Let's Get Growing Ltd. Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025
Let's Get Growing Ltd. Company Information Directors Mrs Eileen Ewen Mrs Elizabeth Hume Ms Nuala O'Brien Dr. Ruth Briel Secretsry Katrina Padmore Company Numbar 7287776 Charity Registration Number 1172662 Registered Office Steel Fann Cottage Steel Hexham Northumberland NE47 OLG Bankers The Co-operative Bank PO Box 250 Delf House Skelmersdale VVN8 6V
Let's Get Growing Ltd. Contents Page Directors, Report Statement of Financial ActFvities Balance Sheet and Directors, Statements Notes to the Financial Statements 10 Detailed income and expenditure account
Let's Get Growing Ltd. Directors, Report 1 December 2024- 30 November 2025 The Directors present their report and the financial statements for 1 Dember 2024 to 30 November 2025 Objectives and activities Purposes The purposes of Let's Get Growing. as set out in our Articles of Association are:_ To assist in the treatment and care of persons suffering from physical and mental illness of any description or in need of rehabilitation as a result of such illness, in Hexham and the surrounding areas, by the provision of therapeutic gardening and horticulture. To advance the education of the public, in particular, but not exclusively, young people in the subject of horticutture and related practices. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefrt when setting our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. Activities In the financial year ending 30 November 2025, Let's Get Growing provided the following ServIs..- Our regular twice weekly gardening therapy sessions at Minsteracres Peace Garden (working with adults aged 20 - 80+ yrs experiencing a range of mental and physical health difficulties, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, bi-polar disorder, dementia and mild leaming difficulties) remained open throughout the period. Additional one-off therapeutic garden workshops were provKled for a diverse range of groups of all ages, including addicts in recovery, homeless people, (2rers, refugees and asylum seekers. Achievements and Parfonnance Our gardening therapy sessions thrived and we have continued to record positive feedback from our regular 1.1 sessions wrth all participants, as well as from their carerslfamilies. We continued to focus on supporting mental health, with participants expressing that attending the project has had an important role in their recovery to mental well-being. It has been ajoy to witness some notable improvements in some members ofthe group. We were sad to say goodbye to some longstanding participants with Alzheimerfs, although confident that we had been able to support them really well through to the latter stages of their illness, providing mental stimulation, physical exercise and frieAdship which might otheiSe have been absent. We were delighted to receive funding to inslall a new full-height acSsible raised bed and large polytunnel. These will enable us provide activities that are more accessible forthose wilh limited mobility, to extend our growing season and to grow a wider range of fruit and veg. We anticipate that the polytunnel. with its central circular work area with table and chairs, will provide a pleasant, dry, indoor Workspa on rainy days. Despite the thallenge of keeping the garden adequately watered through a dry growing season, the increased sunshine prodUd record crops of fruit and veg in 2025. We On again combined a small
subsidised veg box scheme, open to those attending gardening sessions. with selling produce to the Angel Inn in Corbridge. Next year, we plan to expand the veg box scheme within the local community, although we are aware that crop volumes are very weather-dependent and can vary from year to year. We ran a variety of nature-based arts and crafts sessions, making hand-painted suns for the vegetable and herb beds, willow sculptures, a large outdoor wall hanging. seasonal collages using leaves, seed heads and pine cones, decoupage glass candle jars and home-made wax candles. We once again used funds to put on some special summer and autumn barbequog. Thoso 2ro 21w2y£ popular and an excellent way to provide a treat in a familiar environment where we can comfortably meet everyone's support needs. We hosted our usual summer open day in the garden, which was a great way to showcase the project. Our pantomime - 'The Mystery of the Missing Carrots, _ revealed some real acting talent amongst our participants and one member of the group has subsequently gone on to join a local drama group. We sang 'Naked in the Garden, (fully clothed) as a round for our guests! The youngest child in the audience cut the ribbon to open our newly installed polytunnel officially. As usual, we ran addrtional one-off sessions in the garden for a range of other beneficiary groups of all ages, from thildren to adults, including refugees, carers, addicts in recovery, homeless and mental health groups amongst others. Feedback from these sessions was very positive and heart-warming as ever. This work cnntinues to challenge our imagination, skill and flexibility, in responding to the needs of these diverse groups. All of this was made possible by a skilled and commrtted team of staff and volunteers. During the year, we have been successful in attracting one young female and one older male volunteer to broaden our stable and highly skilled volunteer group. As well as formal volunteer meetings to explore a variety of safeguarding SnarioS and the particular needs of individual participants in depth, there is always an infomial space before gardening sessions. when volunteers can chat and raise concems. In addition, the co-ordinators continued to provide one-to-one time for each volunteer to discuss how they are getting along and any further guidance or training needed. We continued to prioritise teaching organic growing skills and planting to create bio-diversity. The whole garden, including the extensive omamental areas, continue to be maintsined to provide a beautiful, therapeutic spa, not just for those attending gardening therapy sessions, but also for the local community. The project is promoted through our website and we also maintain an ongoing instagram presence, with participants, volunteers and staff able to share photos of memorable moments in and around the garden, capturing something of the diversity and humour of what happens here. We appreciate the ability this provides to stsy connected with all our friends and supporters, some of whom have made signrficant financial contributions to our work, for which we are very grateful. Financial review The principal income sources for Let's Get Growing a from participant contributions for regular gardening therapy sessions, produ sales and additional one-off therapeutic workshops, as well as from funding from charitable trusts and private donations. The breakdown by approximate percentage of all our income sources in this accounting period is shown below.
