OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2024-03-31-accounts

COMPANY NUMBER: 07523792 (ENGLAND & WALES) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1144976

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL COMMUNITY GARDEN LIMITED

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(A Company Limited by Guarantee) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Contents

Trustees Annual Report page 3-26 Independent Examiners Report page 27 Statement of Financial Activities page 28 Balance Sheet page 29 Statement of Cash Flows page 30 Notes to Accounts page 31-47

2

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual Directors’ report together with financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a Directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Chair’s Comments

As this is my first annual report, firstly I want to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in the Charity whether they are: staff, volunteers, fundraisers, funders or people who use our garden. People make a place and I am very proud to be associated with a charity that I know, and have seen, make such a difference to our local community.

Every year is different and has its own special highlights and this year is no different. While we have now gotten comfortable in our alternative offices, we have also secured the final funding to build our new eco building that will be situated in the garden itself. The new building will be such a boon for us and we will be able to be more responsive to your needs. I hope next year I will be talking about our brand new bu ilding and the exciting times ahead!

I spent a very enjoyable day with members of the staff team, as we worked on our three-year AntiRacism, Equity, Diversity and inclusion plan. I was inspired at our team’s push to ensure pure equity

and will mean that we will continue to provide a place of sanctuary where you will thrive and be valued for who you are when you use our facilities.

The Garden was as busy as ever, inviting schools, groups and individuals to experience the space, whether it's gardening, education or just needing a walk away from work. We have worked on reinstating an old pond, creating more habitats and even increased our fruit production, which many of you will have enjoyed at our Apple Day and in our Sticky

3

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Business chutneys. And our hens and bees ensure we keep true to nature and provide a healthy diverse environment. A true permaculture project.

Our various programmes from Elderberries to youth services ensure that we instil the importance of nature in wellbeing in our younger users, and with our Elderberries we prove that it is never too late to try and experience something new.

As we move into 2024/2025 we are looking forward to our 30th Anniversary. This will be a great time to look back on how far we have come, reflect on the past and look forward, with greater vigour to the next 30 years.

I thank you all for the interest and support you have shown in our charity and I hope in reading the report you are proud too of how a small team of humans can help make a positive change in their part of the West End of Newcastle and beyond.

Helen McStravick, Chair

4

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Company Information

Company Number: 07523792 (England and Wales)

Status: The Company is limited by guarantee. In the event of winding-up, the maximum amount required to be contributed by each member is £1

Charity Registration Number: 1144976

Registered Address: Scotswood Natural Community Garden, John Marley Centre, Yewcroft Avenue, Scotswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE15 6TU

Patrons

Ed Tyler and Rob Higgins

Trustees/Directors at 31[st] March 2024

Christopher Francis Chair resigned 10th January 2024 Helen McStravick Chair Stephanie Cole Deputy Chair Miles Henderson Treasurer Chris Warburton-Brown Secretary Emily Clough Sharon Hall

Anthony Milan Shahid Rasul Gilian Milne

2023/24 Staff

Karen Dobson Chief Executive Officer Farah Kurji Development Manager Claire Forman Business Development Officer

5

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Ann Stafford Office & Finance Administrator
Harriet Menter Education Manager
Rosie Tyson Education Officer
Kay Scott Education Officer
Umara Shahid Education Officer
Alice Holliday Education Officer
Nicky Sargeant Play & Youth Manager
Amber Cooperthwaite Deputy Youth Manager
Caroline Roach Youth Worker
Heather Hewitt Assistant Youth Worker
Leanne Defty Adult Wellbeing Manager
Jenny Hopper Adult Wellbeing Officer
Rosie Woods Assistant Garden Officer
Sean Clay Garden & Community Manager
Mike Whatmore Plant Nursery Garden Officer
Claire Metcalfe Plant Nursery Garden Assistant
Andrew Downey Assistant Garden Officer

We also employ a number of sessional staff for volunteer, youth and education sessions.

6

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Community Garden was established

● To provide and maintain a public garden or gardens for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of the north east region and others in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants:

Mission

To inspire and promote learning about nature, the environment and sustainable living whilst having a positive impact on people’s health & wellbeing.

Values

Strategic Objectives

Core Strands of Work 2023/24

7

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Eco Building

We are thrilled to have secured the remainder of the funding for our eco-building extension from the Community Ownership Fund with a grant of £418,060 capital funding and £49,200 revenue funding. The new building will boast a training kitchen, classroom, growing atrium, lift, accessible toilets and office space and will transform the way we deliver our services. Work will begin on site towards the end of 2024. Videos of the new building based on the Architect’s drawings are on our YouTube Channel.

Anti Racism, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Review

We have continued working with consultant Ngozi Lyn Cole, in partnership with West End Refugee Service, to ensure that anti discriminatory practice is embedded throughout all our work and the Garden continues to be a welcoming, safe and inclusive place for the whole community. A working group of staff and trustees have been developing a new 3-year strategy and action plan with input from staff, trustees and people who use the Garden. To inform the new strategy we ran workshops and developed a questionnaire to ask the views of adults and children who use the Garden who gave feedback on what is working well and useful suggestions for improvements.

Next Year and Beyond

We are looking forward to launching our new strategy and action plan in October 2024 and becoming an accredited Garden of Sanctuary.

8

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Volunteering & Training Programme

Growing Together Project

Our Growing Together project, funded by Lloyds Bank Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, has continued to flourish over the last year. We have delivered 299 volunteering sessions with 83 different volunteers, who in total have contributed over 6000 hours of work to the garden. The dedication, skill and hard work of our fantastic volunteers is an essential part of the success of the whole garden. The garden team has worked hard to improve our forest gardens, adding in more fruit production and wildlife friendly planting, creating habitats and pruning and managing trees to open up new areas of the garden. We have brought in 20 tonnes of clay to reline an existing pond and reinstate an old pond, a messy and difficult job but one that brings huge benefits for the wildlife in the garden. Our volunteers have made a big contribution to our thriving hives of bees, as well as improving paths, fencing and accessibility around the site.

Our partnership with the West End Refugee Service continues successfully, every year we welcome many refugees and people in the asylum process to volunteer with us.

We have also been grateful to host work days for volunteers from B&Q, Vet Direct and Newcastle Building Society who have helped with painting our new community hub and our forest garden improvements.

"The Garden helps me with my mental health so much"

"I love attending the sessions - the vibe of inclusivity is really strong. I like having the opportunity to learn about organic gardening"

"I like to be outside in nature. I have made a lot of friends here and learned new skills. I especially like going in the bee hives."

