Grow for Life Charity Number: 1173914
Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 January 2021
Grow for Life Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2021
Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors
The trustees during the financial period and up to and including the date the report was approved were:
| Trustee Name | Office(if any) | Appointed | Re-elected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: | Martin Geake | Chairperson | 24 July 2017 | |
| 2: | Phillip Blacker | 24 July 2017 | 24 June 2020 | |
| 3: | Denise Weikert | 16 May 2019 | ||
| 4: | Dr Alex Eldridge | 20 November 2019 |
Charity number
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1173914, on 24 July 2017.
Registered and principal address
8, The Tyning
Bath
BA2 6AL
Names & Address of Bank
| Name | Address & Postcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank: | Lloyds Bank | 47 Milsom Street , Bath, BA1 1DN |
Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2021
Grow for Life
Structure, governance and management
The charity is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is governed by a constitution adopted on 24 July 2017.
Trustees determine the strategy and policy of the charity. When staff are appointed they report to the board of trustees. Trustees must have an active commitment to the objects of the charity. The board of trustees selects and appoints new trustees who are chosen for their expertise. Trustees are all required to read the Charity Commission’s guidelines on the role of charitable trustees and also to familiarise themselves with the charity’s work on the ground.
The trustees have the pleasure of presenting the accounts for the year ending 31 January 2021 with comparison for the year ended 31 January 2020.
Objectives and activities
Grow for Life (GFL) was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in July 2017. The charity's objects are to assist in the treatment and care of persons suffering from ill health, particularly but not exclusively mental illness of any description, or those who are in need of rehabilitation as a result of such illness, in Bath and the surrounding areas, by the provision of therapeutic gardening and horticulture.
Summary of the Main Activities Undertaken for the Public Benefit in Relation to the Charity's Objects
Grow for Life provides therapeutic gardening for people struggling with life, especially those suffering with depression and/or anxiety conditions. Working outdoors in a garden is enjoyable and productive and gives trainees a sense of wellbeing and achievement. The charity aims to increase the confidence and self-esteem of its trainees. Experienced volunteer gardeners work alongside the trainees, mentor them and pass on gardening and social skills thereby giving them a potential route into employment or meaningful activity.
We work in teams with trainees participating weekly in a morning or an afternoon session. The hosts of the private gardens where we work make the teams welcome and agree what tasks are to be undertaken. We make the sessions informative, fun and safe.
GFL historically has worked in both private and public gardens. The trustees have established criteria on who qualifies as a private garden host so as to ensure its activities are for the public benefit. In 2020/21 GFL has worked solely in Bath Parks and Nurseries since Covid19 regulations have prevented working in private gardens.
Statutory Declaration
The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Summary of the Main Achievements
GFL commenced its first City & Guilds course in practical horticulture in partnership with a local social enterprise, Grow Yourself, and Bath Parks Dept. Sessions took place in Park’s glass houses and nurseries and were run by GFL’s horticulturalist who was employed from
Grow for Life
Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2021
February 2020. The course had to close during the first national lockdown but was permitted to operate for much of the year being a training activity. 6 trainees participated two of which left by the end of the year to take up employment.
GFL also worked with 24 trainees in a larger gardening group, primarily base at the Botanical Gardens in Victoria Park. During sessions, this larger group was split into sub-groups of six due to Covid regulations.
The trainees had a variety of mental health issues. They all had depression and/or anxiety in some form and all had low self-esteem and confidence. None were employed on a regular basis. They were very positive about their involvement with Grow for Life and the impact it had had on their lives. Confidence and self-esteem were improved and some were able to return to employment or further education as a result of the time they spent with GFL.
Group sessions were led by at least 2 volunteer garden leads. All our garden leads have attended mental health first aid training courses and 2 have attended courses run by Thrive UK, the leading social therapeutic horticulture organisation in the UK. 10 volunteers worked for GFL and contributed an estimated 410 hours in the year.
GFL’s profile in Bath increased thanks to its partnership with Parks which has led to wider recognition of the value of our work. Our Operations Manager has developed a profile within Bath’s health care sector and referrals are steadily increasing.
Financial review
Income for the year 2020/21 was £15,832 (£13,876 2019/20), the majority of which was individual donations. Expenditure for the year was £20,376 (£12,892 2019/20). We utilised the remainder of a two-year grant of £30,000 from St Johns Foundation which GFL received at the end of 2018. GFL’s main costs were part-time employment of an Operations Manager and a Horticulturalist.
Policy on Reserves
At the period end, it is holding just over £33k in free reserves. The Charity’s policy on reserves is to generate and maintain a balance which is sufficient to preserve the financial viability of the Charity in the event that unforeseen and/or unavoidable circumstance precipitate a shortterm fall in its income. At the current time the trustees consider this to be a minimum of six months expenditure.
Particulars of Any Outstanding Guarantee Given by Grow for Life
There are no outstanding guarantees given by GFL
Particulars of Any Outstanding Debt
We owed pension contribution of £ 43.
