2024-03-31-accounts

COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 04334389 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1120073

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project Company Limited by Guarantee Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

	Page
Trustees' annual report (incorporating the director's report)	1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees	10
Statement of financial activities (including income and
expenditure account)	12
Statement of financial position	13
Notes to the financial statements	14

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report)

Year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees, who are also the directors for the purposes of company law, present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Charity registration number 1120073 Company registration number 04334389 Principal office and registered Community Base office 113 Queens Road Brighton BN1 3XG

The trustees

Mr D Graham-Cameron Ms S P Howells Ms J A Shergold Mr M D Ardron Ms R Bicker Mr R Blackman Ms S Beck (Appointed 17 November 2023) Ms R Smart (Resigned 5 October 2023) Company secretary Mr D Graham-Cameron Independent examiner N J Cadwallader FCCA For and On Behalf of David Cadwallader & Co Limited Suite 3 Bignell Park Barns Chesterton Nr Bicester Oxon OX26 1TD

1

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Structure, governance and management

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 5th December 2001, and registered as a charity on 13th July 2007. The charity is governed under its Constitution, adopted 13th July 2007, and its Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 5 December 2001, as amended 12 December 2006. Under its Constitution, the Trustees are elected at each Annual General Meeting by the Members of the organisation for a one-year term. New Trustees can also be co-opted at a General Meeting. Trustees also act in the capacity of Company Directors.

The charity is run by the Trustees who are either long term volunteers or people chosen for their expertise and knowledge. In addition to the AGM, the Trustees meet at least four times per year to receive operational reports, review and agree policies and procedures, and address issues around strategic planning, risk management and finances. They delegate the management of the charity to the Project Manager who is responsible for the day to day running of the charity, including the management of of personnel, the allotment, and all charitable activities.

EMPLOYEES AND TRUSTEES

The charity employs two paid members of staff: Pat Beach who works as our Outdoor Educational/Therapeutic Practitioner and Instructor; and Project Manager Warren Carter. They are supported by the services of a small group of professional freelancers with specialist fields of expertise. We have a regular cook every Tuesday and Friday (Jo Pearson) and a volunteer garden coordinator (Daisy Brown) on a Tuesday and on a Thursday at Moulsecoomb Primary. In addition we are training Louis in the provision of of educational activities under the guidance of Pat and the team.

The charity is governed by seven volunteer Trustees: Susie, Julie, Duncan, Mick, Rachel, Sara and Ross who between them have many years' experience of volunteering and working with the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden, and are fully engaged with the ethos and continuing development of the charity.

They meet as Trustees with the Project Manager at least four times a year to oversee the management of the project and site, to ensure that policies and procedures remain current and that the wider responsibilities of ensuring regulatory and financial compliance are adhered to.

Trustees are in regular communication, and support the charity's activities in various functions including financial, admin, PR and HR. Several Trustees regularly attend as garden volunteers at the allotment site, so are both visible and easily accessible to staff and service users.

Staff meet regularly to plan and review current work, and we hold regular Forest Garden 'user group' forums where everyone is invited to discuss their views about how things work for them - in the spirit of continual improvement.

We regularly review our suite of policies that inform the running of the project, including our governance structure, which can all be found on our website.

2

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document TRUSTEES

Duncan Granham-Cameron: "From a career background in IT and communications I now work as a professional archaeologist. I first became a volunteer in 2002 shortly after I moved to Brighton and soon after I joined the Management Committee before becoming a Trustee when I helped to convert the organisation into a Charity. As well as playing an active role in hands-on volunteering at the garden whenever my work allows, I manage the day-to-day financial transactions and provide other administrative supp ort."

Susie Howells: "With a 30-year background in environmental management, sustainability and community engagement in private and public sectors, I am now a freelance environmental practitioner specialising in training, skills development and project management. I started volunteering at the Forest Garden in 2012 and have never looked back. Now chair of Trustees, I support the team's work with anything from general weeding, to building up networks and support for our work across the city, to updating our governance and policy framework to make sure we all work safely and effectively. I usually come to the garden every week. It's a real boost to work outside - and with some amazing people."

Julie Shergold: "I've been a Bookkeeper for over 25 years, working with Voluntary Groups both as an Employee and as a Trustee. As Treasurer for the Forest Garden I keep the accounts up to date on a monthly basis and prepare the financial details for this report and am proud to be part of such a brilliant project."

