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2025-03-31-accounts

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL COMMUNITY GARDEN LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

COMPANY NUMBER: 07523792 (ENGLAND & WALES)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1144976

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Contents

Trustees Annual Report page 2-25
Independent Examiners Report page 26
Statement of Financial Activities page 27
Balance Sheet page 28
Statement of Cash Flows page 29
Notes to Accounts page 30-45

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Trustees Annual Report

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual Directors’ report together with financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025, 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

Helen McStravick, Chair

As Chair of Scotswood Natural Community Garden, it is my pleasure to present the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2025. Over the past 12 months, our community garden has continued to be a place of growth, connection and wellbeing — a space where people, nature and opportunity come together to create positive and lasting impact.

This year has seen the Garden strengthen its

role as a vibrant community hub, welcoming visitors of all ages and backgrounds to learn, to heal and to be inspired by nature. Last summer showed us how national issues can affect us but I was very proud of how the team seemed to have worked even harder to ensure that everyone that visits us is treated with respect and dignity. They yet again showed us what makes the Gardens such an essential part of the community.

We have deepened our work in environmental education, wellbeing services and volunteer development, all grounded in our mission to inspire and promote learning about nature, the environment and sustainable living whilst having a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Key highlights this year include:

The coming year will be one of 30th anniversary celebrations and opening and using our new building. We are looking to protect our income by developing our business opportunities, and if anyone has tried our jams or honey this year it's important as many people as possible benefit from these delicious spreads!

The move should bring us a lot of new opportunities and none of this would be possible without the dedication of our staff team, volunteers, funders and supporters whose energy and creativity bring Scotswood Garden to life every day. I am profoundly grateful for their commitment and for the trust placed in us by our community.

Looking forward, we remain ambitious in our vision: to nurture a garden that not only enriches biodiversity but also strengthens community resilience, belonging and opportunity for all.

Thank you for your interest, support and shared belief in the power of this unique place.

Helen

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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 2025

Helen McStravick Chair

Stephanie Cole Deputy Chair

Miles Henderson Treasurer

Chris Warburton-Brown Secretary

Emily Clough

Anthony Milan

Shahid Rasul

2024/25 Staff

Karen Dobson Chief Executive Officer

Farah Kurji Development Manager

Claire Forman Business Development Officer

Ann Stafford Office & Finance Administrator

Harriet Menter Education Manager

Rosie Tyson Education Officer

Kay Stott Education Officer

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Umara Shahid Education Officer

Alice Holliday Education Officer

Nicky Sargeant Play & Youth Manager

Amber Cooperthwaite Youth Worker

Heather Hewitt Assistant Youth Worker Leanne Defty Adult Wellbeing Manager Jenny Hopper Adult Wellbeing 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.

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 northeast region and others in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving conditions of life for the said inhabitants:

● To advance knowledge and understanding of the environmental, economic and social dimensions of sustainability.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Mission & Values

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 2024/25

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Eco Building

We have seen fantastic progress with our new eco extension.

This year saw the site cabin craned onto site and work began on preparing the shipping containers that will become our building extension.

The ceiling on the old building was taken down and the flat roof over the containers built. We have been excited to see the eco features being incorporated into the new build including insulation made from recycled bottles and water proofing from sheep’s lanolin.

Next year and beyond

The building work is expected to be finished in December 2025 and staff and volunteers will move in during January 2026.

The building will be officially unveiled to the public and to funders at our 2026 Blossom Day event which will also mark the end of our 30[th] birthday celebrations. Keep an eye on our social media for more details of the event and how to book.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Volunteering & Training Programme

Our well-established Growing Together project continues to welcome a wonderfully diverse mix of people to our garden volunteer team, including many refugees and people seeking asylum who were introduced to the Garden by a Linkworker from West End Refugee Service.

We have delivered 364 volunteering sessions with 92 different volunteers attending, contributing an astounding 8280 hours of work. The garden truly could not continue to flourish without the team's incredible dedication and skill across the whole year.

As well as all the ongoing sowing, weeding, planting, harvesting, sweeping, fixing, puddling, pruning, picking and digging, the team have continued work developing our Forest Garden areas with some major tree work to open up more of the garden. Older fruit bushes and hedges were hard pruned and new planting of some areas undertaken, including new wildflower areas around our ponds. The winter months saw us working on improving paths and fencing around the garden to improve accessibility.

Our honey bees continue to thrive under the expert care of our staff and volunteers.

This year our volunteers have had the opportunity to take part in deaf awareness training and refugee awareness training, both of which were popular and valuable sessions.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Volunteer feedback:

'When I come to the garden I feel at home. I feel calm. It takes me back to the country where I grew up. It really is my happy place.'

