MEN IN SHEDS
ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED 31st JANUARY 2024
INDEX
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Trustees' Annual Report and General Information
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Accountants' Report
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Income and Expenditure Account
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Balance Sheet
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5-7. Notes to the Accounts
A word from The Chair – Andrew Conlon
It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as chair to this wonderful charity. I visit the shed on a weekly basis and see at first hand the posi:ve impact that the various ac:vi:es have on the shed members and the wider community. Everyone connected with the shed, both directly and indirectly, have a huge investment in the con:nued development of the charity and look forward to it becoming a growing and developing influence on all the groups it seeks to serve.
The story of our project this year.
Funding from The Na:onal LoCery Community Funds ‘Reaching Communi:es’ has given our project a stability that has allowed us to focus on our engagement with our members and our community, as well as a more strategic approach at board level, enabling our Trustees to iden:fy skills gaps on the board and begin recruitment to ensure we have the right people in place to take the charity in the right direc:on.
We have been able to grow our membership and expand other projects like our walking talking groups which now run twice weekly and also launch a Basic DIY skills course where members of the local community will come along for 6 weeks to learn new skills, meet new people and have the opportunity to engage with the other projects within the shed.
provides ac:vity. Membership to the shed has increased by 32%, our walking talking groups have increased by 54% and our volunteers by 40%.
The numbers of our engagements breakdown as follows –
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Shed Members 47
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• Walkers 59 • Volunteers 10 (14 including Trustees) • Total 116 (120 including Trustees)
lead/assist with the walking groups and poten:ally a further 3 Trustees. Membership to the shed will increase as space allows and our Basic DIY skills course which launces 5[th] April 2024 will allow us to engage with a further 52new people from our local community each year. From 5[th] April 2024, the shed will have an ac:vity covering 6 days per week.
The core of what we do at the shed has always been centred around reducing loneliness and isola:on in men, by providing a social space and woodworking workshop. The introduc:on of more IT based ac:vity such as 3d prin:ng, laser engraving and vinyl cuang over the last 18 months has broadened our offer and has been received well by our members, the majority of whom are older people.
As space is a premium at the shed, and due to the increased number of enquiries for ac:vity post Covid Epidemic, and the dis:nct lack of ac:vity for men in our local community we
introduced our Walking Talking Wednesday. This gave us the ability to engage with those that were struggling with loneliness and isola:on whilst increasing their physical health at the same :me. This soon evolved as we recognised it was not only men that wanted to engage with us on this project, so we opened this offer to anyone aged 18+ to come along, meet new friends, and get some exercise.
We now have a good mix of walkers; some par:cipants are the widows of our shed members that we have lost over the last few years, and they feel that we supported their husbands and that they are as part of the shed as they were. Friendships have been made amongst the group and now have nights out to the theatre together and are making plans for other events outside of the walking too. On the back of the popularity of the Wednesdays we added a session on Saturdays as we iden:fied that are people in the community who may work weekdays but are isolated outside of their work.
previously we felt that we needed to generate money from dona:ons for items made to contribute to the shed’s survival. Having the stability from this funding has shihed this and we have been able to produce more items for other community organisa:ons, chari:es, churches and even our local community policing team. Being able to provide these items, such as garden benches and planters, at no cost to them to help improve their outside spaces for their par:cipants. This has given our members a sense of being part of the local community and a sense of pride in what they are able to produce to help others.
Here are a few examples of the ac:vi:es our shed members have been involved with over the past year –
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Working with HLC’s This Ability Project to provide work experience in our workshop for a par:cipant interested in joinery.
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Our members made benches and planters for the above project for their allotment, we also made a bespoke wheelchair ramp so that one par:cipant could access the polytunnel on the allotment and be involved in plan:ng.
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When a local church was severely vandalised, our members made 82 small window frames so that they could replace the broken glass with toughened Perspex.
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Made a 4h square, weatherproof community no:ce board for the Silverdale, Strathmore, Riversdale community group who we work closely with.
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Provided 2 benches for the Humber Bridge Wellness Hub as a place where people could talk and reflect, we also provided bird boxes to encourage wildlife to their garden area.
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Provide 2 large planters to a small charity Reubens Voice, who aim to encourage local children in the Hedon Area to come together in a safe space and be aware of support on offer to them.
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We donated 4 engraved signs to the new Library for Dogs that are available in local parks for them to share toys etc.
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We made and donated 2 Bra Pong tables to the Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance as a tool to get people talking when they are holding events.
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We have been making and distribu:ng garden benches and Arbor seats to our fellow members of The Hull Champions Network, our aim is to make sure that all that need one get one.
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We also made 2 picnic benches for Humberside Police’s new recruits to use for lunch at the training centre as they had nowhere to sit and enjoy the outdoors.
The above ac:vi:es are just a snapshot of some the work that the shed has been able to do over the last 12 months without receiving any financial reward, this has been made possible by the funding we received. Not only does this have a posi:ve impact on those organisa:ons we can donate to and their par:cipants, but our members feel that they have achieved something extremely worthwhile in the process.
