G-Force Annual Report – Charity No 1110767
- Period April 2024 to March 2025
By Mark Ashcroft – Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Paul Huxley – CEO
Overview
This year we struggled through a very difficult period. Finances were very tight, management capacity was still reduced, and the commissioned work in Oldfield Brow came to an end.
These issues though drove us to focus our resources on the things that brought most benefit to our communities, concentrating on what we do best. We also gave time to a major review of how we used the Newstead Centre and its future. Below is an update of all our work this year.
The year also finished with a very generous donation of £28k from one of our longest supporters that helped us finish the year with a much improved financial position.
Our Community Cafe on Broomwood
The café, now in its 16[th] year, continues to be a popular location for the Broomwood Community.
This year, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we were able to invest over £12k in the café which paid for a refit in April 2024. The café was then relaunched with a new look, new menu and new opening hours. This resulted in a 30% increase in turnover which has helped secure its future.
However, it does mean that we are on track for passing the VAT threshold and will need to register for VAT. The registration is planned to start on 1[st] April 2025.
Lydia and her team continue to manage the café in a highly professional manner as evidenced by the fact we have the highest food hygiene rating from the Foods Standards Agency. Our thanks go to them for their hard work and commitment.
The cafe is also used every Thursday to deliver the Broomwood Community Grocery and is also a distribution point for Food Bank Vouchers.
We also launched a weekly after School ‘Youth Café’ on a Tuesday which has become very popular. We offer £1 meals to children & Young People and provides games and craft activities for them to enjoy.
The café also continues to serve the £1 meals during each school holiday to
Broomwood children and Young People. In the last twelve months we have provided over 2500 meals in this way.
The G-Force Centre
The Centre is currently used as a resource centre for G-Force.
The final steps needed to complete the new commercial kitchen are now underway and it should be finished in June 2025.
The plan in the next 12 months is to upgrade the Centre and then rent out the spare rooms to create extra income for the Charity.
The lease with South Trafford Food Bank is coming to an end in November 2025 so we are in the process of negotiating a new 5 year.
The centre is our major capital asset and we are hopeful that it will produce an income to secure our future.
Our Partnerships and strategic work
Paul no longer Chairs any of the 3 local Partnerships we were involved in, but we can be proud of the many years of commitment and outcomes that came about.
The Broadheath Partnership continues to meet and the Broomwood community has another Partnership that is massively successful.
We are hopeful too that the legacy of the work done with the third (in Oldfield Brow) will still reap benefits for the community in the not too distant future.
Hot meals for the homeless in Manchester
Hazel is planning to start producing meals again in the summer 2025 as soon as the kitchen is finished.
Free school holiday meals for children & Young People
We couldn’t continue to offer free lunches from the café as funding had finished.
In its place we now offer £1 meals during School holidays to Broomwoods children & Young people and this year I am please to report that over 2500 meals having been provided on that basis.
The Community Groceries in Oldfield Brow & Broomwood
Both Community Grocery continue to develop well and this year and between them they attract close to 100 attendees each week. Our thanks go to the many organisations supporting this initiative. This included Tesco, Sainsburys, Marks & Spencer, Cook, Fareshare, Nisa and many others organisations and private individuals too. As well as covering our costs some of the income raised is also used to purchase extra produce not normally donated, so that we can continue to offer a great range of wholesome, heathy, and fresh food.
This project is supported by a number of volunteers who come along each week to help set up the groceries, serve customers and then pack everything away. Our thanks go to them for their dedication to this important project.
Every week we purchased close to 250kg of food from Fareshare and this constituted around 60% of our food offerings each week with the remaining food either being donated or being purchased wholesale through G-Force funds.
Through these two community Groceries we estimate that this year we have distributed food with a normal retail value of over £150k whilst bringing in an income to GForce of £31k.
Mission Christmas
Our thanks go to Key103 again this year, who through their project ‘Mission Christmas’ provide the toys to make this happen. This year we distributed toys to over 60 families to help towards their Christmas. We have been working with Key103 for over 15 years now and are very much in their debt.
