Independent Examiner's Reporttothe Trustees of tha COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO I report on the accountsfortheyear ended 30 September2024which 8re set out in this document. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The Group/Di5trict's trustees are responsible forthe preparation of the accounts. They considerthat an audit is not required for this year (under Section 43 (2) ot the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independentexamination 15 needed. It is my responsibility to: Examine the accounts (under Section 43 {31 (a) ofthe 1993 Act). To followthe procedures laid down in the General Directions given bythe Charity Commissioners (under Section 4317} {b) of the 1993 A¢t)- and To state whether particular matters have cometo my attention. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given bythe Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seekingexplanations from you as trustees concerningany such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide allthe evidence thatwould be required in an audit. and consequently I do not express an auditopinion on the viewgiven bythe accounts. Independent Examiner's statement In connection with my examination there is no matterth8t has cometo my attention: Which gives me reasonable cause to believethat in any materials respectthe requirements To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the 1993 Act- and To prep8re accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements ofthe 1993 Act have not been met: or 2. To which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accountsto be reached. N8me...Emma Malpass......................... Qualification:............MAAT............-........ Date...12" May2025..............................
CHARITY COMMISSION ' FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period from Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to tho nèaftst Restricted funds Endowment funds Total funds Last y9ar to thè rest £ to the nearest£ to thè nearest £ to thè nearèst £ A1 Receipts Plant, Fruit & Vegetables Sales Wmdwork Sales Arts & Crafts Grfl Aid Small Donation sChne IGASDSI CrowdfiJnder- Unrestrited Donations HMRC Gift Claim Grave maintenan SeTri Named Individual Donations chfr8ld Lottery oonab.ons npower business solutions- Rethcbj Gra The Arnold Clark CommLtr)ty Fd. Restricted Grant The Axis Foundation- Restrthd Grant The Comrnunity FoundatKn- Wa Low Lithfield Restrided Grant The National Lottery-Awar(L% F(x Al- Restricted Grant W A Cadbury- Restricted Grant Sub total (Gross income for AR) 5.695 3.494 770 5,695 T70 294 974 15$ 120 600 362 6.061 974 155 120 600 362 6.061 500 500 1.LTh)O 900 9.060 750 750 12.464 18.271 30,73S 28.759 A2 Asset and Investment sales. (see table). Sub total 12,464 18.271 30.735 28.759 A3 Payments Plants. Fruit & VegetaNes FWKI Ew8eS Woodwork Expenses Arts & Crafts Fund Expen5e5 Exteral Tutor Fee Accounting Software HS8C Bank Account Charges oftl1General Administrative Expenses Preperalion of knounts- 2022-2023 Rent- Part Resthcted (fcF- WA Cadbwi- Yappl Cwkillg Ingredients H D Wills- Gas Bottles- Restiieted nPower Business Solub'ons-Acb"vrty estricted The Albert Hunt Trust- Cookerlcooking The Axis Foundation- Cooking Ingredients- Restricted The Blakemore Foundats'on- Cotnpost- Restricted Thè D'oyly Carte Charitsbje Trust- Compost- Restricted The Daws Solomons Charitat4e Trust- Thhiscell8neous The Hedley Foundaton- MISlaneOUS The Nabonal Lottery- Awards For Al- Running Costs Expendibjres The Rank Foundation- Miscellaneous The Wolfson Foundation- Greenhouse 3,089 $94 219 9,627 3S4 71 3.089 594 219 9.627 354 71 1.611 10 1.989 3.600 19 soo 632 632 12 12 100 100 760 760 29 18 18 9$ 17 17 Sub total 16.046 4.388 20,434 37.495 CCXX R1 accounts ISS) 0811012024
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) Sub total Total payments 16,046 4,388 20.434 37.495 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 3,582 13,883 10,301 8.736 13.682 10.101 1.999 15.882 15,681 25,982 24,417 15.681 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Ca.:eoot l& Unrestricted Restricted Endowment to nearest£ to nearest £ B1 Cash funds HSBC Bank 9.903 15,882 Petty Ca5h- Plants Fund 49 Pety Cash . W0Cx¥Ort FLNKI Petty Cash. Art5 & Crafts Fund 47 Pety Cash. Ger*ral Spending Equals Tcp Up car(1 B2 Other monetary assots Total cash funds 10.101 15,882
(511
Unrestricted Restricted to nearèst£ Endowment Details to nearest £ to nearest £ B3 Investment assets Details Fund to whlch awt belon ost IOPUonal) Curront valué o tiona B4 Assets retained for the charity's own use Fund to which asset belon Details Cost loptionall Current value tion81 B5 Liabilities Fund to which rèlates Amount due onal Detsils When due ional Signed by one or two trustees on ehalf of all the trustees CCXX R2 accounts {SS} 171 IL lo
COGS Prepares 4 Life CIO Bumtwood Memorial Community Centre Rugeley Road Burntwood Staffordshire WS7 9BE TEL: 01543 676443 After Hours". 07961005 286 Email: co re aresforlife mail.com htt S:lfvW.co re ares41rfecio.co.ukl Charity No: 1154296 COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO Trustees Annual Report For Year End: Sept 24 Charity Number: 1154296 Charity's Principal Address: Burntwood Memorial Community Association Rugeley Road Burntwood Staffordshire WS7 9BE Trustees Tracy Blakey Rebecca Flynn William Griffiths Sean Johnson Chairman Treasurerlsecretary Trustee Trustee Page I
COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD From: 1st October 2023 To: 30th September 2024 The Trustees presents it's report and financial statements for the year ending 30th September 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordan with the Chartty's constitution the Charities Act 2011 and °Accounb'ng and Reporting by Charities" Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordan with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and RepLEblic of Ireland (FRS 102). Structure Governance and Mana ement The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which is governed by it's constitution registered with the Charity Commission on 21st October, 2013 The CIO advertises for new trustees through Support Staffordshire. facebook and on its website. The role of trustee is open to everyone over the age of 16 years old who has the purpose to bring enthusiasm and expertise to the board and would be most likely to further the purposes of the CIO. At each Annual General Meeting the trustees are required to stand down from their role and can be re- appointed by membership vote if they wish to stand for another term. New charity trustees re]ve a copy of the constitution and any amendments made to it along with a copy of the charity's latest trUSt'S annual report and statement of accounts. The board of trustees, which shall be a minimum of three with a maximum of e1Ve, administers the CIO whilst the members have vots'ng rights on decisions that arise through the board. Membership of the CIO is open to anyone who is interested in fijrthering ivs purposes. All policies are reviewed on a regular basis, and new ones drawn up if necessary. Ob'ectives and Activities The object of the CIO is to develop the capacity and skills of the members of the socially and economically disadvantaged community of Staffordshire. and in particular Lichfield, Buthood and Cannock in such a way that they are better able to idenb'fy and help meet their needs and to participate more fully in society. We specifically take on adults with learning disabilities. The main activities that take pla are learning gardening skills, woodwork skills, arts & crafts skills, machine maintenance skills and independent living skills, which incorporates cooking skills. Some of these activities then benefit the wider public by offertng a local venue to purchase plants, vegetables, and h2ndmade woodwork products at a low pri. Service users also benefit from having access to a purpose built classroom to leam Maths, English and IT skills by a specialist tutor provided by Chery Orchard Garden Services CIC. The trustees have paid regard to the guidan issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit and what activities the charity should undertake. All the support members at COGS Prepares 4 Life CIO are permanent volunteers that are seconded from Chery Orchard Garden Services CIC and work ts'relessly with the Servi users to ensure activities are varied, educational and help forward their needs. We also have three temporary volunteers who have adapted very well to the environment and have helped bolster the support we can give to the service users. All volunteers have contributed tremendously towards fund raising by promoting the products the charity sells to the general public. Page 2
Achievements and Performance This year started off a bit low and funds skated dangerously near the reserves line for a short period but that all turned round once the main selling period stsrted and we received answers to some major funding applications. We received grants that have helped us through the current cost of living crisis as costs of running the charity rose. This included a grant towards gas bottles to heat the greenhouses, a grant to cover the running costs of the 3 main acts'vities we run (Gardening, woodwork, art & crafts) and a big bonus grant for 2 years that covers running costs of rent and admin costs. which is very welcome. We continued to run our Grow-Cook-Eat programme, and received funding for all the complimentary ingredients that are also needed to be used when a meal is being made. The future of this programme is cUentlY under review and decisions of iys continuation will be discussed at Trustee meetings. There will aayS be cooking activities going on through the winter, but this year saw a big decline, for the first time in 10 years, in produce being grown and harvested successfully, bringing to question the 'Grow' element of the project. The woodwork activities are always a favourite and the seNice users have steadily continued to learn to make planters, bird tables and various animal friendly garden structures throughout the year. There has been a huge uptick of commissioned items this year, through the great advertising of the charity on Facebook by one of the Trustees, which has kept the team busy all year round. They have also undertaken various jobs around the site, leaming how important maintenance and doing DIY correctly can improve their surroundings. Funding to continue gardening acttvities included donations towards seeds and multicell trays. The arts & crafts activities that were a new activty started in the previous financial year has grown steadily, and had a fantastic boost from making Christmas wreaths through the winter. We also tried using a new fundraising platform to increase our income by doing a fundraiser on Crowdfunder. This was a huge success and we are extremely grateful for everyone who donated funds that will all be put towards general running costs of the chanty. All monies bought in by activity sales have been consistant with previous years after a slow start and we are in a great position to start the new financial year. All the service users have continued to refresh their skills throughout the year to ensure they can continue to use these transferable skills outside of the charity. Page 3
Section E - Financial Review The charity has always aimed to hold a reserie of 3 months expenditure in unrestricted funds which would allow it to continue Guent actrvities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds could be raised. The required level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year. The current amount required in reserves is £1500. The charity's principal sources of fijnds used in this financial year were: Plant Sales Woodwork Sales Arts & Crafts Sales Public Donations (GASDS and named donors) The HDH Willis 1965 Charitable Trust Pebblestthe Rank Foundation The Albert Hunt Trust The David Solomons Charitable Trust The Yapp Charitable Trust The Dumbreck Charity The Wolfson Foundation The D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust The Hedley Foundation The Blakemore Foundation W A Cadbury (NEW) The Community Foundation- We Love Lichfield (NEW) Arnold Clark Community Fund (NEW) The Axis Foundation (NEW) npower Business Solutions (NEW) The National Lottery- Awards ForAII (NEW) The expenditure of funds throughout the year have all supported the key objectives of the charity in many ways. Section F - O tional Information We took the unusual decision to pay for Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustsas Signaturels) Full name(s) Position {eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Tracy Blakey Rebecca F nn Chair Treasurer Date Page 4