Grow for Life Charity Number: 1173914
Trustees' Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 January 2023
Grow for Life Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2023
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 | 7 July 2021 |
| 2: | Phillip Blacker | 24 July 2017 | 24 June 2020 | |
| 3: | Denise Weikert | 16 May 2019 | ||
| 4: | Dr Alex Eldridge | 20 November | Stood down 1 | |
| 2019 | March 2023 | |||
| **5: ** | Dr Peg Bavin Butler | 7 July 2021 | ||
| 6. | Ted Litchfield | 7 July 2021 | ||
| 7 | Tristram Lewis | 19 October 2022 |
Charity number
The charity was registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1173914, on 24 July 2017.
Registered and principal address
548 Wellsway
Bath
BA2 2UE
Names & Address of Bank
| Name | Address & Postcode | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank: | Lloyds Bank | 47 Milsom Street , Bath, BA1 1DN |
Grow for Life Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2023
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 2023 with comparison for the year ended 31 January 2022.
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, who we now call Gardeners, a sense of wellbeing and achievement. The charity aims to increase the confidence and self-esteem of its Gardeners equipping them with gardening and social skills, thereby providing a potential route into employment or meaningful activity.
We work in teams with Gardeners participating weekly in a morning or an afternoon session. We make the sessions informative, fun and safe. GFL works in both private and public gardens, in particular Bath Botanical Gardens. The hosts of the private gardens where we work need assistance due to old age or infirmity.
In late 2021 GFL took on a lease from the Duchy of Cornwall on an abandoned walled garden in Newton St Loe. While still a work in progress, it is being transformed into a productive vegetable garden and a superb resource for training and therapy. This Walled Garden and its adjoining orchard are now the centre of GFL’s operations and will be a key resource in enabling GFL to expand its activities and reach more Gardeners. A large polytunnel has been built on site together with two WCs and a tool shed. As a result, it is now possible to operate sessions year-round.
GFL also started an orchard pruning, harvesting and pressing activity. We have visited special needs homes and other venues and involved vulnerable participants in the process of making apple juice. This has proved very popular.
Grow for Life Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2023
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 completed two City & Guilds courses 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. 14 Gardeners attended the course.
GFL provided therapy for 24 Gardeners in larger groups, one based at the Walled Garden and one in a variety of private and public gardens across Bath with a further 6 in a group set up in partnership with St Philips and St James Church, Odd Down. 30 vulnerable participants took part in the new orchard activities.
The charity’s model of training and practical experience for people affected by low confidence, anxiety, depression, or isolation has proved highly effective. Working in small groups, Gardeners are taught horticultural skills and gain experience in a variety of settings and at the same time learn social skills to help them overcome isolation and build relationships. Regular reviews with Gardeners revealed the following impact:
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100% reported more confidence, with half reporting a lot more confidence.
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96% reported that their mental health had improved of which half said it had improved a lot.
-
Improved mental health and increased confidence has led to Gardeners being able to commit to training or further education, take up work experience opportunities, engage with job coaches, or apply for jobs. As a result, of the 44 Gardeners GFL worked with during 2022, 11 achieved a City & Guilds qualification in practical horticulture, 8 secured part-time or full-time work, and 2 volunteered for other charities.
Group sessions were led by at least two garden leads. All our garden leads have attended mental health first aid training courses and three have attended courses run by Thrive UK, the leading social therapeutic horticulture organisation in the UK. GFL has a brilliant and enthusiastic team of 4 very part-time staff and 18 volunteers. The volunteers contributed an estimated 580 hours in the year. Some of these volunteers have worked with the gardening groups, others have worked on restoration of the Walled Garden and yet others have helped with fundraising and admin tasks.
Financial review
Income for the year 2022/23 was £58,517 (£49,909 2021/22). Expenditure for the year was £71,141 (£36,056 2021/22) this was split between unrestricted (£38,421) and restricted (£32,720) expenditure. GFL’s main costs were for the part-time employment of staff and the development of the walled garden.
