Grow for Life Charlty Number. 1173914 Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 January 2024
Grow for Llfe Trustees reportfor the year ended 31 lanuary 2024 Reference and admlnththp delalls ofthe charlty. Its trustees and advlsors The trustees durfng the financial period and up to and indudlng the date the report was appn)ved were: Offkt(If (wJ i: Martln Geake 24Juty 2017 7 July 2021 2: Phllllp Blacker 24Juty 2017 13 October 2023 3: Denlse Welkert 16 May 2019 6 Juty 2022 4: Dr Ala Eldrldge )19 March 2023 s: Dr Peg Bavln Butler 7 Jwty 2021 & Ted Lltthfleld 7 luly 2021 7 Triitram Ixwis 19 Octobtr 2022 Charlty number The charity was reglstered wlth the Charlty Commtsskon for England and Wales, number 1173914. on 24Ju]y 2017. Reglsternd andprlnclpal addr 548 Wellsway Bath BA2 2UE Names &Addr ofBonk Lltyls Bank 47 Milsom Street, Bath. BAI IDN
Grow for Llfe Trustees report for the year ended 31 lanuary 2024 Structure. governance and nllagement The charity Is reglstered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and is governed by a constitution adopted on 24 July 2017. Trustses determlne the strate&v and p)licy ofthe charity. When staff are appolnted they report to the boar¥1 oftrustees. Thistees must have an actlve commltment to the objects ofthe charity. The board of trustees selects and appolnts new trustees who are chosen for the5r expertise. Trustees are all required to read the Charity Commission's guldellnes on the role of charftable trustees and also to famlliarlse themselv&8 with the charitys work on the ground. The trustees have the pleasure of presenting the accounts for the year ending 31 January 2024 with comparison for the year ended 31 January 2023. OblectI and actlvfides Grow for Ufe (GFL) vras registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organlsatlon fin Juty 2017 and the objects were updated in September 2023, approved by a]1 trustees and the Charity ommfisslon. The new objects are to assist in the treatment and care of persons in Eng]and and Wales who are experiendng mental or physical ill health or low self-confidence, through the provision of therapeutlc 8ardenin& horticulture training and companionshlp. These objects are to be pursued in accordan with the prinaples and values of the Chrlstian faitlL Summary ofthe Maln Actlvltles Undertaken lor the Publlc Benefit In Relatlon to the Charltys Oblects Grow for Life provides therdpeutic gardening for people struggling with life, espedalty those suffering wfith depression and/or anxiety conditions. Working outdoors fn a ganlen is enjoyable and produ¢tlve and wes trainees. who we now call Gardeners. a sense of wellbelng and achfievemenL The char5ty alms to increase the confidence and self-esteem of its Gardeners equipplng them wlth gardening and sociat skllls. thereby providlng a potendal route into employment or meanin8ful activity. We work in teams with Gardeners partiapatlng weekty In a morning or an afternoon sess50n. We make the sessions InfOrntiVe, fun and safe. GFL works In both private and public gardens, in particular Bath Botan5cal Garden& The hosts of the prfvate gardens where we work need asslstance due to old age or Infirnifity. In late 2021 GFL took on a lease frnm the Duchy of Cornwall on an abandoned walled rden in Newton St Loe. While stlll a work In progress, It fis being transformed into a productive vegetable garden and a superb resource for training and therapy. This Walled Garden and fits adjofinlng orchard are now the centre of GFLS operations and will be a key resource fin enabling GFL to expand its activities and reach more Gardener& A larEe poiytunnel has been
Grow for Llfe Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2024 built on slte together with two Wcs and a tool shed. As a resulL It Is now wsslble to operate sesslons year-round. GFL also started an orchard pnmln& harvesting and pressing activity. We have visited special needs homes and other venues and Involved vulnernble partlcipants th the process ofmaldng apple lulce. This has proved very popular. Statutory Declaratlon The trustees declare that they have complled with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties. surnnry ofthe Main Achlevements Our core actsvities and outputs centre around weekly session& These are run by our part-time members of staff assisted by an amazing and wing anny of volunteers who contributed 1839 hours In 2023. Wfithln thts we've recelved HIL fundralslng and strateglc rnanagement support from volunteers who heard of us through BBC &irdeners World who visited and filmed at the Walled Garden in April. Over the year we have developed the walled garden. This has 8iven the charity a superb base from which to offer a wider, more comprehensive learning exper5ence to our Gardeners. In future we wlll be able to recelve a wlder range of groups with special needs due to the safe nature of the garden and its faalities. Together with our