"Coming to the garden has helped me to get a bit of structure and see friendly people every week"

9

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Next Year and Beyond

Our volunteers plan to develop our beautiful Forest Garden area further to open up more areas of the Garden and make it more productive for people and for wildlife.

Canny Plants

Our plant nursery, Canny Plants, has gone from strength to strength thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This year 125 different species have been grown using peat-free compost and pots made from recycled plastic. Plants were chosen to increase local biodiversity in a wide range of locations, throughout the year. A plant pot return scheme is working very well with thousands of pots returned for cleaning and re-use, reducing both cost and plastic waste.

The nursery has provided a weekly gardening session with our volunteers in the greenhouses and poly-tunnels. Sessions have included general nursery practice from watering and moving plants according to growth and reaction to environmental conditions, to potting on and pricking out juvenile plants, and later, the ongoing maintenance and care of mature plants. The plants have then been either planted in the Garden or sold to raise vital funds for the charity. In addition 2490 plants have been donated to local schools, community groups and in Newcastle's public parks and green spaces.

Next Year and Beyond

We plan to increase sales and the number of plants donated across the West End of Newcastle creating wildflower corridors to improve biodiversity.

10

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Sticky Business

Sticky Business has had a steady year with 1553 different products made and 1709 sold at our community fun days or through our stockists: The Honey Tree, The Paddock and Ernie. The wet weather has contributed to a much lower fruit yield than ever before, limiting what we could make. This year, our bestselling jam has been the gorgeous Blackcurrant & Lime Jam, closely followed by our ever popular Summer Fruit Jam. Rhubarb featured highly on our customers wish lists this year with Rhubarb & Date Chutney and Rhubarb & Ginger Cordial outselling other flavours even the newly developed Spiced Crab Apple & Sloe Cordial!

Next year and beyond

As part of the Garden’s 30th birthday celebrations, we plan to develop a new limited edition preserve.

Adult Wellbeing Services

Our team has worked hard this year to develop more opportunities to support wellbeing for all adults within our community. With support from funders including the Community Foundation Tyne and Wear (Kellett Fund, Northern Powergrid Foundation, the Partiger Trust, Prime Fund) The National Lottery Awards for All and the National Lottery Heritage Fun d, we have been able to provide a broad ranging programme with some brilliant outcomes for people and the environment:

We have worked with Freedom from Torture, Hadrian Clinic, West End Refugee Service and local residential and supported living accommodations to ensure that the wellbeing benefits offered by nature are accessible to all. Over 300 sessions have been delivered over the year, reaching over 120 different people across the following projects.

11

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Elderberries

The ‘bread and butter’ of our wellbeing work with a focus on our older community. Elderberries consist of the Late Bloomers, Gardening for Dementia, supported volunteering, nature-based sessions and outreach work.

So much has been achieved in these groups this year in terms of learning, growing personal skills and building social networks. They have completed lots of garden planting and conservation tasks, enjoyed tasty food together, provided each other with wellbeing support, helped run our open days, grown food, created sustainable crafts, enjoyed being in nature and moved more.

Floral Fusion

A project to consolidate our knowledge and skills and to learn to make the most of the resources we have available to us in the garden. Floral Fusion consisted of a series of professional workshops in permaculture garden design, natural dyeing, willow art and floristry, alongside a trip to Dilston Physic Garden to learn about the medicinal value of plants. It has added many strings to our bow and means our groups look at our garden resources with more creativity.

Woodland Wellbeing

The same team that deliver the youth programme’s Art and Music Garden; experienced artist Sally Southern and music & movement practitioner Jo Templey, deliver a wonderfully inclusive programme of activities. They facilitate activities to support our wellbeing and set up relaxing meditative spaces and guide us in gentle movement, play and crafting to reset and focus our attention on the positive.

‘It's good to hang up the mobiles we made in the Garden and know they'll be hanging there all week. It's like a piece of the garden belongs to us.’

12

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

‘The garden is amazing. You wouldn't even know this is all here from the outside. It's been so nice to see some of the residents/patients engaging with activities, and people that they wouldn't normally engage with.’

Hen Power at Scotswood Garden

A major new addition to the team this year has been our wonderful flock of hens! They have given us fresh eggs, new skills to be learned, cuddles and lots of giggles as we’ve welcomed them to the garden and provided them with a safe and caring home. Our thanks go to Hen Power for their support with developing the hens space and providing creative sessions with some wonderful artists.

Our sessions with the Hen Power artists have resulted in some brilliant, lasting pieces of art including a bespoke bench, decorative bunting, a welcome banner, a hen dust bath and some Thomas Bewick inspired paintings and prints being displayed in an exhibition at the Central Library.

‘I just love the hens, they calm me and are my friends!’

‘Thank you for the eggs, I can’t always afford them. Especially nice to get eggs from happy hens!’

Student Placements

This year saw us welcome our first placement of Occupational Therapy students from Northumbria University. Two final year degree apprenticeship students joined the adult wellbeing team for 4 weeks and gave us a huge insight into the work of occupational therapists and how this is applied at the garden in our day to day activities. We wish them both the best in the rest of their studies and thank them for their work while with us.

13

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Nourish Food School

Nourish Food School in partnership with Fare Share delivered a cooking course for our volunteer team using surplus food. Participants tried certain foods for the first time and gained confidence in cooking with herbs and spices and making meals from scratch.

Ageism Action Day

We celebrated our first Ageism Action Day with support from Centre for Ageing Better , ensuring that at Scotswood Garden we are aware of ageism and know how to spot it and tackle it.

Over the year our Adult Wellbeing Programme achieved the following outcomes:

● People have greater wellbeing and security particularly over the winter months.

● People have participated in social activities and improved their social connections as a result.

● Older people have taken a hands-on role in project delivery and decision making.

Next year and beyond

The adult wellbeing team will continue to deliver a broad range of wellbeing support for adults while continuing to work on building inclusivity and diversity. We hope to have our work supported by more Occupational Therapy student placements and achieve the Green Care Quality Mark. Our Late Bloomers group has exciting plans to exhibit at Harrogate Flower Show!

14

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Winter Wellbeing Hubs

The winter brought challenges with the continued cost of living crisis impacting our Garden community. We continued our partnership with Newcastle City Council to run winter wellbeing hubs from January - March providing much-needed warm spaces, hot drinks snacks, games and company.

