THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 CHARITY NO. 1148248 CROSSLEY & DAVIS Chartered Accountants Ground ffloor Seneca House Unks Polnt Amy Johnson Way ackpool Lancashlre FY4 2FF
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT REPORT AND FINANaAL sfATEMEllfS FOR ThE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Trusteeg Annual Report Independent Examlnerfs Report Statement of Flnandal Actlvitles Balance Sheet io Notes formln8 part of the Flnanclal Statements 11-14
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr TRusfEEg ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 20Z5 The Trustees present their report along with the financlal statements of the Charlty for the year ended 31st March 2024. The flnanaal statements have been prepared In accordance with the accountlng polides set out on page 11 and comply with the Charltyls Trust Deed and appllcable law. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION REGISTERED NAME: THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT PRINCIPLE ADDRESS: 14 The Rldgeway Fleetwood FY7 8AW CHARITY NUMBER: 1148248 DATE OF REGISTrATION: 24th July 2012 BANKERS: Barclays Bank pk Lelcester LE87 2BB INDEP£NDEMf EXAMINER: Steven Mondy F.QA Chartered Accountant Crossley & Davls Ground Floor Seneca House Llnk5 Polnt, Amy Johnson Wav Blackpool FY4 2FF CHARrrY TRUSTEES WHO MANAGE THE CHARITY: Truste• N•me John Whalley Derrik Foulkes Karen Lalrd Phlllp Murphy Carole Ellzabeth Mianbaghl Chalrman Treasurer Trusteelsecretariat Servlce user and Trustee Trustee
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT (coMfiNUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 31ST MARCH 2025 srRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The Wlllow Garden Project Is an independent community-based Charity garden project. It is govemed by a Deed of Trust dated 22nd February 2012 for keeping the project focused on its purpose - ensurlng It Is sofvent, meetln8 legal requlrement5 and those of good governance. The charlty trustees are responsible for the general control and management of the charity. Trustees meet at least fourtlmes each year to take all declslons necessaryjolntly wlth regard to the review of the Charltys actlvltles and achlevement of objectives. All trustees glve thelr tlme voluntary and recelved no remuneratlon or other financlal benefits. On8olng costs of the project'5 core artlvltles Ss funded In many waysi Includln8 charltable 8rants and awards on the basls of achlevln8 agreed tar8ets and outcomes, or condurtin8 speclfied actlvltles. These funds are supplemented wlth unrestrlrted monles ralsed by fundralsln& communlty donatlons and or8an15ed charltable events. srAFF AND VOLUNfEERS The garden has twelve volunteers supportln8 the work and fundralslng events, but only a small 8roup of slx who support the dlfferent weekly actlvitle5 - we have a mlnlmum of two people supportln8 each group 8ardenlng sesslon. There Is one paid member of staff, Mrs Pamela Lalrd, who Is the proJecVs founder and a quallfled hortlwltural tutor worklng a5 the stte mana8er and workshop facllltator. There are also five voluntary trustees. Sesslonal workers are contracted on a seff-employed basls when expert servlces are requlred by the project to run workshops In addltlon to those that are nomially scheduled over the two days a week. In these clrcumstsnces the fundlng source (restrlcted) Is Included wlthln the successful bld/award grant and payment would be made on completlon of the speclflc plece of projert work. OUR PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Establlshed 2012, the garden has been bullt on derellct underused land leased from the local crlcket club. Wlth the good wlll and help of experlenced volunteers, Includln8 SUPPOrt from the local counc115, charltles and other groups It has become a flourishln8 communlty servlng garden Including a cabin flt for purposeldlsabled access bulldlng. Funding for the garden work Is raised by organlslng fundrai5in8 and proflle-raislng events and Is supported throu8h general publlc donatlons and by servlce users. The purpose of the charlty Is to provlde fa¢S1itles for healthy recreatlon (partlcularly 8arden•ng and horticulture) and lelsure time pursults in the Interest of social welfare for people Ilvlng In Fleetwood and surrounding areas who have need of such faclllties by reason of their inflrmity or dlsablement. youth, age, flnancial hardship or social cSrcumstance5 With the object of improvlng their condltions of life. Today we have around forty-flve regular service u5er5 (adults with physical and mental dlsabllitiesl attendlng weekly- wlth some really good result5. More recently we have extended our support to people living with dementia and cancer. We also provide different sessions to local nurserles, 5choolchlldren and other or8anisations and buslnesse5 on an ad hoc basis.
