The Patchworking Garden Project - Trustees Report 31 March 2025 S Patchworking gJarden Project
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 For the year 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Reference and Administration Details Charity name The Patchworking Garden Project Registered Charity number 1162471 (Registered in England and Wales) Charity's Principal Address Chris Munford 50 Woodlands Road Little Bookham Leatherhead, Surrey KT23 4HF Website www.patchworkinggardenproject.co.uk Find us also on Instagram and Facebook Trustees Name Office {if any) Isobel Gowan Chair Dan Andrew Treasurer Dr Glenn Cornish Mental Health Adviser Helen McHenry HR Adviser Chris Munford Academy and Supported Volunteer Lead Rebecca Ward Fundraiser (Appointed 6 March 2025) Others who served during the year l Dats of Resignation Carmel O'shea 26 June 2025 Val Theobald 28 June 2024 Helen Clifford-Jones 28 June 2024
The Patchworktng Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 Structure, Governance and Management Type of governing document The Constitution was adopted on 23 April 2015. How the Charty is constituted The Patchworking Garden Project is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with voting members Comprising its trustees and its management committee. Its registration as a Charity was effective from 1 April 2015. Trustee selection methods Trustees are appointed for a three-year term. There must be a minimum of five and a maximum of nine. Vacancies or new appointments may be filled by the Trustees. The appointment of such interim Trustees must be confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting. From the second Annual General Meeting onwards one third of Trustees must retire annually but may be reappointed for further terms. Decision-making Decisions are made both by the Trustees or are delegated to the Management Committee. The definition of Members was widened in April 2024 to add both Volunteers and Supported Volunteers to the Management Committee and TrUSts. In the event of a matter being raised to the Members fora decision then a quorum of frfteen is required and a simple majority is required from the voting members. Other relevant governance matters The project has policies and procedures in pla covering the operalion ofthe garden and what is expected of our volunteers. We also have policies for safeguarding, equal opportunities, health and safety, GDPRlconsent, how we manage our income and expenditure and a reserves policy. These policies are reviewed on a regular basis. The project works closely with local mental health and learning disability servIs, General Practitioners, volunteer agencies and other charities supporting individuals with physical and mental health needs. The trustees and the management committee give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or other benefits. The project is entirely run by a dedicated group of volunteers who give freely of their time and many skills.
The Patchworklng Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 Objectives and activities The objectives of The Patchworking Garden Project are: The promotion of improvement in well-beiro as a resutt of acSsIng the therapeutic benefits of gardening in a volunteer supported environment, which include better physical health, improved psychological health, improved social opportunities, leaming new skills and aCsS to the natural environment. The promotion of volunteering to increase engagement with the community, enhancing the use of community reSoUrS and raising confidence and self-esteem. The reduction of stigma associated with physical disability, psychological health problems, old age and infirmity by creating an inclusive project where the wntribution of each person is equally acknowledged. To provide Ihis seNice within the Mole Valley area of Surrey. Aclivitles and Achievements 2024-25 has been a busy and sucSsful year for the project but also a time for thinking about change as we enter into our 10th year. This was a year for welcoming new supported and support volunteers as well as Trustees. We also said a fond farewell to many people. Our calendar of public facing events, spring plant sale, Summer Open Day, and Christmas wreath and craft sale were very well attended and an early highlight in May 2024 was Westival. This is a local music event, and we were lucky enough to be selected as their charity of the year. Our leam were amazing all weekend and the support we received was utterly fantastic, raising £10,0001 Fundraising continues to be hard work but our community events along with a generous 2-year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, additional support from Mole Valley District Council and a new fundraising volunteer writing our applications has made everything feel more manageable this year. Our Academy students are to be congratulated both for their academic achievement and for the subsequent employment gained by several. We can support up to 90 people alongside our 60 support volunteers and will keep to that number. It has been lovely to see how people thrive in our project, especially as we regain a focus on friendship and fun. There has been a huge drive through the year of raising our profile with other charities, social prescribers and the public with over 70 posters advertising what we offer and how to access our seNices posted around the area. We are lucky enough to have eXperIend volunteers helping with marketing and social media alongside a local company which means our profile is maintained regularly and is well recognised. One of our supported volunteers has joined our management commbttee and is bringing welcome insight into how our sessions operate. Our visionary founder is stepping down in June 2025, so we used an external facilitator to help us prepare for that big change. She designed a process thal included