'It helps with my wellbeing and keeps my mind active - I love gardening'

'I enjoy the work, learning new things is great. I have learnt all about hens. It’s good for my mental health too and I enjoy seeing my friends here'

‘Volunteering in the garden gives me confidence. I like socialising, learning different things about gardening and sharing ideas with mates from different countries of the world'

Next year and beyond

We will continue our phased redevelopment of the Forest Garden with further new planting and increased fruit production. The main summer flowering meadow will be reseeded in the autumn to increase biodiversity. We plan to develop new outdoor seating and add a living roof to the building early in 2026.

Canny Plants

The nursery has continued to grow pollinator-friendly perennial plants, using organic methods, in peat-free compost and using recycled pots, maintaining our environmental ethos.

During the growing period (Mar-Oct), the nursery has delivered sessions to just over 50 individuals, across one dedicated volunteer day per week specifically geared towards plant propagation, and at least one more session per week engaging in all tasks associated with the nursery’s management: Watering, plant propagation, plant maintenance, stock checks, and assisting with movement of plants for delivery.

The volunteers have transformed the area outside of the polytunnel quad for plant storage and display, using spare pallets and surplus wood.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Sales have improved this year, with a 60% increase on last year. The Nursery won DEFRA’s 2025 Bees Needs Community Champion Award in June, for helping to improve local biodiversity.

The nursery was funded to grow and distribute 5000 plants to local schools and other community organisations which we successfully completed in Mar 2025, taking the total number of plants donated since the nursery’s inception to approximately 13,000, a massive win for local biodiversity. One of nursery’s largest recipients of plants, Prudhoe Space for Nature, officially opened its doors to the community on the 20th of September.

Partnerships through Newcastle’s Nature Network have continued to grow

To date, City parks have received 9000 plants. Gosforth Nature reserve received nearly 3000 -all of which are British natives grown with the specific intention of increasing local butterfly and moth populations. This project is due to finish in Spring 2026.

Pots have also been returned to us for re-use, saving the nursery nearly £2000 this year, and diverting 300kg of plastic away from recycling centres/landfill.

The nursery has also worked alongside the garden’s Education Team, on an on-going project, to supply plants to local schools for their rain gardens.

The first instalment of the NOCN-accredited Level 3 course in Horticulture and Plantsmanship finished in January. Nine people successfully completed the course.

“There’s a lack of gardening courses in the North East, so to find this course at this level has been great.”

“I really enjoyed how comprehensive the course materials were, and the endless opportunities to take advantage of the tutor’s knowledge and practical skills.”

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Next Year and Beyond

Sticky Business

In 2024–25, Sticky Business utilised over a ton of fresh fruit and vegetables grown at Scotswood Garden to produce 1,476 delicious preserves, 1,157 of which found their way into happy homes. Our top sellers were Summer Fruit Jam, Glutney Chutney, and Elderflower Cordial.

Beyond making tasty treats, Sticky Business offers volunteers hands-on experience in food production, packaging, and sales, a chance to learn something new and be part of something truly rewarding.

Next Year and Beyond

Looking ahead, we’re excited to create a special limited edition preserve to celebrate the garden’s 30th anniversary. We plan to increase overall production, grow and harvest more produce right here in the garden, and make the most of hedgerow fruits.

Sales will also reach further, both directly from the garden and through new stockists, helping Sticky Business continue to grow while providing meaningful opportunities for everyone involved.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Adult Wellbeing Services

The Adult Wellbeing programme consists of Elderberries (Late Bloomers, Gardening for Dementia, supported volunteering, outreach and nature-based sessions) and Woodland Wellbeing .

The team have worked hard to ensure the successful delivery of a quality and inclusive programme for another year and have supported 70 people over 414 different sessions to use our garden as a tool to engage with and have a positive effect on their wellbeing.

This year, sessions have included: a trip to Gosforth Nature Reserve, planting hanging baskets, cooking with wildflowers, natural dyeing, making bouquets, willow weaving, ceramics, garden design, gentle movement, mindfulness and too many crafts to count! This is in addition to all the supported volunteering activities associated with maintaining the garden alongside the Growing Together volunteer team.

Being awarded the Green Care Quality Mark from Social Farms and Gardens has been a huge achievement this year. This is a quality assurance accreditation recognising that we meet safety and professional standards in our services. Achieving this validates the large amount of work that happens behind the scenes and demonstrates to

stakeholders that we are safe, caring and professional in what we do.

