SWINDON ALLOTMENT & LEISURE GARDENS ASSOCIATION Registered charity number 1138814
Charity Trustees’ Annual Report year ending 2024
The Constitution of Swindon Allotment and Leisure Gardens Association states its purpose as being: “ The advancement of education in horticulture and to promote, encourage and improve horticulture by the holding of horticultural shows, competitions, meetings, lectures, discussions, demonstrations and running allotment gardens .”
Work of SALGA
SALGA continued to fulfil the objectives above with many events organised, as always, by the volunteers who make all these activities possible.
Monthly Meetings
Our thanks go to Irene Cooke and Marilyn Stott for their sterling work in organising the speakers and trips over the years. The programme in 2024 included talks on the newly Opened Swindon Museum, Gardening the Globe, Horticulture of the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation Worldwide, The Cutting Garden and Christmas Floral Art. We finished the year with a Quiz & Fish and Chip Supper. Going forward, Sandie Mulcahy and Avril Muirhead have taken up the responsibility for organising the monthly speakers in 2025.
Shop
The shop at Pickards Field continues to provide garden supplies to members at competitive prices despite the rising prices due to inflation. The shop opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings from February to November 10.00am-12.00 noon. Thank you to Viv Dipper and the volunteers who give up their time to run the shop and to those who help to unload the stock deliveries under the supervision of Roy Strange, Shop Manager.
Horticultural Show
The annual Horticultural Show was held at the Pinetrees Centre and was very well attended. The Schools Garden Scheme continues to encourage children to take up gardening and is a big part of the day’s success. The Show Committee are looking at ways to expand their work in local schools in the coming year.
Trips
Trip this year included visits to Welford Park in February, Kew Gardens in July and a trip to London in December. Although the current trip organiser has now stepped down, we are hoping to find someone to organise future trips as they are greatly enjoyed by our members.
Newsletters
SALGA publishes three newsletters a year, with contributions from members giving local gardening news, sharing tips and recipes.
Where SALGA’s money comes from
We rely totally on membership subscriptions to fund all our activities. The annual subscription has been increased to £7.00 per household, a £2.00 increase from 2023. The committee felt this was needed due to higher running costs and increased stock costs for the shop. We held our annual coffee morning in March 2024 which provided an opportunity for members to socialize and exchange hints and tips on gardening. SALGA finances are healthyand membership continues to flourish.
How we spent our money 2023-2024
We recently purchased a new digital projector and sound system to improve the overall experience of our monthly talks.
Due to constant flooding, repair works were recently carried out to improve the access area to the shop. These repairs were carried out in conjunction with Central Swindon Parish Council who own the site and we were asked to contribute 50% of the cost.
Money is also spent on monthly speakers, hall rental and the schools competition.
SALGA continues to provide many activities that the gardeners of Swindon enjoy, and we hope this will continue in the future.
| SWINDON ALLOTMENTS & LEISURE GARDENS ASSOCIATION - 1138814 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income and Expenditure Account for year to 31/12/24 Notes 2024 2024 2024 Membership fees income 2143 Gift Aid reclaim 505 OVO Energy support 0 Donations, investment interest, sundries 1 618 3266 Services to members Shop operations Shop sales 15676 Deduct costs of goods sold 2 13509 Deduct other expenses/overheads 3 981 14490 1186 Seeds scheme Sales of Kings seeds 3911 Deduct purchases 3635 Deduct other expenses 10 3645 266 Trips/holidays Holiday and day trip income (inc advance payments) 4433 Deduct Barnes coach hire and other costs 4258 175 