Trustees’ Annual Report to the Charity Commission 2024-25
Premises move
In mid-2024 we were given notice to quit by the end of 2026 by our landlords, Milton Keynes Community Foundation, who are planning to redevelop for full commercial letting the buildings on the block of units we presently occupy.
Our landlords are proposing a yet-to-be-developed community hub in South Milton Keynes, to house us and other voluntary and charitable organisations currently within the Burners Lane site. Assuming that we can continue with MKCF as landlords, we have been informed that this will come with increased costs on base rent. We are not yet committed to the Granby location and will continue to seek alternative premises that might better meet our needs and financial situation.
Community Projects
An increase in skilled volunteers has allowed us to take on many more community projects, including some that have helped with larger revenue generation.
The largest project brought to us was an obstacle course for a schools robotics competition run by local company, Niftylift, who make mobile elevated work platforms. This brought together the skills of just about every area of the Shed from woodwork, metalwork, painting/finishing and electronics, using a variety of tools from woodworking, 3D printing through to laser cut parts and a custom designed electronic timing system.
Membership and outreach
Our membership has continued to grow and thrive, with people from a huge range of backgrounds and with a diversity of skills and interests coming to join us. The paid-up membership now stands at over 150.
Our renewed approach to Health and Safety, along with equipment accreditation for users, has continued to evolve, to the benefit of all. Manuals have been updated and processes documented.
Following on from the Milton Keynes Heritage Open Days held last year, we have once again opened our doors during September to the public, with over two hundred visitors. This has attracted some new members, but also raised awareness in local communities about the Shed, and the Shed movement in general.
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Management and Finance
The Management Committee remains stable but we have co-opted some additional members to ensure a better representation.
Our finances remain in good health, and we have started work on building up a reserve, as any premises move will come with many one-off costs. The increase in paid projects, along with an uplift in donations, should enable us to continue to grow our war chest.
Our energy costs have stabilised and have even come down a little, but not to the level they were at a few years ago. Once again we are trying to keep the social and crafts areas heated
Sponsors
We continue to have support from Wickes, Jewsons, MKM Building Supplies, Bellway Homes and B&Q for materials and equipment. Trend Tool Technology very generously donated a replacement table router. Other help was gratefully received when our old internal cold-water tank failed and a new tank donated by local company Plumbing & Gas Solutions, meant no financial outlay.
We are delighted also to have entered into a long term sponsorship and partnership arrangement with The WD40 Company, who have their UK HQ in Milton Keynes.
We remain grateful to our landlords, the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, for continuing to subsidise the rent on the building.
Conclusion
While we look forward to the future, we were sorry to hear of the passing of Peter Gallagher. Peter was instrumental in getting the Shed off the ground and contributed hugely to its running between 2012 and 2022.
The Shed will continue to develop its mission to provide meaningful recreation and companionship to its members, and we will seek to build on our relationships with the groups and communities that we support, and which support us.
Michael West – Chair
Nigel Pigott – Secretary
Henry Suppiah – Treasurer 2022-25
January 2026
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| Men in Sheds MK | Men in Sheds MK | 1156425 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||
| For the | Period start date | Period end date | |||
| period | To | ||||
| from | 01/04/2024 | 31/03/2025 |
Section A Receipts and payments
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Total funds | Last year | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | ||||||
| Receipts | |||||||||
| Donations | £10,506.60 | £10,506.60 | £9,640.66 | ||||||
| Local Giving | £29,030.19 | £29,030.19 | £24,820.60 | ||||||
| Matched Funding | £965.00 | £965.00 | £2,520.80 | ||||||
| Grant Funding | £650.00 | £650.00 | £4,228.00 | ||||||
| Sale of Goods | £15,772.98 | £15,772.98 | £5,222.17 | ||||||
| Other | £21.20 | £21.20 | £583.50 | ||||||
| Interest | |||||||||
| Sub total (Gross income for AR) | £56,945.97 | £56,945.97 | £47,015.73 | ||||||
| Asset and investment sales Interest £100.05 £100.05 £79.50 Sale of investments Sub total -£100.05 -£100.05 -£79.50 Total receipts £56,845.92 £56,845.92 £46,936.23 ~~SSS~~ |
|||||||||
| Payments | |||||||||
| Rent | £8,368.00 | £8,368.00 | £10,336.87 | ||||||
| Insurance | £2,492.76 | £2,492.76 | £515.52 | ||||||
| Power | £3,712.66 | £3,712.66 | £4,153.74 | ||||||
| Telephone, Internet | £1,317.32 | £1,317.32 | £1,351.99 | ||||||
| Water | £519.96 | £519.96 | £508.00 | ||||||
| Health and Saftey | £1,461.16 | £1,461.16 | £1,300.00 | ||||||
| Consumables | £3,494.32 | £3,494.32 | £2,465.90 | ||||||
| Fixtures | £326.40 | £326.40 | £4,254.24 | ||||||
| Waste disposal | £460.07 | £460.07 | £816.42 | ||||||
| Other | £47,313.88 | £47,313.88 | £2,605.78 | ||||||
| Sub total | 69,466.53 | £69,466.53 | £28,308.46 | ||||||
| Asset and investmentpurchases | |||||||||
| Hand and power Tools (>£25) £36.72 £36.72 Workshop machines £1,173.14 £1,173.14 £300.00 Sub total £1,209.86 £1,209.86 £300.00 Total payments £70,676.39 £70,676.39 £28,608.46 ~~————~~ |
|||||||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) -£13,830.47 -£13,830.47 £18,327.77 Transfers between funds Cash funds last year end £50,804.91 £50,804.91 £32,318.14 Cash funds this year end £36,974.44 £36,974.44 £50,804.91 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period ~~=~~ ~~== ——~~ |
|||||||||
| ~~=~~ | Categories Cash funds Current account Deposit account Cash Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) ~~=~~ |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ £36,974.44 £51,279.14 £88,253.58 |
Restricted funds to nearest £ OK ~~=~~ |
~~=~~ | Total current Period to the nearest £ £36,974.44 £51,279.14 £88,253.58 ~~=~~ |
~~=~~ | Last year to the nearest £ £50,804.91 £6,132.38 £56,937.29 ~~=~~ |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees Charity Name John Robert Baucutt Charity no On accounts for the year 31 March 2025 (if any) 1156425 ended Set out on pages Given Below the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .
Responsibilities and basis As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in of report accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’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 section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the statement examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) 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
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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.
- Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.
Signed: Date: 24/ 09/2025 ~~es oe~~ Name: John Robert Baucutt ~~————_ (ee~~
Oct 2018
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IER
Relevant professional Fellow of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (FICB) qualification(s) or body (if Corporate Member of the Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD) any): ~~a~~
Address: 6 Grace Way, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 5AA. ~~a—~~ Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Section B Disclosure
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
Oct 2018
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IER
IER Oct 2018