Policy on Reserves
At the period end, it is holding just over £34k 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
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Grow for Life Receipt and payment account For the Year to 31 January 2023
| Year to January 2023 | Year to January 2023 | Year to January 2023 | Year to January 2022 | Year to January 2022 | Year to January 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | |||||||
| Interest | 34 | 34 | |||||
| Donations and grants | 2 | 42,113 | 16,370 | 58.483 | 33,556 | 16,350 | 49,906 |
| Total receipts | 42,147 | 16,370 | 58,517 | 33,556 | 16,350 | 49,906 | |
| Payments | |||||||
| Charitable activities | |||||||
| Activities relating to the | |||||||
| work of the charity | 3 | 38,421 | 32,720 | 71,141 | 36,056 | 0 | 36,056 |
| Total payments | 38,421 | 32,720 | 71,141 | 36,056 | 0 | 36,056 | |
| Net receipts/ (payments) | 3,726 | (16,350) | (12,624) | (2,500) | 16,350 | 13,850 | |
| Cash funds at start of period |
30,909 | 16,350 | 47,259 | 33,409 | 0 | 33,409 | |
| CASH AT THE END OF THE YEAR |
34,635 | 0 | 34,635 | 30,909 | 16,350 | 47,259 | |
Grojw for Llfe St•¢emrnt of assets *Dd liibilitk8 As •t 31 January 2023 ash at 16J5• 47359 MONETARY 2188 2J¥B 936 1,165 75 1.165 OTHER MOP4EfARY A&SETS 1.165 28 Name IIILLIP £
Grow for Life Notes to the accounts For the Year ended 31 January 2023
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 2022.
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 2023
2 Grants and donations
| Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2022 | Year ended January 2022 | Year ended January 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total |
| 5,752 | - | 5,752 | 900 | - | 900 |
| 0 | - | 0 | 1,000 | - | 1,000 |
| - | 15,000 | 15,000 | - | - | - |
| 36,361 | 1,370 | 37,731 | 31,656 | 16,350 | 48,006 |
| 42,113 | 16,370 | 58,483 | 33,556 | 16,350 | 49,906 |
3 Payments - Charitable activities
| Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2023 | Year ended January 2022 | Year ended January 2022 | Year ended January 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | ||
| Salaries and consultants |
34,888 | 10,641 | 45,529 | 31,934 | 0 | 31,934 | |
| Training | 381 | 120 | 501 | 778 | 0 | 778 | |
| Insurance | 780 | 0 | 780 | 729 | 0 | 729 | |
| Marketing and Website |
772 | 700 | 1,472 | 1,926 | 0 | 1,926 | |
| Tools and other costs |
1,600 | 0 | 1,600 | 689 | 0 | 689 | |
| Walled garden non staff costs |
0 | 21,259 | 21,259 | ||||
| Total | 38,421 | 32,720 | 71,141 | 36,056 | 0 | 36,056 |
Grow for Life Notes to the accounts For the Year ended 31 January 2023
4 Trustees expenses and remuneration
No trustee received any expenses or remuneration during this year or the previous period.
5 Related party transactions
£845 was paid to Martin Geake’s adult daughter for copywriting. 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 at 1 February 2022 |
Income | Expenditure | Carry forward as at 31 January 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Social Entrepreneur Fund |
0 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 0 |
| Walled Garden | 16,350 | 1,370 | 17,720 | 0 |
| Total restricted reserves |
16,350 | 16,370 | 32,720 | 0 |
| Unrestricted reserves |
30,909 | 42,147 | 38,421 | 34,635 |
| Total Reserves/ Cash |
47,259 | 58,517 | 71,141 | 34,635 |
The South West Social Entrepreneur fund awarded us a grant which was fully utilised in the year on specific items. During the year, the walled garden project was started and the restricted funds raised last year were utilise in the infrastructure, staffing and setting up of this new project. Additional costs of this project, not funded from restricted income, were met by un restricted funds.
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Grow For Life
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 January 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters 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.
Matthew George Small FCA ICAEW Berkeley Hall Marshall Limited 6 Charlotte Street Bath BA1 2NE
13 October 2023