Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 Jan 2020 To
31 Dec 2020
Charity name: The Paradise Co-operative
Charity registration number: 1159176
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The charity has two combined objectives 1. To promote and provide for the benefit of the community, facilities for education and other leisure time occupation with the object of improving the quality of life of the public at large. 2. To advance the education of the public at large in agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry protection and improvement of the natural environment, through best environmental practice including the use of no chemicals and minimal use of machinery |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Community Paradise Cooperative had a very promising start to the year, but then had all activities shut down during the first national lockdown. We have not returned to an “open gate” situation since March, but have managed to run some small events within Government Covid-secure guidelines. In January and February 2020 we set up a new gardening planning group. The objective was to include a wider section of the local community in deciding what we grow. We did manage to get some planting done before the lockdown, but once the government rules were issued our trustees made a decision to keep the site closed for the duration of the lockdown. During the summer, once the lockdown ended, we were able to run socially distanced gardening sessions with small numbers of pre-confirmed participants. This allowed us to keep a safe working environment, and to keep basic contact details of attendees should a track and trace situation arise. Thankfully it did not. In early Autumn, but before the introduction of the 3 Tier system |
in October, we harvested the small crop of vegetables and shared them out between our volunteers. Education with local schools Our Education programme, which provides a curriculum of outdoor learning to several local schools, was also severely impacted by lockdowns, Tiers, and school Covid policies. However, we did welcome schools back in Autumn term, under stringent Covid safety measures, and despite all the challenges and restrictions, we hosted almost 800 children in 2020. After school club Our Paradise Wild after school club remains extremely popular with local children (and parents), delivering a range of activities designed to connect children to nature and their local community, while building core strengths in confidence and resilience. Again, we had to cancel activities during the first national lockdown, but as soon as restrictions were relaxed the club resumed its work. As well as running after school events, Paradise Wild ran both Summer and Autumn half-term 3 day camp events. New site search We have continued looking for new sites for development along the same lines as our existing location at Dobbins Field. Discussions have advanced on one particular location, but Covid has slowed the process considerably. Wildlife Regeneration One of the unexpected positives to emerge from Covid closure was an energetic resurgence of nature. Our site has been heavily used by the community, possibly overly so, and with footfall removed, both flora and fauna flourished. Our Director of Operations documented this rewilding over the course of the year, which we shared extensively on social media in the hopes of lifting our volunteers’ spirits. The rewilding of the field also led to a reassessment of how we utilize the site while protecting its wildness, and new policies are in development for 2021. Wildlife Pond Following on from the pond reestablishment in 2019, the great rewilding of 2020 has seen a huge increase in the biodiversity utilizing the pond. We even found a buzzard feather on it. Again, a
| reevaluation of how we can incorporate the pond and its biodiversity within our charitable aims is ongoing, and new policies are being developed. Our desire is to use the pond and surrounding habitat as a key educational focus across all of our activities in 2021 and beyond. Workshops As the pandemic progressed during the year, it has become clear how important it is to people’s mental health to get outdoors. We have a great outdoor site, and during the Autumn we have run a series of Covid-secure outdoor workshops as a pilot scheme. We also constructed infrastructure that allows us to erect a temporary canopy, thus allowing us to offer outdoor workshops and courses during more inclement weather. (More information in Achievements and Performance) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees have read the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Workshops We developed a series of courses around working with nature. This included traditional basket weaving with natural materials (willow, rush, bramble, etc) and green woodworking with hand tools. We have built benches, stools, axe blocks, and other infrastructure required to run these courses, and we have developed a relationship with Wimbledon Common to ensure a steady supply of raw materials. The great explosion of handcrafting and hand tool production during Covid restrictions has led to an upsurge in interest in traditional and heritage skills and crafts. We believe our outdoor space can provide a safe and nurturing environment for people to learn, while spending more time outdoors. We have also planted rush into our wildlife pond, ensuring basket weaving materials come Autumn 2021. Education with local schools 7 local schools participated in the Paradise schools initiative in 2020. 800 pupils attended. After school club Paradise Wild (formerly Wild Child) ran 10 afterschool club sessions in spring term with 13 kids, and 7 sessions in the autumn term with 16 different kids. Holiday Clubs Paradise Wild ran a half term club in February, with 25 different kids over 4 days. There were two holiday session in August, with 3 days per week. 12 kids attended each week. In the October half term there was another holiday club, of 3 days with 14 kids. |