The Christmas Giant Gingerbread creations
This year over 1200 gingerbread creations were sent into two schools: Broomwood and Broadheath. Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped put the packs together; we just couldn’t have done it without you.
This is one activity that creates lovely memories and is a G-Force tradition dating back over 20 years. Many adults, who did this as children, still talk about and look back on it with affection.
Free trip to Altrincham Garrick Panto
Our thanks go to the Garrick Theatre for donating over 50 tickets this year. We distributed them to local families and the reports we had were that they all had a truly magical night. We used some of our funds to buy each attendee an ice cream tub at the intermission.
Environmental Work
Our thanks go to the Co-op and Farrat Isolevel Teams that worked in the Broomwood woods clearing and tidying and laying woodchip paths. They made the area looked cared for and more welcoming and accessible for all.
They also helped at the G-Force Centre cleaning and tidying and decorating the centre. Their help was invaluable as the Centre desperately needed some TLC. As we are only a small team this much needed work just wouldn’t have happened without their help.
Volunteering in G-Force
This year we had over 60 volunteers at G-Force and between them they did over 2000 volunteer hours. We also supported a number of children who also volunteered with us to fulfil the community element of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
We are in debt to each and every one and we say to them that G-Force wouldn’t have been able to deliver what we did this year without their help. Our heartfelt thanks go to every single person involved.
Our supporters this year include:-
Zochonis Charitable Trust, Farrat Isolevel, Sale Mayoral Fund, Quarry Bank Pub in Timperley, Farrat Isolevel Ltd, Oglesby Charitable Trust, The Church in the Brow, Co-op, Fairshare, Cook in Wilmslow, Aldi in Broadheath, Nisa in Oldfield Brow, South Trafford Food Bank, Marks & Spencer in Altrincham, Sainsburys in Timperley and Altrincham, Trafford Council, Truck Care, Tesco at Altrincham, Baguley and Broomwood, Heyes Lane School, Broadheath and Oldfield Brow Schools for their Harvest festival donation.
Our thanks also go to all those individuals who made donations (large and small) to help our work. We appreciate and value your support.
The Trustees during this period were as follows:
Mark Peter Ashcroft (appointed 11-1-21), Jacqueline Ann Marsh (appointed 11-1-21), Barbara Taylor (appointed 11-1-21) and Wendy Ashcroft (appointed 11-1-21).
We confirm that all the work done during this period was in line the aims and objectives detailed in our constitution adopted on 19th June 2005, and that G-Force is an unincorporated Association.
There are currently no formal policies and procedures for the induction and training of Trustees.
Registered Office
65 Briarfield Road, Broomwood, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 7DD
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 REGISTERED CHARITY: 1110767
INDEX TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Page ACCOUNTANTS REPORT STATEMENT OF THE FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 2to4 BALANCE SHEET NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
INDEPENDENT EXTERNAL EXAMINERS REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 The accounts lflnanclal slalements) have been prèpared In 8ccord8nce wllh the Slalemenl of Recommended Pra¢Uce-. Accountlng and Reportlng by Charities preparing their accounts In accordance with the Flnanclal Reporting Standard appllcable In the UK and Republic of Ireland {FRS 1021 Issued In Oclobar 2019 and the Flnancial R8POrtlng Siandard applicable In Ihe Unlled Klngdom and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 and the Chari118s Act 2011 and UK G8n8r8lly Accapted Pracllce 8s11 applles trom 1 January 2019. Tho accounts lfinanclal statements) have been prepared to givo a Irue and falrf vlgw and havè . departed fiom the Charflles (Accounts and Reports) Regulalions 2008 only