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees: Signed: ME Geake
Name …. Martin Geake
Date: 7th July 2021
Grow for Life Receipt and payment account For the Year to 31 January 2021
Year to January 2021 |
Year to January 2021 |
Year to January 2021 |
Year |
to January 2020 | to January 2020 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||||||
| 2 | 15,832 | 0 | 15,832 | 13,876 | 0 | 13,876 | |
| Donations and grants | |||||||
| 15,832 | 0 | 15,832 | 13,876 | 0 | 13,876 | ||
| Total receipts | |||||||
| Payments | |||||||
| Charitable activities | |||||||
| Activities relating to the | |||||||
| 3 | 2,389 | 17,986 | 20,375 | 0 | 12,892 | 12,892 | |
| work of the charity | |||||||
| 2,389 | 17,986 | 20,375 | 0 | 12,892 | 12,892 | ||
| Total payments | |||||||
| 13,443 | (17,986) | (4,543) | 13,876 | (12,892) | 984 | ||
| Net receipts/ (payments) | |||||||
| 19,966 | 17,986 | 37,952 | 6,090 | 30,878 | 36,968 | ||
| Cash funds at start of period |
|||||||
| 33,409 | 0 | 33,409 | 19,966 | 17,986 | 37,952 | ||
| CASH AT THE END OF THE YEAR |
|||||||
Grow for Life Statement of assets and liabilities As at 31 January 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||||
| Note | funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||
| CASH FUNDS | |||||||||
| Cash at bank and in hand |
6 | 33,409 | 0 | 33,409 | 19,966 | 17,986 | 37,952 | ||
| 33,409 | 0 | 33,409 | 19,966 | 17,986 | 37,952 | ||||
| OTHER MONETARY ASSETS |
|||||||||
| Due on Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
500 | 500 | |||||||
| Due from HMRC |
320 | 0 | 320 | ||||||
| Due on Gift aid | 1,550 | 0 | 1,550 | ||||||
| OTHER MONETARY ASSETS |
2,370 | 0 | 2,370 | ||||||
| LIABILITIES | 43 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 111 | 111 | |||
| ME Geake | |||||||||
| Signed on behalf of trustees |
|||||||||
| Name | Martin Geake | ||||||||
| 7thJuly 2021 | |||||||||
| Date |
Grow for Life Notes to the accounts For the Year ended 31 January 2021
1 Accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
The comparisons are for the year ended 31 January 2020.
Taxation
As a registered charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
Grants
Grants are recognised on receipt from the grant making body.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
Grow for Life Notes to the accounts
For the Year ended 31 January 2021
2 Grants and donations
| Year ended January 2021 | Year ended January | 2020 | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted |
Total | Unrestricted |
Restricted |
Total | |
| - | - | - | 10,000 | - |
10,000 |
|
| Seedbed Trust | ||||||
| 1,676 | 1,676 | |||||
| Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme |
||||||
| 14,156 | - | 14,156 | 3,876 | - |
3,876 |
|
| Voluntary donations and other trust donations |
||||||
| 13,876 | ||||||
| Total | 15,832 | - | 15,832 | 13,876 | - |
3 Payments - Charitable activities
| Year | ended January | 2021 | Year | ended January | 2020 | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted |
Total | Unrestricted |
Restricted | Total | |
| Salaries | 2,389 | 15,609 | 17,998 | 9,666 | 9,666 | |
| Training | 720 | 720 | 601 | 601 | ||
| Insurance | 691 | 691 | 654 | 654 | ||
| Marketing and Website |
489 | 489 | 1,240 | 1,240 | ||
| Tools and other costs |
477 | 477 | 731 | 731 | ||
| Total | 2,389 | 17,986 | 20,375 | 0 | 12,892 | 12,892 |
Grow for Life Notes to the accounts
For the Year ended 31 January 2021
4 Trustees expenses and remuneration
No trustee received any expenses or remuneration during this year or the previous period.
5 Related party transactions
£322.50 was paid to Martin Geake’s adult daughter for copywriting and designing of website. The other trustees assessed that the amount paid was less than what would have been charged on an arm’s length basis externally therefore this represented best value for the charity.
6 Restricted and unrestricted reserves
| Brought forward as | Income | Expenditure | Carry forward as at 31 January 2021 |
|
| at 1 February 2020 | ||||
| 17,986 | 0 | 17,986 | 0 | |
| St John’s Foundation | ||||
| 17,986 | 0 | 17,986 | 0 | |
| Total restricted reserves |
||||
| 19,966 | 15,832 | 2,389 | 33,409 | |
| Unrestricted reserves |
||||
| 37,952 | 15,832 | 20,375 | 33,409 | |
| Total Reserves/ Cash |
As discussed in the Trustees report, the St John’s Foundation gave this grant up front in December 2018 to be spent over the coming two years, hence why the spend was only fully spent in this year.