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr TRUSfEES' ANNUAL REPORT (coNllNUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Our maln objectives of the year contlnued to be the promotion and delivery of a professlonal, Independent and outcome-based support services to a range of cllents. Developing communlty links and workin8 In partnershlp and In collaboratlon with iancashire County Councll, Healthler Fleetwood and other supporting organlsatlons and potentlal servlce users to undertake targeted pleces of work and encourage new users to the project. The prolecEs founder, Pamela Lalrd takes responsibillty for the ongoln8 day-tfrday mana8ement of the community-servin8 garden 51te. A team of volunteer5 contrlbute to the routSne cultlvatlon of the garden: and help organise the charlS actlvltles Includlng: Practlcal gardenlng group sesslons to leam and engage in food 8rowSng actlvltles. Makln8 8reen and upcycled craft5 In our'cabln, resource centre Organlslng seasonal workshops In the run up to Easter, Halloween and Christmas Marketln8 the flowers and vegetables 8rown In our garden Supportlng nelghbour5n8 8roups and organlsatlons wlth developlng thelr gardens, plantln8 etc. Raislng fund5 through regular ba8 packlng In local supermarkets Other fundralslng events such as open days, fayres and communlty actlvltles. REVIEW OF AcfiviTIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS Wlllow team have successfvlly dellvered 8ardenln8 sesslons throughout thls perlod, runnln8 workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1910312024 to 2811112024. In thls perlod we have had a new cover put on one of poly tunne15, and have added more gravel to the paths around the garden slte. We also hosted a volunteer day for VICtre a local business company who klndly funded a team to come alon8 and palnt our work cabln and garden fumlture. Haprfestln8 was good too, wlth 8lant vegetables lonlons, beetroot, peas & beans) as well Sunflower and Lupln plants grown from seeds. We also challenged ourselves and for the tlrst tlme harvested sweetcorn whlch were a great success. Some of the vegetables grown were entered Into Blackpool Allotments Vegetable & Flower show, and we were over the moon to be awarded 2nd place for our beetroots and 3rd Place for large Onlons. In engaglng wlth our local communlty we have worked wlth a local artlst on artwork for the Fleetwood Festival tram Sundayi have had chlldren from Great Arley school In Thornton vlslt to learn about garden work and general wellbelng as well as organised open days for the general publlc. For our Summer event we were klndly donated a supply of horseshoes for upoicling Into crafts, as well as been glven a fabulous collectlon of handknitted Gnomes. Together wlth other nature crafts our 5enAce users made and tombola raffle It was a very successful fundraislng day. The open day for our Chrlstmas fayre was also a very successful event, and a huge thank you goes out to the many people donating goods and raffle prlzes for fundralslng. For the first time this year we also or8an15ed Wreath Maklng workshops. These events were run In add5tlon to our normal 8ardenlng workshops and we provlded all rnaterlals to decorate wreaths made from our own wlllow grown on site. The feedback wa5 excellent and we will look to run such an event agaln next season. A small business market nlght was also arranged by a local ecology project. wlth funds ralsed from donations on the door glven to Wlllow. Additionallyp the garden centre at Affinity shoppln8 Outlet In Fleetwood have donated plants for our 8arden. We are incredibly fortunate to have valued supporters of our charity; It allows us to achleve our 8oals. Thankyou for your amazlng support.