INCOME SOURCE Participant contributions Produce sales Addttional one-off workshops Private donations and GiftAid 10 Charitable granls 21 We are grateful to the Truemark Trust, Shears Foundation, Community Foundation and HGal¢y Pari6h GounGiI Fund for charitable funding. We are also very grateful forthe generosity of individual one-off and regular donors. We remain committed to providing free or subsidised plaS to those who can benefrt from the project, but who are unable to a¢sS statutory funding and do not have private means. Mostly this seems to be those with mental health difficulties. who are living on benefits and are not eligible for a personal budgetldirect payment. We anticipate that we shall therefore require some charitable funding into the future to accommodate this aim, as well as to support the work of the organisation as a whole. At the end of the reporting period, Let's Get Growing carried fOard £20,170 restricted charitable funding allocated to the Minsteracres gardening therapy project, to be spent during the next financial year. Structure, Governance and Management The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. incorporated on 17 June 2010 and registered as a charrty on 20 April 2017. The company was estsblished under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10. During the accounting period, there were four directors on the board. The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and, under the company's Articles, are known as members of the Management Committee. Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, one third of the members of the Management Committee must retire at each Annual General Meeting and may stand for re- election if desired. The Management Committee seeks to ensure that the needs of this group are appropriately reflected through the diversity of the trustee bijjy, which included a retired head teacher, retired social worker, retired communi(3tions manager and retired psychiatrist. All members of the Managemenl Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. The d1CtorS who served during the year are as stated below:_ Mrs Eileen Ewen Ms Nuala O'Brien Mrs Elizabeth Hume Dr. Ruth Briel This report was approved by the Board on 6 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by Elizabeth Hume (Chair) Eileen Ewen {Dir8ctor)
Let's Get Growing Ltd. ststement of Financial Activities From 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 Unrestrictsd Funds Restricted Funds 202412025 202312024 INCOME 4,317 62,441 66,758 78.896 Direct expenditure 4,633 -316 71,469 .028 76,102 ,344 64,124 14,772 Administrative Expenses 6,932 -15,960 6,932 -16,276 6,693 8,079 416 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Unpaid wages Net income -316 -15,960 -16,276 8,079 Funds blf as at 1 Dec 2024 1,316 36,130 37,446 29,366 Total funds carrfed forward 1,000 20,170 21,170 37,445
Let's Get Growing Ltd. Balance Sheet as at 30 November 2025 202412025 202312024 Current assets Bank Current Account 21,170 37,446 Total current assets 21,170 37,446 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Total net assets 21,170 37,446 Capitsl and reserves 202412025 202312024 Called up share capital Income and expendrture account 21,170 37,446 Total members funds 21,170 37.446 Directors, Ststements For the accounting period ended 30 November 2023, the company was entitled to exemptron from audtt under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies. The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordan with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006. The directors acknowledge Iheir responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of@ccounts. The accounts have been prepared in accordan with the micro*ntity provisions and delivered in accordan wrth the provisions applicable to companES subsect to the small companies regime. Elizabeth Hume Chair Eileen Ewen Director
Let's Get Growing Ltd. Notes to the financial statements For the period 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025 Accounting policies Accounting convention The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities 2015. Turnover Turnover represents the total Invol value, excluding value added tax, of sales made during the year and derives from the provision of services falling within the company's ordinary activities, wholly undertaken within the UK. Company limited by guarantee The company is limited by guarantee. Every member of the Company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £10) to the Company's assets if it should be wound up while they are a member, or within one year after aSIng to be a member, for payment of the Company's debts and liabilities contracted before ceasing to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves. If the Company is wound up or dissolved and after all its debts and liabilities have been satisfied there remains any property it shall not be paid to, or distributed among the mernbers of the Company, but shall be given or Iransferred to some other Company or charities having similar objects which prohibit the distribution of its income and property, directly or indirectly, by way of dividend, bonus or othepNise by way of profrt, to members of the Company Controlling interest In the opinion of the directors the company is under no controlling interest.
io Let's Get Growing Ltd. Detsiled income and expenditure account for the period 1 Decémber 2024 to 30 November 2025 Income 1 Dec 2024 - 30 Nov 2025 Restrlcted Unrestricted Total Grants: Truemark Trust Shears Foundation Community Foundation Healey Parish Council Total Grants Donatlons Partlclpant contrfbutlons Produce sales: Veg box scheme Other produce sales Totsl Produce sales Garden project fees Bulldlng rental Sundry GiftAid TOTAL INCOME 6,000.00 5,428.00 2,000.00 300.00 13,728.00 6,036.75 37,336.73 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 6,000.00 5,428.00 2,000.00 300.00 13,728.00 6,036.75 37,336.73 905.00 3,241.86 4,146.86 0.00 150.00 196.83 846.03 62,441.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,260.00 0.00 56.80 0.00 4.316.80 905.00 3,241.86 4,146.86 4,260.00 150.00 253.63 846.03 66,758.00 Expenditure Direct Expendlture: Project management fees Garden materlals Partlclpant transport Partlclpant oullngslBBQ's New polytunnel and ralsed bed 48,023.40 7,448.69 6,660.00 0.00 9,336.74 71,468.83 4.404.10 229.28 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,633.38 52,427.50 7,677.97 6,660.00 0.00 9,336.74 76,102.21 Admlnlstratlon Expensos . Admlnlaccountlng fees Prlntlng StationerylPostage Companies House Insurance Sundry 5,751.30 248.00 52.90 34.00 772.59 72.90 6,931.69 78,400.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4,633.38 5.751.30 248.00 52.90 34.00 772.59 72.90 6,931.69 83,033.90 TOTAL EXPENDITURE Creditors: amounts falling due wlthln one year 0.00 0.00 0.00 Retalned surplus from period -15.959.32 416.58 -16,275.90 Funds blf as at 1 Dec 2024 36,129.66 1,316.05 37,445.71 Total funds carried forward 20,170.34 999.47 21,169.81 ty- ,/a/aa