Some other highlights of this year include: completing Deaf Awareness training with Deaf Awareness NE where we learned some simple signs that we can use in the garden. We celebrated Older People’s Day with a wonderful morning of peace and mindfulness in the safe spaces of our woodland and we were fortunate enough to have another 2 students complete an Occupational Therapy placement with us. Their legacy is the calming corner in the hub nicknamed ‘The Hide’, which they worked with group participants to create.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Adult Wellbeing programmes have used the natural environment of the garden to engage adults in our community with the following beneficial outcomes:

In our monitoring of these outcomes, the majority of people responded positively when asked about how their experience of participating in sessions at the garden impacted on these things. This is supported by the feedback we have been given over the year.

“I find these sessions very therapeutic. The garden is so calming, and the people are friendly. It doesn't matter that I'm a refugee. Nobody thinks of me that way, I'm just a person.” Woodland Wellbeing participant

“I only come because it's not hard work, I like gardening so it's not hard” Gardening for dementia participant in response to thanks for their hard work in the session.

“I struggle with social anxiety. Even though I was shown around beforehand and told what to expect, I was still worried before I came to the sessions for the first time. But everyone has been so welcoming, and they just take you as you are, which is rare to find elsewhere. It's nice to see such a diverse range of people all doing something, and laughing together”

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. The Late Bloomers group’s hard work this year will come to fruition at Harrogate Flower Show where they will exhibit their Creative Border in the April show. A team of staff and volunteers will travel there to build the border where it will be judged and admired by thousands of the show’s visitors from all over the country. Good luck Late Bloomers! A new Adult Forum will make it easier for service users to have their voice heard by the trustees and senior management team.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Education & Forest Schools

School Visits and Watery West End

Over the past year we have delivered 129 education nature-based sessions which were attended by 2010 children along with 268 accompanying adults. Sessions are open to children from nursery up to year 6, inclusive of specialist provision schools.

Sessions are delivered by our fantastic team of staff and volunteers and cover a wide range of nature related topics.

For the last 6 years we have worked closely with Excelsior Academy Primary school which is very local to the garden. Each class enjoys six visits to the garden every year. This enables them to build confidence, resilience in all weathers and an

appreciation of the natural world throughout their Primary School career. We support them in their curriculum learning and also enable them to experience a range of Forest School activities which enhance team building, skill acquisition , exploration and other essential life skills. We have seen a remarkable impact from this sustained support. So many children comment that the Wednesday afternoon sessions are the favourite part of their week. It gives every child the chance to achieve regardless of their academic ability. For the school staff it is an opportunity to interact with their class in a more relaxed manner, enabling them to enjoy invaluable 1:1 conversations to build confidence and understanding in a very different environment to the classroom.

“This is my favourite bit, just exploring the secret world.”

"Even my most squeamish of children had a go at catching a bug. Many children would remind each other to stay on the paths so they don’t disturb a creatures home." - Teacher

All our sessions continue to include some play time in the woodland, which is a favourite with the children, allowing them to explore freely and immerse themselves fully in the natural environment.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

This year we changed the focus of our programme to share information about rain gardens, a sustainable way of mitigating the impact of the increasing extreme weather events, in this case, particularly heavy rainfall. This is leading to waterlogging on many school sites. Rain gardens redirect the flow, slow the time it takes for water to reach rivers reducing flooding, and increase biodiversity. We took information about rain gardens to several events across the city and worked with 5 local schools and a local charity to develop their grounds to better support wildlife and to cope with increasingly heavy rainfall with the installation of wildlife gardens or rain gardens. We worked with postgraduate students from Northumbria to design one of the gardens and provide educational materials including a video that can be seen here:

https://scotswoodgarden.org.uk/learn/watery-west-end-nature-rescue-tasks

Comments from Teachers:

"Really fun, amazing, really nice, love it, brilliant, marvellous etc. etc." The children don't always get to go to places with their families. They've loved it - thank you. “

They absolutely loved it and have gone home telling grown ups about the "magic secret garden!"

Y2 are so gentle with minibeasts that they find at school as they've learnt how to treat them at Scotswood Garden last year. "

Comments from Children:

"It's very exciting drawing real life maps."

"I loved finding a centipede and watching how fast it moved"

"My favourite bit was climbing up the tree with the apples and sliding down it!"

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Several local schools and a nursery use the garden on a weekly basis to deliver their own activities and ensure their pupils have access to the rich learning environment the garden offers.

Schools of Sanctuary: Cultivating Solidarity

We have continued to develop our Schools of Sanctuary offer, engaging with schools across the city. This year we recruited 10 people who are refugees and asylum seekers to work as advisors on the project. The advisors completed our level 1 forest school accredited training, and worked with colleagues to plan and deliver 12 sessions for 202 children from schools that are

becoming Schools of Sanctuary. Sessions focused on how children could make other children from different backgrounds, including refugees and asylum seekers, feel welcome when they joined their school.

Our advisors also represented us at city wide meetings such as the Sanctuary forums.