Rachel Bicker: "As a lifelong wildlife enthusiast, the conservation of nature and green spaces is a bit part of my ethos. I gained a BSc in Zoology and a Masters of Biological Sciences Research before going on to work in the wildlife conservation sector. As a biodiversity consultant for Gatwick Airport I work in a highly dynamic environment with high potential for human and wildlife conflict, fortunately I play a positive role in preventing and alleviating issues. I was introduced to the garden in in in 2017 by chair of trustees Susie, and I became a trustee in late 2018. I was highly impressed by the way the garden was being run and the consideration given for wildlife. The diversity of species occurring on site is very high and marks it as an important green space within Brighton. My goal is to help record as many plant, animal and fungi species on site as possible in order to best inform the site activities, for maximising the benefits to wildlife."

Ross Blackman has worked for a national charity providing debt advice for the last 13 years. He has found most of his clients have some element of mental health problems and wanted to do more to help support excluded members of our community. He has a particular interest in the outdoors and how woodlands provide a sanctuary for us all. He also likes cups of tea. "I was looking for a new challenge and found the forest garden. I was impressed by how at the garden all are accepted for what they have to offer, and the focus is on working together to achieve the goal with everyone playing their part. I am proud to be involved in such a fun, positive, inclusive, organisation."

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Mick Ardron: "I have been employed by Brighton and Hove City Council for over 22 years working in a small team supporting people with learning disabilities in their own homes. Over that time one of the biggest problems I have encountered is that large numbers of people with learning disabilities are isolated and seem to have no sense of belonging in the community. Many experience mental health issues as a result of this and lead unfulfilling lives not being able to reach their potential. Since November 2015 I have been volunteering at the Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and I have been incredibly impressed by such a resource for people with learning disabilities and other people with or without disabilities come together doing such meaningful activities in a welcoming, non-judgmental, fun environment. Here people are encouraged to develop their skills, meet other people in a relaxed, beautiful environment which is truly community based."

Ruth Smart stepped down as trustee, we are grateful for her involvement and excellent support to the project over the past few years. Sara Beck was nominated at our AGM in November 2023.

Sara Beck has been coming to the garden for the past 5 years in her role as a support worker from The Francis Taylor Foundation. The Francis Taylor Foundation's ethos of Extra Care Supported Living is to promote maximum independence and community involvement, challenging people with learning disabilities to develop new skills and confidence. Sara's understanding of peoples' needs, and her personal touch led the team to invite her to become a trustee. Sara is now working for Kings School in in Hangleton as a teaching assistant within their Special Educational Needs Department.

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Objectives and activities

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project is a small Brighton-based charity. Our project has two distinct strands: working with schools to provide an alternative route to pupils who struggle in a typical classroom setting; and running a genuinely inclusive community garden, involving people of all abilities and from all backgrounds: gardening, cooking and working together.

AIMS

1. To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by the relief of poverty and improvement of conditions of life in socially or economically disadvantaged communities; and promoting sustainable means of achieving economic and social growth and regeneration.

2. To advance the education of the public in the subject of sustainable development and to provide education and training where needed in promotion of sustainable development projects.

3. To conduct research into sustainable development and to disseminate the useful results of such research for the public benefit. Sustainable development means ''development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs''.

OBJECTIVES

The principal objectives of the charity are to:

1. Reduce anti-social behaviour by involving excluded pupils in the running of the garden.

2. Improve community health by offering free, organic and locally grown vegetables to low-income families.

3. Enhance skills and employability by offering practical based training and volunteering opportunities.

4. Get children involved in planting, growing and eating healthy food, and respecting nature and the environment.

5. Create and enhance wildlife habitats, protecting biodiversity including heritage vegetable varieties.

6. Promote sustainable lifestyles, by encouraging and educating people about composting and the benefits of organic gardening and locally produced food.

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

VALUES

The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife project was established in 1994. Set on the outskirts of Brighton in a large community garden, our project has two distinct strands. Regular workdays on our allotment site cater for 55-60 people, and we work with up to 70 pupils a week offering qualifications to young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity.

This process, which can be learner-led, underpins the student's sense of wellbeing and overall positive learning experience. It demands a holistic overview, close communication with schools, key workers, parents and carers, and regular handover and feedback of information, backed up by progress reports tracking individual aims and objectives. Responsibility, trust and eventually leadership play a big role in personal development. Our therapeutic process engages young people diagnosed with learning difficulties such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia and ADHD, who have had challenges in life, or who might have behavioural or mental health issues.

