The Paradise Co-Operative Independent
Examiners Report to the Trustees
For the year ended 31 December 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
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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 NR4 7TJ
27 March 2024
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 Jan 2023 To 31 Dec 2023
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 Volunteering We ran free weekly volunteer sessions throughout the year. Our community joined us to learn new skills in sustainable urban growing and connect with others. 1. Community Growing Volunteer Sessions Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds join us every Sunday to grow and learn together. Regular free workshops enhance educational value for volunteers. 2. Mindful Growing Volunteer Sessions Designed to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing and combat loneliness and isolation by allowing local people to learn new skills in a welcoming and inclusive space. We provide free workshops and activities to support nature connection. Community Food Initiative Our Community Food Initiative has continued to grow this year - producing local, sustainable, organic food with the community, for the community. The food we grow is donated to local community groups and socialenterpriseswhere the produce supports |
| community initiatives. Excess produce is shared with volunteers. Education with local schools Over 2,500 children, from six local primary schools, visited in 2023 to take part in sessions designed to connect children with nature through curriculum-led workshops. Our Head of Education has visited these schools to deliver assemblies focused on biodiversity and provides on-site staff training providing teachers with practical advice on connecting children with nature. We also offered free workshops to just over 150 children in receipt of pupil premium funding with a focus on activities to support nature connection. Wildlife Regeneration We continued to make improvements to our one-acre site with biodiversity in mind, striving to create a sanctuary for nature as well as our community. Activities with our volunteers to enhance biodiversity took place regularly including habitat creation and planting for pollinators. Community Festivals 300 people took part in our 2023 community festivals, raising our profile in the community, connecting attendees with nature and providing opportunities for local people to learn skills in gardening with nature and for biodiversity. |
||
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contribution made by volunteers | Para 1.38 | |
| 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 | Community Education More than 650 individuals, of all ages and backgrounds, have volunteered with us this year. This provided our community with a vital opportunity for environmental education, fostering the development of various skills linked to sustainable food growing and managing land for biodiversity. Over 2,500 children benefited from opportunities to engage in curriculum-led and nature focused workshops, supporting children to develop a lasting connection with nature and enhancing educational objectives. Community wellbeing Our workshops and volunteer sessions support local people to build enduring connections with other members of their community and with nature, promoting good mental wellbeing. Providing opportunities for local people to take part in light gardening activities promotes good physical wellbeing. Volunteers are able to contribute meaningfully to their wider community, both by supporting our projects on site and contributing to our Community Food Initiative. Positive environmental impact Supporting local people to connect with nature encourages future pro-environmental and pro-nature behaviors. We provide our volunteers with the skills they need to grow food using sustainable methods and promote biodiversity in areas beyond our garden. |
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|---|---|---|---|
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
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 courses to cover the costs of operating them and maintaining thefield siteforthewidercommunity. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Cash reserves are held for expected legal fees connected with a planned site tenancy agreement and a contingency fund to ensure contractors can still be paid in the event of a cash flow crunch. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Cash balance at the end of the year was £34,158.81. |
| Reasonsfor holdingzeroreserves | Para1.22 | 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 courses. |
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,royalcharter) |
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)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | 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
| Charityname | TheParadise Co-operative |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | |
| Registered charity number | 1159176 |
| Charity’s principal address | 5 Tranmere Road, London SW18 3QH, UK |
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 | Trustee | |||
| Joanne Osborne | Trustee | |||
| Paul Lickman | Treasurer | |||
| Claire Powell | Trustee | |||
| John Deakins | Trustee | |||
| Rachael Stokes | Trustee | |||
– 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 o | n behalf of others |
|---|---|
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
None |
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
None |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
None |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | ames and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
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| 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)
Paul Lickman
Full name(s) Scott Thompson
Position (eg Secretary, Chair Treasurer
Chair, etc)
Date 2nd March 2024
----- End of picture text -----
The Paradise Co-operative Receipts and Payments Accounts For the Year Ending 31[st ] December 2023
| Incoming Resources Paradise Wild - Holiday clubs Priority Schools Courses Grant Other income Beekeeping Total Incoming Resources Direct Charitable Expenses Accountancy Courses Garden Insurance Plants Running costs Salaries Miscellaneous Schools 2021/2022 Schools 2022/2023 Total Charitable Expenditure Net lncome/(Outgoing) Resources for the year Balances brought forward as 1st January Balances brought forward 31st December |
2023 General Funds 2023 Restricted Funds 2023 Total 2022 Total £ £ £ £ - - - 1,149 26,853 - 26,853 18,925 3,011 3,011 3,383 57,836 57,836 47,933 13,440 - 13,440 - 1,628 - 1,628 - |
|---|---|
| 44,931 57,836 102,767 71,390 |
|
| 578 - 578 551 850 - 850 2,400 - 43,370 43,370 37,335 728 - 728 - - - - - 2,645 895 3,540 2,048 25,009 12,248 37,258 3,151 180 534 714 - - - - 21,620 11,693 - 11,693 - |
|
| 41,685 57,047 98,732 67,105 |
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| 3,247 789 4,036 4,285 |
|
| 9,919 20,204 30,123 30,123 |
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| 13,165 20,993 34,158 30,123 |
The Paradise Co-operative Statements of Assets and Liabilities For the Year Ending 31[st ] December 2022
| Assets retained for the charity's own use Current Assets Bank Current Account Net Current Assets Cash Funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
2023 2022 34,158 30,123 |
|---|---|
| 34,158 30,123 13,165 9,919 20,993 20,204 |
|
| 34,158 30,123 |