Community Pantry

Our new community pantry has had a busy year saving a whopping 6 tonnes of food from landfill! -4 tonnes of chilled, ambient & fresh foods and 2 tonnes of frozen food. Each month the pantry had an average of 168 uses. Potatoes and Peperami proved most popular amongst our youth group members with cheese, bananas and ready meals firm favourites of our volunteers. Runner beans were less popular along with the 2.2kg giant wheels of Cambozola cheese which we received for several weeks in a row. We had some very smelly fridges!

Education & Forest Schools

Wildlife Superheroes

Over the past year we have delivered 113 education nature-based sessions which were attended by 2413 children along with 414 accompanying adults. Sessions are open to children from nursery up to year 6, including special schools.

We covered a wide range of nature related topics:

Seasonal Change, minibeast superheroes, life cycles, plants, habitats, bees, classification and more…

Examples of sessions include:

Plant party: Explore and identify plants in the garden including trees. Find out about the structure of plants and what plants need to grow. Plant a seed to take back to school or do some flower-related art!

Newt Lives: Pond dipping. Come and meet our resident amphibians. Find out how they live and learn about their life cycle through our newt treasure hunt. What’s on the menu? Survey the garden for food sources. Play food chain tag!

15

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

All our sessions include some play time in the woodland, as research shows that playing outdoors, in a natural environment, is important to children’s wellbeing and helps them to connect with nature - something which is vital particularly post pandemic. This play time is supported by appropriate resources, but children make their own choices about what they would like to do.

To find out more about the workshops we offer, please visit School Visits - Scotswood Garden.

Evaluation forms completed by teachers with input from children provide us with evidence of impact:

Comments from Teachers:

"Great consolidation of classroom learning and extension. Hands on plants, planting seeds and learning about the importance of bees."

"Sheer excitement! Many of our inner city children have no regular access to nature. They were thrilled with bees, butterflies and the newts in particular."

"This was a fabulous and enjoyable opportunity to pond dip and minibeast hunt and see their joy at being surrounded by nature."

Comments from Children:

“This is the funnest thing I’ve ever done!”

“I loved making a den.”

“Best day ever.”

16

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Nature activities

Following their session with us, schools undertook the following activities as part of the project

● Planting pollinator friendly plants, which were provided free of charge from our own plant nursery, Canny Plants.

Schools of Sanctuary

We have continued to develop our Schools of Sanctuary offer, engaging with schools across the city with support from the Wellesley Trust at the Community Foundation .

This project focuses on harnessing the Schools of Sanctuary ethos, supporting children, teachers and schools to consider new ways in

which they can be welcoming and inclusive towards refugee and asylum seeker children and their families. Sessions support children to think about ways in which they can be kind, helpful, welcoming and supportive of others. This is explored through games, woodland crafts, teamwork, nature connectedness and play. From March 2023 to March 2024, we have engaged with 8 Primary and First schools, delivering a total of 16 sessions to 211 children.

As many of the classes have involved children who are part of the refugee and asylum seeker community, or children who have English as an additional language (EAL), there has been a rich tapestry of language, culture and lived experience that the children have been able to bring to the sessions, creating a diverse and safe space to support one another. A highlight of this was a group of ‘School Buddies’ from Ravenswood Primary School. Every child could speak more than one language and they each had responsibilities within their school of helping new pupils to settle in, often buddying up with EAL children whose first language they could also speak. When asked if the session linked to the school’s work on Schools of Sanctuary, the teacher responded:

17

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

‘It far surpassed my expectations . . . It was so well organised with a lovely team of people to support the children. It was brilliant for our children who are on the quieter side, potentially because of language barriers to be given these opportunities to express themselves and have fun. It was lovely to have Umara there to relate to the experiences of speaking additional languages’

The sessions have either been aimed at a certain year group, or focused on a group of ‘Sanctuary Friends’ or school council; whichever the school chooses. Since September we have been focusing the sessions on groups of up to 15 children (rather than 30), as, through feedback and reflection, this is having the greatest impact on conveying the schools of sanctuary ethos. It also supports children to have the space and time to immerse themselves in free-play, supporting their mental health and wellbeing. In February we were granted additional funding from the Curtin Parp fund at the Community Foundation to enhance our offer by recruiting a team of advisors with lived experience of the asylum process to help us develop and deliver these sessions.

Friends Action North East

This year we have enjoyed a fantastic partnership with Friends Action North East, who support adults with learning disabilities and autism. We have delivered 21 sessions in our woodlands, providing a range of activities including crafts, games, green woodworking and cooking on the campfire. These sessions have been very well attended and feedback has been extremely positive.

“ Maisie looked forward to the woodland group and came home happy and enthusiastic. She was eager to tell us all about the activities and repeated some of them at home.”

“Ayesha has been noticeably happier since joining FANE and attending these groups. I have found that she is willing to explore and try new things which is something she has never done”

18

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Breeze Forest School Project, Research and Network

This year we have continued to grow and develop our Breeze project supporting schools to deliver forest school sessions and hosting 3 network meetings and 3 CPD sessions.

In the first part of the year we continued to work with our network of schools who are using forest schools to support students’ social and emotional wellbeing. We supported schools by providing experienced forest school leaders to support session delivery, advising schools on developing their own sites and providing use of the garden. We supported one of our groups (Newcastle Bridges School)to work with photographer Gailen Manuel to take photos of forest school sessions, and explore what is important to them.

We arranged network meetings and CPD sessions including a full day at Kirkley Hall delivered by Jon Cree. Lucy Tiplady from Newcastle University worked with 2 schools to produce Theories of Change to help them articulate the aims of their forest school programme. For an example see https://www.canning.newcastle.sch.uk/Forest-School/

Newcastle University produced an impact report covering schools year 22/23. Research Lucy Tiplady collected and analysed feedback from schools in the network showed that network schools had greatly benefited from the network and valued it. Teachers appreciated the opportunity to network, to talk and connect with fellow professionals, share practice and experiences, gain new knowledge, and develop their professional practice.

School staff recognised:

“Forest School as particularly productive in enabling children and young people to develop relationships.”

School staff gave a large number of examples of children who, before Forest School, had struggled or were unable to interact with others (particularly peers) but who had developed these skills within the Forest School

environment. They reported that “children and young people use skills and interests developed at Forest School elsewhere in school life, for example in the classroom, at break times and/or during special events.” All schools believed that Forest School has a positive impact on wellbeing. Examples given included enjoyment and engagement, developing relationships, increased emotional awareness and regulation and celebrating successes.

