2021-09-30-accounts - Plot 22

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

PLOT 22 Trustee Annual Report for period 1 October 2020- 30 September 2021

Prepared by EH June 2022 on behalf of: PLOT 22 CIO // Reg Charity number: 1165624

Introduction from Chair of Trustees Bunty Dann

We started this year with the impact of the pandemic still very much at the fore, with social distancing and lockdown restrictions then being eased in mid-summer. Autumn saw a new 3 tier system of restrictions come into existence and a nationwide second lockdown over the winter months, spring brought another gradual easing of restrictions and we ended the year with facemasks compulsory in most public indoor spaces. All during this time people came and connected at Plot 22.

Plot 22 came into its own by everyone galvanising together to ensure that we were able to provide a safe outside space. The plot was maintained, prepared and developed to work in new ways by the committed volunteer team, sessional worker team, and the CEO. Partnerships were deepened and new ones created, giving more people the opportunity to get the support and health benefits of connecting with nature, growing food and the companionship of others. With volunteers coming on site through-out the pandemic, its restrictions and lockdowns, the plot remained the resource it has been and expand to enable new groups and individuals to meet with key workers, connect to the earth and care for people. The cultivation of food crops stepped up and this produce was then able to be donated to the Community Fridge and shared out with those in the community needing fresh local and free food. Participants unable to visit the plot had flower posies’ and poems delivered to their homes, keeping the connection with the plot, which enabled them to return to Plot 22 still feeling that connection.

We are extremely proud of the determination everyone connected with Plot 22 has shown to respond to the increased in requests for a safe caring space that can connect them to nature and other people. Funders have recognised the importance of this space and the way in which it is run and this has enabled us to deliver at the quality and level that has been achieved.

Bunty Dann

Chair Plot 22 Human Givens Psychotherapist

Site of operations:

PLOT 22 Weald Allotments, Weald Avenue, Hove, BN3 7JN

Postal address : 32 Ruskin Road, Hove, BN3 5HA

Objectives and Activities: Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document:

To provide facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation by providing an area for use as a community garden and allotment and other activities for individuals in Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas, who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
To advance education for the public benefit in the subjects of horticulture, healthy eating, conservation of natural resources and improvement of wildlife diversity, in particular by providing opportunities for learning in and around the community garden/allotment.
To advance health by the promotion of i) physical exercise through gardening ii) therapeutic horticulture iii) healthy eating, for individuals in Brighton, Hove and surrounding areas who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large.

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:

In shaping our objectives for the year and planning our activities, the trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance on public benefit and fee charging. PLOT 22 relies on grants and the income from donations, hire fees and workshop ticket sales to cover its operating costs. The trustees give careful consideration to the accessibility of PLOT 22 for those on low incomes.

Funded Projects: During the reporting period PLOT 22 successfully secured grant funding from Coronavirus Community Support Fund Oct 2020 - March 2021. This allowed us to adapt and continue to deliver our projects throughout the November 2020 lockdown and winter months beyond. We then secured a 3 year award from The National Lottery Communities Fund for the duration of 3 years from April 21.

Our current secure funding situation has enabled us to foster steady collaborations with community partners enabling more beneficiaries to visit PLOT 22 and benefit from participating in the space. We deliver more now than pre-covid and continue to see increased numbers of referrals/demand:

Sensing Friends now use PLOT 22 several times a month to work with young people with sensory impairments. They have asked to join the Green Wellbeing Alliance.
Mill View Hospital: We have been able to extend the offer to the Hospital OT Team who bring small ward groups every Monday to PLOT 22 for lightly hosted sessions. We have secured further NHS/SMI funding to enable this to continue.
Our Dementia Inclusive Gardening project has broadened its remit to include older isolated people; and is now called Growing Together . We also run collaborative sessions with Rainbow Cafe/Switchboard who bring LGBT folk living with dementia once a month.
TouchBase continue to use PLOT 22 once a week during term time with young people who have been fostered/adopted or are refugees.

Developments:

We have remained open over two lockdowns delivering short sessions throughout the week.
During the coldest months and by request from participant’s families we held zoom sessions for our Dementia Inclusive Gardening participants.
By offering child-friendly opportunities we have attracted over 40 new families, 50% are from the Hangleton area and from BAME communities. Some of these participants have also started attending our adult volunteering Taster sessions..
We are seeing a big rise in self-referrals and also referrals from health professionals.\
We have built a new compost toilet and fixed damaged structures.
We have participated in the Fair Food Forum series run by Unltd
We have participated in research run by Sussex University on ‘Growing spaces and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brighton’
We have contributed to the development of a nature based intervention handbook by Exeter University.
Our diary is now fully booked with our own projects, plus hosting groups from a range of new community partners. With 3 sessions a day on several days of the week.
All our groups are running at capacity, we hope to gradually increase the number of people at each session over the coming months.
We’ve reintroduced communal meals cooked together on-site at 10 sessions per month. This has been well received by participants. It has increased our costs (sessional fees, groceries, cooking fuel).
We have not been able to restart our Grow & Play project which was paused during the January 2021 lockdown due to school closure. Instead we ran regular sessions for parents and children brought to PLOT 22 by Safehaven for women and babies.
We have been donated £500 in bus tickets and will now offer these to families to help reduce barriers to participating.
We may have the possibility of expanding our growing space as a direct allotment neighbour is looking to retire from allotmenting. We have approached the council for permission to take on the tenancy. It would offer more growing space for fresh produce to meet increased participation in communal meals; allow us to increase group size safely and reduce our waiting lists; potentially blend groups or have different activities taking place at same time.