“This experience has greatly enriched me both professionally and personally. I have gained a better understanding of how important it is to create a supportive environment for people, especially for children. I have also learned new approaches, methods of teaching, and ways to engage children in the learning process.” Sanctuary Advisor

“This experience has really changed how I see the world. It taught me important lessons about kindness and understanding. I learned to appreciate the little things in life and to be more patient with myself and others. Facing challenges helped me grow stronger and more resilient. Now, I feel more connected to those around me, and I try to spread positivity wherever I go. Overall, this experience has made me a better person and given me a deeper sense of purpose.” Sanctuary Advisor

Breeze Forest School Project, Research and Network

This year we continued to support our network of schools and settings that are using forest school to support the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. We organised CPD sessions and network meetings throughout the year.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Our education officer also worked closely with 3 specialist schools working with children and young people with special educational needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Working with school staff to plan, deliver and evaluate weekly sessions for 2 terms with each school. Our education manager presented our work at two national conferences including the inaugural Forest School Research symposium at Liverpool University.

“The impact of the Breeze Project on our pupils has been profound and transformative. The Forest School sessions have facilitated better communication and social interactions among our pupils. They have developed stronger relationships with their peers and staff. These relationships have been beneficial for all of school life and not just for the forest school sessions. The chance to play and to ‘be’ has been life changing for these pupils. They have been learning how to initiate play with each other and have been learning their own boundaries. Play has produced friendship, pride and physical exercise for pupils that are known to sit alone on technology.

Many of our students have expressed how the natural setting of the Forest School has had a calming effect on them. This connection to nature has not only enhanced their wellbeing but also sparked a newfound interest and appreciation for the environment.

The successes and positive experiences our students have had in the Forest School have contributed to a stronger sense of self and increased confidence. They have discovered new interests and skills, which has been incredibly rewarding to see”.

Teacher from one of our partner schools.

Forest School Training

We continue to deliver high quality forest school training. This year we ran two level 1 courses and two level 3 courses. We have increased the number of trainees on the courses, which allows us to continue to offer 2 half price places on all courses for people on low income, prioritising disabled people and people of colour. We completed the process of becoming a Forest School Association endorsed trainer. We have started organising regular skillshares for our forest school alumni to help people keep in touch and keep skills up to date.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Comments from feedback forms:

“In my 27 years of being in education this course has had the biggest impact on both my personal life and the young people I work with. Thank you”. Level 3 participant.

Feedback from endorsed trainer panel:

“We unanimously agree that Harriet robustly meets the scheme's benchmarks. She demonstrates a deep understanding of and commitment to the Forest School ethos and principles, incorporating them thoughtfully into her training practice and supporting her students to do the same. Harriet takes a careful, considered approach to her training, maintaining high standards and a rigorous assessment process. Much of what she shared suggests that she is a reflective practitioner, regularly refining her methods to ensure the best experience for her learners. She also places great emphasis on community, nature connection, inclusion and fostering longer-term relationships with her learners by hosting annual get-togethers.”

Play & Youth Programme

During 2024-25 we continued to deliver our 5 popular groups with 284 children, young people, parents and carers participating in 204 sessions throughout the year:

Early Explorers for pre-school and home educated children and their carers

Art & Music Garden for families, providing opportunities for children with additional needs to play alongside their non-disabled peers

Nature Rangers for 6-9 year olds,

Adventure Rangers for 10-13 year olds and

Nightshade Rangers for 13-18 year olds.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

In line with Scotswood Garden's mission, our Play & Youth work programmes are all designed with five aspects in mind:

Feel more Connected to others and nature

Be more active and embrace play

Eat more healthily with access to food, trying new things and developing cooking skills

Take Pride in our achievements by creating, doing and learning

Build better friendships and address bullying and unhealthy relationships

One of our Adventure Rangers joined us when she moved into foster care with a local family. Whilst chatting over our shared meal she said,

“I love it here, it’s like a second family to me. I feel at one when I’m in the woods”.

Alongside our weekly sessions we have offered opportunities for young people to build skills and confidence to become more employable and more active members of our communities:

11 Young Volunteers helped to deliver activities and events at Scotswood Garden and in the wider community. They designed and made new family fun games for fundraising at Apple Day and Winter Wonderland.

13 young people have been actively working toward Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, with 5 completing Bronze and 1 completing Silver.

8 of our Nightshade Rangers completed a Level 2 Food Hygiene qualification.

Our Adventure Rangers helped to plant and nurture seeds as part of the regional Seeds2Trees scheme. Arts Connect and Bared Toed Company brought live music and aerial rigs to the garden for family specials.