access to Bath Parks. we now have excellentvenues to host a wlde range of clfient GFL has several weekty sesslons ongoln& One fs a starter group at the Walled Garden for new refen71s. One Is at St Martins School Odd Down trA partnership with St Philips and St James Church. One is a peripatetic group that moves from venue to venue- the Walled Garde Haycombe Cemetery (for Parks). private gardens of (3re homes and needy individuals. The aim of this group is to get the Gardeners out and about and ready for employment. Another is a new Herbs and Nature course held at the Parks Nurseries whlch Is to be run three tlmes a year. The excellent working relationship with Bath Parks Dept continues. GFL has built new partnerships in 2023 to enable the GFL model to be more wldely used and to attrdrt an increasfing number of particlpant& In particular. the charity has a partnershfip wlth Boys fin Mind (Bim) & a local secondary school. with a group of boys. who have issues with their mental health meeting at the Walled Ganlen weeldy. The sessfions teach the boys hortficulturdl and social skills. giving them more confidence and less anxiety. We hope to expand thls tr) other secondary schools In the area as the model appears to have been very positively received by the school. GFL also ran a horticultuTrl therapy course for Genesls Trust benefidarles and we plan to run this annual]y. The next sesslons commence In Aprll. In additfion to the above. we have contlnued to hold orchaNI prunfin& haThestin& presslng and juicing days which are very popular. Over the year 74 partiapants benefitsd from the work of GFL Of these 34 were new referrdls and 16 were frnm the partnerships with Boys in Mind and Genesis. Expandlng our numbers of Gardeners and our partnershlps is a key objectlve for 2024.
Grow for Llfe Trustees report for the year ended 31 lanuary 2024 In total over 2023 there have been 1428 hour5 of supported therapeutlc ganlening across the different groups. We recognise that many of our Gardeners have benefited from more than 12 weeks of sessfions gardening wfith us, and as part of our strategic ambition to increase numbers reached by our therapeutic sessions we need to encourage our existing Gardeners to consider thelr longer terni ambfitions and goals. We are starting to network with existing local gardening 0upS to promote the 'next steps. in our Gardeners. Journeys. All our Gardeners undertake an inltial assessment with our Gardenerfs Support Manager and a follow up Tlourish revie at the end ofthe block of sessions they attend. From our most rent cohort of Gardener& 96% experienced improved mental health and self-confidence, a8alnst our target of 80%. Most of the Gardeners progress in a remarkably short space of tkne which reflects the high quality ofsupport and therapy that we are able to provlde. One of the Gardeners has now transitioned into becoming a core volunteer wlth GFL, taking on more responsibility for supporting new Gardeners referred to us In subsequent session blocks. We realty value hfis Input and can see the potentlal for hls growth within our team in supporting new referrals to Grow for life. Two others have taken on part-tlme roles wlth GFL Due to the expansion of Grow for L5fe. the trustees deterniined that there was a need to recrult a part-tlme Director to lead and manage the charity. The post was advertised internally and externally on the GFL website and followin8 thorough interviews by trustees. DrAlex Eldrfidge was appointed in Aprll 2023. We are also joining up with a local charfity. Toodcyde- who prDvide meals to lordl farnilies, and they are usfng our surplus vegetables to support others in need Vegetables wn at St Martln's Garden school are shared with the families who use the food pantry there. Thts year we have started getting feedback from regular volunteers who are key to our success. Many of them shared the benefits of volunteering with GFL on their own mental wellbelng. Most of our volunteer hours are made up of individuals supporting one of GFLS weekly group& Flnanclal review Income for the year 2023124 was £82.302 (£58,517 2022123) of which £33.415 was restrlcted (£16.370 prior year). Expendfiture for the year Wds £69,526 (£71,1412022123) this was spllt between unrestricted £42.688 (£38.421 prior year) and restrlcted £26.838 expendfiture (£32.720 prior year). GFL'S main costs were for the part-ijme emplosrynent of staff and the development of the walled garden. Pollcyon Reserves At the perlod end. it is holding just under £41k in free reserve& The Charity's policy on reserves is to generate and malntain a balance which is sufficient to preserrfe the finandal viabillty of the Charity in the event that unforeseen and/or unavoidable circumstances precipitate a short-terni fall in its income. At the currenttlme the trustees consider this to be a mlnlmum ofslx months expenditure which is around £35k so our free reserves meet thls policy.
