OpenCharities

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

2025-03-31-accounts

Friends of Windmill Gardens Annual Report – October 2025

As we approach the end to our 2023-2026 3-year business plan, the Board is starting work on the next period, so this report is presented in the format of the plan to offer a measure of our activities and progress in the last year. The financial reporting covers the financial year of April 2024 – 25 while the reporting on our activities covers the same period with additional information to bring you up to date over the current season. Following the conclusion of the 3-year NHLF funded post of Abel Holsborough working on outreach and volunteer engagement, this report includes excerpts from the monitoring report.

Our values

FOWG is inclusive and encourages diversity

We provide an enriching and inspiring experience for visitors and volunteers We are committed to environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of our local area.

We do this by being:

- Rooted in the community

- Friendly, open, cooperative and accountable

- Resilient, reflecting Brixton Windmill’s history since 1816

- Creative, pragmatic and supportive

- Ambitious for excellence in everything we do.

Strategic Objectives 2023-26

F riends, volunteers and local community

Develop the volunteer programme and widen participation

O ur Brixton Windmill Centre

A welcoming and inclusive hub for the community

W indmill and its history

Promoting the local heritage and widening access to our events

G ardens and park

Increase biodiversity and participating in wider green initiatives

Action Plan 2023-26 Summary

  1. Expand the volunteer base

  2. Develop a range of partnerships and projects to diversify income

  3. Continue to be a welcoming and inclusive hub

  4. Provide educational opportunities and resources

  5. Promote the windmill by developing marketing social media and comms and museum accreditation

  6. Develop the milling

  7. Become significantly more environmentally diverse

  8. Ensure the gardens are safe and accessible to all

2025 Update

1. Volunteering

Open days

There were 16 Brixton Windmill open days in the year from March 2024. The number of visitors who received guided tours between March and October 24, including ticketed full tours and free short tours, was 565. Provisional figures for the season from March to October 25 (including over 150 visitors during our recent Open House weekend) show a decrease to 430, which may have been affected by a drop-off in take-up of non-bookable short tours.

Thanks to our training programme in spring 2025, the pool of guides trained to cover open days has expanded. Our visitor feedback books contain hundreds of tributes to the guides' knowledge and expertise, and appreciation for FoWG's work in restoring the Windmill and opening it up to a wider public, who include local, national and international visitors. We are especially grateful to the loyal long-term volunteers in all roles who have been instrumental in supporting our events, training new recruits and leading by example.

Events

We held another successful programme of special events during the year. We never know who will come and what attendances will be like, but we are certainly cheered by the enthusiasm of the local community to support us and have a good time, sometimes in the face of challenging weather. It’s also an acknowledgment of the volunteers who set up the events, serve our visitors and make sure things run smoothly.

The events are key for income generation and visitor footfall when they coincide with the open days. It’s worth noting that in the example of the recent Harvest Festival, the greatest source of income was from donations, perhaps a measure of how much people value what happens here. The second biggest seller on the day was coffee and cake from our cafe, an acknowledgement of the role that baking and cafe volunteers play.

Between April 2024 and March 2025 we delivered 14 special events which attracted 2,500 people. These ranged from smaller events such as Bat Discovery Walks and Baking Workshops to larger events such as the Harvest Festival and Winter Market. There was no May Day event during the 24 to 25 period. Most of these events were supported by grant funding including Blenheim Gardens RMO, National Lottery Awards for All, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Ironmongers Company (Cooking Workshops for Young People).

During this period we also ran and hosted a range of regular wellbeing activities. These included weekly Tai Chi, Pilates, Yoga and Joy of Sound sessions. Our popular Community Club also ran every Thursday throughout the year. Our regular activities attract around 3,000 attendances (incidents of participation) annually. Across all activities and events, in 2023 we recorded 8,830 and 6,845 in 2024, mainly due to not holding a Mayday event.

Last May we staged the first Mayfest (that replaced the old Beer & Bread festival which out-grew the park with more than 2,000 visitors) was an instant success with enthusiastic attendance from just over a thousand people across the day, which is more sustainable. There was an appreciation of the greater emphasis on family-oriented craft activities, some of which are run by volunteers. The attendances for the other special events this year have

held up well on 2024’s figures so far.

Volunteer management

Takeup of the Assemble volunteer management system continued with around 110 registered across the roles of Baking, Cafe, Community Club, Education, Fundraising, Gardening, General, Maintenance, Miller, Tour Guide and Trustee . About 50% of volunteers have filled out the optional demographic questionnaire, and we would like more to do so, as it provides useful statistics associated with various activities and roles and can point to where we may work to increase representation within them.