School staff also believed that Forest School had helped develop learners’ environmental awareness and connection with nature. The impact report also reflected how the Breeze project had helped forest schools become embedded schools.

19

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

‘The network has supported us in keeping ideas up to date. New knowledge also has supported how I approach children and what things I offer.’

‘ At school he wouldn’t communicate with adults or peers. He was very quiet and introverted. As the weeks progressed he has become more vocal and his confidence has grown. He has developed new friendships and talks freely now. It has been lovely to see the change in him. Also in school, he has made new friendships. There has been such a significant change in his demeanour and his confidence both socially and emotionally.’

At the end of this project we were successful in securing funding for the next stage of the project; to continue to support the network and work intensively with 3 new schools. We recruited Alice Holliday as project coordinator who started in post in January 2024. Alice has already started working in partnership with an SEMH school in Ashington to plan, deliver and review sessions to meet the social, emotional and sensory needs of their young people, and will be working with 2 additional schools. She has hosted a network meeting, consulted with network schools about their training needs, organised forest school training and specialist CPD. Our Education Manager has spoken at 2 events (both at Newcastle University) to share learning from the project over the last 6 years.

Forest School Training

We have had another fantastic year of forest school training. We delivered 3 fully booked level 1 courses including a lovely course over the summer for young leaders from two other forest school organisations.

Feedback from one of the young leaders:

‘From chopping wood and crafting pendants to creating meaningful natural art mosaics with new rules like 'respect each other' and 'love nature,' every moment was filled with learning and fun. We bonded with friends made from natural materials and embraced the Forest school 3 lookafters: ourselves, each other, and nature. Exploring the woods through playful activities like making potions, enjoying garlic rosemary camembert over a fire, interacting with pet chickens, and understanding the woodland's impact on us was truly eye-opening. It's been an enriching experience, and I can't wait to share these skills and insights with others!’

We also delivered one level 3 course and started another. We continue to offer 2 half price places on all courses for people on low income, prioritising disabled people and people of colour. We have started the process of becoming a Forest School Association Endorsed Training Provider.

20

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Youth & Play Programme

A record 326 children, young people and parents joined us for friendship and fun learning and play opportunities in 2023-24. Delivering 7 sessions per week, our programmes have worked with the garden environment and local community to help us engage with the following beneficial themes:

More Connected - to others and nature

Well-being - mental and physical

Physical Activity - play and green exercise

Healthy Eating - access to food, trying new things and developing cooking skills

Taking Pride in Our Achievements - making, doing, learning

We have been delighted to be part of Groundwork UK’s national New to Nature project, that funded a full-time paid work placement for Heather Hewitt to train and develop as a Play, Youth and Education Worker. This was such a success that Heather has secured a contracted Officer post with us.

Healthy food and refreshments were subsidised with a grant from Tesco Community Grants.

Nature Rangers

Our 6-9 year olds come together every Saturday morning to enjoy eating breakfast together, making friends, and learning about nature. They are supported by 3 regular Young Volunteers from the Nightshades Rangers. Favourite activities include cooking pitta pizzas on the fire, playing games and going to treasure trails around the garden. Thanks to BBC Children in Need for funding this work.

21

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Adventure Rangers

Funded by Community Foundation: #iWillFund and George & Peggy Fund

Like Nature Rangers, our 10-13 year olds love playing games in the garden and cooking together, but as they meet on Wednesday evenings they’ve been experiencing the garden in the dark and in cold frosty conditions under the winter moonlight. These young people have also been branching out into the community, funded by #iWill Fund they have been working in partnership with Friends of Denton Dene to take care of this local green space and encourage others to use it more. They took part in monthly litter picks, recorded wildlife found in Denton Dene on iNaturalist and helped to plan and deliver two free family fun day events, including the nature themed Halloween event with a Bats, Bugs & Beasties trail.

Early Explorers

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Our pre-school and home educated children have been exploring and tending to the Butterfly Garden. With older children supporting the younger ones, facilitated play and creativity, connected to nature and the wonderful creatures and plants we find in the garden are helping to grow our next generation of naturalists. Other favourite activities are growing flowers and vegetables, cooking up tasty treats in the mud kitchen and brewing potions.

Art & Music Garden

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

We love seeing our families move, create and play together on Saturday afternoons, children with disabilities enjoy an inclusive space where they play on equal terms with their non-disable friends, peers and siblings. Parents and carers also enjoy this small oasis of nature based calm in their week and tell us how valuable this relaxed family time is. This project is a partnership with Newcastle City Council’s Arts Connect Team, experienced artist Sally Southern and music & movement practitioner Jo Templey deliver a flexible programme of activities.

22

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

In August 2023 Arts Connect worked with us to deliver Beach Connect, with 72 of our Art & Music Gardeners, Early Explorers, Nature Rangers and Adventure Rangers coming together for a day of family fun and sun at Whitley Bay.

Nightshade Rangers, (nc Young Volunteers Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scotswood Rangers)

Funded by BBC Children in Need, Newcastle’s Make Your Mark fund, Newcastle Youth Fund and John Lewis Foundation. Young people have enjoyed a very wide range of activities this year chosen by them, some designed to give people a glimpse of independence and life beyond school. Young people have hiked, fundraised, created videos and completed art projects as well as taking part in taster sessions to experience our two social enterprises - Canny Plants and Sticky Business.

Outreach, Community & Events

Our 3 community days at the Garden were bigger and better than ever before. 269 adults and children enjoyed Blossom Day 2023 including 45 people from West End Refugee Service who had never been to the Garden before.

We welcomed Newcastle University who ran a popular session on wildlife identification and people also enjoyed making badges, singing and music around the fire and took part in a. women in STEM trail. A fantastic day!.

Sadly our 2023 Summer Fun Day had to be cancelled owing to a yellow weather warning but we were able to run a fab Halloween Event in Denton Dene instead.

The sun shone on Apple Day though with 305 people enjoying a Wasp trail leading to waspy activities, apple pressing, apple toss, apple hanging and a visit to the hen. People were entertained by the Bangshe drumming group while they enjoyed their free hog dogs.

Winter Wonderland was a great success with Santa giving our books and treats, our famous 12 trees of Christmas trail, elf workshop and homemade mince pies.

23

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Principle sources of funds

Our main sources of funding are governmental, trust funds and increasingly earned income from services.

