REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1178162
Report of the Trustees and
Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
for
Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
JBC Accountants Limited Chartered Accountants 3B Lockheed Court Preston Farm Stockton on Tees TS18 3SH
Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
| Page | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 | to | 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 7 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 8 | to | 14 |
Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2023. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objects of the charity are to carry on activities which benefit the community and in particular (without limitation), to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Stockton, Thornaby and surrounding areas, through the provision of education, training and workshops in nutrition and healthy cookery.
Significant activities
Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing commit to use food and nutrition to support our vulnerable adults and communities to improve their wellbeing through our community cooking clubs and cafes. Our clubs support social inclusion, reduce isolation whilst tackling food poverty and provide safe fully inclusive community spaces.
Since forming in 2011, Little Sprouts have made a real contribution to children, young people and adults in Stockton and surrounding areas. We have built strong partnerships across the VCSE and local communities to help achieve our ambitions and we work closely with our partners to ensure that cooking is used to bring communities together, to share skills and break down many social barriers.
The Little Sprouts team are passionate about food and the health and well-being of communities. We appreciate that the groups we work with often made poor food choices, opting for budget and nutritionally deficient options, leading to many health problems. With few people learning basic cooking skills and increased financial constraints, this contributes to the multifaceted issue of poor nutrition in our area.
Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty set out in section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charities Commission in respect of public benefit.
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities
We have continued to use food as an engagement tool, helping us to form connections with people, families and the community at large. The 'community shop' model we have created is a fully inclusive, non referral service, where people feel like they are going to an actual shop rather than receiving 'handouts'. Individuals can choose what food they would like/what they would like to eat that week, rather than being handed a bag of food, which may get wasted due to them not liking the food given/not knowing how to cook what they are given.
Through the diverse, community led and peer supported activities we run, we are able to address :
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Food poverty - collecting in surplus food from local stores and supermarkets and offering low cost store items;
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Poor nutrition;
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Financial stress;
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Isolation and loneliness;
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Mental health needs - largely through being present & offering a friendly face and accessible space without prejudice; - Wellbeing - via community gardening/open spaces projects, through listening & respecting every single person who accesses our offer and by providing 'Warm spaces' for anyone who needs it;
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Climate Change - through reducing landfill by collecting and redistributing over 100Kg of surplus food per week;
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Fuel poverty - providing warm spaces for people and access to CAB/welfare services;
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Community cohesion - working with and supporting the BAME community, the LGBTQ+ community, the Asylum & Refugee community, the youth community, the elderly & lonely and our local schools. We work hard to ensure there are no barriers to access for anyone using our services.
We do all of this by offering and providing:
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A culture of relationship based, trauma informed practice in all that we do;
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Community Shop & Community Café (currently accessible 2 full days per week);
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Hosting Cooking Workshops & teaching how to cook on a budget (which often leads to further conversations around hardship);
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Breakfast clubs - sharing current health promotions eg oral health, healthy eating;
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Youth café - giving young people a safe, supportive space to meet, eat, learn & create;
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'Pop Up in the Park' - providing free "on the doorstep" activities and food for all the family;
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Upskilling with training - via an accredited Level 2 Food hygiene course, Mental Health First Aid training, Safeguarding training and much more. This is available to our volunteers and anyone who accesses our services;
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Work, life and social experience to 5 people with learning disabilities via our community cafe;
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Partnership working - working closely with our Local Authority, local Police force, schools, VCSE sector, businesses
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& residents to provide a multifaceted approach to supporting the community and maintaining engagement;
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Recycling - redistributing donations of clothes, bedding, towels, shoes, kitchen goods (and soon 2nd hand electrical items) to people who need it the most at prices from 10p-£2;
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Providing volunteer opportunities, often for those who need a focus/something to look forward to/purposeful activity and who may be ignored/overlooked by other organisations.