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT TRusfEEY ANNUAL REPORT ICONnNUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr MARCH 2025 SUCCESSESS AND AWARDS Since establlshlng Willow Garden we've been successful In achlevin8 a number of awards and accolades Includln8: BBC Radio Lancashire Communlty Hero's Awards 2019- Communlty Prolert Of the Year RHS Brltaln In Bloom Northwest "In Your Nelghbourhood" award cate80ry Achieved Level S loutstandlng) wlth the 2019 Communlty Champlon Award Publlcat5on of 3-page feature of Project's work In Lancashlre Llfe Ma8azlne- Ortober 2018 edltlon Wlnner of 8BC Northwest Tonight Communlty Garden, Up Here dlsplayed at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park August 2018. RHS lvs Your Nel8hbourhood Natlonal Certfficate of Dlstlnctlon for groups who have done cons15tently well over tlme- awarded November 2018 RHS Brltaln In Bloom Northwest °In Your Nelghbourhood. award category Achleved Level 5 loutstandln8) wlth dlscretlonary award and hlghly commended for our communlty effort. Lancashlre Green Award for the best communlty group. Green Partnershlp Award wlth Lancashlre County Councll. Clean Sweep for Brltaln Award (Northern Entry) In conjunction wlth Veolla and the Sunday People Newspaper, In celebratlon of the Queen5 Dlamond Jubilee, our efforts were acknowled8ed. Wyre Together Best Volunteer Team Award. Nomlnated Best Volunteer by Lancashlre County Counc51. Hortlcultural quallflcatlons In partnershlp wSth Myerscou8h Natlonal Bl8 Lottery fvndln8 award IITV Mllllons publlc votlng). Our Chadty has a very good followlng and news Is spread by word of mouth, and15 also communicated vla network of Interested group contacts and local publlcatlons. Soclal medla Is used to Interart In real tlme and feed the latest news and Informatlon Is also avallable from the charlt¢s Facebook pages.
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT TRUStEES' ANNUAL REpofff {CONTINUEDI FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 PARThERSHIP WORKING Llsted below are the groups and organisations that we work in partnershlp and In collaboratlon wlth for charltable actlvlties and on-going projects: Action on Hearlng Loss Alternatlve Future Group Charlty Alzheimerfs Society ASOA Fleetwood Store A.M Seafoods Barclay5 Bank Blackpool Ols Blackpool Youth Offendln8 Team Blackpool Wakefleld Actlvlty Park BP Offshore Cala Gran Holiday Park Fleetwood Cardlnal Allen R.C. Hlgh School Fleetwood Chaucer Communlty Primary School Fleetwood Ctrop Stores and Funeral Home Creatlve Support (Mental Health Supported Llvln81 Dlsablllty Trust Dreamscheme Network DWP Jobcentre Fleetwood Fleetwood Churches Together Fleetwood Crlcket Club Fleetwood Food Bank Fleetwood Rotary Club Fleetwood Rugby Club Fleetwood and Cleveleys Llons Club Fleetwood and Thornton Natlonal Cltlzen Servlce Fleetwood Taxl 2222 Fleetwood Town Council Fleetwood Wl Group Furness 8ulldlng Soclety G Tees (Fleetwood store) HSghbury Golf Soclety Joanne Wilson Ballet & Dance School Jubllee Harvester Cleveleys Lancashlre Adult Leamlng Lancashire County Councll Lancashlre Wildllfe Trust Larkholme Primary School Masonlc Hall Mlni Me Nursery Fleetwood Mccoll's Store
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr TRU5TEES' ANNUAL REPORT (coNfiNUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Mount Croft Mental Health Selvlce Mustard Seed Group Fleetwood Myerscough College N-compass North West NCS (National Citizen SeNice) Northwest Everest Platform Ormerod Trust Santander TSB Unique Estate Agencv Wyre Fisherles Rotaklds projects Sodal Enterprise Solutlons (UK) CIC Tesco Help for Bags Umbrella Collectlve Unlque Estate A8ency Veolla Envlronment SeThlce Vlctrex plc Wlndmlll Players Group Wyre Day Care Broadwaters Wyre Domlclllary Servlce Youth Offendlng Llst FINANaAL REVIEW The results for the year and flnanclal posltlon of the charity are set out in the annexed accounts. The trustee5 have examlned the requlrement to malntaln reserves for the on8oln8 work of the charlty and concluded that the most approprlate level Is between three and slx months of operational expenditure. The trustees conslder the flnancial performance by the charlty durlng the year to have been In Ilne wlth thelr expectatlons. The Statement of Flnanclal Actlvitles show5 an overall deflclt for the year of £3,640 {2023: deficlt of £11,467) and reserves stand at £32,264 (2023: £35,904). ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks go to our volunteers for thelrdedlcatlon, commitment and contrlbutlon to the Wlllow Garden Project. A big thank to all our friends and supporters who give their time 50 8enerously. Thanks to the contlnued support and donatlons and close help from Charftable Trust5 and other groups and or8anlsatlons for whlch we are most 8rateful.