Funders

We are very grateful for support from all our funders - they include:

Foundation, the Partiger Trust, Prime Fund, Wellesley Trust, Plattern Family Fund, #iWillFund and George & Peggy Fund

Reserves Policy and Investment Performance

The trustee's policy is to maintain reserves to ensure that in the event of a funding shortfall the project can continue for at least three months. The Management

Committee sanctions future use of the reserve to enable the continuation of project work while continuing to seek funding. The trustees confirm that the accounts comply with current statutory requirements, the governing document and the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting and Reporting by Charities (2005 edition).

Bank

Scotswood Natural Community Garden Limited banks with the Cooperative Bank, P.O. Box 250, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale, WN8 6WT.

Accountants

The Independent Examiner is:

J T Hogg ACA of TPA Connect Ltd, 38 Stanhope Road, South Shields, NE33 4BT

24

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Structure, Governance and Management

The charity was an unincorporated registered charity (date of registration 30 May 2000), governed by a constitution adopted 16 December 1999 as amended 9 March 2000. On 1[st] April, 2012 the charity was incorporated into a company limited by guarantee. It is managed by a Management Committee which consists of the Trustees and is attended by the CEO and Administrator. Meetings are held quarterly.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are elected by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. The management committee may also appoint 1/3[rd ] co-opted members. A third of trustees retire from office at the end of the Annual General Meeting following their election/appointment. All new trustees are given an induction pack detailing the charity's constitution, strategic plans, recent annual report and accounts, Charity Commission Leaflet - CC3 (a). Trustees are advised of training on their responsibilities at the Newcastle Council for Voluntary Service.

Decision Making Process

The CEO sends a quarterly report of activities to the Management Committee. Decisions and actions are recommended and taken at this meeting.

Risks and Risk Management

The charity is dependent on grant funding for most of its income; this presents a considerable risk. The charity has a strategy in place to source alternative sustainable sources of income to reduce this risk.

Trustees' Responsibilities

Law applicable to charities in England & Wales/Scotland/Northern Ireland requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and:

• State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.

25

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with (applicable law, regulations and trust deed). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees have compiled with the duty in Section 17/5 of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charities Commission with regard to public benefit statements.

Small Company Provisions

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small entities.

Hel ~~e~~ n McStravick (Dec 19, 2024 12:18 GMT)

………………………………….

On behalf of the Trustees Helen McStravick Chair

Date: …………………………

26

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Scotswood Natural Garden Limited ('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

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

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).

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.

J T Hogg

J T Hogg (Dec 20, 2024 10:55 GMT)

J T Hogg ACA Independent Examiner 38 Stanhope Road South Shields NE33 4BT

27

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

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
Donations and legacies 5 11,816 541 12,357 14,416
Charitable activities
Grants and contracts 6 11,973 508,118 520,091 443,603
Capital grants 7 – 110,664 110,664 146,640
Other trading activities 8 72,252 4,693 76,945 50,481
Investment income 9 2,844 – 2,844 220
──────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total income 98,885 624,016 722,901 655,360
════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Operation of the charity 10 88,983 547,219 636,202 521,824
──────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total expenditure 88,983 547,219 636,202 521,824
════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
──────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net income 9,902 76,797 86,699 133,536
════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Transfers between funds 33,368 (33,368) – –
──────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net movement in funds 43,270 43,429 86,699 133,536
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 399,321 80,398 479,719 346,183
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total funds carried forward 442,591 123,827 566,418 479,719
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════

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 31-47 form part of these financial statements

28

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

2024 2023
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 14 260,586 225,621
Current assets
Debtors 15 97,391 36,275
Cash at bank and in hand 422,316 471,734
───────── ─────────
519,707 508,009
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 16 (213,875) (253,911)
───────── ─────────
Net current assets 305,832 254,098
───────── ─────────
Total assets less current liabilities 566,418 479,719
───────── ─────────
Net assets 566,418 479,719
═════════ ═════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds 123,827 80,398
Unrestricted funds 442,591 399,321
───────── ─────────
Total charity funds 19 566,418
═════════		 479,719
═════════

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:

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:

Miles Henderson (Dec 20, 2024 10:53 GMT)

Miles Henderson Trustee

The notes on pages 31-47 form part of these financial statements

29

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 March 2024

2024 2023
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income 86,699 133,536
Adjustments for:
Other interest receivable and similar income (2,844) (220)
Accrued (income)/expenses (60,772) 23,850
Changes in:
Trade and other debtors (344) 27,382
Trade and other creditors (40,036) 81,337
──────── ─────────
Cash generated from operations (17,297) 265,885
Interest received 2,844 220
──────── ─────────
Net cash (used in)/from operating activities (14,453) 266,105
════════ ═════════
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible assets (34,965) (133,695)
──────── ─────────
Net cash used in investing activities (34,965) (133,695)
════════ ═════════
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (49,418) 132,410
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 471,734 339,324
───────── ─────────
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 422,316 471,734
═════════ ═════════

30

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

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 England and Wales and a registered charity in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is Scotswood Natural Community Garden, John Marley Centre, Yewcroft Avenue, Scotswood, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6TU.

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

The charity reported total unrestricted funds at the year end of £442,591 and has already secured a significant amount of funding for the current year.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In making their assessment the trustees have reviewed and considered relevant information, including their annual budget and future cash flows. The trustees are of the view that the immediate future of the charity for the next 12 months is secure and that on this basis the charity is a going concern.

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.

31

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

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:

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:

32

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Resources expended (continued)

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.

Volunteer help

The value of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees' annual report.

Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliable by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

Income from membership subscriptions

Membership subscriptions received in the nature of a gift are recognised in donations and legacies.

Membership subscriptions which gives a member the right to buy services or other benefits are recognised as income earned from the provision of goods and services as income from charitable activities.

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.

33

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

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:

Garden sculptures - 10% straight line Garden structures - 10% straight line Tools and equipment - 25% reducing balance Office equipment - 25% reducing balance Property, which is under construction, will be depreciated when completed.

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.

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.

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.

34

ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

4. Limited by guarantee

The Company is limited by guarantee. In the event of winding-up, the maximum amount required to be contributed by each member is £1.

5. Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Donations
Donations and gifts 11,816 541 12,357
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Donations
Donations and gifts 14,416 – 14,416

35

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

6. Charitable activities

Charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Grants and contracts
Bailey Thomas – 6,500 6,500
BBC Children in Need – 24,282 24,282
Charles Lewis – 1,836 1,836
Cost of Living – 5,000 5,000
D'oyly Carte – 2,000 2,000
Prime Fund – 10,000 10,000
Flag Project – 490 490
Enterprise Dev fund – 27,000 27,000
Floral Fusion – 4,880 4,880
George & Peggy Fund – 6,070 6,070
Groundwork UK – 14,490 14,490
Henry Smith – 74,000 74,000
Heritage Lottery Fund – 168,713 168,713
I Will Fund – 6,018 6,018
J Lewis Foundation – 8,404 8,404
Karbon Homes – 2,250 2,250
Kellett Fund – 30,433 30,433
Lloyds Bank Foundation – 15,333 15,333
National Lottery – 961 961
Newcastle City Council – 4,998 4,998
Nightshades – 19,244 19,244
Pargiter Trust – 3,482 3,482
Peoples Health Trust – 2,579 2,579
Plattern Family Trust – 6,000 6,000
Postcode Neighbourhood Trust – 20,000 20,000
Power to Change – 2,500 2,500
Schools of Sanctuary – 8,086 8,086
Shears Foundation – 1,500 1,500
Society of the Holy Jesus Child – 9,000 9,000
Community Foundation T & W - Storage – 4,089 4,089
Tesco Community Grant – 1,080 1,080
Tudor Trust – 10,000 10,000
Woodland Wellbeing – 6,600 6,600
Other small grants 4,500 300 4,800
Other income 7,473 – 7,473
════════ ═════════ ═════════
11,973 508,118 520,091
════════ ═════════ ═════════

36

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

6. Charitable activities (continued)

Charitable activities(continued)
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
Grants and contracts
Active Communities – 15,473 15,473
Ashden Trust – 4,918 4,918
Bailey Thomas – 8,500 8,500
BBC Children in Need 1,100 32,040 33,140
Community Foundation T&W 750 6,127 6,877
Connected Voice-Water Collection 1,000 3,050 4,050
Apprentice Kickstart 12,374 – 12,374
Enterprise Dev Fund – 3,000 3,000
Hayes Travel – 1,100 1,100
Heritage Lottery Fund – 201,587 201,587
Henry Smith – 15,000 15,000
Joicey Trust – 3,300 3,300
Kellett Fund – 10,563 10,563
Lloyds - Bank Foundations – 34,962 34,962
New to Nature – 3,198 3,198
Newcastle City Council – 12,964 12,964
Newcastle University – 2,000 2,000
Postcode Local Trust – 4,988 4,988
Power to Change – 7,500 7,500
Schools of Sanctuary – 9,886 9,886
Trust House – 3,333 3,333
Tudor Trust – 31,085 31,085
YHN – 3,000 3,000
NE Youth Limited 3,181 – 3,181
Well Newcastle – 1,000 1,000
Other small grants 1,566 – 1,566
Other income 5,058 – 5,058
──────── ───────── ─────────
25,029 418,574 443,603
════════ ═════════ ═════════

37

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

7. Capital grant income

Capital grant income
Restricted Total Funds Restricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
North East LEP – – 68,790 68,790
Community Foundation T & W – – 1,250 1,250
Kitchen Spacehive – – 8,000 8,000
Rothley Trust – – 1,600 1,600
HCR Hewitsons – – 2,500 2,500
The Clothworks Foundation 1,000 1,000 41,000 41,000
Garfield Weston 6,500 6,500 23,500 23,500
Neighbourly Foundation 1,000 1,000 – –
Wolfson Foundation 75,000 75,000 – –
Tudor Trust 15,000 15,000 – –
Community Foundation T & W - Ron
& Louise Fund 4,000 4,000 – –
Locality 8,164 8,164 – –
──────── ──────── ──────── ────────
110,664 110,664 146,640 146,640
═══════ ═══════ ═════════ ═════════

8. Other trading activities

Other trading activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Income generating 96 – 96
Produce sales 12,315 4,693 17,009
Internal Quality Assurance 6,287 – 6,287
OCN charges 48,423 – 48,423
School visits 4,771 – 4,771
Workshop income 360 – 360
──────── ─────── ────────
72,252 4,693 76,945
════════ ═══════ ════════
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Income generating 48 – 48
Produce sales 18,810 – 18,810
Internal Quality Assurance 4,241 – 4,241
OCN charges 27,202 – 27,202
School visits 180 – 180
──────── ──── ────────
50,481 – 50,481
════════ ════ ════════

38

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

9. Investment income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2024 Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Bank interest receivable 2,844 2,844 220 220
═══════ ═══════ ════ ════

10. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Direct costs
Project staff salaries 8,433 431,666 440,099
Project staff other costs 1,093 2,132 3,225
Activities 845 5,250 6,095
Event costs 2,936 113 3,049
Garden materials and equipment 1,367 9,632 10,999
Vehicle hire – – –
Other project costs 537 15,234 15,771
Food 3,403 8,705 12,108
Project Office/Admin Costs 1,642 20,938 22,580
Project Service User Costs Membership 2,053 2,663 4,716
Support Costs
Support staff salaries 28,449 354 28,803
Support staff other costs 28 – 28
Volunteer costs 10 28 38
Office costs 9,645 5,777 15,422
Establishment costs 12,459 12,664 25,123
Repairs and renewals 6,574 105 6,679
New Building Costs – – –
Professional fees 4,008 31,958 35,966
Insurance 2,697 – 2,697
Sundry 524 – 524
Depreciation – – –
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fees 2,280 – 2,280
──────── ──────── ────────
88,983 547,219 636,202
════════ ═════════ ═════════

39

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

10. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities (continued)

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £
Direct costs
Project staff salaries 4,998 318,138 323,136
Project staff other costs 1,853 1,569 3,422
Activities – 6,243 6,243
Event costs – 1,308 1,308
Garden materials and equipment – 11,232 11,232
Vehicle hire – 120 120
Other project costs 2,706 18,302 21,008
Food – 6,713 6,713
Project Office/Admin Costs – 12,592 12,592
Project Service User Costs Membership – 5,969 5,969
Support Costs
Support staff salaries 51,172 14,752 65,924
Support staff other costs 765 – 765
Volunteer costs 180 – 180
Office costs 6,372 1,978 8,350
Establishment costs 17,552 11,145 28,697
Repairs and renewals 2,824 775 3,599
New Building Costs – – –
Professional fees 5,611 7,694 13,305
Insurance – 6,897 6,897
Sundry – 84 84
Depreciation – – –
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fees 2,280 – 2,280
──────── ──────── ────────
96,313 425,511 521,824
════════ ═════════ ═════════
11. Independent examination fees
2024 2023
£ £
Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements 2,280 2,280
═══════ ═══════

40

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

12. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 421,910 350,923
Social security costs 29,462 23,927
Pension costs (defined contribution pension plan) 17,530 14,210
───────── ─────────
468,902 389,060
═════════ ═════════

The key management personnel of the charity, comprise the trustees and the part time CEO. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £42,811 (2023: £36,243).