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 everyone in the project so we feel confident that the redistribution of roles and responsibilities will stand us in good stead as we look forward. Challenges We enter the 2025 year in a healthy financial position but have been much saddened by several break ins and will have to spend funds on increased security. We were close to finalising a long-term lease with our new landlord Stonegate homes who had plans to develop the former Aviva site, but the whole site is now up for sale. At the time of writing in June 2025 we are bidding a very fond farewell to our founder Carmel O'shea. Carmel's vision, tenacity and skills will be much missed, but we have a strong team in place to carry the project on though we all know it will be challenging at limes. Benefits in kind and Value of Volunteer Time We would like to formally record the generous support we receive from local businesses Buckland Nurseries, Downs Solicitors, Dave Ford Tree Services and RB Fencing. Many others kindly gave us a variety of discounts which all helps I We would also like to acknowledge the value of the time that our volunteers, support staff and trustees contribute to the project. We are a £175,000 a year operation if you added the value of volunteer time, estimated at £130,000, to our running costs of £45,000. That volunteer time commitment is invaluable and makes the project the success it has bn. Like the local business support, it shows nowhere in our financial numbers. Looking forward We will keep publishing our quarterly newsletter to those who like to hear about our work. We will approach local businesses more fomially with a view to establishing a neOrk from whom we can ask for ongoing financial support. We are continuing to build more links within our community to ensure our students and others we 8UPPOrt can find new opportunities for employment and volunteering. We are inveskn'ng in our site as funds become available and ensuring a wide range of activities are available for everyone who atlends. Financlal Review This year our total income increased £goo to £54.200 however our expenses increased £22,100 compared to the prior year. With reserves of £71,000 however, we remain in an acceptable financial position going into this year. Our 31 March 2025 balance sheet shows total funds of £71,000. {2024 . £85.700) a decrease of £14.700.
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 Our result for this year was close to the budget set by the Trustees and was impacted by two significant matters.. the first being essential expenditure to replace both the kitchen area roof and the Academy shelter for a total cost of £13,500. The second was exceptional expenditure on consultancy fees of £4,100 to help guide the Charity on the design and adoption of a new organisation model for the next ten years. It should also be noted that in March 2024 we received a National Lottery grant of £20,000 for the two years from June 2024. Our result would be close to break even if we adjusted this yearfs result for that early funding and the eXptIOnal costs mentioned above. Funds are held in cash at Natwest (£51,000) and in a CCLA Equity Investment Fund at a cost of £20,000 (Market Value on 31 March 2024 - £21,200). Our funds are unrestricted funds expt forthe remaining deferred National Lottery grant (£10,000) and further restricted grants of a net £2,007 held for future expenditure. Our income increase of £900 can be broken down as follows . Fundraising increased further to £23,600 (Last year £15,300) an increase of £8,300. This included our three annual events- the April Plant Sale, July Open Day and our Xmas Wreaths plus the result from the Westival Music Festival where. over the May Bank Holiday weekend as their designated charity, we made an incredible £9.600. Donations received totalled £8,100 (Last year £6,900> an increase of £1,200. Grants were received of £16,300 (Last year £29,000) a decrease of £12,700. However. we did receive £10,000 for this year which was shown in the 202314 accounls meaning our adjusted grant income was near flat, year-on-year. Legacies income added £3,700 (Last Year £800) an increase of £2,900. Interest and Investment Income added £2,500 (Last year £1,300) an increase of £1,200. Our costs increased to £69.000 (Last Year £46,900) an increase of £21,100 This can be broken into three parts. Running costs totalled £25,800 (Last year £18,400) an increase of £7,400. This includes all garden costs including activities, repairs and maintenance. fund-raising, insurance and other overhead costs plus, for this year. the eXptIOnal consultancy costs of £4,100 mentioned above. Academy tutor and other training costs totalled £22,400 (Last year £23,800) Our investrnent in the Pixham site increased to £20,500 (Last year £4.700) with essential expenditure on the Academy shelter, Kttchen Roof (Total £13.500) and the Events shed, replacement front gate and fencing and the Fire Pit (Total £7,000). Expenditure to develop the site's facilities looks complete and we will move to a care and Maintenan phase from this year onwards.
