Company registration number: CE002418 Charity registration number- 1159485 Mount Pleasant School Farm Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Dember 2024 Ballards LLP Oakmoore Court 11 C Kingswood Road Hampton Lovett Dro1ICh Worcestershire WR9 OQH
Mount Pleasant School Farm Contents Reference and Administrative Details Trustees. Report 2to4 Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities Independent Examinerfs Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financial Statements 9t014
Mount Pleasant School Farm Reference and Administrative Details Trustees Mrs C M Salmon Mrs C H Compton Mr C B Compton Mr B I Compton Mrs J E Cobain Mr F J Salmon Mrs M Cobain Principal Office Icknield Street Kings Norton Birmingham B38 OEH Company Registration Number CE002418 Charity Registration Number 1159485 Independent Examiner Ballards LLP Oakmoore Court 11 C Kingswood Road Hampton Lovett Droitwich Worcestershire WR9 OQH Page 1
Mount Pleasant School Farm Trustees. Report The trustees, who are directors for the purposes of company law, present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2024. Objectives and activities Objects and aims Mount Pleasant CIO was created to enable the school farm to run independently of the Worgan Trust. The Study Centre at Mount Pleasant Farm provides facilities for primary and infant school children from a wide area, but mostly from the Birmingham Education Authority, to visit a working farm with a range of livestock. Visits are arranged daily throughout the school year and are conducted by the Head of Centre. Page 2
Mount Pleasant School Farm Trustees. Report Significant activities Since Mount Pleasant School Farm became independent from Birmingham City Council's Outdoor Learning Service in July 2014 and up to the end of December 2024, some 19,450 children and young people have visited the Farm. The centre has definitely proved itself to be adaptable for a class of any age or ability. All the school visitors gain the experience of time spent on a working dairy farm, with all the smells and noises which cannot be conveyed in a book or on a screen. Every visit is tsilored to the specific curriculum requirements and age of pupils. From farm to fork is now a very popular theme. The School Farm is managed by Nina Hatch who has been Head of Centre here and previously at Chapman's Hill, for 36 years. She is supported in the teaching by Nicky Jennings. In November 2019 Nina received a BayerlLEAF Education Lifetime Achievement award for her contribution to Farming and Countryside Education. Child safegLFarding has become a risk assessment concern in the last few years. We provide a detailed risk assessment for activities at the farm and reassurance to teachers about this important issue. Both Nicky and Nina have completed an online safeguarding course. Coach hire prices continue to rise significantly every year which is also a worry when schools know that both their own budget and parents, finances are limited. Schools with access to minibuses are at an advantage. We are encouraging some nearby schools, particularty those for younger age children, to consider doing o half day visits which redUS their coach hire cost. Consequently, visit numbers have not returned to pre-covid levels. As we only ever have one school group on the farm at a time the School Farm remains attractive to teachers of younger Foundation and Key Stage 1 pupils. 550/0 of visits during this year have again been for 3 - 7 year old children. The number of Special School and other non mainstream school groups has also risen to 13 /0. Many visits are still from the Birmingham area, but increasingly our proximity to the motorway network around Birmingham has encouraged schools in Solihull, Dudley, Sandwell, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. Our presence on social media we hope is attracting younger teachers to think about using our facility. It is noticeable that nearfy all booking enquiries are now made by email. The classroom continues to be a regular meeting space for the local Wythall Young Farmers Club. To support them and other Worcestershire Young Farmers, we have again provided sponsorship and a large banner for their 2024 County Show as well as the autumn ploughing match. The introducb'on of robots (children love robots) to assist in running the cattle shed has meant that schools can now view 21st century farming techniques. However, they still also have traditional firsthand experience by feeding sheep and chickens and collecting eggs. During 2025 some robot milking machines are also going to be installed. During the summer break the sheep were temporarily moved off the farm so that fencing could be replaced around the perimeter of their grazing area. Our original 2009 fencing had reached the end of its effective life. Although Avian Flu was not such a problem in 2024 as in the last few years our chicken pens with their new blockwork housing and small mesh wiring mean that we are compliant with any future Defra Avian Flu restrictions. The website v4vM.mountpleasantschoolfami.com continues to be an essential marketing tool. A presence on Google searches plus membership of Farms for Schools, the School Farm Network, and close links with LEAF Education, also give additional exposure through other databases. Public benefit The activities of the CIO and its, benefit to the public are detailed above. The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Page 3