Horticultural Show Show expenditure 4 691 Deduct entry fees, sponsorship and sales 4 494 -197 Schools support and garden competition 0 0 Monthly general meetings/AGM Speakers fees and travel 783 Hire of halls and other costs inc raffle 873 -1656 Deduct raffle ticket and refreshment sales 581 -1075 Christmas Social Entertainment 5 291 Hire of hall and other costs -291 Deduct raffle ticket and teas/coffees sales 171 -120 Printing and distribution of newsletter 231 -231 Previously unbudgeted costs Emergency groundworks Pickards Field -600 Replacement of PA Equipment -539 -1139 Surplus before overheads and other outgoings 2131 Overheads and other outgoings Printing, stationery, postages 120 Insurance - third party, public liability 75 Insurance - Trustees Indemnity 80 0 Affiliation fees 75 Gifts and honoraria 6 50 Website, publicity, IT 0 Bank charges 143 Other expenses 19 562 NET SURPLUS FOR YEAR 1569 Fresh charge to Building Reserve 1000 |
2023 14348 772 3340 30 623 834 298 26 |
2023 1816 301 201 112 15694 15120 3583 3370 3764 3267 657 587 31 -1457 788 -324 256 90 0 75 0 0 75 50 89 168 33 |
2023 2430 574 213 497 -70 -31 -669 -68 -90 2786 490 2296 1000 |
2 Cost goods sold Stock blf 8244 Purchases 13669 21913 Stock c/f 8404 Cost goods sold 13509 3 Shop overheads Utilities 167 Depreciation 700 Pat testing 30 Spare keys 14 Misc expenses 70 981 1 Sundry income Bank/invest 571 Donations 47 618 |
| 2023 10200 32406 42606 4371 38235 34570 3665 38235 |
||||
| Net Increase in Funds 569 |
1296 | |||
| Notes 1 Much higher rate of interest from new 2 See calculation of COGS in table above 3 Shop overheads - see separate calcula 4 See separate accounting for Show inco 5 Cost of fish & chips at Xmas social (inv 6 Honoraria to Independent Examiner |
Virgin inve tion me & expe oice 88) |
stment acco nditure |
unt | |
| General Reserve brought forward Add Surplus for year Transfer to Building Renewal Reserve General Reserve carried forward Reserve brought forward Transfer from General Fund Reserve carried forward Fixed Assets Four shipping containers at cost Less accumulated depreciation New PA equipment Current Assets Cash in bank current account Cash on deposit accounts Cash in hand (shop float) Shop stocks at cost Payments in advance Sundry debtors (inc GA reclaim) Total of fixed and current assets Less: Current Liabilities Receipts in advance (shop sales, memberships, trips) Sundry creditors Appropriation Account Building Renewal Reserve Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024 |
2024 £ 34570 1569 -1000 |
2024 9498 539 30474 |
2023 £ 33274 2296 -1000 |
2023 10200 32406 |
| 35139 | 34570 | |||
| 3665 | 2665 | |||
| 1000 | 0 1000 |
|||
| 4665 | 3665 | |||
| 2024 14050 4552 539 6764 13612 100 8404 1089 505 |
2023 14050 3850 13157 10604 100 8244 0 301 |
|||
| 707 0 |
40511 707 |
1031 3340 |
42606 4371 |
|
| Net Assets | 39804 | 38235 | ||
| Represented by: General Reserve carried forward Building Renewal Reserve carried forward |
35139 4665 |
34570 3665 |
||
| 39804 | 38235 | |||
| Accounts to be ratified by SALGA Committee at meeting on 3 April 2025 Sandie Mulcahy Chairman |
39804 39804 0 |
38235 38235 0 |
John Edgerton
Treasurer
SALGA Accounts 2024 – Independent Examiner’s Certificate
Herewith a certificate to attach to the accounts for the AGM. I have examined the accounts of SALGA for the year 2024 and received answers to the queries that I raised. I am satisfied that the revenue accounts, showing a nett increase in funds of £1,569 are a true and fair view of the transactions for the year and that the balance sheet, showing nett assets of £39,804 is an accurate representation of the position at 31st December 2024.
Ali White Independent Examiner 31-Mar-25
SALGA Accounts 2024 – Independent Examiner’s Certificate
Herewith a certificate to attach to the accounts for the AGM. I have examined the accounts of SALGA for the year 2024 and receiv I am satisfied that the revenue accounts, showing a nett increase in fair view of the transactions for the year and that the balance sheet, £39,804 is an accurate representation of the position at 31st Decem
Ali White Independent Examiner 31-Mar-25