Forest of Hearts Annual Report
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2024
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forestofhearts.com
Table of Contents
we1a4 SS 3 Introduction oma NSSNSS= : Our Year in 4 Numbers 12 Green Therapy Stratford 5 13 Talking Therapy Hospital 6 Nature Reserve 14 Rosalind Court 7 Tree Planting 15 Gardening Club 8 Volunteers 16 Harvest Share 9 Corporate Events 17 Funders 10 Secret Garden 18 Financials Tudor Grange 11 19 Acknowledgements Academy
Introduction
. Pee| It’s been another successful and impactful year fulfilling “ff .fea] a. ao oY a 4, aeae. en fi) aS AS . ‘J Sta ae : our aims to create places of purpose, build biodiversity, Ls wt Pe ag ae ei pyle b ' a Sh bs Po aes F a 5 improve mental health and wellbeing and make a a emer difference to protect the environment. a | ee ie Mf) J } Ss Pa rd This year we’ve created community gardens and green | . fs / i. : . eae spaces, delivered more Green Therapy sessions than ever, supported local individuals with mental health issues and | g : ) ran a multitude of environmental corporate team building re yf | i / Pa I and volunteering events. | ‘ ” hack h rs — : ir, ipa eek ce ~~i ‘ 4 . Pe gle z~~ utr FOREST OF HEARTS “4 ‘ ‘ : That : ae 3 ‘ 4 Trustee Annual Report 2024 ‘ aya ike leare aarp att: tte es a one 5 »! . . ; A Fan nh pe eee a Pore s
FOREST OF HEARTS OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS 189 2,668 Volunteers Volunteer hours I;Iliil; Forest Hearts 2,024 320 Trees planted Hours of Green Therapy Community gardens created 12 800 kg Barn Owl chicks Corporate Impact Days Fruit & veg grown. picked & donated 400kg Thank you for Supporting our charity in 2024 Green Therapy groups Litter collected & recycled vvo•yv 2024 FOREST OF HEARTS Trustee Annual Report 2024
Stratford Hospital Garden of Wellbeing
We created a new garden area to provide a peaceful and healing environment for patients and NHS staff to help improve wellbeing. Other aims were to build the biodiversity of the area and create a green space to be enjoyed by the local community.
We officially opened the garden to all of the above beneficiaries during an open day which consisted of garden tours, refreshments and music. It’s been fantastic to see the garden being used and enjoyed by so many throughout the year since it’s creation.
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Nature Reserve
Our dedication to building biodiversity and nurturing nature continues at our nature reserve. We were delighted to welcome three new barn owl chicks to our barn owl box, adding to the charm of our sanctuary. The swallows once again returned to their nest, a testament to the safe haven we are aiming to provide. Our orchard area is thriving, bursting with new growth, and promising a bountiful future. In our ongoing commitment to enhance the reserve, we invested in hard landscaping to improve the facilities for both corporate and community use, ensuring that our space remains inviting and functional for all who visit.
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Tree Planting
During this year's tree planting season, we successfully planted 2,024 trees at our nature reserve in Snitterfield, just outside Stratford-uponAvon.
We planted a variety of fruit trees in the orchard area, a mixed hedgerow around the perimeter of the five-acre plot, and majestic oak trees, enhancing the landscape's biodiversity, promoting local wildlife habitats, and creating a sustainable and beautiful environment for future generations.
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Volunteers
With the invaluable contribution of 189 volunteers, who collectively gave 2,668 hours to our charity, we've seen a tremendous positive impact, enhancing our projects and strengthening our community bonds in profound ways.
We sincerely thank all our volunteers for their time, effort, and expertise throughout the year.
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Corporate Events
This year, 8 companies supported us by involving their staff in 12 of our corporate team-building and volunteering days, aligning with their CSR commitments, ESG strategies, and volunteer
programmes.
Their collective efforts have significantly advanced our projects, fostering a stronger community and more sustainable environment. We deeply appreciate their commitment and dedication.
FOREST OF HEARTS 9 Trustee Annual Report 2024
Bishopton Community Centre Secret Garden
We designed and created “The Secret Garden” as an accessible, lowmaintenance area, perfect for up to 20 visitors at the community centre to use as an inviting outdoor meeting space.
