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← The Recovery Tree Charity

2025-03-31-accounts

The Recovery Tree

Charity

Annual Report April 2024 to March 2025

We help people with a mental health condition to lead fulfilling and satisfying lives.

TWIGS is a community garden where people can regain confidence and self-esteem through learning new skills and participating in therapeutic activities.

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Our Mission

We help people with a mental health condition to lead fulfilling and satisfying lives. We like to think that our presence, our pride in who we are, and what we do, will mean we are doing our part to reduce the stigma of mental illness.

We offer a mix of time-limited placements and longer term volunteering opportunities for people who have mental health support needs. At TWIGS people can be referred (or self-refer) to us for a placement in therapeutic horticulture and related activities. Some also volunteer with us for longer periods.

Olive Tree Café

The Olive Tree Café’s year fell into two parts. For the first three months, we continued operating as before. In July, we suffered a forced move of premises when the pump serving the drains failed irreparably and our landlord did not repair it. As a result, there was no way for us to deal with waste water and it was impossible to operate a café in these conditions.

We were able to find new premises to move to. The community of Swindon rallied together to support our relocation to Toomer’s Country Store and Garden Centre, SN5 3LD and raised over £20,000 to support us. In October, we re-opened on a rather smaller footprint. We also took the opportunity to hire premises in a community centre at favourable rates for a separate kitchen both to provide baked products for sale in the Café, and also to continue with our bakery therapy and training.

Case study

Lesley was referred to us by the Job Centre. She found it difficult to speak to people and started by baking cakes in the back kitchen. After a few months she had found her feet and moved into the main kitchen. Her confidence built week by week and she was coming out of her shell and chatting to other staff. After a few more months, she felt able to take on front-of-house duties and deal with customers, many of whom she made friends with.

Up to our July closure, we had 55 volunteers and 15 staff with a known mental health support need. Ten independent volunteers helped deliver the service. We regularly welcomed young people who are disabled or vulnerable for some work experience or as part of a Duke of Edinburgh Award. After our re-opening in January 2025, we had 17 volunteers and 8 staff with a known mental health support need.

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Four staff completed the mental health first aid course to put them in a better position to be able to support others. We continued with our bakery training workshops on Mondays, and with our Level 1 food safety courses. These were commented on in our Environmental Health inspection, which graded us at Level 5 and recognised our training and support of volunteers.

As a Community Cafe we are reliant on grant funding to support our ongoing operations. Two major grants came to an end during the year and unfortunately; we were not able to secure the funds needed to keep the Cafe open and we had to close permanently on 28[th] February 2025.

The Cafe has been open since 2011 and over 14 years has served the community formidably providing volunteering and paid employment opportunities to people with mental health challenges. In this time, we have served 413 volunteers and staff with a known mental health support need. Of our leavers, many went on to do something with their lives which would have been beyond their reach before they started with us. We also provided space for numerous community groups and charities to meet.

We believe that this has been a significant benefit to the community in Swindon. There are many people to thank for this:

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Figure 1: Destinations of leavers from the Olive Tree Café, 2011-25

TWIGS

Our gardening sessions continue to be well-attended and cover a range of seasonal activities in a natural environment. Our service users, exservice users now in our “ambassador” role and our volunteers together make a group of over 120 people who regularly benefit from our service and facilities each week. 10 – 15 of these are former service users: we encourage them to use their lived

experience to support current service users. Our Dementia Gardening Groups continue and we have created a new Garden of Hope for a group focussed on people dealing with the effects of bereavement. Our facilities continue to be valuable for other local mental health support charities to deliver therapeutic art and craft workshops. Among these were dedicated sessions for women asylum seekers and refugees. 36 people have benefitted over the year.

We have added to our facilities by building a fire proof forge area. Building it was a therapeutic activity for several people: now it is complete, using it will provide further therapeutic opportunities to people at TWIGS. We also constructed our new “Garden Of Hope” which is now in regular use by a Gardening Through Grief group for people dealing with the aftermath of bereavement.

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We delivered our Level 2 Essential Garden Skills course (8 sessions over 8

weeks) twice, in the autumn and again in the spring, at both TWIGS and Bridewell Organic Gardens in South Oxfordshire. 30 people graduated. The course is both popular and therapeutically valuable.

Our programme of public open days included 8 events during the year. These are good ways to reach new members of the public, to promote the benefits of good mental health and to help diversify our income.

Our support for young people has continued: we hosted visits from local schools (primary and secondary, special and main stream), provided DofE and work experience placements, and ran activity evenings for Scout groups and activity days for groups from the Youth Adventure Trust. We continued our long-term collaboration with Marlborough House, our local in-patient service for young people, providing sessions on their premises and on ours.

We have continued giving talks to local groups about our work and its benefits, and hosting volunteer teams from local employers – 14 during the year.