Being a volunteer led organisation, I extend a huge thanks again to everyone who has contributed in each and every way. The NHLF evaluation report also provides some heartfelt acknowledgement for what you do:

Visitors repeatedly highlighted the enthusiasm and knowledge of tour guides and volunteers.

“The people that do the tour are really passionate about it. So you can feel it. It was great… a very unusual space… learning how the windmill works was obviously fun.”

A visitor’s perspective:

[A woman and her son] first encountered the Windmill at the Harvest Festival, where [the son], who is neurodivergent, spent hours engaging with the tactile experience of millstones. “It’s very sensory, and also it’s a good hyper focal point for him… really regulating.” When they returned for a tour, volunteers supported [the son] in climbing to the top. “I’m very proud… He was so interested in the mechanics that he was brave enough to go all the way to the top.”

From the report is’s worth reminding ourselves why we are here:

Volunteer Motivations (from Assemble data) Support my community – 24.5% Give something back – 17% Help a great cause – 17% Build new skills – 11%

Looking forward:

The evaluation report recorded useful feedback from visitors and volunteers which informs the current formulation of the next business plan:

On the last item, we are prioritising the generation of ideas for making sure that everyone feels supported and acknowledged, which often doesn’t come easily during the intensity of staging the events, and we welcome ideas and suggestions you may have towards this.

2. Partnerships and projects and

3. Welcoming and inclusive hub

The report on these two items is taken from the NHLF evaluation:

Brixton Windmill’s heritage and community offer is shaped and contributed to by a diverse group of volunteer collaborators and partners. These include artists, educators, tour guides, chefs, and wellbeing practitioners. Their contributions make the Windmill a welcoming, creative and social space. Key shared reflections are summarised below.

A welcoming and sensory-friendly space. Partners described the Windmill as a peaceful, creative place that feels close to nature. Its gardens and design make it accessible and enjoyable for many people, including autistic children, older adults with dementia, and those with mobility needs.

Bringing people together across generations. Projects like Joy of Sound and Eat Club use shared activities like cooking, music, and storytelling to build relationships amongst and between young and older people.

Social space, routine and tackling isolation . The Windmill is not only a place to learn about history. It’s also a safe, flexible space where people can meet, take part in activities, feel better, and build a sense of routine.

Building long-term trust and relationships . Many partners have worked with the Windmill for several years. They keep coming back because they share its values and feel trusted, bringing fresh ideas and involving new people each time.

On our commitment to diversity, the report noted the results of a visitor survey conducted during over of the open weekends and Mayfest:

The visitor survey in Spring 2025 had 53 responses (42-45 to the demographic questions). Ongoing data collection is useful to build the visitor profile picture. The responses indicated a majority female audience, with most aged 26–44 and a predominantly White or White British ethnic profile, though with a range of self-described identities. 27% identified as LGBTQIA+, 14% as neurodivergent or living with a mental health condition, and 5% reported a disability or long-term health condition.

From my point of view, our supply of a shared physical space and encounter where all are welcome is incredibly important in a world where it’s so easy to spend more time online with its in-built tendencies towards disparate and polarized bubbles. In addition to providing shared experiences, related to this is the wider tendency of people not feeling served by national and international politics, yet I’m sure I share with many here a confidence that what we do is an antidote to that: we have a direct immediate and cumulative beneficial impact on our community and this area.

4. Educational opportunities and resources

Between April 2024 to March 2025 we delivered 25 workshops for schools and nurseries. The Our Little Red Hen workshop is the most popular for nursery groups, reception and Y1. Meet the Miller, Flour Power and Robbed of Wind Sessions continue to be popular with older classes. Teachers continue to give positive feedback and classes are always excited to take home the flour they’ve produced on the hand querns.

Visitor comments in NLHF Evaluation report demonstrates an appreciation of the educational element of our events and open days:

“We live just around the corner, and I’d heard about the Windmill even before we moved here—it’s one of the last standing windmills in London, so I knew it was something special. When I came with [my son], he was three at the time, and it ended up being such a fun and unusual experience for us. The tour guides were so passionate—you could really feel it—and the space itself is just lovely. He really enjoyed seeing how the windmill works. At home we make pizza and biscuits, but he’d never thought about where flour actually comes from. So seeing that process in real life, it really stuck with him” .

“It was one of the first times I had a guided tour with my son. So I think I will remember [it] for my entire life. Because it was a very bonding experience for the two of us. I felt it was engaging, not too long, not too short. And for him, it was very visual. Like, he noticed details that I didn’t even see. He was really impressed”

Looking forward:

5. Marketing and comms

We have diversified the variety of posts on social media, including use of more photos, and including more milling and history posts.

Local celebrities continue to re-post for some of our events from time to time.

We have utilised over £700 worth of donated meta ads funds to promote events, trustee vacancies, volunteering delivering over 350,000 impressions. We are also making use of free google ad grants for ongoing outreach for volunteers, education and events and special events.