Victoria Park
Our focus is to remove financial pressure from families so we can address the health inequalities in Mandale and Victoria Ward and central Stockton. We do this by community building through social occupations, offering various activities and initiatives to strengthen relationships, encourage collaboration and enhance the overall well-being of the community. This funding specifically will enable us to continue with our "pop-up" in the park model, offering free nutritious food for children via the community café on Victoria Park, and bringing in community sports partners to give families the opportunity to access free physical activities, during school holidays.
From July 2023 we have had access to the renovated Victoria Hall, managed by Thornaby Town Centre. We are keeping the prices as low as possible so the café can be accessed by all, especially those who would not normally be able to afford to go to a café. We recently held a "restaurant night", inviting local elderly residents to come and experience a home-cooked 3 course meal (with choices) helping to combat loneliness, bringing the community together whilst providing great food.
This is a "without barriers" project, no referrals, no need to sign up, no time commitments and family and individual inclusive.
In addition to the nutrition & physical activity connection, as a by-product of our interventions, we are also able to upskill our community, by offering volunteer opportunities at the events to raise aspirations by giving people respect and responsibility, promote community cohesion and reduce isolation, poverty & low mood whilst increasing physical activity and healthy eating.
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
The relationship based, "on the doorstep" approach that we take, allows us to connect with individuals on a human level. We find that people feel safer & more at ease when accessing smaller, local community provisions-like ours. We are viewed as less daunting/intimidating to the chronically disengaged & those with a mistrust of bureaucracy and larger organisations.
Arlington Park
We have an Eco Shop, cookery workshop and pop-up clothes/houseware items shop running at Arlington Park every Thursday. This project also runs alongside a growing session ran by Cultivate Tees Valley. Thursday is a hive of activity that has something for everyone, often by engaging with the Eco Shop we see the customers confidence grow and they start to engage by volunteering either in the garden or with the cookery workshop. Most often with using ingredients from the Eco Shop or garden we show people how to make a meal or sweet treat. We invite customers and volunteers to share their recipes and most recently had a vegan brownie recipe shared with us from one of our volunteers, which we have since made and went down a treat with everyone. During school holidays we have activities for the children and families, providing an environment for community cohesion.
Outreach
We have continued to work with VCSE partners on outreach cooking workshops, eg Eastern Ravens young carer and The Junction, Redcar youth programme.
We have successfully ran a Level 2 Food Hygiene course to upskill our volunteers and staff and as commissions via other VCSE organisations.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Income received during the year was £123,212 (2022: £127,309) and of this, £59,026 (2022: £72,799) was in respect of restricted funding.
At the year end, unrestricted funds amounted to £121,475 and restricted funds were £19,779. Cash at bank was £106,207. Funds are held to cover 4 months operational costs in the event of a loss of income and to meet any unforeseen expenditure that may occur.
Principal funding sources
Catalyst Stockton Teesside University North East Ladies Day The National Lottery Community Fund HSBC; Supporting our community Kabron Homes Limited North Star Housing Group Stockton-on-Tees BC Tees Valley Foundation Groundwork UK County Durham Community Foundation The Co-op The Teesside Charity Rotary Club Yarm Hopefields Noble Charitable Trust CareTech Foundation
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document
The charity is governed by its constitution dated 14 November 2017 and is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
There must be at least 3 and no more than 12 trustees appointed at any one time. Each trustee is appointed for a specific term at a meeting of the charity' trustees and will be reappointed or replaced at the end of the term.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
1178162
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
Principal address
4 Winpenny Close Yarm Cleveland TS15 9XG
Trustees
Mrs C Lowe Mrs K Shelley Mr G Niven (resigned 26/6/2023) Ms L Featherstone Ms E Rees Mrs J Naylor (appointed 27/6/2023) Mr O Abolade (appointed 12/9/2023)
Independent Examiner
JBC Accountants Limited Chartered Accountants 3B Lockheed Court Preston Farm Stockton on Tees TS18 3SH Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
........................................................................ Mrs C Lowe - Trustee
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Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing (the Trust) for the year ended 30 September 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 Trust 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.
