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 sCh￿ne 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 F￿d. 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
oftl￿1General 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- MIS￿laneOUS
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 cU￿entlY under review and decisions of iys continuation will be discussed at Trustee
meetings. There will a￿ayS 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 Gu￿ent 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