lo Ihe exlent required to provlde a 'lrue and fair view,. This deparlure has Involved followlng Accounllng and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommendad Practice applicable lo charities preparing Ihelr accounts In accofd8nce with the Financial Reportlng Standard applicable in the UK and Republlc of Ireland (FRS 1021 Issued In October 2019 rather than th6 Accounllng and Reportlng by Charilles.. Statement of Rg¢omm6ndod Practlce effectlve from 1 Apfl 2rK15 whlch has slnce b¢gn withdrawn. In accordance wllh the roqu¢sl of G-Force Charlty: lo examlne Its Reports and Accounts {wllhoul the underiaklng of an Audill for Ihe year erKled 31st March 2025 Ba88d In the Infomallon gfven. Involces & rec8lpls provlded. oveNlows of projects and explanalions recelved I have pleasure In recomm8ndlng Ihe Reports & Accounts selllng out th8 de8llng8 ol G-Force Reglslered Charily. 1110767. as a true and accurate record Slgn8d onoF L+J Hlllon Jones Llmlled Chartered Certlfled Accounlanis Holllnwood Busln8s¥ Centre Albèrt Street Oldham L8ncashlr¢ OL8 3QL
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Year ended Year ended 31 March 2025 31 March 2024 Income and Expendlture Incomlng Resources Awards frjr Al Broadhealh school Income Broomwood school income Cafe Tradlng Income Communlty grocery Donallon8 & Mlsc Incom8 Food bank Rent Groundwork IVH Grant L&Q grant for r8fit Oglesby Trust Packed lunches Incom8 Sale mayoral fund SMCA Zochonls Trust grant 18.800 2,520 2.003 113,353 30.711 16,003 7,000 2,364 1,660 84,464 25.734 14,557 7.000 1,000 4,000 5,000 12,473 1.000 22.042 10,152 27,486 28,000 Total Incomlng Resources 260,528 181,294
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ondèd 31 March 2024 Resources Expended Accountancy Bank charges Bouncy castle Inspecllon Cafe food & drink Café Repairs Cafe Telephone and broadband Cafe Utility Bi118 Café blns Café Sundry Chrlslmas Glfts Communlty Grocery food Legal and professlonal fé88 Llabllty Insurance Minlbus fuel Minlbus insurance Mlnlbus Road Tax & Repalrs Newslead centre- Ulllly bllls Newslead centr8- refurblshmenl Newslead centr8- phone and Intemet N8wsl8ad c6ntr&- Repalr Penslon payments Postage, printing & stsllonary Project costs Subscrlpllon & Membershlp Fees Telephone, mobile & Ipads Wages & Nat Ins Volunteers Expenses Depreclalion 936 219 852 236 25,904 4.480 877 11,511 1,050 313 180 32,140 14,605 763 9,435 1.146 293 300 8.767 324 2,266 1.858 916 349 4,813 2,258 1.415 499 691 3,540 1,237 1,130 331 3.989 309 17.694 417 1,285 102.711 56 181 448 1,465 5,011 278 8.406 481 1.175 132.908 181 Total of Resources Expended 229,483 183,146
-F012tE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - contlnued FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ended 31 March 2024 Total Resources brought forward from 1st Aprll 212,202 214,054 Net movement In Resources for the year 31,045 1,852 Revaluatlon Reserve 200,000 Funds at 31 March 443 247 212 202 All activities are classed as continuing. Movements on reserves and all recognised gains and losses are shown above.
G-FOt2CE. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 31 March 2025 Total 31 March 2024 Total Flxed Assets Bld book valuo of Tangible assets Additions 400,362 200,543 400,362 200,543 Current Assets Cash at bank at year end 42.885 11,659 Cradltors Amounts fallln due wthin one ar Café income banked after 1st April 2024 Net A8Set8 443.247 212.202 Funds Unre5trict8d funds Restricted funds 442,625 622 210,753 1,449 Total funds 443 247 212 202 Approved by the trustees on Trustee Treasurer Date
G-FOt2CE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS AS AT 31 MARCH 2025 FIXED ASSETS IXTURES OTAL COST At 1 April 2024 8,801 200,000 28,297 37,098 Revaluation 200,000 Disposals At 31 March 2025 8 801 400 000 28 297 437 098 DEPRECIATION At 1 April 2024 8,677 27,878 36,555 Depn this year 41 140 181 At 31 March 2025 8 718 200,000 28 018 236 736 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 March 2024 124 200 000 419 200 543 At 31 March 2025 83 400 000 279 400 362
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