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report- 31 March 2025 Financial outlook Our total running costs forthe year to 31 March 2026 are budgeted at £41,000 plus additional expenditure of £2,500 for car park repairs, if we can secure additional grants or use our reserves. Given our typical fundraising income, we will then have a shortfall of £10,000 which we will look for grants to cover. Grants will always remain essential for the Academy to Cover its annual running costs of £21,000. We will continue to manage our expenditure carefully due to the uncertainties over the availabilty of grant money. Reserves Policy Our Reserves Policy requires the Charity to retain a yearfs running costs in reserve. which for the Garden and Academy, excluding further development expenditure, is a combined total of £41,000. With reserves of £71,000 we are pleased to report that we have almost years of running costs. The reserves we have will be retained to cover any shortfalls in income, for unforeseen expendilure and to make appropriate investments that the Trustees and Management Committee agree be made in furtheran of our charitable objectives. Daclaration The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee's report above. Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 11 July 2025 Name Isobel Gowan Dan Andrew Position Chair Treasurer
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report - 31 March 2025 Re¥. 1162471 The Patchworklng Garden Project FnBl•nd &W4es < rc)ject Recelpts and payments accounts 01-Apr-24 Fortheyear To 31-Mar-25 Form.- CC16a Section A Receipts and payment5 Unrestrlrted Fund5 Restrtted Funds Total Funds Last Yar Rec•lpts FundralsiThg Donations Includlng Gift Akl Grants Received Legacie5 and In Memory Donation5 Interestand Investment Income 23.634 8.114 14.092 3,675 2,531 52,046 23,634 8.114 16,292 3,675 2.sai 15,273 6.933 28.994 818 1,316 53,335 2.200 Tot•1 r•¢•lpts 2.2QO Payments Kltchen Roof and A¢ademyShelter Upgrade5 otherSSte Developtnent Expenditur Garden, Craftsupplies and Equlprnent Tralnlng Costs Fundraising Cost5 Other Expenses 13,S33 7,012 7.182 22,426 2,419 16,212 7,182 22.426 2.419 16,405 68,977 8.501 23.761 2.222 7,607 193 193 Net IDffcltll5urplus Transfers between lunds Op•nln¢fvnds Cth fundsthl$ y•ar-•nd 116,7381 10,500 65.202 58,965 2,007 110,5001 2Q.500 12,007 114,7311 6.464 85,7Q2 70.971 85,702 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the year 31-M•r45 Jl-Mar-24 Bl- Cash •nd In5ments NatWest- Cvrrent Account NatWest- Deposfjt Accounts Virgin Money- Charity DepositAccount CCLA- Global Equ Fund Unlts IMark•t Valu £21.203 1.836 49,135 1,215 63,267 1.220 20,0 85.702 20,¢X 70,971 Funds Unrestrfcted Funds R&trictéd Funds 58.96S 12,007 65.202 20.5 85,702 F4.Ass•15 Y•tsIrlforth8 No bookvalue is placed on our bulldlngs. equipment or dwdopment expenditureat Pixham. Non• B5- Ll•b#ltl•s Liabilitie5 Non•
The Patchworking Garden Project Trustees Report - 31 March 2025 Independent examiner's report to the trustses of The Patchworking Garden Project Registered charity number 1162471 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Patchworking Garden Project ('the Project'} for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees of the Project, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,) I report in respect of my examination of the Project's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions 9iven by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Project as reqUId by section 130 of the Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matter 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. Signed: Mr David Huw Bassett FCCA Tamar, Harrow Road East, Dorking, Surrey Date: 11 July 2025