During the year, we have supported 103 people. In addition, 55 independent volunteers help deliver the service. Several of these are former

Case study

Gill was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and suffered childhood trauma: she experiences extreme highs and lows and auditory hallucinations. She also cares for her mother, and has had periods ‘out’ from TWIGS where her mother’s physical and mental health has been so poor that Gill has had to become a full time carer. Initially Gill could attend only with her mother but has progressed to travelling on her own and having her session at Twigs on her own. Over the course of her time at TWIGS Gill’s wellbeing has quantitatively improved, and she feels an increase in confidence, made new friendships and picked up gardening skills and knowledge including floristry which she has a natural flair for.

service users: we encourage them to use their lived experience to support current service users. 6 are “TWIGS Ambassadors” who help present the service to visiting members of the public. The destinations of our leavers is shown below.

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Figure 2: Destinations of leavers from TWIGS, 2024-25

100% of service users report receiving good or excellent service and 95% say their mental health has improved. 90% report that being at TWIGS has given them new knowledge or skills. 67% report being able to function more independently, with 38% saying they needed less help from the NHS.

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Message from the Trustees

We have been able to continue providing services to support wellbeing for an increasingly diverse group of people, and are grateful to the large number of funders and donors who have helped us be able to do this. In particular, we are very grateful to the many people who contributed to the enormous fundraising effort for the Olive Tree Café, which raised over £27,000 including generous matching for some

payments by the Zurich Community Trust. We are pleased that this could keep the Cafe going after its forced move, but very sorry that this managed to keep it open only for a short time.

The year in numbers Income £427,190 Expenditure £535,604 Balance at year end £53,475 Total people helped: 163 Volunteers: 61 Staff 1 full time, 6 part time

Our Trustees

Dick Millard (Chair), Gillian Barber, Jo Ridley, Kenny Baxter, Cara Hiscock and Lynn Rowe.

The Recovery Tree Charity is

Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon, SN2 2QJ.

email: trustees@therecoverytreecharity.org.uk Web: www.therecoverytreecharity.org.uk/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082394996111

Dick Millard Date: 17[th] June 2025 Chair

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Report and Financial Statements

The Recovery Tree Charity

1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025

Administrative Information

The Recovery Tree Charity is responsible for both the Olive Tree Café and TWIGS. It is a registered charity (Charity Commission registration number: 1149848) and a company limited by guarantee (Companies house registration number: 08091204). Its principal office and its registered address is Manor Garden Centre, Cheney Manor Industrial Estate, Swindon, SN2 2QJ.

At the start of the year, there were five trustees and directors: Dick Millard (Chair), Gillian Barber (Secretary), Jo Ridley Kenny Baxter and Cara Hiscock. During the year, Lynn Rowe joined the trustee board.

Governance and Management

Trustees meetings are currently held usually once a month, at which decisions are taken and minuted. The trustees delegated the day to day running of the Olive Tree Café to a manager, Phyllida Richards, while it was operating; and of the TWIGS service to a manager, Alan Holland. The managers provide regular reports to the trustees to aid decision making and prioritisation.

The trustees have reviewed the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission, and have taken due regard to it in exercising their powers and duties.

Review of financial results and future developments

Throughout the year we applied for publicly available government grants, and for charitable grants. Thanks to the generosity of our many funders, we have ended the year in a sound financial position. Our major funders are listed in the notes to the accounts on page 12.

At TWIGS, we have a contract with Swindon Borough Council (SBC): this runs for five years to 31 December 2026. We intend to continue to apply for grants to meet costs of the additional capacity we provide at TWIGS over and above the Council contract.

Reserves policy and annual review statement

The Recovery Tree is a charitable organisation and as such depends on its income from varying sources. Twigs has 5 year contract with SBC expiring on 31 December 2026, plus we receive other grants and donations, supplemented by small amounts of income from plant sales and outreach work.

It is therefore important that we have enough funds to keep running during lean times or when we are short of cash flow. A general reserve is required in order to continue providing the service, including paying staff wages and essential bills.

Our policy therefore is to keep, where possible, a minimum of 3 but not more than 6 months expenses as a general reserve.

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It is our intention to build up the reserve from sales and fund-raising activities. We intend to review the Reserves Policy every year when completing current year’s budgets, to ensure that it remains relevant and financially correct.

Reserves Review July 2025

The unrestricted surplus at the end of March 2025 is £41,304. Twigs expenses for the period April 2024 to March 2025 were £144,775. The unrestricted reserve provides us around 3.4 months running costs, which is within our policy of between 3 to 6 months running costs.

Our aim over the coming year will be to increase our Reserve position in line with our expenses, to ensure a secure back up for any potential future problems, using income from sales and fund raising activities.

