Swindon Allotments and Leisure Gardens Association – Charity no. 1138814
Trustees Annual Report
The trustees present their Report with the Examined financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Trustees
The following trustees served during the year 2025:
Sandra Mulcahy – Joint Chair
Avril Muirhead – Joint Chair
John Aldred – Secretary
John Edgerton – Treasurer
Denis Matthews – Membership Secretary
Cindy Matthews
Vivien Dipper
Patrick Hawker
Independent Examiner
Alison White
Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to financial statements
The Trustees are responsible for preparing an Annual Report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and UK Accounting Standards.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that such records comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. The Trustees must also safeguard the assets of the charity and take steps to ensure the prevention of fraud or other irregularities.
Report on year’s performance by Joint Chairpersons
SWINDON ALLOTMENT & LEISURE GARDENS ASSOCIATION Registered charity number 1138814 Charity Trustees’ Annual Report year ending 2025
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 and leisure 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
The number of members attending the monthly meeting has increased considerably during the past year. We have had a wide variety of speakers including hearing about the restoration of the Great Bustards in the UK, growing food you can’t buy, how to promote wildlife in our garden and how to prune fruit trees.
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 the volunteers who work in the shop and to Sue Stevens who has taken over organising the rota. The shop continues to thrive under the supervision of Roy Strange, Shop Manager, who is grateful to those who volunteer to unload the deliveries of stock. Training sessions were held for our volunteers in the shop familiarising them with how to use the new SumUp machine which enables our members to pay by card. We also continue to accept cash and BACS payments as before.
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. This year to assist the schools we are giving them free membership cards to enable them to use the shop and attend our monthly meetings.
Trips
We ran two successful trips for members to RHS Wisley and Batsford Arboretum. This year we are planning to visit Bowood House and Gardens in the Spring and to return to RHS Wisley in the Autumn as our trip there last year was such a success.
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 primarily on membership subscriptions to fund all our activities. The annual subscription is £7.00 per household and will remain at this amount this year despite the cost of garden supplies continuing to rise. SALGA finances are healthy and membership continues to flourish.
How we spent our money 2024-2025
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Our December meeting in 2025 was a quiz night and ploughman’s supper which was funded by SALGA.
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Money has been allocated to paint the shop in the Spring of 2026.
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Our budget for monthly speakers this year has been increased allowing us to invite a wider range of speakers.
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Other expenditure incurred is monthly hall rental and the schools’ competition. This year we have increased the prize money for the schools’ competition to £30.00 per prize to encourage increased participation in the coming year.
Sandra Mulcahy
Avril Muirhead
Joint Chair Joint Chair May 2026 May 2026
| 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 Other assets New PA equipment (new 2024, 20% depreciated 2025) Current Assets Cash in bank current account Cash on deposit accounts Cash in hand - floats Shop stocks at cost Payments in advance Sundry debtors (GA) Total of fixed and current assets Less: Current Liabilities Receipts in advance (shop sales, memberships) Sundry creditors Appropriation Account Building Renewal Reserve Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2025 |
2025 £ 35139 2160 1000 |
2025 8798 430 33527 |
2024 £ 34570 1569 1000 |
2024 9498 539 30474 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36299 | 35139 | |||
| 4665 1000 |
3665 1000 |
|||
| 5665 | 4665 | |||
| 14050 5252 8197 14098 120 9182 1512 418 |
14050 4552 6764 13612 100 8404 1089 505 |
|||
| 791 0 |
42755 791 |
707 0 |
40511 707 |
|
| Net Assets | 41964 | 39804 | ||
| Represented by: General Reserve carried forward Building Renewal Reserve carried forward |
36299 5665 |
35139 4665 |
||
| 41964 | 39804 | |||
41964 41964 0
Accounts ratified by SALGA Committee at meeting on 4 April 2026
Chairman
S Mulcahy
Treasurer
J Edgerton
SALGA Accounts 2025 – 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 2025 and received answers to the queries that I raised. I am satisfied that the revenue accounts, showing a nett increase in funds of £2,160 are a true and fair view of the transactions for the year and that the balance sheet, showing nett assets of £41,964 is an accurate representation of the financial position at 31 December 2025.
Signed:
Ali White
Independent Examiner 15-Mar-26
SALGA Accounts 2025 – 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 2025 and received answers to the queries that I raised. I am satisfied that the revenue accounts, showing a nett increase in funds of £2,160 are a true and fair view of the transactions for the year and that the balance sheet, showing nett assets of £41,964 is an accurate representation of the financial position at 31 December 2025.
Signed:
Ali White
Independent Examiner 15-Mar-26