THE GREEN BACKYARD A Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Annual report for the year ended 31 March 2023
Legal and Administrative information
Chair:
Vanessa Pool
Secretary:
Becky Vince
Trustees:
Mahemuda Arsalani Emma Blades Charlotte Dixon (Council trustee) Harriet O'Shea Oliver Sainsbury (Councillor trustee) Laura Saunders Kathy Shaw Barbara Staton Robbie Staton
Charity number: 1155534
Bankers:
CAF Bank Limited, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ.
Registered office:
Chauffeurs Cottage, St Peter’s Road, Peterborough PE1 1YX.
Independent Examiner:
Triple Bottom Line Accounting, Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ.
Website: www.thegreenbackyard.com
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Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 March 2023
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
Objects and Activities
The Green Backyard is governed by a Constitution which became effective from incorporation as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 30 January 2014. The charitable purposes of The Green Backyard CIO are:
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To develop the capacity and skills of members of socially or economically disadvantaged communities within the community of interest in such ways that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society, including by:
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A. equipping people with skills and competencies which they would not otherwise have;
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B. realising existing skills and developing potential;
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C. promoting people’s self-confidence;
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D. encouraging people to get involved in their community and wider society.
2. To promote sustainable development for the benefit of the public by:
A. the preservation, conservation and the protection of the environment and the prudent use of resources;
B. the promotion of sustainable means of achieving economic growth and regeneration. C. the advancement of education of the public in subjects relating to sustainable development and the protection, enhancement and rehabilitation of the environment and to promote study and research in such subjects provided that the useful results of such study are disseminated to the public at large.
Sustainable development means “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The Green Backyard is a vibrant community growing project in the heart of Peterborough, which was established in 2009 and is run entirely by volunteers. From this urban space we have transformed a once derelict former allotment site into a beautiful and productive community garden that is open to everyone. We are passionate about sustainability and work to raise awareness of environmental issues by involving the community in informative, practical demonstrations and workshops. We work with many different individuals and groups, as well as various schools, businesses and other organisations from across Peterborough and beyond.
Our AGM was held on 11 August 2023.
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Charity governance
Governing document:
The charity is controlled by its governing document, the Constitution as amended 18 March 2018, and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation as defined by the Charities Act 2011.
Risk management:
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
Governance:
Trustees are elected by members at the Annual General Meeting. During the period covered by this report, trustees met monthly to oversee the charity and were responsible for all operating decisions. The charity’s money may only be expended on authorisation of a quorum of trustees, when that decision is recorded in the minutes.
Public Benefit:
The trustees have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The activities described in this report have been undertaken for the public benefit and in pursuit of the charity's objects.
Reserves:
The Green Backyard is a registered charity and as such operates as a not for profit entity. Any accounting surpluses in our year-end accounts ordinarily become a reserve to be used for future investment in the charity’s objects and activities. Reserves are not intended to be expended to support ongoing operating costs of the charity except in exceptional circumstances. As such, it is the charity’s intention to cap the unrestricted reserve at six months operating expenditure, with any further surplus designated to projects that deliver our objects. This level of six months has been set to meet a potential need, such as an unexpected drop in income. This will ensure we can pay essential bills while we secure new funds. We will review this policy annually in line with the production of our accounts.
Financial review:
The charity continues to operate as a going concern. Trustees have ensured legacy grants continue to be correctly directed towards our charitable activities supporting our aims of winning new grants in the future through correct application of funds. We have not won any new grants this year. Furthermore, as anticipated we have not undertaken contracted educational activity this year. Instead we have focused on developing our on-site partnerships to generate more sustainable & consistent income in the future. These are: generating produce to be sold (Project Abundance & Menshed), increasing visitor footfall (Refill Revolution) and site hire (Bike Repair Workshops and Repair Café). A key development has been securing funds held by Paypal which have now been accessed & recovered.
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Purpose of restricted funds
Awards for All
The COVID-19 pandemic led us to decide to re-focus the grant towards developing community activities on site (rather than a café). Notably buying a new refurbished container to host the Sodexo/Peterborough City Council Green Wheel bike repair and refurbishment project. We also ran a fantastic initiative with local artists to produce impactful work for our site to promote our objects. Ongoing work to repair our hub building as a community meeting space will be continued this year.
TRU Postcode
Remaining funds were targeting the delivery of new pathways and raised beds, ensuring improved accessibility for those with disabilities, as well as generally improve year round access. Quotes for this work have so far come in considerably over budget and trustees will determine how to refocus the bid outcomes to achieve its aims within budget.
Co-operative
A new grant was won to continue to expand the work started by our SHED funding, particularly to launch a self-sufficient market garden project on the site, to support local education around sustainable food and growing. In time we expect this to generate income for the charity.
MIND
We were successful in winning a small grant from MIND to establish our Menshed project on site, which is now meeting twice weekly and refurbishing wooden and metal furniture and machinery. They are also using waste materials on site to create new products such as bird boxes and bird tables, which are being sold at our events. This project is now self-sustaining, with remaining grant monies targeting improving the container to be water tight & warm during colder months.
