 2024-25 fnancial
year)
Berkshire Nurses Relief Fund For Social Prescribing client gardeners £1,000
Big Give Special Circumstances Fund for
benefciaries with mental health needs		 £5,000 (Restricted), £1,335
(Unrestricted)
Lakeland Staf Managed
Charity Fund		 New Greenhouse £0 (£1,000 funds awarded in
prior year, cost incurred in
2023-24 fnancial year)

4.3 Friends of Ridgeline Scheme: This encourages regular dona7ons, providing a degree of reliability in our income. £2,434 was contributed by a total of 16 Ridgeline Friends. We con7nue in our efforts to encourage more of our supporters to join this scheme.

A further £3,271 was raised in one-off dona7ons from generous supporters of Ridgeline Trust and Gig Aid.

4.4. Reserves Policy: Our aim, in which we have succeeded in the year under report, is always to maintain a balance of sufficient funds in the bank to enable us to con7nue to meet our ongoing obliga7ons and to operate for at least three months (and preferably six months) in the event of unforeseen con7ngencies or failure to aKract sufficient income or grant funding for providing our core Hor7cultural Therapy services. These reserves are regarded by the Trustees as virtually “ringfenced” in the charity’s management accounts. Three months’ funding at current levels is approximately £12,000.

5. Strategy and Development

2020-23

Our Ridgeline Strategy for 2020-2023 provided clear direc7on and concrete steps for how we would resume our work in pandemic condi7ons, priori7sing the safety of our clients, staff and volunteers. It aspired to diversify and extend our services to addi7onal clients, including those in need of support and rehabilita7on as a result of the new circumstances arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and it affirmed our commitment to good governance and professional prac7ce. This Strategy was largely met as it con7nued to inform our proposals on the priori7es for year under report

2024-27

A new strategy has been developed for 2024-27 to determine our development priori7es going forward and may be viewed on our website via a link embedded in the Our Mission page.

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6. Priori3es for the year 2024-2025

  1. To build on the achievements of the past year and expand client gardening sessions by increasing par7cipa7on, with a focus on our adult groups.

  2. To con7nue to look for alterna7ve ways of funding the adult Hor7cultural Therapy sessions with a view to reducing our reliance on grant funding whilst also ensuring that cost is not a barrier for those who would otherwise benefit from par7cipa7on.

  3. To maintain careful monitoring of our finances in view of the infla7onary pressures on our budget and to iden7fy where savings can be made that do not impact on the quality of service we offer.

  4. To achieve beKer outcomes by working in partnership with other organisa7ons including schools and to con7nue to develop exis7ng partnerships and establish new ones in order to achieve our objec7ves.

  5. To con7nue to develop the garden so that it can provide meaningful gardening ac7vi7es for an increasing number of client gardeners.

  6. To commit resources and energy to professional prac7ce and good governance.

7. Governance and Organisa3on

7.1 Governing Document: The organisa7on is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 12 May 2003 and registered as a charity on 15 September 2003. The company was established under a Memorandum of Associa7on which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Ar7cles of Associa7on. In the event of the company being wound up, members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Ar7cles are known as Trustees. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Ar7cles of Associa7on, one third of the Trustees are required to re7re each year by rota7on in the order of the 7me since their appointment. Re7ring Trustees may be re-elected at the Annual General Mee7ng.

7.2 Organisa3on: The running of the Charity is managed through the efforts of an enthusias7c but small number of regular volunteers from the local community. A brief overview of the governance arrangements is as follows:

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The Trustees con7nue to encourage and recruit volunteers for the essen7al and rewarding work of running the garden and the Charity’s client services. From 7me-to-7me, we also welcome interest from volunteers who have the skills or experience to contribute to the administra7on of the Charity.

Our Management Structure and our 23 policies and procedures are carefully reviewed, through an annual calendar of agenda items at the Planning Mee7ngs. The monitoring of risks to the Charity is undertaken, in line with guidance from the Charity Commission, principally in terms of governance, external, regulatory and compliance, financial and opera7onal risks. The aim is to sa7sfy ourselves that our iden7fica7on and management of risk enable us to fulfil our duty of accountability to our stakeholders, including beneficiaries, donors, funders, employees and the general public.

The Trustees are grateful to our accountant Peter Tilbury for his assistance in cer7fying our accounts, providing payroll services and hos7ng our Registered Office.

Sara Uren was re-elected at the November 2023 AGM via resigna7on and reappointment of one third of Trustees by rota7on, as required by Ar7cles of Associa7on.

8. List of Trustees of the Charity (all of whom were appointed at a General Mee7ng under the Ar7cles of Associa7on, originally adopted on 10 May 2003, and were Directors of the Company) during the period under report:

9. Companies Act requirements

For the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 the Company was en7tled to exemp7on from audit under sec7on 477 of the Companies Act 2006 rela7ng to small companies.

Directors’ responsibili7es:

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Public Benefit Statement: The Trustees have complied with their duty to have regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers and du7es.

The above Directors’ Report is to be presented at the Annual General Mee3ng of the Charity on 11 November 2024

Board of Directors/Trustees

East Reading Hor(cultural Therapy and Community- Based Training Ltd (The Charity known as Ridgeline Trust) Company limited by guarantee - Company no. 4760734 - Registered Charity no. 1099441 Registered Office: 6 Windsor Square, Silver Street, Reading RG1 2TH admin@ridgelinetrust.org.uk www.ridgelinetrust.org.uk

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examine￿5 Report Report to the trusteesl members of East Reading Horticultural Therapy and Community Based Training Limited (known as Ridgeline Trust} On accounts for the year ended st 31 March 2024 Charity no (if any) 1099441 Set out on pages 1&2 ber- Oi 2Adi I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above harity {'the Trust.) for the year ended 31103 12024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5}Ib) of the Act. Independent examiner's ststsment I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination disda9￿. which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or the accounts did not accord wrth the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements conceming the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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. I have no COn￿rn8 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. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: 19th December 2024 Name". Petsr N. Tilbury Relevant professional qualificationls) or body (if any): Fellow of the Association of Intsrnational Accountants (FAIA) (Membership Number 142181) IER October 2018

Address.. 6 Windsor Square, Silver Street, Reading, Berkshire. RG12TH Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. NONE IER October 2018