We have also ventured out on trips:

70 children, carers and Young Volunteers joined as at Beach Connect, our annual partnership with Arts Connect.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

The Burnlaw Centre kindly invited us to join them for wildlife spotting in the North Pennines and storytelling with Malcolm Green.

Our Nature & Adventure Rangers learned about birds and trees and the Natural History Society of Northumbria's Gosforth Nature Reserve.

Northern Stage provided us with subsidised tickets to see A Christmas Carol and the Nightshade Rangers used funds they had raised to go on a pool & darts Christmas trip.

As always, we enjoyed some time in our local green space Denton Dene and contributed to litter picking and wildlife recording on iNaturalist.

One of our parents said "I genuinely value the organisers who put so much effort into making each week eventful and fun for the children. My children have learnt a lot about nature and can value its uniqueness and fragility."

Our staff continued their professional development with members of the team broadening their knowledge with Youth Mental Health First Aid, Level 2 and Level 3 Youth Work Practice and Level 3 Forest School Leader.

Next year and beyond

We plan to continue to deliver these 5 opportunities each week to engage with nature while developing skills, growing confidence and cultivating connections. Creativity and play are at the heart of what we do, with adults and teens enjoying games in the garden as much as the young ones.

Our Nightshade Rangers will continue to prepare for the future with an accredited first aid course, more Young Volunteering opportunities and training, and further Duke of Edinburgh's Awards, including more progressions to Silver and Gold. And of course, more pizza pockets cooked on the fire!

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Outreach, Community & Events

The Pantry

The Pantry rescued and redistributed 6.7 tonnes of food that would otherwise have gone to landfill—4.2 tonnes of chilled, ambient, and fresh foods, plus 2.5 tonnes of frozen items. On average, 172 customers visited each month. Youth groups were particularly fond of potatoes, cucumbers, and pizzas, while volunteers reached for hummus, bananas, and pizzas. Runner beans stayed at the bottom of the popularity chart for the second-year running!

Next Year and Beyond

Our focus remains on making rescued food even more accessible to our community. We’ll also look for new ways to connect with local groups and volunteers, ensuring the Pantry continues to have a positive impact on our community.

Community Fun Days

Four popular environmental community events were held this year from the garden and community hub. There was a total of over a thousand visitors across the 4 events, including groups from West End Refugee Service and Project for Change. On Blossom Day we met the hens, followed a hen trail, made kites, swung in hammocks and went bug hunting in the woods.

At our fun-packed summer fun day in July people enjoyed a dragonfly trail and crafts, bubble-making on the meadow, laughing yoga, a smoothie bike and bug identification with the National History Society of Northumberland.

Apple Day saw more apple fun including the ever-popular pancake making around the fire. Weather warnings sadly meant that our outdoor Winter Wonderland had to be moved indoors at the last minute because of a severe weather warning but thanks to quick-thinking and hard work of Nicky and the team, Santa and his elves found a new and warmer home in our community hub.

A massive THANK YOU to almost 50 volunteers who gave up their weekends to make our community events such a success and enjoyed by all.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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:

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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

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 1st 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 1/3rd 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.

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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.

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.

Helen McStravick (Dec 16, 2025 12:40:32 GMT)

........................................

On behalf of the Trustees Helen McStravick Chair

Date: ..............................

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SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Scotswood Natural Community Garden Ltd

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 2025.

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 16, 2025 16:23:46 GMT) J T Hogg ACA Independent Examiner 58 Durham Road Birtley Co Durham DH32QJ

26

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Statement of Financial Activities (including income and expenditure account)

Year ended 31 March 2025

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds Total funds Total funds
Note £ £ £ £
Income
Donations and legacies 5 2,386 22,315 24,701 12,357
Charitable activities
Grants and contracts 6 12,776 429,608 442,384 520,091
Capital grants 7 – 90,750 90,750 110,664
Other trading activities 8 74,582 3,568 78,150 76,945
Investment income 9 5,026 – 5,026 2,844
──────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total income 94,770 546,241 641,011 722,901
════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Operation of the charity 10 162,393 430,736 593,129 636,202
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total expenditure 162,393 430,736 593,129 636,203
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net income (67,623) 115,505 47,882 86,699
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Transfers between funds 3,463 (3,463) – –
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net movement in funds (64,160) 112,042 47,882 86,699
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 442,591 123,827 566,418 479,719
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Total funds carried forward 378,431
═════════		 235,869
═════════		 614,300
═════════		 566,418
═════════

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 30 to 45 from part of these financial statements

27

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2025

2025 2024
Note £ £
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets 13 269,827 260,586
Current assets
Debtors 14 19,848 97,391
Cash at bank and in hand 549,077 422,316
───────── ─────────
568,925 519,707
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 15 (224,452) (213,875)
───────── ─────────
Net current assets 344,473 305,832
───────── ─────────
Total assets less current liabilities 614,300 566,418
───────── ─────────
Net assets 614,300 566,418
═════════ ═════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds 235,869 123,827
Unrestricted funds 378,431 442,591
───────── ─────────
Total charity funds 17 614,300
═════════		 566,418
═════════