Mount Pleasant School Farm Trustees. Report Financial review The trustees are monitoring the cashflows of the Charity and at the end of the year has £7,234 in cash available, which they expect to be sufficient to see the charity through the year. Policy on reserves The CIO is gradually building up reserves and actively looking for further funding. Structure, governance and management Nature of governing document The charity has adopted the constitution of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was registered as such with the Charity Commission on 4 December 2014. Recruitment and appointment of trustees The recruitment and appointment of new trustees is at the discretion of the existing trustees. Risk management The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the CIO is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. Regular meetings are held with the Head of Centre and the farmer during which risks to the CIO and its work are assessed and action taken where necessary. A full range of School Policies are held and reviewed annually. 14 Apr 2025 The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on behalf by: and signed on its Mrs C H Compton Trustee Page 4
Mount Pleasant School Farm Statement of Trustees. Responsibilities The trustees (who are also the directors of Mount Pleasant School Farm for the purposes of company lawl are responsible for preparing the trustees. report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the trustees to ppare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently- obseNe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP., make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements., and prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detects'on of fraud and other irregularities. 14 Apr 2025 Approved by the trustees of the charity on and signed on its behalf by.. Mrs C H Compton Trustee Page 5
Mount Pleasant School Fami Independont Examlnofs Report to the trugt••s of Mount Pl•aMnt School Fami I report on Ihe accounts of the charlty for Ihe year ended 31 De¢embor 2024 vthlch are Set out on pages 7 to 15. Respoctlve ro8ponglbllltle8 Ot truste0$ and examlner The trustees (who are also the dlrectors of the company for lh8 purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparallon of th8 accounts. The trustees conslder that an audi118 rt requlred for thls year under section 144(2) of the Charftles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independenl examlnatk)n Is needed. Having satisfled myself that the charlty Is not subject lo audlt under company law and Is allglble for Independent examlnatlon,1118 my responsibility to: examlne the accounts under Sectlon 145 of tho 2011 Act: to follow the procedur08 lald down In lh8 general Dlrections g5ven by the Charlty Commlsslon under Sectlon 145{5)(b) of the 2011 Art; and to 8tste %thother partlcular matters hav8 come to my att8nlk)n. Bas18 of Independont oxamlnefs roPQrt My examination was carried out In accordance wlth the general DlrectSons given by Ihe Charlty Commlsslon. An examln8tlon Indudes a revlew of the accounting records kept by the charty and comparfson of the accounts presented wlth thos8 re(x)rds. It also includes conslderafjon of any unusual Items or dlsGlosures In th¢ a¢counts, and seeklng explan8tton8 from you as trustees concarnlng any such matters. The procedure8 undertaken do not provkle all th8 evld8n(x that would b8 requlr8d In an audft and con8equently no opinion is glven as to whether the accounts present a ruo and falr vlthrf and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters Sat out In the $t8t•menl below. Ind•p•nd•nt •xamln•rf• 8tatMi0nt In connactlon with my axamlnallon, no mattar has coma to my attentlon: (1) whlch glvas mè raasonablo ¢ausa to ballava thal In any matsrlal respect Ihe requlrements: . lo kaep accountlng rfjrds In arxordanco wlth secllon 386 of the Companle8 Act 2006: and to prepare accounts whlch accord wllh the accountlng re(x)rds, comply wfth the accountlng requirements of se¢tion 396 of the Companies A¢t 2006 and wlth the methods and principles of the statement of Racommended Practlc*: Accountlng and Reportlng by Charltle8 have nol been mat; or (2) to whlch, In my opink)n, attenfjon shoukl bo drawn Sn ordar to onabla a proper underslandlng of tha accounts to reached. ark Skellum Ballards LLP Oakmoore Court 11C Klngswood Road Hampton Lovett Droltwlch Worcestershlre WR9 OQH Page 6
Mount Pleasant School Farm Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 Total Total Unrestricted Unrestricted funds funds 2024 2023 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Investment income 17,771 15,195 120 42,180 16,581 149 Total Income 33,086 58,910 Expenditure on: Charitable activities (43,056) (65,025) Total Expenditure (43,056) {65,025) Net expenditure (9,970) (6,115) Net movement in funds (9,970) (6,115) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 14,358 20,473 Total funds carried forward 4,388 14,358 All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above fvio periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 8. Page 7