Chair’s Report
Approved by order of the board of trustees and signed on its behalf by:
Vanessa Pool Chair of Trustees Date 11 August 2023
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The Green Backyard CIO
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the period ended 31[st] March 2023
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act, and
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to state 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 Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, with the seeking of explanations from the 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 accounts 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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Peter Ellington FAIA Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited The Enterprise Centre University of East Anglia Norwich Norfolk NR4 7TJ
16 June 2023
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The Green Backyard CIO
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ending 31.03.2023
| Notes Receipts: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable Activities 3 Other trading activities 4 Total Payments: Raising Funds 5 Charitable Activities 6 Support, administration and governance 7 Total Net receipts/(payments) Cash funds at 31 March b/f 5 Cash funds at 31 March c/f 5 |
31 March 2023 Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ 1,148 1,148 994 994 1,380 1,380 3,522 - 3,522 48 48 1,138 2,375 3,512 7,105 7,105 8,291 2,375 10,665 (4,769) (2,375) (7,144) 7,696 4,700 9,028 21,424 2,927 4,700 6,653 14,280 |
31 March 2022 Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds Total funds £ £ £ £ 4,337 105 4,442 16,334 16,334 1,064 1,064 |
|---|---|---|
| 21,735 - - 21,840 |
||
| 1,200 1,200 8,025 3,895 11,920 8,545 8,545 |
||
| 17,770 - 3,895 21,665 |
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| 3,965 (3,895) 176 3,731 4,700 12,923 21,354 |
||
| 7,696 4,700 9,028 21,424 |
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The Green Backyard CIO
Statement of Financial Position for the year ending 31.03.2023
| Section B Balance sheet Cash Funds Cash at bank & in hand Total Charitable Funds |
31 March 2023 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total £ £ £ 6,972 7,308 14,280 6,972 7,308 14,280 6,972 7,308 14,280 |
31 March 2022 Unrestricted funds Restricted income funds Total £ £ £ 12,015 9,133 21,148 |
|---|---|---|
| 12,015 9,133 21,148 |
||
| 12,015 9,133 21,148 |
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The Green Backyard CIO
Notes
1) Receipts and Payment accounts
Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the organisation during the financial year. In this context "cash" includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due.
2) Donations, grants and legacies
| Co-operative HealthXchange MIND Donations Gift Aid |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ - - - - - - 1,052 1,052 97 97 1,148 - 1,148 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 1,690 1,690 (2,085) (2,085) 500 500 4,147 4,147 190 190 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,337 105 4,442 |
3) Income from charitable activities
| CLT Thrive Site activities Event income |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ - - - - - - 994 994 994 - 994 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 12,480 12,480 2,000 2,000 264 264 1,590 1,590 |
|---|---|---|
| 16,334 - 16,334 |
4) Other income
| Site hire Shop donation |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ 380 380 1,000 1,000 1,380 - 1,380 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 1,064 1,064 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,064 - 1,064 |
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5) Raising Funds
| Events Marketing & website |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ 30 30 18 18 48 - 48 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 1,200 1,200 |
|---|---|---|
| 1,200 - 1,200 |
6) Direct Charitable Expenditure
| Charitable Activities CLT (contract) Thrive (contract) Awards for All Co-operative SHED TRU Postcode MIND |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ 1,160 1,160 - - - - 673 673 1,219 1,219 263 263 - - 220 220 1,160 2,375 3,535 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 294 294 6,281 6,281 1,450 1,450 1,211 1,211 488 488 889 889 1,057 1,057 251 251 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,025 3,896 11,921 |
7) Charity Management and Administration
| Staff and Administration Costs Administration Costs Governance Costs Purchases and direct costs |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2023 Total funds £ £ £ - - 5,072 5,072 1,219 1,219 814 814 7,105 - 7,105 |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds 2022 Total funds £ £ £ 214 214 5,485 5,485 1,037 1,037 1,809 1,809 |
|---|---|---|
| 8,545 - 8,545 |
8) Funds
| Balance | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transfers | at 31 | |||||
| Balance at 1 | Incoming | Resources | between | March | ||
| April 2022 | Resources | Expended | funds | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Restricted Funds: | ||||||
| Awards for All | 831 | - | 673 | 158 | ||
| Thriving communities | 550 | - | 550 |
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| Co-operative SHED TRU Postcode Mind HealthXChange Total Restricted Funds Unrestricted funds: Brought forward Total Unrestricted Funds Total Funds |
1,202 - 1,219 - 17 256 - 263 - 7 6,869 - - 6,869 249 - 220 29 (275) - - -275 |
|---|---|
| 9,682 - 2,375 - 7,308 |
|
| 12,016 | |
| 12,016 3,522 8,313 - 7,224 |
|
| 21,698 3,522 10,688 - 14,532 |
6) Related party transactions and Trustees' expenses and remuneration
The Trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (2023: £nil).
No Trustees, or person related or connected by business to them has received any payments or other benefits from the charity during the year.
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