The year on year increase in page views is 37% ( close to the 40% of previous year). The most popular page views are, Events, Visits, Venue hire, History, Volunteering and Shop

We have been featured in the last 3 months by both Time Out and Londonist as one of London's top best hidden gems to visit. We were also featured in the Financial Times as one of top locations for the Open House weekend on September 25, thanks to one of our

previous business ambassadors, Mark Ealy who is still active with the Friends.

We have supported the production of a new video featuring London’s surviving windmills (out in November 25 on “The History of London - Peter Stone” Youtube channel)

Looking forward:

6. Milling

Wholesale & retail bag suppliers

We’re pleased to currently be supplying Hello Jojo’s bakery and cafe in Camberwell with wholesale and retail flour bags. We’re also supplying Brixton Wholefoods and Maya’s Bakehouse in Tulsa Hill with retail bags. We were also due to send some retail bags to Wimbledon Windmill’s Community Day in September, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather, but we have made a good contact there and will hopefully be able to collaborate in the future.

We would like to develop our suppliers further in the next 12 months but we are heavily reliant on volunteer drivers/cyclists to help with deliveries.

Milling and grain supply

We are coming to the end of our supply of April bearded grain from Court Farm in Kent, and in mid-August we took delivery of half a tonne of organic Mulika grown in Stratford-upon-Avon, delivered in 15kg sacks which are much easier to handle. We’re grateful to Gilchesters for helping us organise this delivery.

Looking forward:

We aim to run a milling session every fortnight, one on a Wednesday morning and one on a weekend, to try and accommodate different volunteers and their commitments and availability. We are always keen to welcome new volunteers to the milling ‘pool’ and especially drivers and cyclists who’re able to help with deliveries.

7 & 8. Park

We hold monthly gardening workshops on the first Saturday of the month (from 1pm-3.30pm) all year round, and supplement this by hosting occasional corporate volunteering days and some extra gardening sessions mainly during the summer months. I trust that volunteers and visitors have noticed how well the produce in the kitchen garden at the back of the Centre has been growing. The raised beds by the playground contain vegetables and together with the enhancement of the herb garden are currently part of a grant funded project with young adults from Share Community working with Urban Canopy

and the Friends.

Looking forward:

Despite very challenging finances, our Lambeth officers are keen to be more proactive and collaborative with the Friends on specific matters around the park and we are thankful for good relations with them. In a recent walkabout to identify priorities, the following were identified:

Key matters across the action plan and priorities

Fundraising

Our fundraising group dedicated to monitoring grant funding opportunities and making grant applications meets every 6-8 weeks. We have continued to be successful securing funds for both specific projects and funding packages of varied duration to support the 60+ Community Club, the events programme and wellbeing activities.

Grants and funds

Activities and projects are currently being funded from the following grant givers:

Current priorities

Some grants are one-off so we constantly work at maintaining the diversity of sources to keep the level of our offer secure. We are currently working on a large application for expanding a staff post for deepening the co-ordination of volunteers and the Assemble management system, and a small application for an evening community offer at the Centre in the form of Latin dance sessions. Future priorities will be directed by the incoming Business and Action Plan.

Buildings and maintenance

Windmill

The fabric of the windmill deteriorated noticeably over the winter of 2024-25 with failure of some sail shutters, degradation of the tar and the growth of moss and weeds. Under challenging budget conditions, Lambeth arranged for the replacement of the patent sail shutters but the job is not yet finished and the sails cannot yet be operated.

Officers are also commissioning some immediate repairs and are planning to install a powerful fan to provide a more constant air flow when the building isn’t occupied to help keep the fabric dryer. A full structural and fabric report is being commissioned to inform the extent and nature of longer term repairs and maintenance with a view to formulating a joint Friends and Lambeth funding bid for capital works.

Brixton Windmill Centre

The building continues to serve us well, but the cladding deteriorated further during the last year and some of the shutters became too difficult to operate. As these issues go beyond the expected general maintenance for which we are responsible, Lambeth’s officers and Squire & Partners convened to look at the technical issues in detail and propose solutions. S&P undertook some temporary repairs in which the worst affected planks were replaced, and the main entrance shutter has been eased. Matters are being put into hand to replace the remaining broken planks, increase the amount of fixings and reinforce the top of the parapet.

We would still like to build up a small team of volunteers to help with maintenance tasks around both of the buildings. Priorities include more shelving in the store room to make way for making the water meter accessible and installing a washing machine, which is needed for the miller’s PPE.

Park Access Campaign

The consultation phase amongst the local community received overwhelming support for improvements. We established that Housing is responsible for the area in question, though it’s more of a Highways issue.