Mount Pleasant School Farm (Registration number: CE002418) Balance Sheet as at 31 Decernber 2024 2024 2023 Note Current assets Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 404 7,234 15 18,782 7,638 18,797 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 3,250 4,439 Net assets 4,388 14,358 Funds of the charity: Unrestricted income funds Unrestricted funds 4,388 14,358 Total funds 4,388 14,358 14trlapTh2Q2& statements on pages 7 to 15 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on and signed on their behalf by- Mrs C H Compton Trustee Page 8
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 1 Accounting policies Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otheiSe stated. Statement of compliance The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. Basis of preparation Mount Pleasant School Farm meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otheiSe stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. Going concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity. Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement The charity opted to early adopt Bulletin 1 published on 2 February 2016 and have therefore not included a cash flow statement in these financial statements. Incorne and endowments All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of the income receivable can be measured reliably. Grants receivable Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released. Investment income Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due. Page 9
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 Expenditure All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asseys use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs. Charitable activities Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Taxation The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. Trade creditors Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or ServIS that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least e1ve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Fund structure Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees's discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Page 10
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 2 Income from donations and legacies Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 General Grants, including capital grants. Grants from other charities 17,771 17,771 42,180 17,771 17,771 42,180 3 Income from charitable activities Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 General Education and training 15,195 15,195 16,581 4 Investment income Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 General Interest receivable and similar income- Interest receivable on bank deposits 120 120 149 5 Expenditure on charitable activities Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Total 2023 General Note Education and training Support costs 38,183 4,873 38,183 4,873 58,676 6,349 43,056 43,056 65,025 Page11
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 6 Debtors 2024 2023 Trade debtors Prepayments 15 404 404 15 7 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 Trade creditors Accruals 1.050 2,200 2,289 2,150 3,250 4,439 Page 12
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 8 Funds Balance at 31 December 2024 Balance at 1 January 2024 Incoming resources Resources expended Unrestricted funds General General 14,358 33,086 43,056 4,388 Balance at 31 December 2023 Balance at 1 January 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended Unrestricted funds General General 20,473 58,910 65,025 14,358 9 Analysis of net funds At31 December 2024 At 1 January 2024 Cash flow Cash at bank and in hand 18,782 {11,548) 7,234 Net debt 18,782 (11 ,548) 7,234 10 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds General Total funds Current assets Current liabi lities 7,638 3,250 7,638 3,250) Total net assets 4,388 4,388 Page 13
Mount Pleasant School Farm Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 11 Taxation The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation. 12 Trustees remuneration and expenses No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have reiVed any remuneration from the charity during the year. No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year. 13 Related party transactions There were no related party transactions in the year. Page 14
Mount Pleasant School Farm Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 Total 2024 Total 2023 Income and Endowments from: Grants Teaching sessions SeNices provision Investment income 17,771 14,150 1,045 120 42,180 15,390 1,191 149 Total Income 33,086 58,910 Expenditure on: Staffing and teaching costs Animal feed and husbandry Light heat water and rates Telephone and broadband Office expenses Website and advertising Propety maintenance Professional fees Insuran Bank charges Accountancy and legal fees (17,376) (2,607) (1,884) (588) (703) {404) (16,316) (19,634) (2,960) (1,512) {553) (1,624) {479) (34,570) (660) (623) (70) (2,340) {663) (65) (2,450) Total Expenditure (43,056) {65,025) Net expenditure (9,970) (6,115) Net movement in funds (9,970) (6,115) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 14,358 20,473 Total funds carried forward 4,388 14,358 Page 15 SuiteFiles OouJTnent