COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO
Trustees Annual Report for Year End: Sept 25
Charity Number..
1154298
Charity Addre5S'.
BumtW¢)od Memorial Communty Association
Rugeley Road
Bumtwood
Staffordshire
WS7 98E
Chairperson:
Karen Child
Vice Chairperson..
Colin Millage
Treasurer.
Carl Ansell
Secretary:
Katie Peach

Independent Examiners Report
I report to the trustees on my examination of th8 accounts of COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO I'lhe
charity,) for the year ended 3010912025.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for Ihe preparation of the accounts in accordance
with the requirements of the Chanlies Act 2011 ('Ihe 2011 Act'}.
I report in respect of my examination of the charty's accounts carried out under section 145 of the
2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by
the Charity Commission under sethon 145(5){b) ofthe 2011 Act.
Indopendent Examlner's Statement
I have Completed my examination. I confirm that no materSal matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect..
accounting records were not kept in accordance wilh section 130 of the 2011 Act., or
2. the accounts do not accord wrth the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to
which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be
reached.
Independent Examlner's Details
Name.. MAS Associates Ltd
MAS Associates Ltd
Chartered Certffied Aco)untant8
Spear House
Cobbett Road
Burnts¥ood
Staffoidshire
WS7 3GR
Tel.. 01543 273 830
Address..
NamÈ
£rnmA mq LPHSS
Synaiure
Dale
rnAy 202

COGS PREPARES 4 LIFE CIO
TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD
st
From: 1 October 2024 To:30 September 2025
The Trustees presents rt's report and financial statements for the year ending 30th Septemb8r
2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charty's constitution. the
Charities Act 2011 and'Accounting and Reporting by Charits"es.' Statement of Recommended
Practice applicable to charities prepanng their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting
Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102).
structure Governance and Mana
ement
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation {CIOI which 1$ governed by it's constitution
registered with the Charity Commission on 2111 October. 2013
The CIO advertises for new trustees through Support Staffordshire, facebook and on its website.
Thé role of trustee is open to everyone over the age of 16 years old who has the purpose 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 lo staThJ for another term.
New charity trustees receive a copy of the conslrtution and any amendments made to it along with
a copy of the chanty's latest trustee's annual report and statement of accounts.
The board of trustees, which shall be a minimum of three with a maximum of twelve, administers
the CIO whilst the members have voting rights on decisions that anse through the board.
Membership of the CIO is open lo anyone who is intereste(I In furthering Il's purposes.
All policies are reviewed on a regular basis, and new ones drawn up if necessary.
Ob'ectives and Activitles
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, Bumtwood and
Cannock in such a way that they are ￿tter able to identrfy and help meet their needs and to
participate more fully in society. We specifically lake on adults with leaming disabilities.
The main activities that lake place are leaming gardening skills, woodwork skills, arts & crafis
skills, machine maintenance skills and independent living skill$, which incorporates cooking skills.
Some of these activities then benefit the wider public by offering a local venue to purchase plants,
vegetables, and handmade built classroom to leam Maths. English and IT skills by a specialist
tutor provided by Cherry Orchard Garden Services CIC.
The trustees have paid regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit
and what activilies the charity should undertake.

All the support members at COGS Prepares 4 Life CIO are pemianent volunteers that are
seconded from Cherry Orchard Garden servI￿s CIC and work tirelessly with the service users to
ensLrre actsvities 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 lo the service users. All volunteers have contributed tremendously towards
fund raising by promoting the products the charity sells to Ihe general public.
Reserves Policy
The charity has always aimed lo hold a reserve of 3 months expenditu￿ in unrestricted funds
which would allow it lo continue current activities while consideration is grven to ways in which
additional funds could be raised. The required level of reseNes has ￿en mainlained throughout
the year. The current amount required in reserves is £1500.
Slgnatur8
This report was approved by the trustees, and is signed on their behalf by..
Ngme
Slgn8tu
Dale
27"