The average head count of employees during the year was 26 (2023: 21). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:

2024 2023
No. No.
Fundraising 1 1
Charitable activities 25 20
──── ────
26 21
════ ════

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

13. Trustee remuneration and expenses

None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefit from an employment with their charity or related entity.

41

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

14. Tangible fixed assets

Property Garden Office Garden Tools and
Extension Sculpture Equipment Structures Equipment Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cost
At 1 Apr 2023 225,621 16,830 14,705 13,956 2,819 273,932
Additions 34,965 – – – – 34,965
───────── ──────── ──────── ──────── ─────── ─────────
At 31 Mar 2024 260,586 16,830 14,705 13,956 2,819 308,897
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
Depreciation
At 1 Apr 2023
and 31 Mar 2024 – 16,830 14,705 13,956 2,819 48,311
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
Carrying amount
At 31 Mar 2024 260,586 – – – – 260,586
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
At 31 Mar 2023 225,621 – – – – 225,621
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
Debtors
2024 2023
£ £
Trade debtors 10,094 9,750
Accrued income 87,297 26,525
──────── ────────
97,391 36,275
════════ ════════
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 27,313 28,967
Deferred income 174,388 209,420
Accruals 2,280 2,280
Social security and other taxes 2,643 2,299
Other creditors 7,251 10,945
───────── ─────────
213,875 253,911
═════════ ═════════

15. Debtors

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

42

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

17. Deferred income

Deferred income comprises of advance payments from grants that relate to future periods

2024 2023
£ £
Balance brought forward 209,420 117,990
Amount released to income earned from charitable activities (209,415) (117,990)
Amount deferred in year 174,383 209,420
───────── ─────────
Balance carried forward 174,388 209,420
═════════ ═════════

18. Defined contribution pension scheme

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £17,530 (2023: £14,210).

19. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
At At
1 April 2023 Income Expenditure Transfers
31 March 2024
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 173,700 98,885 (88,983) (1,597)
182,005
Designated fund - New
building 225,621 – – 34,965 260,586
───────── ──────── ──────── ────────
─────────
399,321 98,885 (88,983) 33,368 442,591
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════
═════════
At At
1 April 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers 31 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 179,867 90,146 (96,313) – 173,700
Designated fund - New
building 91,927 – – 133,694 225,621
───────── ──────── ──────── ─────────
─────────
271,794 90,146 (96,313) 133,694 399,321
═════════ ════════ ════════ ═════════
═════════

43

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

19. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Restricted funds

Restricted funds
At 1 April 2023 Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Ashden Trust 2,722 – (2,928) 206 –
Bailey Thomas 448 6,500 (6,948) – –
BBC Children in Need 4,387 24,282 (27,240) 440 1,869
Charles Lewis – 1,836 (1,836) – –
Connected voice Water 1,386 – – – 1,386
Community Pantry 9,085 – (9,085) – –
Cost of Living – 5,000 (5,000) – –
D'Oyly Carte – 2,000 (1,604) – 396
Elderberries Hen Project – 10,000 (9,995) (5) –
Enterprise Development – 27,000 (27,000) – –
Flag Project – 490 (391) – 99
Floral Fusion – 4,880 (4,193) (687) –
George & Peggy – 6,070 (5,375) (643) 52
Groundwork – 14,490 (14,589) 99 –
Hays Travel 1,100 – (1,100) – –
Henry Smith 1,043 74,000 (74,561) – 482
Heritage Lottery – 168,709 (168,709) – –
I Will Fund – 6,018 (5,359) (659) –
J Lewis Foundation – 8,404 (8,210) – 194
Karbon Homes – 5,458 (2,507) 178 3,129
Kellett Fund 234 29,724 (26,348) (2,005) 1,605
Lloyds Bank Foundation – 15,333 (12,811) – 2,522
National Lottery – 961 (74) – 887
Newcastle City Council – 4,998 (5,061) 63 –
Nightshades 814 19,244 (18,540) (1,518) –
Partiger 1,122 3,482 (7,207) 2,603 –
Peoples Health Trust – 2,579 (2,579) –
Platten Family – 6,000 (5,555) – 445
Postcode Neighbourhood 4,988 20,000 (24,272) – 716
Power to change Programmes 2,815 2,500 (5,315) – –
Rise-Satellite Club Funding 998 – – – 998
Newcastle University 2,481 3,039 (3,099) – 2,421
Schools of Sanctuary 4,740 8,086 (13,154) – (328)
Shears Foundation – 1,500 (539) – 961
Society of Holy – 9,000 (5,976) – 3,024
Storage – 4,089 (4,089) – –
Tesco – 1,080 (1,073) (7) –
Tudor Trust 10,253 10,000 (16,051) – 4,202
Ward Committee 1,457 – (1,457) – –
Woodland Wellbeing 3,268 6,600 (9,595) 327 600
Other small Grants 2,864 – (2,793) 28 98
New Build 24,193 110,664 (7,579) (29,209) 98,069
───────── ───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
80,398 624,016 (547,219) (33,368) 123,827
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ════════ ═════════