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|---|---|---|---|
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising activities against objectives Para 1.41 set
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The Charity continues to work towards a sustainable operating model through charging for education course to cover the costs of operating them and maintaining the field site for the wider community. School lock-downs have made that very challenging. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Cash reserves are held for planned projects, planned maintenance and to buffer for timing differences in income and expenditure. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Cash balance at the end of the year was £21,052 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The Charity remains dependant on a single field site held under an agreement with the Ministry of Justice and on being able to generate income from school education course. At the time of writing, the pandemic makes delivering education courses extremely difficult. If this continues well in 2021 the charity faces an uncertain future and may have to dramatically reconsider what it offers to manage costs. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g. unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointment by existing trustees |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | The Paradise Co-operative |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1159176 |
| Charity’s principal address | 5 Tranmere Road, SW18 3QH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Thompson | ||||
| Brendan Conway | ||||
| Jonathan Sertin | ||||
| Joanne Osborne | ||||
| Rosemary Scott | ||||
| Andrew Allen | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name n/a
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| n/a | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Type of | Name | Address |
|---|---|---|
| adviser |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
----- Start of picture text -----
Signature(s)
Scott Thompson
Full name(s) Jonathan Sertin
Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Trustee
Chair, etc)
Date
10/01/2021
----- End of picture text -----
The Paradise Co-operative Receipts and Payments Accounts For the Year Ending 31st December 2020
| Incoming Resources Paradise Wild - Holiday clubs LFF Rent Other Donations Donations- Site hire Donation Trustees Donations Schools 2018/2019 Donations Schools 2019/2020 Donations Schools 2020/2021 WAF 2019 Woodworking Workshops Total Incoming Resources Direct Charitable Expenses Car Hire Admin Garden Infrastructure Plants Pond Running costs Salaries Yurt WIid Child Miscellaneous Pensions Schools 2018/19 Schools 2019/20 Schools 2020/21 WAF 2019 Site hire Woodworking Workshops Total Charitable Expenditure Net lncome/(Outgoing) Resources for the year Balances brought forward as 1st January Balances brought forward 31st December |
2020 General Funds 2020 Restricted Funds 2020 Total 2019 Total £ £ £ £ - 7,840 7,840 9,590 4,840 - 4,840 9,420 - - - 2,070 - - - 360 1,628 - 1,628 1,386 - - - 3,620 - 3,300 3,300 15,086 - 2,710 2,710 - - - - 1,560 1,620 - 1,620 - 181 - 181 - |
|---|---|
| 8,269 13,850 22,119 43,091 | |
| - - - 139 1,224 - 1,224 33 26 - 26 243 2,944 - 2,944 2,564 - - - 156 - - - 3,727 1,182 - 1,182 1,130 12,713 - 12,713 6,739 - - - 127 - 5,032 5,032 8,425 - - - 42 - - - 25 - 500 500 2,698 - 6,177 6,177 6,598 - 360 360 - - - 1,383 - - - 198 1,163 - 1,163 - 530 - 530 - |
|
| 19,782 12,070 31,851 34,228 | |
| (11,513) 1,781(9,732) 8,863 |
|
| 24,515 6,349 30,86322,000 | |
| 13,001 8,129 21,130 30,863 |
The Paradise Co-operative Statements of Assets and Liabilities For the Year Ending 31st December 2020
| Assets retained for the charity's own use Generator Pig Infrastructure Small Trailer Stihl Chainsaw Polytunnels Yurt & woodburner Outdoor Craft Shelter Wodworking Tools Current Assets Bank Current Account Bank Deposit Account Cash in Hand Current Liabilities Creditors and accruals Deposits Net Current Assets Cash Funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
2020 2019 320 356 378 420 720 800 648 720 2,520 2,800 4,500 5,000 430 0 200 0 |
|---|---|
| 9,716 10,096 21,052 30,785 - - 78 |
|
| 21,052 30,863 - - - - |
|
| - - 21,052 30,863 13,001 6,349 8,129 24,515 |
|
| 21,130 30,863 |
The Paradise Co-Operative CIO
Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the period ended 31[st] December 2020
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
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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.
Lamon French ACA Triple Bottom Line Accounting Limited The Enterprise Centre University of East Anglia Norwich Norfolk NR4 7TJ
23 March 2021