A few words from those we support –
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understand it, if it wasn’t for the shed, I’m not sure I would s:ll be here”.
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J said, “I get so bored and lonely at home, the weekends feel so long, I can’t wait to get back in the shed on Mondays with the rest of the lads”.
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N said, “I’ve been coming for the last 5 years and aher losing my wife, the shed has been a life saver to me”.
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G said, “The shed’s been a lifeline for me, it’s the best thing that could have happened to me”.
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R said, “I used to stay in bed un:l lunch :me, I had nothing to get up for, I love coming to the shed, I’ve made some friends and enjoy coming every day”.
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T said, “Walking talking is helping me process the loss of my husband”.
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I said, “The walking routes are always varied and fun, we have some great :mes and experiences, we see some different sights and meet new people”.
Through our networks we con:nue to invite and engage with organisa:ons to come along and talk to our par:cipants about maCers that impact their health and wellbeing, access to services and around financial support that may be available to them. We encourage all par:cipants to engage with one to ones and presenta:ons from all visi:ng organisa:ons who are offering their support and informa:on.
and verbal discussions. This feedback provides a basis for us to con:nually improve our services and our upcoming planned Basic DIY Skills course is testament to us listening to the feedback received from our par:cipants and our local community.
What we have learned
skills and knowledge and experience needed to take the charity further.
Surprisingly, invi:ng the local community in to join our walking groups highlighted that some local residents who are on our doorstep were aware of us being here for some :me now but thought we were just a joinery workshop business. Collabora:ng more closely with them over the past 12moinths has helped to change this and we opened our doors to them in summer when they held their annual party in the park where we are located.
On the back of feedback from the walking group and general members of the public it appeared that there was a growing amount of people who had no basic DIY skills at all and wanted to learn. On the back of this and along with a local tradesman we developed a 6-week course that will teach them the basic skills from changing a plug to refiang guCering.
There has been mixed interest in this course so far with females being in the slight majority at present, and there some really good signs of a joined up offer so far as for example, a lady whose husband was a shed member who has now passed away joins our walking group, he did all the DIY tasks around the home, she now joins the DIY course as well as the walking group and is engaging with even more people than before, learning new skills and becoming more confident. This, for us, is fantas:c and humbling to know that we can keep suppor:ng that family and others alike.
So, we plan ahead for the next 12 months.
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either the same or a more advanced course delivered in the evenings.
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Volunteer recruitment for the walking groups and DIY skills support roles.
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Shed member recruitment is always ongoing, with cau:on due to space constric:ons.
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Con:nue to work closely within the local community to provide posi:ve engagements with the shed and our par:cipants.
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Con:nue to grow our networks and increase engagement with local providers to enhance the support we offer to our par:cipants.
DonaGons & Local Business Support
Men in Sheds Hull receive generous dona:ons and support from the local community and wider business community in Hull. Third genera:on business FR ScoC Ltd have pledged to supply the shed with all its fixings and ironmongery needs whilst Belles Timber have been supplying :mber that can be used for members projects and the community projects we undertake. Local residents kindly make dona:ons to the shed in regard to tools, paints and wood stain. Individual fundraisers from both the business and local community have raised money for the shed as it has become something close to their hearts.
UBRARY FORDOC.S LIBRARY FOR DOGS E¥'.ISF.1Tr iIV J .{*4P
MEN IN SHEDS
TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT AND GENERAL INFORMATION
The trustees present their report and accounts for the year ended 31st January, 2024
The Association was established under a trust deed dated 7th April, 2015 to provide and promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing men socially excluded Under charity number 1161177. The principal office is The Pavillion, Oak Road Playing Field, HU6 7EY
The trustees who administer the charity and meet three times each year were -
Governor Trustees - Andrew James Conlon Chairperson Trustees - Richard Andew Bayford Treasurer Ian Watson Donna Jackson Bankers CAF Bank Accountants Accounting Solution (Hull) Unlimited, 15 The Square, Anlaby, HU10 7AY Overview There is a surplus of receipts over payments of £24,727
The above report and information was approved by the trustees on 26th March, 2024 and signed on their behalf by -
Richard Bayford (Treasurer)
- 1 -
ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE
UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF MEN IN SHEDS
In accordance with instructions given to us we have compiled the annual accounts of Men In Sheds which comprise Income and Expenditure Account, Balance Sheet and Notes, from the records and information and explanations provided to us.
Our work has been undertaken so that we may compile the accounts, report that we have done so, and report any matters to you which we consider necessary. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the trustees for our work or this report.
You have approved the accounts for the year ended 31st January, 2024 and have acknowledged your responsibility for them and for providing all information and explanations necessary for their compilation.
We have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the accounts or other information.