Grow for Llfe Trustees report for the year ended 31 January 2024 Particulars ofAny Outstandlng Guarantee Glven by Grow for Ufe There are no outstanding guarantees given by GFL Partlculars of Any Outstandlng Debt We owed pension contribution of £286 Signed on behalf of the boanl of trustees: Signed: Name... Date: .. SILAIY 201
Grow for Llfe Recelpt and payment account For the Yearto 31 lanuary 2024 34 48.379 33,415 81.794 42,113 16.370 58.483 48.887 33.415 41147 16,370 58J17 42,688 26,838 69.526 38.421 31720 71.141 42.688 26.838 69,526 38.421 32,720 71,141 6.199 6,577 12.776 (16.3) (iU24) 34.635 34,635 16,39) 47JYJ THE YEAR 40,834 6.577 47,411 34.635 34ffj35
Grow for Life Statement of a&8ets and liabilities As at 31 January 2024 Cash al bank dlnha 40.834 6,577 ¥.Ei 47.411 34*35 34W5 40034 577 47811 34035 34ffj35 MONrrARY ASSKIS 2.1(K) 2.11)0 tkn on Gift aid 21 1.250 1.271 1,165 2,101 MONETARY ASSLIS 21 1.250 1271 1,165 4201 258 28 Name &aA g JULY ZOZ¥
Grojv for Life Notes to the accounts For the Year ended 31 January 2024 l Accountlng pollcles Basts ofaccounthig The trustees have taken advantage of sectton 133 of the Charltles Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis. The comparlsons are for the year ended 31 January 2023. Taxatlon As a registered charity the OTrEantsatfion benefits from rates rellef and ts 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 Grdnts are recognlsed on reipt from the grant maklng body. Fund accountlng Unrestrlrted funds are avafilable for use at the dtscretlon of the trustees in furtheran of the general objectlves of the charity. Restrlrted funds are subjected to reSctIonS on thetr expendlture Imposed by the donor or through the tenns of an appeal. Further explanatlon of the nature and purpose of eath fund Is Included In the notes to the account&
Grow for Life Notes to the *cllts For the Yearended 31 January 2024 2 Grants and donatlons Total 2,831 1831 5.752 5.752 15.000 I5.1)} 45,548 33,415 78.963 36.361 1.370 37.731 Totsl 48J79 33A15 81.794 42J13 16J70 58,483 3 Payments- Cbarltable a¢dvldes Salaries and nsultants 32,591 24.373 56.964 34.888 10,641 45,529 Training 1.104 1,104 381 120 501 469 780 780 Marketing Website 772 7(KJ 1.472 Other costs 1,418 1,418 1,600 8arden non staffcosts 5.826 1465 8291 21.259 21,259 42.688 69J26 3V21 31720 71,141
Grow for Life Notes to the aCCOUDts For the Year ended 31 January 2024 4 Trustees expenses and remunerath>n No trustee recefved any expenses or remunerntlon during thts year or the prevlous perfiod. at 31 J•M40ry 10 18.5(X) 15.5(M) 3.0(K) 3.665 1465 1.2CK) 11.250 8.873 2.377 33,415 6,577 34.635 48.887 42.688 40,834 Totsl R•*rn 34h35 82J02 69J26 47AII
24. RespoTrsltsllllles and bA•ls of lep¢ As the chaiitys trustO8s you ar8 responsknkn tr tr prwrntkni of the ac(rAnts in arAx>rdartt t requements ofthe CharitKs Ad 20111tr Arfl I report in respect of my èxalrthat of th• ctorty$ a¢cyJrts Ca1•d (Njt ur¥Jer s•dknn 145 of the kt and In carying out my •xarrKaton I hav• foiftrmed all tho •pplK•bk Dire(ions by tha Chaiity Con¥)iss#)n under selln 14515Xb) oftheAct I haNt corrsjleted ry exarrination. I confirm that M mat10] hav¢ come to my attent in conmctlon accounting records vMe n( k¥pt in rw¢rt dtt ¢lrty as sedion 130 oflheArt or the accounts do not accord w#h rteords". the accounts do not coffyty with apWic¥bf• rw4w0lts ccrtemiru the frjrm and content of a¢¢ounts set out in the Chaiiti•s (Aecwrts R•potsl R?gUknS 2¢Y)8 rAhor than any r•quirnm&nt that th aoUnts gr a Irue and is not a ¢jr•I •$ yl Of indtrpendent exarrffiation. Sh1 b• drnem in ttw$ roport in orf8rts) a wiper urrflwst8ThIirffj ofth& •oXts to b• Teathed. Matlhtht Gw• Small FG4 8erk Hall mars11 Linknd 8 Charlotte Stre8t Bath 12NE 5 Juty 24