Asset & Liability Statement
Cash Assets
RestrieiÈ(E
IIS8C. General Spondry [u￿r￿￿1
HSBC- A*nl (unT•Str￿dI
| Hs6C-Wf￿¥Oth S4kn {UnreilFth4
HSBC. Arts & Cr**wnre*Jh#•Jl
HSBC. Rwryes Fund Iurytstrh
Th• Wat￿MI Lor•ry. Aw4rth ForAI. 12m.
.2024 IRo3trit
Year
6.858
1,805
3.4SJ
4.341
4,J41
2.989
1377
I,J77
554
1.500
J.413
3.413
Foundats￿ (Res￿￿#￿￿)
Arnold CJ4th ¢ommuThty FouTh1￿*)Tr
IR•*iil(*•dl
2P
npo*￿r8U¥￿ltr￿*3￿ulTr1b- oM7-2024
IRoilrlGt•
8.429
The glakenkne FtyJnthUon. 314F2tr2$
Other Monetary Assets
Notfy•
Unre•iilctad
GhlAbJ
Total
Prfrjr Yoar
si#k
Olh•r
Investment Assets
Uniestncted
Totsi
PTQPllrty
Prior Year
thh•r
Flxed Assets
NotQ9
UnroBtrt¢tod
& PA Equipwi I
Compthers & rr
FurnlbJ
MDtorV*h
Liabilities
Notes
U￿r￿Sirlf.tpd
RcstrKtEd
Loans Outstanding
Pen&on p•yment
Prlor Year
HMRC Payments
IndgpgndBnl
Examin¥tson F¢v Due

Signature
These accounts have been approved by the trustees. and are signed on their behalf by..
Natne
SvJnaiur8
Da

Notes to the Accounts
Accounting Policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement
that shows the charity's receipts and payments. a statement that summarises the charity's assets
and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts
prepared in accordance with applicable a¢counb"ng standards present a 'true and fair view and. as
these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with
accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a Irue and
fail view ol the charity's financial activities and slate of affairs.
General fvnds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in
furtherance of the general obJectlV6s of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds
that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations
which are lo be used In accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors,. they include
donations recewed from appeals for specific activrties or projects.
Transactions to Related Partles
There were no transactions related parties during the accounting period.
Movement of Funds
EAponditwe
Unrg•trktlld
HS8C- Gqner41
sp5￿j￿9 IUnrv4kn¢wi
HSBC- Fl•nt $￿e#
IUnr•8iActtt¢}
Hsec. Woll*
1,105
>).24J
22.U•
ts.958
3.453
4.465
3.431
4.341
S￿.A￿&c￿ftl
Iunrestrthttl
$8C- Ro¥rw• PUM
1.377
1.￿0
43.691
33.150
UnMItr￿￿*TC1II
10.701
43.681
33.1SO
Re4rfct•d
20.641
Awards FoiAII- 12-07-
2024 (Restrthi
•kns F￿ndqt
IR*strrtodl
Amdd aark
C¢xrwnunUy FrvJndalon
{Re*grid•ll
8965
5.552
143
e46
5429
ni-0&07-2024
{Resthctedl
5.429

Tho Blak8nKrè
FouDdthn- 31￿>
100
4.28?
R&strtlgd TrA
1S.982
11 6

The Blakemore foundation monies was spent on compost which was purchased TFM
Penkridge. This was u8ed for the plants in the green house and on site. This compost
enables the plugs and seedlings to reach maturitywhich meant the sale ofthese
enabled the charity to fulfil the maximum sales possible.
- Grow Cook Eat-the aim ofthe growcook eat progr8mme is the to teach the service
users. how to grow cook and consume the food. This was achieved by sowing seeds
which taught hand eye coordination plant management skills. compost reddling skills
and time management skills. This also gave the service usef8 a purpose and reason to
checkthe growth ratio per dayoverthe growth cycle of the produce.
Once the produce had gotten to the desired growth. then this was picked and then it
was taken to cook process. The cook process was taught in a waythat enabled them to
maintain their skills to be used in their home environment and in a waythat they could
maintain and practice the skills thatwere taught. Repetition is the aim of the game with
our users. simple recipes and food that theywould eat in their norm81 lives is taught and
not fancy recipes because the food was organicallygrown. there is no fearof pesticides.
poisons. They enjoythe cook process because theycook fortheir fellow seNice users.
As part ofthis process, they are also taught safe and effective use of sharps. Boards and
surfaces. Also, wash and clean as theygo to maintain a safe working environment.
The eat process and the look of satisfaction ofthe fellow service users faces, leads to
immense satisfaction and enjoyment and feelings of happiness that the process has
been worth it. this is whythe grow cook eat proces5 works so weil. The growcook eat
programme has run over manyyears with many different funders and has always been a
success.
Gardening and Horticulture Training- Our main focus is gardening, where the service
users are taught the skills to maintain a garden ready forwhen the time comes to live
independently. This includes growing edibles so they can understand where some of
their food comes from. Teaching them the importance of maintaining their gardens is so
they understand howa messygarden can make their propety appearvacant. attractirig
vandalism and squatters. These skills are also essential iftheywould like a career in
gardening or horticulture.