Mrs Lynne Dickson
JBC Accountants Limited Chartered Accountants 3B Lockheed Court Preston Farm Stockton on Tees TS18 3SH
Date: .............................................
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
| Unrestricted funds Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 18,991 Charitable activities Health and Wellbeing 45,197 Total 64,188 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Health and Wellbeing 70,423 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (6,235) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 127,710 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 121,475 |
Restricted funds £ - 59,026 59,026 67,281 (8,255) 28,034 19,779 |
2023 Total funds £ 18,991 104,223 123,214 137,704 (14,490) 155,744 141,254 |
2022 Total funds £ 30,509 96,800 127,309 117,402 9,907 145,837 155,744 |
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The notes form part of these financial statements
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Balance Sheet
30 September 2023
| Unrestricted funds Notes £ FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 5 22,104 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 14,781 Cash at bank 88,647 103,428 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 7 (4,057) NET CURRENT ASSETS 99,371 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 121,475 NET ASSETS 121,475 FUNDS 8 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
Restricted funds £ 2,219 - 17,560 17,560 - 17,560 19,779 19,779 |
2023 Total funds £ 24,323 14,781 106,207 120,988 (4,057) 116,931 141,254 141,254 121,475 19,779 141,254 |
2022 Total funds £ 15,179 845 141,547 142,392 (1,827) 140,565 155,744 155,744 127,710 28,034 155,744 |
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The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Mrs C Lowe - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Fixtures and fittings - 25% on reducing balance
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 September 2023 nor for the year ended 30 September 2022.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 September 2023 nor for the year ended 30 September 2022.
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
3. STAFF COSTS
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| Health & Wellbeing No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 4. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted funds £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 30,509 Charitable activities Health and Wellbeing 24,001 Total 54,510 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Health and Wellbeing 41,077 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 13,433 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 114,277 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 127,710 |
2023 5 Restricted funds £ - 72,799 72,799 76,325 (3,526) 31,560 28,034 |
2022 6 Total funds £ 30,509 96,800 127,309 117,402 9,907 145,837 155,744 |
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Fixtures and fittings £ COST At 1 October 2022 23,573 Additions 2,100 At 30 September 2023 25,673 DEPRECIATION At 1 October 2022 8,394 Charge for year 4,320 At 30 September 2023 12,714 NET BOOK VALUE At 30 September 2023 12,959 At 30 September 2022 15,179 6. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade debtors 7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Trade creditors Taxation and social security Other creditors |
Motor vehicles £ - 11,858 11,858 - 494 494 11,364 - 2023 £ 14,781 2023 £ 250 2,553 1,254 4,057 |
Totals £ 23,573 13,958 37,531 8,394 4,814 13,208 24,323 15,179 2022 £ 845 2022 £ 907 - 920 1,827 |
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Community Cooking Hartisan Bread Project The Hart Cafe Community Hub Thornaby Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid Morrisons Foundation National Lottery Community Fund The Platinum Jubilee Fund The Five Lamps Org Youth North East Ladies Day fund Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1/10/22 £ 127,710 1,519 116 806 8,252 518 9,360 2,750 4,713 - - - 28,034 155,744 |
Net movement in funds £ (6,235) (380) (29) (202) 2,748 (129) (9,360) (2,750) (4,713) 4,200 360 2,000 (8,255) (14,490) |
At 30/9/23 £ 121,475 1,139 87 604 11,000 389 - - - 4,200 360 2,000 19,779 141,254 |