Using a therapeutic approach, these experiences and skills are transferable and can be integrated into other areas of life. In our experience applying this process and creating a safe space helps students to become more settled, both in school and at home. Both these strands come together during our open days where everyone showcases our work to the wider community. Where bonds are built, barriers come down and prejudices challenged, making the Forest Garden an important part of the social glue that binds communities together.

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued) Year ended 31 March 2024

Achievements and performance

ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

We are open 49 weeks of the year, with a two-week break at Christmas and week off at Easter. We provide educational services to schools and organisations during term-time (39 weeks a year).

This year we've made significant steps forward, offering more opportunities and qualifications as well as becoming more financially sustainable, a significant achievement in the current climate.

It costs on average £8,800 a month to keep the Forest Garden going. The charity is run on a tight budget, with staffing and service provision making up the majority of our costs; then we have overheads including insurance, cost of equipment and materials, and maintenance.

• " Two weekly work days at the garden which over 55 people attend, the majority with learning

• disabilities. Everyone gets a tasty, nutritious home-cooked lunch to say thank you for volunteering

• " Outdoor one-to-one education at the garden for pupils struggling at school

• " Working with 32 pupils a week at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA)

• " Outdoor gardening sessions for 30 pupils a week at Moulsecoomb Primary

" Plus school trips, and an endless stream of visitors from other community gardens, students, researchers and more looking at the benefits of outdoor learning.

We also run an easter and summer scheme for local families, thanks to funding from The Pebble Trust.

For us though, it's not just about the numbers - it's the stories behind them that are so important.

Our weekly workdays catering for 55-60 people a week are very well-established, as well as our educational support and teaching work with up to 70 children a week at Brighton Aldridge Community Academy (BACA) and Moulsecoomb Primary. We are now a centre for AQA Unit Award Scheme (UAS). The UAS complements our outdoor sessions by adding formally recognised records of achievement. Pupils are rewarded with a certificate each time they successfully complete a unit of learning. They can build up a portfolio of certificates to evidence their skills, knowledge and progress.

This scheme can help boost confidence, increase engagement, alongside improving motivation and interest, helping the young people to make progress on their lifelong learning journey. This includes transferable skills to school, home and beyond.

The first two students to receive their certificates both said it was the first time they had ever received any qualifications from school - and one is just about to leave. They were rightfully proud of their achievements with the head of the school telling us that if it wasn't for our work supporting him, one pupil would have been excluded from mainstream education.

We work with the Youth Justice Service (YJS) and their Restorative Justice programme, designed to provide opportunities for young people to make amends for their behaviour by working in their local communities. Simon, one of the YJS workers, said: "The Moulsecoomb Forest Garden offers our young people something completely different from what they are used to. They feel they can be themselves and leave behind their offending personas. The project has a massive positive influence in the rehabilitation and restorative development of all the young people who attend."

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Occasionally you might find random bits of art hanging from branches. This is thanks to the Family Trees Project which brings children in care together with their foster carers and biological parents. One of the organisers told me "The garden has been instrumental in the success of the project. It has provided a calm and inspiring place for the children and their families to undertake activities and talk together. The families have loved seeing the garden change across the seasons, climbed trees and discovered different vegetables growing. The trees and flowers have provided materials for the many art activities that the families have enjoyed together. The project has had a direct impact on relationships between foster carers and parents, with them building more trusting relationships together. We could not have done it without the support of the garden."

We ran a couple of sessions for the Sussex Interpretation Service with nature trails and a hot meal, for one of their team building days.

In the summer we ran after-school Duke of Edinburgh sessions for BACA pupils who needed to do some volunteering in their community. This gives us the opportunity to work with different pupils and support them into conservation, wildlife training and work experience.

In the Easter and summer holidays, Moulsecoomb Primary children had great fun doing everything from building camps in the woods, making natural art, pizzas, and generally running around the garden like headless chickens. With the chickens joining in.

Other highlights include a successful open day welcoming over 200 people to showcase our work, with our volunteers taking the lead in planning and showing people around on the day. Miranda, the comedian came along to a birthday celebration, and we hosted a wedding reception. We were lucky to be nominated to join the Santa Bus in its 20th year, thanks to Brighton & Hove Buses, and we dished up a fantastic Christmas lunch to more than 40 people.