Achievements and Performance 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:

PLOT 22 is committed to outreach and networking as it recognises this is the best way to engage those hardest to reach and facing the greatest barriers.

Numbers:

375 Total project sessions delivered 322 Individual beneficiaries 92 First time visits: 2000 Beneficiary visits 40 Volunteers with responsibility including trustees: 8 Number of sessional staff

“This is the first place I've come out to on my own for a very long time. I was worried I wouldn't be able to cope but...I'd really like to come regularly. I've really enjoyed it”

“The sessions are much appreciated as it’s the only social group that is running, so well done for considering the many other implications of this ‘lockdown’ (prison term). Outside, words, friends, plants, affection, music, food and colour are all the really important things, and you seem to have that covered!” Feedback from K, daughter of D, August 2020

"I'm a survivor and discovered walking for leisure through therapy. My therapist recommended Thyme & Space sessions at PLOT 22 which kick started my interest in nature. My love of the countryside also comes from my Bangladeshi heritage”

Community Partner: Safehaven Mother & Baby “After coming out of Lockdown many of our mums had been alone and anxious about leaving their homes, receiving such a warm welcome and spending time in the fresh air and the beautiful surrounding at the allotment has made such a positive impact on their mental health. It has allowed our mums to spend quality time with their children and develop affirming relationships with each other and our team. Clare Courtis-Pond Safehaven Mother and Baby St Peter's Brighton St Peter's Church,

Read and hear stories in PLOT 22 participant’s own words on our website: https://www.plot22.org/voices-from-the-plot

Financial Review

Fortunately our strong track record and flexible and robust response to the pandemic resulted in a generous Coronavirus Community Support fund (36K) covering Oct 20-Mar 21 enabling us to confidently continue to meet this increased and urgent need across the winter of 2020/21 and two further lockdowns. Plus a successful 3 year National Lottery Communities Fund award

(180K) in April 2021-2024 establishing the longer term security of the project and enabling the Director role to become salaried as hoped.

Summary of main funding secured during the reporting period:

36K Coronavirus Community Support Fund Oct 2020-March21 20K NHS SMI Funding August 2021 (awarded but not yet received) 5K BHCC COMF Funding September 2021 (awarded but not yet received) 12K BHCC TSIP Funding in collaboration with with the Green Wellbeing Alliance 180K National Lottery Communities Fund April 2021-2023

Reserves:

During the reporting period Trustees agreed to increase our Reserves goal to £5700. This was achieved.

Structure, Governance and Management Type of governing document: Constitution

How is the charity constituted: CIO // Association.

Trustee selection methods: New trustees are appointed on the basis of having the appropriate skills, experience and relationship with the plot to ensure good fit. We are mindful to invite project participants and those from diverse backgrounds.

Trustees:

Bunty Dann - Chair Terry Clegg - Treasurer Charlotte Semlyen - Former Chair Jennie Smith (paid for professional services to PLOT 22) Lynne Ridden Simon Rowledge Emma Houldsworth resigned as trustee when she became employed as CEO (April 2021)

Independent Examiner:

FJ Wilde FCCA DChA Warner Wilde Limited 4 Marigold Drive, Bisley Surrey, GU24 9SF

Declaration:

The trustees approved this report report for submission: minuted 20 July 2022 Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Name: Bunty Dann Position Chair Date 20/7/22

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Plot 22 On accounts for tho year ended 30 Septemb8r 2021 Charity no (If any) 1165624 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the 8bove chanty (Ihe Trust") for the year ended 30 Septèmber 2021. Responslbllltles and As the charrty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basig of report of Ihe accounts in acccrfdance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {llhe 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 examinalion, I have folbwed the applicable Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission under section 145{5){bl of the Act. I have completed my 8xaminath)n. I conflm thal no materlal matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in a(xordance wlth sectlon 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord wlth the accounting records Independent oxamlnef s statement I have no concéms and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention shoukl be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Dats: 25 July 2022 Name: FJ Wilde Relevant professlonal quallfl¢atlonls} or body Ill any): FCCA DChA Address: 4 Marigold Drive Bisley Surrey GU214SF IER October 2018

Summary Sh88t Oet 2020 to Sep 2021 £24480.10 £&020 E711 97 Jry I1 Iij IJAJ 77L4t J71 75 PAYE¥0 uJL•x *) $14?