We are continuing liaison with stakeholders and the local council to look at how improvements can be funded but in the context of the difficult financial situation for Lambeth Council it is not a priority.

We need to work further on writing to / emailing / contacting our local councillors to gain support for this.. We are also seeking informed advice on which aspects to raise to most effectively leverage the Council’s responsibilities, such as safety and accessibility.

Governance Matters / Board

During the last period, we have had the benefit of the first year of Edgar D’Mello's and

Yaniv Fransez's engagement.

Edgar's work as treasurer has been bringing clarity to our complex finances derived from multiple grant awards that cover different periods with varied overlaps and trading income from the events and use of the Windmill centre. The results of this are presented in the financial report. I also thank him for his patience in dealing with very bureaucratic processes involved with developing our banking arrangements.

Yaniv is currently leading on the development of the 2026 business plan, an update of which is being presented at this AGM.

The current board of Trustees is presented on the separate organisational chart. We are always wanting to add strength and skills to the group and are currently recruiting for people interested in developing the membership and a board level link to the park and gardening activities, along with a Vice Chair.

We are grateful to Edgar Sutcliffe who stood down from the board this year but remains a volunteer and our Safeguarding officer.

Regarding staffing, following the end of Abel Holsborough's employment on outreach and volunteering, we would like to continue with a similar post alongside Catherine to concentrate on administering and developing the Assemble system, the volunteer experience and staging of events. We are working on a funding application with a view to the appointment early next year.

The NHLF evaluation highlighted a need for greater direct supportive connection from trustees to the staff, which we have implemented and will take care to maintain and develop. We thank Catherine for her great work as Centre Manager and for how she always sets a cheerful and welcoming tone for all who come here.

Nicholas Weedon Chair October 2025

Contents Page
Trustees'Report 2
lndependentExaminefsReport 4
Statement ofFinancial Activities 5
Balance Sheet 6
Notes totheFinancial Statement I

of theC
Theme Strategies
Friends, volunteersand o Developourvolunteerprogrammetoincreaseparticipation
localcommunity especially amongst peoplewithdisabilities, ethnic minoritiesand
the young.
. Developarangeofpartnershipswithlocalorganisationsand
businessesthatgenerate revenue through centrehireand event
sponsorship.
OurBrixtonWindmill . Buildawelcominginclusive hub fortheLambeth community which
centre meets local needs and contributes to their success and well-being.
. Rollout oureducationprogrammeacross moreschoolsin
Lambeth.
Windmillandits a Celebrate two centuriesofhistorybypromoting the\A/indmill's
local heritage and widening accesstoour events.
history a Continuetomakeour milling programme auniquevolunteer
experience and provide flourtolocal people and businesses.
Gardens and parks a lncrease\MndmillGardens diversitybygrowingour ownwheat and
participatingintheLondon NationalParkCity andGoParks
London.
o Ensure our green space canbeaccessed and enjoyedby adiverse
rangeof locals focusing onyoungpeople and estate residents.

FOWG - STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVIT]ES FOWG - STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVIT]ES FOWG - STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVIT]ES
FORTHEYEARENDED31 MARCH 2025
INCOMINGRESOURCES 2025 2024
f f
Grantsandawards*Note1 115,055 3L,743
Donations-Note2 11.,625 8,196
Tradinglncome-Note3 46,917 52,431
Membership lncome 503 730
Other lncome a q
Total lncome t74,lol 93,100
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Staff costs 54,237 54,448
Premises costs-Note 4 33,786 15,448
Training & development 2,039 1,3O7
Licence&Membership 378 558
Merchandiseexpenses 631 3,693
ActivitiesExpenses-Note5 22,A99 11,130
Professional fees 2,342 2,166
Administrationexpenses -Note6 6,641 16,838
Depreciation 0 1,659
Othercosts 0 Ll
Website 2.880 2,160
Totalresources expended 125,A25 109,419
Net movementinfunds 49.076 -16.318
Balanceat1April 70,274 26,592
Balanceat31March s9.3s0 t0,274

BALANCESHEETAT31 MARCH 2025
FIXED ASSETS 2025 2024
f E
Centre Equipment 0 0
CURRENT ASSETS
Pettycash 420 2s4
Bank balance 1t9,754 115,975
PayPal 2s9 92
Debtors !3,713 8,778
Totalcurrentassets 134,146 124,499
CURRENTTIABITITIES
Deferredgrants-Note1 -66,691 -108,524
Creditors -8,105 -5,701
Net currentassets 59,3s0 10,274
Total netassets s9,350 to.274
FUNDS
Designated reserve 5,000 5,000
General reserve 25,000 0
Unrestricted funds 29,3s0 5,274
TotalFunds 59,350 to,274