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Community Cooking Hartisan Bread Project The Hart Cafe Community Hub Thornaby Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid Morrisons Foundation National Lottery Community Fund The Platinum Jubilee Fund The Five Lamps Org Youth Tees Valley Community Grant Arlington park BAME Community Shop Coop; Hubbub Foundation UK - Community Fridge CDCF; PHP Social Prescribed Fund - workshop project Stockton Borough Council - Food Aid North East Ladies Day fund North Star Housing - Youth Work Teesside University; Together fund project Fareshare Subscription AMAL Project Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project HSBC; Supporting our community Kabron Homes; Community Shop TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 64,188 - - - 11,000 - - - - 16,800 1,534 500 3,000 4,426 2,250 1,200 800 3,900 600 6,000 5,766 1,250 59,026 123,214 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (70,423) (6,235) (380) (380) (29) (29) (202) (202) (8,252) 2,748 (129) (129) (9,360) (9,360) (2,750) (2,750) (4,713) (4,713) (12,600) 4,200 (1,534) - (500) - (3,000) - (4,426) - (2,250) - (840) 360 (800) - (3,900) - (600) - (4,000) 2,000 (5,766) - (1,250) - (67,281) (8,255) (137,704) (14,490) |
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Comparatives for movement in funds
| At 1/10/21 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 114,277 Restricted funds Community Cooking 14,761 Hartisan Bread Project 291 The Hart Cafe 1,075 Community Hub Thornaby 7,333 The National Lottery Awards for All 6,660 Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid 690 Sustain Eco Shops consultation and set up 750 Morrisons Foundation - National Lottery Community Fund - The Platinum Jubilee Fund - 31,560 TOTAL FUNDS 145,837 Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Incoming resources £ Unrestricted funds General fund 54,510 Restricted funds Community Cooking 25,472 Hartisan Bread Project - The Hart Cafe - Community Hub Thornaby 11,000 The National Lottery Awards for All - Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid - Sustain Eco Shops consultation and set up - Morrisons Foundation 11,232 MFC Foundation 1,200 National Lottery Community Fund 16,500 The Platinum Jubilee Fund 7,070 Victoria Park Jubilee Celebration 325 72,799 TOTAL FUNDS 127,309 |
Net movement At in funds 30/9/22 £ £ 13,433 127,710 (13,242) 1,519 (175) 116 (269) 806 919 8,252 (6,660) - (172) 518 (750) - 9,360 9,360 2,750 2,750 4,713 4,713 (3,526) 28,034 9,907 155,744 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (41,077) 13,433 (38,714) (13,242) (175) (175) (269) (269) (10,081) 919 (6,660) (6,660) (172) (172) (750) (750) (1,872) 9,360 (1,200) - (13,750) 2,750 (2,357) 4,713 (325) - (76,325) (3,526) (117,402) 9,907 |
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Balances held on Community Cooking, Hartisan Bread Project, The Hart Cafe and Sustain funds will be carried forward to meet future depreciation costs of equipment used by the projects.
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Little Sprouts Health and Wellbeing
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2023
8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Funding of £11,000 from North Star Housing has been received to support the work carried out at the Community Hub at Havelock Street in Thornaby. £11,000 of this funding will be carried forward to meet costs in 2023/24.
Funding from The National Lottery Community Fund through The Five Lamps Youth Partnership will be used to deliver youth led services in Stockton on Tees, focusing on 'grow your own' and upskilling the community. £4,200 will be carried forward to meet costs in 2023/24.
Funding of £6,000 from Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees, Fairer Start Stockton Project has been received to support cooking workshops, the community shop and VCSE meetings. £2,000 will be carried forward to meet costs in 2023/24.
Funding of £3,000 has been received from the Coop through the Hubbub Foundation UK to launch a community fridge which is open and accessible to diverse and local communities. All has been spent in the year.
Income from the Tees Valley Foundation, the County Durham Community Fund, Stockton-on-Tees BC, North East Ladies Day, Teesside University, HSBC and Kabron Homes Limited has been used in full during the year on the charity's community work including community shops, cafes, workshops, community gardens, courses and training.
9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 September 2023.
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