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Accounts for the period 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025

THE RECOVERY TREE CHARITY Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025

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Total Previous
Notes this year Year
£ £
Incoming resources
Grants and Donations 1 284743 291442
Fundraising activities 23958 30238
Sales - Income from activities in
furtherance of charitable objects 118489 241532
Total incoming resources 427190 563212
Resources expended
Materials 54394 86399
Salaries and staff costs 2,3 391457 341527
Direct Expenses 3 18536 24553
Overheads 3 69321 89567
Fundraising Costs 1896 1723
Total resources expended 535604 543769
Surplus/deficit -108414 19443
Net movement in funds 0 0
Fund balances brought forward 161889 142446
as at 1 April 2024
Fund balances carried forward
as at 31 March 2025 53475 161889
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THE RECOVERY TREE THE RECOVERY TREE THE RECOVERY TREE
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31/03/2025
Total Total Total Previous
Notes thisyear Year
£ £
Fixed Assets 12170 28278
Tangible assets ible assets 6 12170 28278
Current Assets
Debtors and Prepayments 7 5088 4613
Stock 0 3298
Cash at bank and in hand 87444 250772
92532 258683
Short term creditors 8 51227 125072
Net current assets 41305 133611
Total assets less current liabilities Total assets less current liabilities 53475 161889
Net Assets 53475 161889
Capital and Reserves
Unrestricted Funds 53475 161889
Designated Funds 0 0
Total Funds 53475 161889

Approved by the board of Directors and signed on its behalf by ~~Dax Auer!~~ Dick Millard Chairman

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Notes to the accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts for theyear ended 31 March 2025
1 Grants and Donations Received
The Olive Tree Café Twigs Total
£ £ £
National Lottery 70107 6471 76578
Swindon Borough Council 71610 71610
Zurich CommunityTrust 45347 6520 51867
Friends of Twigs 7648 29931 37579
Nationwide B S 6755 6755
Sarah Raven 6000 6000
WCF 5000 5000
NFUMIS 3189 3189
Sir Jonathan Rivett-Carnac 3000 3000
Othergrants 5722 9130 14852
Donations 5555 2758 8313
134379 150364 284743
2 Paid Employees
The Olive Tree Café Twigs Total Total
thisyear thisyear thisyear previous
year
£ £ £ £
Gross wages and salaries 251377 80256 331633 289699
Employer's N I costs 10702 6792 17494 13895
Pension contributions 4170 3340 7510 6829
Total staff costs 266249 90388 356637 310423
Twigs 2 full time,1part time and 4part time self employed
Café At 1 April 2024,the Olive Tree Café had 28part time staff. Duringtheyear all of these staff resigned or
were made redundant. The bodyof the reportgives more information.
There were no employees whose emoluments were over £50,000.
3 Analyses of resources expended
The Olive Tree Café Twigs Total Total
thisyear thisyear thisyear previous
year
Salaries and staff costs
£ £ £ £
Salaries 281500 75137 356637 310423
Staff costs 3807 3078 6885 4190
Contract staff 27935 27935 26914
285307 106150 391457 341527
Direct Costs
£ £ £ £
Cleaning 4262 6376 10638 12975
Equipment 3035 77 3112 3444
Card Charges 1710 93 1803 2812
Tableware/workwear 329 0 329 1188
Music Licence 598 0 598 644
Volunteers Expenses 720 609 1329 2192
Professional fees 347 380 727 1298
11001 7535 18536 24553
Overheads
£ £ £ £
Rent 7951 0 7951 17561
Gas 1942 0 1942 5210
Electric 7576 2604 10180 28874
Water 1338 1127 2465 5532
Insurance 1971 3273 5244 3781
Telephone/Broadband 1932 1361 3293 3143
Stationery 1345 666 2011 1049
Repair/Maintenance 7705 1597 9302 5964
Printing/Photocopy 507 652 1159 1184
Waste 1712 718 2430 3277
Depreciation 12773 4161 16934 5427
Vehicle costs 47 1727 1774 2194
Security 42 1252 1294 29
Websiteproject 344 323 667 5255
Misc 2092 583 2675 1087
49277 20044 69321 89567
4 Independent examiner's remuneration
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An accrual for £380 has been made for the costs of the Independent Examination

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Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025
5 Trustees
There has been no remuneration or other benefits paid to the charity's trustees or people connected with them
Number of trustees who were paid expenses 0
Total amount paid £0
6 Tangible Fixed Assets
Fixed Assets are individual items costing over £200, and depreciated on a straight line basis for four years (25% per annum)
this year prev yr
£ £
Cost B/fwd 116690 105667
Additions 5509 11023
Disposals -96904
C/fwd 25295 116690
Depreciation B/fwd 88412 77197
C/fwd 13125 88412
Net Book Value
B/fwd 28278 28470
C/fwd 12170 28278
7 Debtors due within one year
this year prev yr
£ £
Pre-payments 665 2821
Other Debtors 4423 1792
5088 4613
8 Creditors - falling due within one year
this year prev yr
£ £
Creditors 4817 8246
Accruals 830 7580
Deferred Income 45060 103041
VAT 520 6205
51227 125072
9 Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepare on the basis of historic cost in accordance with
the Statement of Recommend Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities and
the Charities Act and
the Companies Act 2006
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Report to the Trustees on the accounts for the financial year ending on 31 March 2025

Respective responsibilities of trustee and examiner

The Trustees responsibility for preparing the Trustees Annual Report and the financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) are set out in the Statement of Trustees Responsibility in the body of the Trustees Report.

You consider that the audit requirement of Section 144 Charities Act 2011 does not apply.

It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145 (5) (b) of the Act), whether particular matters have come to my attention

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes the review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with these records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a true and fair view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention

or

Chartered Accountant 195 Ermin Street Stratton St Margaret, Swindon SN3 4NA

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