Accounting Solution (Hull) Unlimited Accountants 26th March, 2024
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MEN IN SHEDS
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
YEAR ENDED 31ST JAN 2024
| 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| INCOME | ||
| Grants and fundraising | 72,434 | |
| Investment income - | ||
| Interest Income | 25 | |
| Deposit Account Interest | 233 | |
| ------ | 258 | |
| Donation | 0 | |
| --------- | ||
| 72,692 | ||
| --------- | ||
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Rent, Water, gas and electricity | 7,460 | |
| Repairs and maintenance of buildings | 3,597 | |
| Insurances | 731 | |
| Motor and Travel | 380 | |
| Accountancy charges | 420 | |
| Tools and workshop supplies | 0 | |
| Sundry and office expenses | 6,564 | |
| Bank Charges | 60 | |
| Wages | 28,754 | |
| --------- | ||
| 47,965 | ||
| --------- | ||
| SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR | £ | 24,727 |
| --------- |
MEN IN SHEDS
BALANCE SHEET - 31ST JANUARY 2024
| Note | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FIXED ASSETS | |||
| Tangible assets | 2 | - | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Investments | 3 | - | |
| Debtors | 4 | - | |
| Cash at bank | 43,239 | ||
| ----------- | |||
| 43,239 | |||
| ----------- | |||
| CREDITORS | |||
| Amounts falling due within 1 year | 5 | - | |
| -------- | |||
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 43,239 | ||
| ---------- | |||
| 43,239 | |||
| PROVISIONS | |||
| Accruals | -420 | ||
| Future costs | - | ||
| ---------- | |||
| £ | 42,819 | ||
| ---------- | |||
| RESERVES | |||
| Revaluation reserve - Property | 6 | 0 | |
| Revaluation reserve - Investments | 7 | 0 | |
| Revenue reserve | 8 | £ | 42,819 |
| ---------- |
These accounts were approved by the trustees on 26th March, 2024 and signed on their behalf by -
_______(Trustee)
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MEN IN SHEDS
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation of financial statements
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of Properties and Investments, and in accordance with applicable accounting standards.
Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are stated at revaluation plus additions at cost, less grants received
2.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | LAND | |
| and Buidings | ||
| Cost or valuation | ||
| At 1st February, 2023 | 0 | |
| Additions | 0 | |
| ---------- | ||
| At 31st January, 2024 | 0 | |
| ---------- | ||
| Depreciation | ||
| At 1st February, 2023 | 0 | |
| Charge for the year | 0 | |
| ---------- | ||
| At 31st January, 2024 | 0 | |
| ---------- | ||
| Net book value | ||
| At 31st January, 2024 | £ | 0 |
| ---------- | ||
| At 31st January, 2023 | £ | 0 |
| ---------- |
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MEN IN SHEDS
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)
YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2024
| 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3. | INVESTMENTS | |||
| Charities Official Investment Fund - Income Units | 0 | |||
| Charities Official Investment Fund - Accumulation Units | 0 | |||
| Charities Deposit Fund | 0 | |||
| Charities Accumulation Shares | 0 | |||
| --------- | ||||
| £ | 0 | £ | ||
| --------- | ||||
| Valuation at 1st February 2023 | 0 | |||
| Addition | 0 | |||
| Deposit interest | 0 | |||
| Withdrawals | 0 | |||
| Increase/(Decrease) in valuation | 0 | |||
| Conversion Stock and War Loan | 0 | |||
| ---------- | ||||
| Valuation at 31st January, 2024 | £ | 0 | ||
| ---------- | ||||
| 4. | DEBTORS | |||
| Maintenance contributions | 0 | |||
| Prepayments | 0 | |||
| -------- | ||||
| £ | 0 | |||
| -------- | ||||
| 5. | CREDITORS : Amounts due within 1 year | |||
| Maintenance contributions in advance | 0 | |||
| Other creditors and accruals | 0 | |||
| -------- | ||||
| £ | 0 | |||
| -------- |
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MEN IN SHEDS
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)
YEAR ENDED 31ST JANUARY 2024
| 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | REVALUATION RESERVE - HOUSING PROPERTY | ||
| At 31st January, 2023 and 31st January, 2024 | £ | 0 | |
| ----------- | |||
| 7. | REVALUATION RESERVE - INVESTMENTS | ||
| At 31st Jan, 2023 | 0 | ||
| Increase/(Decrease) in asset value | 0 | ||
| --------- | |||
| At 31st Jan, 2024 | £ | 0 | |
| --------- | |||
| 8. | REVENUE RESERVE | ||
| Unrestricted Funds | 38,780 | ||
| Restricted Funds | 4,039 | ||
| --------- | |||
| At 31st Jan, 2024 | £ | 42,819 | |
| --------- |
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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Men In Sheds
I report to the trustees on my examina1on of the accounts of the Men In Sheds (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] January, 2024.
Responsibili8es and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the prepara1on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chari1es Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examina1on of the Trust's accounts carried out under s. 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina1on I have followed all the applicable Direc1ons given by the Charity Commission under s. 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
aNen1on in connec1on with the examina1on giving me cause to believe that in any material respect
I have no concerns and have come across no other maNers in connec1on with the examina1on to which aNen1on should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed
Name: Michael Dunn AFA FFTA ICPA
DIRECTOR of Accoun1ng Solu1on (Hull) Unlimited
Address: 15 The Square, Anlaby House Estate, Beverley Road, Anlaby, HU10 7AY
Date: 26/03/2024