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr TRUSTEEg ANNUAL REPORT {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr MARCH 2025 RESPONSIBIUTIES OF THE TRUSTEES The Trustees are required by the Charlties Art 2011 and the Statements of Recommended Practlce for Charlties to prepare flnancial statements for each financlal year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial Statements in accordance wlth United Klngdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practlce Iunlted Kingdorn Accountln8 Standards and appllcable law). The flnanclal statements are requlred by law to glve a true and falr vlew of the state of affalrs of the charfty and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that perlod. In preparin8 these flnanclal statements, the trurtees are requlred to: select sultable accountlng pollcles and then apply them conslstentlv: make lud8ements and estlmates that are reasonable and prudent; state whether appllcable accountlng standards and statements of recommended practlce have been followed subjert to any departure5 dlsclosed and explalned In the financial statements; prepare the flnanclal statements on the golng concern basls unless It15 Inapproprlate to presume that the Charlty wlll not contlnue In operatlon. The Trustees are responslble for keeplng accountlng rKords whlch dlsclose wlth reasonable accuracy at any tlme the flnanclal posStlon of the Charfty and enable them to ensure that the financlal statements comply wlth the Charltles Act 2011. The Trustees are also responslble for safeguardlng the assets of the Charlty and hence for tskln8 reasonable Steps for the preventlon and detection of fraud and other Irregularlties. In so far as the trustees are aware: there Is no relevant Inforniation of whlch the Charltrfs Independent examiner Is unaware; and the Trurtees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of anv relevant Infomiatlon and to establlsh that the independent examlner is aware of that Infomatlon. Approved by the Trusteeg and $18ned on thelr behalf by. Trustee/ Chalrnmn Trustee Date
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'5 REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT I report to the trustee5 on my examinatlon of the accounts of The Willow Garden Project (the Trust) for the year ended 31st March 2025, whlch are set out on pages 10 to 14. Responslbllitles and b•49 of report As the charlty trustees of the Trust you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requlrements of the Charitle5 Act 20111'the Actrl. I report In respect of my examlnation of the Trustee's accounts carrfed out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrylng out my examinatlon I have followed all the appllcable Directions given by the Charity Commlsslon under 5ectlon 145{5)Ibl of the 2011 Act. Independent examlnerfs Statement I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon In connertlon with the examlnatlon 8lvln8 me cause to believe that In any materlal respect: 111 accountln8 record5 were not kept In respect of the Trust as required by settlon 130 of the Act; or 12) the accounts do not accord wlth those records. or {3) the accounts do not comply wlth the appllcable requlrements concernlng the form and content of accounts set out In the Charltles (Accounts and Reports} Re8ulatlon 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts glve a 'true and falr vlew, whlch Is not a matter con51dered as part of an Sndependent examlnation. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon to whlch attentlon should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Stev•n Mondy FCA Crossley & Dav1$ Ground Noor S•n•c• House Llnks Polnt. Amy Johnson Way Blackpool FY4 2FF
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJECT srATEMEKf OF FINANaAL AcnviTIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted Funds Funds Totsl 2025 Totsl 2024 Notes INCOME AND EN1wmENTs Donatlons Income from fundralsln8 actlvltles Government grants 20,953 4.585 20,953 18,771 4,585 5,138 TOTAL 23,538 25,538 23,909 EXPENDITURE Costs of mlsingfvnds.. Fundra151n8 expenses 79 Charltoble o¢tlvltle5.' Craftln8 materlals Rent, rates and water U8ht & heat Telephone Gardenln8 purchases General repalrs Prlntln8, Postage, statlonery and advertlslnB CleanSng Refreshments Sundry expenses Insurance Xmas Partv Gifts 455 371 443 777 473 329 10 81 651 48 I,ioo 372 114 455 371 443 777 473 329 io 81 651 272 48 1,092 779 559 2,159 55 207 497 2,056 I,ioo 372 114 1,529 5,223 5,223 9,253 Governance costs.. Depreclatlon Wages Accountancy fees 2,792 13,080 2,792 3,490 13,080 12,960 1,925 1,768 1.925 1,925 15,872 17,796 18,218 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 7,148 15,872 23,019 27,549 TRANSFERS NEf EXPENDITURE Balance brought forward {15,000) 3,391 15,000 {8721 2,519 {3,640) 32,264 35,904 Balance carrled forward 34,666 119 34,783 32.264 io