On the wildlife side we continue to promote urban biodiversity by carefully neglecting the edges of the site, with ponds and plants to attract pollinators. We make use of heritage seed varieties to promote plant diversity. We ran the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch at the Forest Garden attended by 12 local people and friends, spotting 18 species. We continue with our weekly reptile count between March and October, and have a healthy population of slow worms, as well as lizards. We even recorded three toads this year. We have worked with the EcoSoc at the University of Brighton to monitor reptiles on neighbouring Home Farm Field, as well as working with South Downs rangers on habitat management activities there.

We estimate that we have served almost 3000 lunches over the year. All our recipes are vegetarian, nutritious and adapted to use food produced in the garden as far as possible, supplemented by donations from Fare Share, and local shopping. Cooking and eating together is an important part of our work, involving learners and volunteers in cooking and serving, as well as developing valuable food hygiene and organisational skills in keeping stores and equipment clean and tidy. Food waste is kept to a a minimum, and recipes are shared on our Instagram and Facebook pages to promote healthy eating on a budget.

We were devastated to lose one of our hardest working volunteers this year. Keith has left a gap but also a lovely legacy, inspiring the team with his work ethic, and creating a beautiful seating and perennial border area at the top of the garden. We planted a tree for him with his family, and we will always miss him.

We know our small community garden can have a big impact on people's lives - especially those who have been ignored or found doors closed to them - helping to realise their full potential, to raise aspiration, increase confidence and make them feel part of something. But it's also important that we

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Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Director's Report) (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

work with others - local community groups, organisations and people to ensure that our roots reach out across the area so we can all support more people - while creating a magical space for wildlife to live and thrive.

Financial review

Remuneration of Trustees During the year ending 31st March 2024 the Trustees of the charity performed their roles as Trustees in a voluntary capacity. No Trustees received any remuneration or expenses.

Funds Held as Custodian Trustee on Behalf of Others

We do not hold any funds as custodian trustee for any other individuals or organisations.

Reserves policy

The Trustees wish to maintain a level of reserves that would ensure the stability of the charity in the medium term, whilst maximizing the use of the charity's resources towards its charitable objectives. Therefore, they will seek to maintain adequate unrestricted funds which are not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets. The charity is committed to building a level of reserves which represent 3 months running costs.

Investment Policy

The charity has no investments other than its savings account with Triodos Bank

Small company provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Mr D Graham-Cameron Charity Secretary

9

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

10

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

I have no concerns 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.

N J Cadwallader FCCA For and On Behalf of David Cadwallader & Co Limited Independent Examiner

Suite 3 Bignell Park Barns Chesterton Nr Bicester Oxon OX26 1TD

11

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 March 2024

			2024		2023
		Unrestricted	Restricted
		funds	funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies	5	47,088	21,250	68,338	72,385
Charitable activities	6	26,293	–	26,293	32,855
Investment income	7	125	–	125	7
Total income		73,506	21,250	94,756	105,247
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Costs of raising donations and
legacies	8	240	–	240	100
Expenditure on charitable activities	9,10	80,664	21,250	101,914	96,986
Total expenditure		80,904	21,250	102,154	97,086
Net (expenditure)/income and net
movement in funds		(7,398)	–	(7,398)	8,161
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		7,333	–	7,333	(828)
Total funds carried forward		(65)	–	(65)	7,333

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 14 to 24 form part of these financial statements.

12

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

		2024	2023
	Note	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets	16	1,224	1,632
Current assets
Debtors	17	4,280	4,595
Cash at bank and in hand		18,098	25,125
		��������	��������
		22,378	29,720
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	18	23,435	23,709
		��������	��������
Net current liabilities		(1,057)	6,011
		�������	�������
Total assets less current liabilities		167	7,643
Provisions	20	232	310
		����	�������
Net liabilities		(65)	7,333
		����	�������
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds		(65)	7,333
		����	�������
Total charity funds	21	(65) ����	7,333 �������

For the year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

• The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476;

• The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on ........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Mr D Graham-Cameron Charity Secretary

The notes on pages 14 to 24 form part of these financial statements.

13

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a private company limited by guarantee, registered in and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is Community Base, 113 Queens Road, Brighton, BN1 3XG.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Disclosure exemptions

The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102.

As such, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure exemptions available under paragraph 1.12 of FRS 102:

(a) No cash flow statement has been presented for the company.