After visiting the site at the beginning of the year to measure up and plan, we put our designs together to incorporate a smart seating area with an accessible pathway, a retaining wall, raised bed planters, wildflower planting and beautiful biodiverse habitats.
After creating the garden, we enjoyed an open day and set up a Green Therapy group at the location with members of the local community to help maintain the garden and find joy in nurturing plants.
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Tudor Grange Academy Growing Hub
This gardening endeavour brought together the Forest of Hearts team, volunteers from BAM Construction, Community Governors and Tudor Grange Primary Academy teachers and students.
Over two productive days, we laid the groundwork for a vibrant vegetable garden right within the school grounds. The aim was to create a growing hub to get children interested in growing vegetables and learning about sustainability. Through hands-on experience and learning the whole growing process, they cultivated crops for the school kitchen and integrate harvesting crops and cooking them into their design and tech classes.
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Green Therapy
We delivered 320 hours of Green Therapy this year, marking the beginning of our service expansion to more locations across Warwickshire to include Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital, Bishopton Community Centre, Mary Anne Evans Hospice, Stratford Train Station, Lavender Meadows and Rosalind Court.
Our Green Therapy programme has significantly enhanced individuals' mental health and wellbeing, provided valuable horticultural and environmental education, enhanced new skill development, facilitated meaningful connections, and empowered participants to contribute to their communities.
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Talking Therapy
We worked in partnership with Coventry, Warwickshire, and Solihull NHS Talking Therapies to signpost and support people in the local community to access and make referrals to their free NHS service to help individuals with mild, moderate and severe symptoms of anxiety and low mood.
We promoted the Talking Therapies service through online platforms, engaging events, interactive workshops, and personalised 1-1 coaching sessions to enhance mental health and provide essential support for those seeking valuable help.
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Rosalind Court
As part of a new initiative, we added raised bed planters made from recycled railway sleepers at Rosalind Court in Stratford-upon-Avon. This project marked the beginning of a new Green Therapy group, bringing together staff and residents in a shared effort to create and maintain garden spaces and community spirit.
These planters provided a sturdy and rustic charm, perfect for growing a variety of plants, from vibrant flowers to pollinator friendly plants to attract bees and butterflies. The use of recycled materials also very much aligned with our commitment to sustainability and innovation in gardening practices.
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Gardening Club
We continued our Green Therapy Gardening Club at Mary Ann Evans Hospice in Nuneaton to keep offering support to local residents who have experienced bereavement.
This year the group created a sensory garden, grew vegetables, planted and maintained the other garden areas, crafted bug and bee hotels, made a mosaic table and expertly weaved willow bird feeders.
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Harvest Share
This year, we successfully grew and harvested vegetables, which were donated to local community groups and Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital Café. These contributions provided fresh, nutritious food to those in need, supported local health initiatives, and created a sense of community wellbeing and sustainability.
We also visited local orchards to pick apples and other fruits, which we donated to care homes in the community, helping to reduce food waste and provide fresh produce to residents.
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Funders
Thank you to the following funders who have helped us to continue to do what we do.
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The Simon Rivett Carnac Trust
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The Social Investment Bank
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Heart of England CF Postcode Lottery Trust
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Aston University – Social Economic Growth Programme – Grow Grant Rethink (Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust) Warwickshire County Council Green Shoots
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NHS Coventry & Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Aviva Community Fund
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Financials
FOREST OF HEARTS FINANCIAL REVIEW
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE CHARITY’S POLICY ON RESERVES THE POLICY FOR HOLDING RESERVES IS TO HAVE AT LEAST 6 MONTHS RUNNING COSTS IN RESERVE
DETAILS OF ANY FUNDS MATERIALLY IN DEFICIT : N/A
THE CHARITY IS IN A STRONG POSITION WITH CASH IN THE BANK WHICH IS NEEDED TO DELIVER THE VARIOUS PROJECTS. WE ARE IN OUR EARLY YEARS AND ARE TAKING A PRUDENT VIEW OF OUR FINANCES.