- Cooking & Catering Skills-The nextfocus is cooking skills. which is essentialwhen
living independently. They are taught how to prepare and cook simple. nutritious and
easy meals that can be replicated at home. often usingthe fruit and vegetables they
have grown onsite which is a far more healthier alternative to them eating microwave
meals. The skills taught are essentialforthose lookingto work in a café/restaur8nt or
catéring.
-woodwork & Carpentryskilis-we also do wood work 8Ctivities, introducing skills
needed for basic maintenance around their property. Skills include the basics and
understandingtools such as screwdrivers. tape measures, hammers, saws 8nd also
painting skills. Our more confident servi¢8 users Can be trained how to operate power
tools. The skills taught can be used in a variety of employment orvolunteering
opportunities.
Machine Maintenance Tr8ining- For our more advanced se￿1¢e users. they 8re given
the opportunityto learn howto repair and maintain our lawnmowers and strimmer's
and to understand how this will save on repairing costs. These skills 8re usefulfor
anyone wantingto work in machine maintenance.
- Arts & Crafts Training-Thls acttvity focu$e8 on those whowould be interested in
starting up their own small business by making homemade items and selling them
either online, fairs or markets.
The tot81 price of all the materials needed to run the project for 1 year are as follows:
Garden Supplies- £3925.83
Woodwork Supplie8- £1873.15
Arts & Crafts- £262.76
Any funds received would be used in all these sep8r8te areas throughout the course of
the year period from 30.06.2024 untll 30.06.2025.

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Receipts and payments accounts
For the period
from
CC16a
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
fund$
Restritted
fund8
Endowment
funds
Totsl lunds
Last ygar
to th•neawt
to th• ￿ea￿l£
A1 Recelpts
PlaTrts & Woodwoth Sokryi
Da SeTrice F£a$
Gardèn Servlee Fées
LiCh1*￿j Lott
Donalkns
The Blakemore F¢urtdal
GillA￿ SmBIi Oon•iKhl S¢heTh)
0￿r Oon8iions
tothe nurvs¢£
to th• nMr••t E
to th• n•4rnGt e
f3,448
2J.421
S,769
342
13,448
23.421
5,769
342
100
10Q
516
516
Sub totalfGn)ss inGome for
AR)
A2 A8$et and Investment $ale$,
laeo tabl•l.
41691
100
43,791
30,73S
Sub total
43,691
100
4a,791
30,735
A3Pa
ments
Planis & Woooknrk Exponse$
Amold Clark C¢mrnutlty Fund
nPower Buaine88 Solthvms
Th* Axis Foundation
The Blakemore F¢undgliÉ
The Nalionai Loitery
Staff W8gewpAYEINFSTIB*neNts
VehIc￿lMaChInel9￿l10jn1 Upkeep
OmC￿￿tIltr￿GITheral Ey
10361
471
471
5,429
143
100
5,551
16.851
2.476
3,562
44.844
100
0.$52
2A76
3.6•2
Sub total
20,434
A4 Asset and Investment
purchases, Isee tsblel
Sub total
Total payments
33,150
11.694
44844
20,434
Net olreeeiptsl(payments)
A6 Transfers between fund$
A6 Cash funds la¥t year end
Cash funds thls year end
10.S41
11,
1,054
10.301
10.541
15,681
25,98
11.594
1,054
CCXX R1 attounls ISSI
1610412026

Section 8 Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
¢ate9orie$
Detsils
Unrestrtcted
funds
fo n•are5t£
Restricted
funds
tr* nearost E
Endowment
funds
to nearÈ¥t £
B1 Cash fund$
HSBC aank
Petty Cash. Plants Fun
11.694
Cash.AJts & FL
122
Pety Cash. Genwal
Eq￿T0p Up (*d
Tolal cash funds
13.335
11,594
Xwrt(¥i
Unrestrictsd
fund$
lo nearest£
Restricted
funds
to nearest£
Endowmenl
funds
to hearestE
Details
B2 Other mon8tary assets
Details
Fund to whlckn
assot bel¢)n
B3 Investment assets
¢ost lopttonal)
CurTentvaluè
Details
Fund to whirh
sset b¥on
Cost {OPtiODall
Curr•rtt valu•
onai
B4 Assets retslned for the
charity's own use
Details
Fund to whSch
relatps
ount du¢
Onal
When dua
BS Liabllities
Si9ned by one or two trustees on
beh&tthktrqdo•ssi
S*Jnatttre
Print Name
Dale of