(b) Disclosures in respect of financial instruments have not been presented.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

14

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

• legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.

• income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.

• income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

15

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

• expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, noncharitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.

• expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

• other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Fixtures and fittings - 25% reducing balance

Impairment of fixed assets

A review for indicators of impairment is carried out at each reporting date, with the recoverable amount being estimated where such indicators exist. Where the carrying value exceeds the recoverable amount, the asset is impaired accordingly. Prior impairments are also reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

16

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Impairment of fixed assets (continued)

For the purposes of impairment testing, when it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, an estimate is made of the recoverable amount of the cashgenerating unit to which the asset belongs. The cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable group of assets that includes the asset and generates cash inflows that largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

For impairment testing of goodwill, the goodwill acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the charity are assigned to those units.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the entity has an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that the entity will be required to transfer economic benefits in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be estimated reliably. Provisions are recognised as a liability in the statement of financial position and the amount of the provision as an expense.

Provisions are initially measured at the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date and subsequently reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to reflect the current best estimate of the amount that would be required to settle the obligation. Any adjustments to the amounts previously recognised are recognised in income or expenditure unless the provision was originally recognised as part of the cost of an asset. When a provision is measured at the present value of the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in the statement of financial activities in the period it arises, and is allocated to the appropriate expenditure heading.

Financial instruments

A financial asset or a financial liability is recognised only when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs.

Current assets and current liabilities are subsequently measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received and not discounted.

Debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Where investments in shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, the investment is subsequently measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in income and expenditure. All other such investments are subsequently measured at cost less impairment.

17

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Financial instruments (continued)

Other financial instruments, including derivatives, are initially recognised at fair value, unless payment for an asset is deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate, in which case the asset is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the statement of financial activities, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.

Financial assets that are measured at cost or amortised cost are reviewed for objective evidence of impairment at the end of each reporting date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised under the appropriate heading in the statement of financial activities in which the initial gain was recognised.

For all equity instruments regardless of significance, and other financial assets that are individually significant, these are assessed individually for impairment. Other financial assets are either assessed individually or grouped on the basis of similar credit risk characteristics.

Any reversals of impairment are recognised immediately, to the extent that the reversal does not result in a carrying amount of the financial asset that exceeds what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised.

4. Limited by guarantee

The Charitable Company is limited by guarantee. Every member of the Charity undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £10) to the Charity's assets if it should be wound up while he or she is a member or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member.

5. Donations and legacies

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Donations
Donations	30,388	–	30,388

18

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

5. Donations and legacies (continued)

			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2024
			£	£	£
	Grants
	Eleanor Hamilton Educational Trust		5,000	–	5,000
	Sussex Community Foundation		–	750	750
	Chalk Cliff Trust		–	–	–
	Brighton & Hove City Council		–	–	–
	Fonthill Foundation		1,500	1,750	3,250
	The Brad Phillips Charitable Trust		2,000	–	2,000
	Other < £1,000		–	–	–
	Allington Trust		–	18,750	18,750
	Pebble Trust		4,000	–	4,000
	THE B&H SRS Soiree Rotary		2,300	–	2,300
	Natural England		1,900	–	1,900
			��������	��������	��������
			47,088	21,250	68,338
			��������	��������	��������
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2023
			£	£	£
	Donations
	Donations		24,617	–	24,617
	Grants
	Eleanor Hamilton Educational Trust		5,000	–	5,000
	Sussex Community Foundation		4,768	5,000	9,768
	Chalk Cliff Trust		–	5,000	5,000
	Brighton & Hove City Council		–	7,100	7,100
	Fonthill Foundation		–	6,500	6,500
	The Brad Phillips Charitable Trust		–	–	–
	Other < £1,000		–	200	200
	Allington Trust		–	10,000	10,000
	Pebble Trust		–	4,200	4,200
	THE B&H SRS Soiree Rotary		–	–	–
	Natural England		–	–	–
			��������	��������	��������
			34,385	38,000	72,385
			��������	��������	��������
6.	Charitable activities
		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Other trading activity	26,293	26,293	32,855	32,855
		��������	��������	��������	��������

19

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

7. Investment income

		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Interest receivable	125	125	7	7
8.	Costs of raising donations and legacies
		Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
		Funds	2024	Funds	2023
		£	£	£	£
	Costs of raising donations and legacies
	- Donations	240	240	100	100
9.	Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2024
			£	£	£
	Staff Costs		64,881	18,750	83,631
	Activities		6,285	2,500	8,785
	Support costs		9,498	–	9,498
			80,664	21,250	101,914
			Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
			Funds	Funds	2023
			£	£	£
	Staff Costs		44,995	35,200	80,195
	Activities		6,086	2,800	8,886
	Support costs		1,879	6,026	7,905
			52,960	44,026	96,986

10. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

	Activities
	undertaken		Total funds	Total fund
	directly Support costs		2024	2023
	£	£	£	£
Staff Costs	83,631	–	83,631	80,195
Activities	8,785	–	8,785	8,886
Governance	–	989	989	674
Finance	–	4,484	4,484	3,290
Property	–	3,825	3,825	3,537
Governance costs	–	200	200	404
	92,416	9,498	101,914	96,986

20

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

11. Analysis of support costs

	Analysis of	Analysis of
	support costs
	activity 1		Total 2024	Total	2023
		£	£		£
	Premises	4,226	4,226		–
	General office	(3,006)	(3,006)		–
	Finance costs	4,151	4,151		–
		�������	�������		����
		5,371	5,371		–
		�������	�������		����
12.	Net (expenditure)/income
	Net (expenditure)/income is stated after charging/(crediting):
			2024	2023
			£		£
	Depreciation of tangible fixed assets		408		510
			����		����
13.	Independent examination fees
			2024	2023
			£		£
	Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
	Independent examination of the financial statements		799		–
			����		����
14.	Staff costs
	The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as			follows:
			2024	2023
			£		£
	Wages and salaries		83,569	77,767
			��������	��	������
	The average head count of employees during the year was	3 (2023: 3). The average number of
	full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as	follows:
			2024	2023
			No.	No.
	Administrative staff		1		1
	Support workers		2		2
			����		����
			3		3
			����		����

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).

15. Trustee remuneration and expenses

No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.

21

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

16. Tangible fixed assets

		Fixtures and
		fittings	Total
		£	£
	Cost
	At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024	8,429	8,429
	Depreciation
	At 1 April 2023	6,797	6,797
	Charge for the year	408	408
	At 31 March 2024	7,205	7,205
	Carrying amount
	At 31 March 2024	1,224	1,224
	At 31 March 2023	1,632	1,632
17.	Debtors
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Trade debtors	3,565	3,880
	Prepayments and accrued income	715	715
		4,280	4,595
18.	Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
		2024	2023
		£	£
	Trade creditors	283	305
	Accruals and deferred income	19,549	19,759
	Social security and other taxes	526	568
	Other creditors	3,077	3,077
		23,435	23,709

17. Debtors

19. Deferred tax

The deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:

The deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:	The deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:
	2024	2023
	£	£
Included in provisions (note 20)	232	310
The deferred tax account consists of the tax effect of timing differences in respect of:
	2024	2023
	£	£
Accelerated capital allowances	232	310

22

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

20. Provisions

	Deferred tax
	(note 19)
	£
At 1 April 2023	310
Charge against provision	(78)
At 31 March 2024	232

21. Analysis of charitable funds Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
				At
	At		31 March 202	31 March 202
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
	£	£	£	£
General funds	7,333	73,506	(80,904)	(65)
				At
	At		31 March 202	31 March 202
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
	£	£	£	£
General funds	(6,854)	67,247	(53,060)	7,333
Restricted funds
				At
	At		31 March 202	31 March 202
	1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
	£	£	£	£
Restricted Fund	–	2,500	(2,500)	–
Allington Trust	–	18,750	(18,750)	–
	–	21,250	(21,250)	–
				At
	At		31 March 202	31 March 202
	1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
	£	£	£	£
Restricted Fund	6,026	38,000	(44,026)	–
Allington Trust	–	–	–	–
	6,026	38,000	(44,026)	–

23

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

22. Analysis of net assets between funds

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	1,224	–	1,224
Current assets	3,628	18,750	22,378
Creditors less than 1 year	(4,685)	(18,750)	(23,435)
Provisions	(232)	–	(232)
Net liabilities	(65)	–	(65)
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	1,632	–	1,632
Current assets	10,720	19,000	29,720
Creditors less than 1 year	(4,709)	(19,000)	(23,709)
Provisions	(310)	–	(310)
Net liabilities	7,333	–	7,333

24