INCOME: £183,225 EXPENDITURE: £151,091 CASH FUNDS: £109,068
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Acknowledgements
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our funders, donors, volunteers, corporate supporters, team members, and trustees for their invaluable contributions and unwavering support, which have made this year a remarkable success. To read more about our projects visit: forestofhearts.com/blog
Contact
Carole Longden Forest of Hearts 15 Ensign, Westwood Way Coventry CV4 8JA 07774 424404 carolelongden@forestofhearts.com
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Forest of Hearts 1160589 Receipts and payments accounts For the period 01/11/2023 31/10/2024 To from
CC16a
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Last year funds funds funds to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest£ to the nearest£ A1 Receipts Donations and Membership 2,488 - - 2,488 11,021 Interest 489 - - 489 359 Grants 49,556 - - 49,556 17,000 Income contract 114,590 - - 114,590 44,940 income events 16,072 - - 16,072 18,551 income hire - income general 30 - - 30 - income social investment - Sub total (Gross income forAR) 183,225 - - 183,225 91,871 A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). === - === - Sub total - Total receipts 183,225 - - 183,225 91,871 ————— A3 Payments Expenses &Maintenance 102 - - 102 1,483 cost of goods Advertising 41,374 - - 41,374 28,003 Salaries Travel Training 632 - - 632 800 Stationery & Rent 55,612 - - 55,612 19,534 Telephone insurance IT 245 - - 245 401 Costs Professional fee 210 - - 210 255 Motor Expenses 2 - - 2 1,017 Subscriptions 170 170 99 Subcontractors Donations 1,110 - - 1,110 781 Rates Light, Power, & 4,361 - - 4,361 3,274 Heating Bank Charges 1,252 - - 1,252 35 1,697 - - 1,697 1,720 485 - - 485 426 30,021 - - 30,021 57,462 26 - - 26 426 157 99 689 - - 689 792 Sub total 138,242 - - 137,986 116,508 A4 Asset and investment Van 8,000 - - - - Office EquipmentBuilding ImprovementsComputer EquipmentPlant and machinery 4,849- - ------4,849 - -- 4,696914-- Sub total 12,849 - - 4,849 5,610 Total payments 151,091 - - 151,091 122,119 es Net of receipts/(payments) 32,134 - - 32,134 - 30,248 A5 Transfers between funds - - - - A6 Cash funds last year end 76,934 - - 76,934 107,182 Cash funds this year end 109,068 - - 109,068 76,934 —S=S= == CCXX R1 accounts (SS) 1 25/07/2025
25/07/2025
Doc ID: 7ce9bd9934f79e232f3f89d867b64c2cbaac1344
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
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| Categories | Details | to nearest £ |
| Cash at Bank | to nearest£ to nearest £ |
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| B1 Cash funds | 117,696 361 7,524 744 - - - - - - - - - OK - OK - 109,068 Carole Longden private Funds Barclaycard PayPal Total cash funds (agree balanceswithreceiptsandpayments === |
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| account(s)) | OK | |
| Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
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| funds funds funds |
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| Details | to nearest £ to nearest £ to nearest £ |
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| B2 Other monetary assets | - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - =—__= |
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| Details | Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) Current value (optional) |
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| B3 Investment assets | Details Fund to which asset belongs - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) = = |
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| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
12,150 14,045 2,701 170 399 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Van Building Improvements Plant and Machinery Office equipment Computer Equipment (laptop) Unrestrcited Unrestrcited Unrestrcited Unrestrcited Unrestrcited qi |
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| Fund to which When due Amount due |
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| Details | liability relates (optional) (optional) |
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| Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities |
Pension Liability 277 850 - - - PAYE & National Insurance Liability Unrestrcited Unrestrcited Signature Print Name Daniel Gate Date of approval 25 /07/2025 aa |
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| CCXX R2 accounts (SS) | 2 | 25/07/2025 |
| Doc ID: 7ce9bd9934f79e232f3f89d867b64c2cbaac1344 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of gsf OC H&A£TS SI," CLfoG£o 1019 On accounts for the year ended Charity no (if any) 1160589 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (llhe Trust") for the year ended 31 / i o/ £oz Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basls of report of the aOUnts in 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 the applicable Di¢t10nS given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting CordS were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Slgned: Date: 06/202s Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: (knd i¥cU q8 7Sf IER October 2018