44

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

19. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
At 1 April 2022 Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Active Communities Peoples
Health – 15,473 (15,473) – –
Ashden Trust – 4,918 (2,196) – 2,722
Bailey Thomas 7,106 8,500 (15,158) – 448
Ballinger Charitable Trust 619 – (619) – –
BBC Children in Need 12,552 32,040 (40,205) – 4,387
Best Summer Ever 313 – (313) – –
Community Foundation T&W 139 – (139) – 4,387
Asian 734 – (734) – –
Curtain PARP 214 – (214) – –
Connected voice Water – 3,050 (1,664) 1,386
Cooperative Foundation (18) – 18 – –
Community Pantry – 12,150 (3,065) 9,085
D'Oyly Carte - Marie Curie 409 – (409) – –
Enterprise Development – 3,000 (3,000) – –
Groundwork Youth Education – 4,896 (4,896) – –
Hadrian Trust 1,457 – (1,457) – –
Hays Travel – 1,100 – – 1,100
Henry Smith 5,458 15,000 (19,415) – 1,043
Heritage Lottery 115 201,587 (201,702) – –
Joicey Trust – 3,300 (3,300) – –
Kellett Fund 437 10,563 (10,766) – 234
Lloyds Bank Foundation 3,132 34,962 (38,094) – –
Nightshades – 814 – – 814
Partiger – 1,161 (39) – 1,122
Postcode Neighbourhood – 4,988 – – 4,988
Power to change Programmes – 7,500 (4,685) – 2,815
Power to Change, Colours 196 – (196) – –
Rise-Satellite Club Funding 1,118 – (120) – 998
Newcastle University 1,081 2,000 (600) – 2,481
Schools of Sanctuary – 9,886 (5,146) – 4,740
Tudor Trust - Wellbeing 222 – (222) – –
Tudor Trust 8,422 31,085 (29,254) – 10,253
Trust House 11,929 3,333 (15,262) – –
True Colours Trust 80 – (80) – –
UK Youth 51 – (51) – –
Well Newcastle 607 1,000 (1,607) – –
Willan Charitable Trust 2,036 – (2,036) – –
Ward Committee 1,457 – – – 1,457
Woodland Wellbeing – 3,268 – – 3,268
YHN – 3,000 (300) – –
Other small grants 3,277 – (413) – 2,864
New Build 11,247 146,640 – (133,694) 24,193
───────── ───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
74,390 565,214 (425,512) (133,694) 80,398
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════

45

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

19. Analysis of charitable funds (continued)

Purpose of major restricted funds

Restricted funds represent income resources used for a specific purpose within the charity as identified by the donor.

Bailey Thomas Growing Together Volunteer Programme BBC Children in Need Detached Youth Work / Nature Rangers Youth Group Charles Lewis Gardening for Dementia Programme D’oyly Carte Gardening for Dementia Programme Prime Fund HenPower Enterprise Development Fund Core Costs Community Foundation Tyne & Wear Flag Project Community Foundation Tyne & Wear Floral Fusion, Late Bloomers Community Foundation Tyne & Wear - George & Peggy Fund Youth Work Groundwork UK Youth & Education Assistant Hays Travel School Visit Programme Henry Smith Core Costs Heritage Lottery Fund Environmental renewal, contribution to several programmes I Will Fund Youth Work John Lewis Foundation Youth Work Karbon Homes BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Kellett Fund Elderberries Older People’s Programme Lloyds Bank Foundation Growing Together Volunteer Programme Newcastle City Council Community Pantry and Warm Space Newcastle City Council Nightshades Youth Group Pargiter Trust Gardening for Dementia Programme Peoples Health Trust Gardening for Dementia Programme Platten Family Trust Growing Together Volunteer Programme Postcode Neighbourhood Trust Wildlife Superheroes School Visits Programme Power to Change Programme Core Costs Community Foundation T&W Wellesley Trust Schools of Sanctuary Shears Foundation BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Society of the Holy Jesus Child BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Community Foundation Tyne & Wear Garden Storage Tesco Community Grant Youth & Play Programmes – Food Costs Tudor Trust Core Costs Awards for All, National Lottery Woodland Wellbeing The Clothworks Foundation Building Extension Work phase 2 Garfield Weston Foundation Building Extension Work phase 2 Locality Community Ownership Fund Building Extension Work phase 2 Neighbourly Foundation Building Extension Work phase 1 Community Foundation T&W, Ron & Louise Fund Building Extension Work phase 2 Tudor Trust Building Extension Work phase 2 Wolfson Foundation Building Extension Work phase 2

46

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee) ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited

Company Limited by Guarantee

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

20. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets – 260,586 – 260,586
Current assets 395,880 – 123,827 519,707
Creditors less than 1 year (213,875) – – (213,875)
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net assets 182,005 260,586 123,827 566,418
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds Funds 2023
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets – 225,621 – 225,621
Current assets 427,611 – 80,398 508,009
Creditors less than 1 year (253,911) – – (253,911)
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net assets 173,700 225,621 80,398 479,719
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════

47

TPA Connect Ltd 38 Stanhope Road South Shields NE33 4BT

Dear TPA Connect Ltd,

The following representations are made on the basis of enquiries of management and staff with relevant knowledge and experience such as we consider necessary in connection with your independent examination of the charity’s financial statements for the year ended 31[st ] March 2024. These enquiries have included inspection of supporting documentation where appropriate and are sufficient to satisfy ourselves that we can make each of the following representations. All representations are made to the best of our knowledge and belief.

General

Assets and liabilities

Accounting estimates

Loans and arrangements

Legal claims

Laws and regulations

Related parties

16 We are not aware of any related party matters which require disclosure in order to comply with legislative and accounting standards requirements.

Subsequent events

Going concern

Grants and donations

Yours faithfully

Hel ~~e~~ n McStravick (Dec 19, 2024 12:18 GMT)

.............................................................................................................................. Signed on behalf of the board of trustees Helen McStravick

Date: 19 December 2024

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited 31.3.24 Final Accounts

Final Audit Report

2024-12-20

Created: 2024-12-19 By: Kay Walker (kay@jfstorbitt.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAbiQlvYud7R2iEsq36Mwxz1njHTEZdE1o

"Scotswood Natural Garden Limited 31.3.24 Final Accounts" His tory

Document created by Kay Walker (kay@jfstorbitt.co.uk)

2024-12-19 - 11:59:01 GMT

Document emailed to helen.mcstravick@hotmail.co.uk for signature

2024-12-19 - 12:00:59 GMT

Email viewed by helen.mcstravick@hotmail.co.uk

2024-12-19 - 12:15:16 GMT

Document e-signed by Helen McStravick (helen.mcstravick@hotmail.co.uk)

Signature Date: 2024-12-19 - 12:18:07 GMT - Time Source: server

Email viewed by milesjhenderson@me.com 2024-12-20 - 10:51:11 GMT

Signer milesjhenderson@me.com entered name at signing as Miles Henderson 2024-12-20 - 10:53:08 GMT

Document e-signed by Miles Henderson (milesjhenderson@me.com) Signature Date: 2024-12-20 - 10:53:10 GMT - Time Source: server

Email viewed by trevor@tpacc.org.uk

2024-12-20 - 10:54:12 GMT

Signer trevor@tpacc.org.uk entered name at signing as J T Hogg

2024-12-20 - 10:55:05 GMT

Document e-signed by J T Hogg (trevor@tpacc.org.uk) Signature Date: 2024-12-20 - 10:55:07 GMT - Time Source: server

Agreement completed.

2024-12-20 - 10:55:07 GMT