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr BALANCE SHEET 315r MARCH 2024 Notes 2025 2024 FIXED ASSETS 11,167 13,959 CURREKf ASSErs Cash at bank and In hand 46,149 27,478 57,316 41,437 CURRENT UABIUTIES PAYE Credltors and Accruals 97 119 22,533 9,173 NEf CURREKf ASSErs 23,616 18,305 NEf ASSETS 34,783 32,264 FUNDS Unrestrlcted 34,666 31.275 Restrlcted 117 989 34,783 32.264 Approved by the Board of Trustees on and slgned on Its behalf bv: Truste•/ Chalrnian Trustee The notes on page 11 to 13 form part of these accounts. 11
THE LLOw GARDEN PROJECT NOTES TO THE FINANaAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315r MARCH 2025 ACCOUNTING POUCIES of preparatlon of financlal statements The flnanclal statements have been prepared In accordance with The CharltSes Act 2011, and Accountln8 and Reportlng by charitie5: Ststement of Recommended Practice applicable to charltles preparlng thelr accounts In accordance wlth FRS 102 (effective l January 2016 - Charltles SORP {FRS102)). Re¢onclllatlon wlth Prev10 Generally Accepted Accountlng Practlc• The flnanclal statement5 have been prepared under the hlstorlcal cost conventlon. The financial statements Include all transactlons. assets and IlabllStles for whlch the Managlng Trustees are responsible In law. Income and •ndowm•nts Donatlons, and otherforms of voluntary Income, are recognlsed as Sncomlng resources when recelvable and the amount can be quantifled wlth reasonable accuracy. Grants recelved afe treated as Income and are reflected In the statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles. Income from fundralslng artlvltles are accounted for under the accruals concept. No amounts are Included In the flnanclal statements for servlces donated by volunteers. Exp•ndftur• All expendlture15 accounted for on an accruals basls. Expendlture Is allocated between the followin8 cate8orles: C05t of ralsln8 funds Cost of activltles In furtherance of the charlvs objects Governan costs 12
THE MLLOW GARDEN PROJECT 1407ES TO ThE FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS {CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Funds Restricted funds represent donations or grants recelved for a speciflc objert. The funds mav only be expended on the specific objert for which they were given. Any balance remalnlng unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fvnd. Unrestrlcted funds are 8eneral funds which can be used for the charlt*s ordlnary purpose. 1.6 Flxed Ass•ts Tanglble flxed assets for use by the charlty are capltallsed If they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £5tXI. They are valued at cost or a reasonable value on recelpt. Depreclatlon Depreclation is calculated so as to wrlte off the cost of an asseL le Its estlmated SIdual value, over the useful economlc Ilfe of that asset as follows: Equlpment Flxtures and flttln8S 20% reducin8 balance basls 20% reduclng balance basis FIXED ASSETS Flxtureg & Flttlnls Équlpment Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Cost brought tOard 16.089 90,729 106,818 106,808 Addltlons Cost carrled forward 16,089 90,729 106,818 106.818 Depreclatlon brought forward 13,106 76.264 89.370 89,370 Charge for the year 597 2.893 3.490 3.490 Depreclation carrled forward 13,703 79,157 92,860 92,860 Net book value at 31st March 2024 2,387 11,572 13,959 13,959 Net book value at 31st March 2023 2,983 14.465 17.448 17,448 13
THE WILLOW GARDEN PROJEcr NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (coKllNUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND 2025 Maln Account Cash In hand 44,319 1,830 27,340 138 46,149 27,478 CREDITORS & ACCRUALS Accountsncy and independent examlners fees Wa8es control 2,912 19,523 2,632 6,422 22,435 9,054 ANALYSIS OF ASSETS BY FUND Uftrestrlrted Restrlcted Funds Funds Totsl Flxed assets Current assets Current Ilabllitles 11,167 46,032 (22,5331 11,167 117 46,149 122,533) FUND BALANCE 34.666 117 34,783 TRUSTEES AND RELATED PARTY TRANSAcfioNS There were no transartions wlth related partles durlng the year. 14