For the year ending 31 March 2025 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 ..16/12/2025.., and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Miles John Henderson (Dec 16, 2025 13:33:50 GMT)

Miles Henderson Trustee

The notes on pages 30 to 45 from 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 2025

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 March 2025

2025 2024
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income 47,881 86,699
Adjustments for:
Other interest receivable and similar income (5,026) (2,844)
Accrued expenses/(income) 78,644 (60,772)
Changes in:
Trade and other debtors (1,101) (344)
Trade and other creditors 10,577 (40,036)
───────── ────────
Cash generated from operations 130,975 (17,297)
Interest received 5,026 2,844
───────── ────────
Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 136,001 (14,453)
═════════ ════════
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible assets (9,241) (34,965)
───────── ────────
Net cash used in investing activities (9,241) (34,965)
═════════ ════════
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 126,761 (49,418)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 422,316 471,734
───────── ─────────
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 549,077 422,316
═════════ ═════════

The notes on pages 30 to 45 from 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 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2025

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 £344,894 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.

30

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

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:

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.

31

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

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.

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.

32

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Impairment of fixed assets (continued)

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.

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 2025
£ £ £
Donations
Donations and gifts 2,386 22,315 24,701
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £
Donations
Donations and gifts 11,817 541 12,357

33

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

6. Charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Grants and contracts
Arnold Clark Motros – 2,500 2,500
Benwell – 1,800 1,800
Charles Lewis – 664 664
Community Ownership Fund – 25,000 25,000
County Durham Community Foundation – 10,000 10,000
Curtin Parp Fund – 5,833 5,833
D'oyly Carte – 1,000 1,000
Flag Project – 2,000 2,000
George & Peggy Fund – 1,000 1,000
Hays Travel – 2,139 2,139
Henry Smith Charity Fund – 61,000 61,000
Hilden Trust – 1,500 1,500
James Knott Trust – 6,000 6,000
John Lewis & Partners Foundations – 32,167 32,167
Karbon Homes – 5,000 5,000
Kellett Foundation – 39,686 39,686
London North Eastern Railway Limited – 23,787 23,787
Lloyds Bank Foundation – 18,000 18,000
National Heritage Lottery Fund – 81,198 81,198
National Lottery – 19,000 19,000
Northumberland Water – 7,500 7,500
Plattern Family Trust – 4,000 4,000
Ringtons Fund – 406 406
Species Survival Fund – 15,742 15,742
Schools of Sanctuary – 11,686 11,686
Shears Foundation – 4,000 4,000
Society of Holy Jesus Child – 11,000 11,000
Swire Charitable Trust – 25,000 25,000
The 29th May 1961 – 10,000 10,000
Wellbank Foundation – 1,000 1,000
Other small grants 10,252 – 10,252
Other income 2,524 – 2,524
──────── ───────── ─────────
12,776
════════		 429,608
═════════		 442,384
═════════

34

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

6. Charitable activities (continued)

Charitable activities(continued)
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 Charity Fund – 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
════════ ═════════ ═════════

35

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

7. Capital grant income

Restricted Total Funds Restricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
The Clothworks Foundation 13,000 13,000 1,000 1,000
Garfield Weston – – 6,500 6,500
Neighbourly Foundation – – 1,000 1,000
Wolfson Foundation – – 75,000 75,000
Tudor Trust 35,000 35,000 15,000 15,000
Community Foundation T & W - Ron &
Louise Fund 41,000 41,000 4,000 4,000
Locality – – 8,164 8,164
Community Foundation 1,750 1,750
──────── ──────── ──────── ────────
90,750
═══════		 90,750
═══════		 110,664
═════════		 110,664
═════════

8. Other trading activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Income generating 212 – 212
Produce sales 5,721 3,460 9,181
Internal Quality Assurance 4,033 – 4,033
OCN charges 53,884 – 53,884
School visits 8,014 – 8,014
Workshop income 2,718 108 2,826
──────── ─────── ────────
74,582 3,568 78,150
════════ ═══════ ════════
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 76,946
════════ ═══════ ════════

36

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

9. Investment income

Unrestricted Total Funds Unrestricted Total Funds
Funds 2025 Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Bank interest receivable 5,026
═══════		 5,026
═══════		 2,844
═══════		 2,844
═══════

10. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £
Direct costs
Project staff salaries 40,167 338,061 378,228
Project staff other costs 1,576 2,936 4,512
Activities 910 8,903 9,813
Event costs 214 1,195 1,409
Garden materials and equipment 141 8,535 8,676
Other project costs 5,514 7,516 13,030
Food 2,941 4,738 7,679
Project Office/Admin Costs 2,010 17,992 20,002
Project Service User Costs Membership 506 4,957 5,463
Support Costs
Support staff salaries 73,074 – 73,074
Support staff other costs 170 – 170
Volunteer costs 3 124 127
Office costs 9,921 – 9,921
Establishment costs 5,331 17,202 22,533
Repairs and renewals 8,588 649 9,237
Professional fees 5,349 17,928 23,277
Insurance 2,979 – 2,979
Sundry 300 – 300
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fees 2,700 – 2,700
──────── ──────── ────────
162,393
════════		 430,736
═════════		 593,130
═════════

37

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

10. Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities (continued)

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
════════ ═════════ ═════════
11. Independent examination fees
2025 2024
£ £
Fees payable to the independent examiner for:
Independent examination of the financial statements 2,700 2,280
═══════ ═══════

38

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

12. Staff costs

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

2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 408,212 421,910
Social security costs 24,733 29,462
Pension costs (defined contribution pension plan) 18,357 17,530
───────── ─────────
451,302 468,902
═════════ ═════════

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 £42,784 (2024: £42,811).

The average head count of employees during the year was 29 (2024: 26). The average number of full-time equivalent employees during the year is analysed as follows:

2025 2024
No. No.
Fundraising 1 1
Charitable activities 28 25
──── ────
29 26
════ ════

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: 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.

14. Tangible fixed assets

Property Garden Office Garden Tools and
Extension Sculpture Equipment Structures Equipment Total
£ £ £ £ £ £
Cost
At 1 Apr 2024 260,586 16,831 14,705 13,956 2,819 308,897
Additions 9,241 – – – – 9,241
───────── ──────── ──────── ──────── ─────── ─────────
At 31 Mar 2025 269,827 16,831 14,705 13,956 2,819 318,138
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
Depreciation
At 1 Apr 2024
and 31 Mar 2025 – 16,831 14,705 13,956 2,819 48,311
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
Carrying amount
At 31 Mar 2025 269,827 – – – – 269,827
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════
At 31 Mar 2024 260,586 – – – – 260,586
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═══════ ═════════

39

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

15. Debtors

2025 2024
£ £
Trade debtors 11,195 10,094
Accrued income 8,653 87,297
──────── ────────
19,848 97,391
════════ ════════

16. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 27,430 27,313
Deferred income 187,005 174,338
Accruals 2,280 2,280
Social security and other taxes 2,370 2,643
Other creditors 5,368 7,251
───────── ─────────
224,453 213,875
═════════ ═════════

17. Deferred income

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

2025 2024
£ £
Balance brought forward 174,388 209,420
Amount released to income earned from charitable activities (174,383) (209,415)
Amount deferred in year 187,000 174,383
───────── ─────────
Balance carried forward 187,005 174,388
═════════ ═════════

18. Defined contribution pension scheme

The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £18,357 (2024: £17,530).

40

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

19. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

Unrestricted funds
At At
1 April 2024 Income Expenditure Transfers
31 March 2025
£ £ £ £ £
General funds 182,005 94,770 (162,394) (5,778) 108,604
Designated fund - New
building 260,586 – – 9,241 269,827
───────── ──────── ───────── ─────── ─────────
442,591 94,770 (195,930) 3,463 378,431
═════════ ════════ ═════════ ═══════ ═════════
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
═════════ ════════ ════════ ════════ ═════════

41

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

19. Analysis of charitable funds (continued) Restricted funds

Analysis of charitable fu
Restricted funds		 nds (continued)
At At
1 April 2024 Income Expenditure Transfers
31		 March 2025
£ £ £ £ £
Arnold Clark Motors – 2,500 (3,021) 521 –
BBC Children in Need 1,869 – (1,869) – –
Benwell & Scotswood Ward – 1,800 (1,706) – 94
Charles Lewis – 664 (664) – –
Community Ownership Fund – 25,000 (25,000) – –
Connected Voice 1,386 – (1,386) – –
County Durham Community
Foundation		 – 10,000 (5,742) – 4,258
Crowdfunding – 18,277 (18,290) 13 –
Curtin Parp Fund – 5,833 (5,833) – –
D'Oyly Carte 396 1,000 (1,396) – –
Flag Project 99 2,000 (1,874) (225) –
George & Peggy 52 1,000 (1,062) 10 –
Hays Travel – 2,139 (2,139) – –
Henry Smith 482 61,000 (61,482) – –
Hilden Trust – 1,500 (805) – 695
James Knott Trust – 6,000 (5,970) – 30
J Lewis Foundation 194 32,167 (25,890) (2,722) 3,749
Karbon Homes 3,129 8,871 (8,033) 398 4,365
Kellett Fund 1,605 39,686 (40,178) 1,280 2,393
Lloyds Bank Foundation 2,522 18,000 (20,522) – –
London North Eastern Railway
Limited		 – 23,787 (22,639) (956) 192
National Heritage Lottery Fund – 81,198 (90,795) 9,597 –
National Lottery 887 18,926 (9,828) (150) 9,935
Northumbrian Water – 7,500 (6,995) – 505
Platten Family 445 4,000 (4,137) – 308
Postcode Neighbourhood 716 – (754) 38 –
Ringtons Fund – 406 (355) (51) –
Rise-Satellite Club Funding 998 – – (998) –
Newcastle University 2,421 – (2,575) 154 –
Schools of Sanctuary (328) 11,701 (11,710) 337 –
Shears Foundation 961 4,000 (4,694) (20) 247
Species Survival Fund – 15,742 (15,742) – –
Society of Holy 3,024 11,000 (11,449) – 2,575
Swire Charitable Trust – 25,000 (1,361) – 23,639
The 29th May 1961 – 10,000 (4,630) – 5,370
Tudor Trust 4,202 – (3,827) (375) –
Wellbank Foundation – 1,000 (838) – 162
Woodland Wellbeing 600 – – (600) –
Other small Grants 98 3,794 (3,364) 130 560
New Build 98,069 90,750 (2,181) (9,844) 176,793
───────── ───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
123,827
═════════		 546,241
═════════		 (430,736)
═════════		 (3,463)
════════		 235,869
═════════

42

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

19. Analysis of charitable funds (continued) Restricted funds

Analysis of charitable fu
Restricted funds		 nds (continued)
At At
1 April 2023 Income Expenditure Transfers 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
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ════════ ═════════

43

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

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.

Arnold Clark Core Costs Benwell & Scotswood Ward Adventure Rangers Youth Group Charles Lewis Gardening for Dementia Programme Community Ownership Fund Core Costs D’oyly Carte Gardening for Dementia Programme Community Foundation Tyne & Wear Flag Project George & Peggy Fund Adventure Rangers Youth Group Hays Travel Art & Music Garden Programme Henry Smith Core Costs Hilden Trust Nature Rangers Youth Group Heritage Lottery Fund Environmental renewal, contribution to several programmes James Knott Trust Nature Rangers Youth Group John Lewis Foundation Nightshades Youth Group Karbon Homes BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Kellett Fund Elderberries Older People’s Programme Lloyds Bank Foundation Growing Together Volunteer Programme London North Eastern Railway Limited Canny Plants Newcastle City Council Community Pantry and Warm Space Newcastle City Council Nightshades Youth Group Northumbrian Water Wildlife Superheroes - School Visits Programme Platten Family Trust Growing Together Volunteer Programme School of Sanctuary School of Sanctuary Shears Foundation BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Species Survival Fund Canny Plants Society of the Holy Jesus Child BREEZE Forest School for wellbeing programme Swire Charitable Trust Core Costs The 29th May 1961 Gardening for Dementia Programme Wellbank Foundation Growing Together Volunteer Programme 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

444542

SCOTSWOOD NATURAL GARDEN LIMITED (A Company Limited by Guarantee)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2025

20. Analysis of net assets between funds

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds
Funds Funds Funds 2025
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets – – 269,827 269,827
Current assets 333,057 235,869 – 568,926
Creditors less than 1 year (224,453) – – (224,453)
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net assets 108,604 235,869 269,827 614,300
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds
Funds Funds Funds 2024
£ £ £ £
Tangible fixed assets – – 260,586 260,586
Current assets 395,881 123,827 – 519,708
Creditors less than 1 year (213,875) – – (213,875)
───────── ───────── ───────── ─────────
Net assets 182,006 123,827 260,586 566,419
═════════ ═════════ ═════════ ═════════

45

Scotswood Natural Garden Limited 31.3.25 Final

Final Audit Report

2025-12-16

Created: 2025-12-16 By: Kay Walker (kay@jfstorbitt.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAbgVkzJj2QBEHJxJR31qyUANRYQAjAZKE

"Scotswood Natural Garden Limited 31.3.25 Final" History

Document created by Kay Walker (kay@jfstorbitt.co.uk) 2025-12-16 - 12:30:18 GMT

2025-12-16 - 12:31:19 GMT

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

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Document e-signed by Miles John Henderson (milesjhenderson@me.com) Signature Date: 2025-12-16 - 13:33:50 GMT - Time Source: server

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

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Agreement completed.

2025-12-16 - 16:23:46 GMT