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2025-09-30-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1178162

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

for

Sprouts Community Food Charity

JBC Accountants Limited Chartered Accountants 3B Lockheed Court Preston Farm Stockton on Tees TS18 3SH

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

Page
Report of the Trustees 1 to 5
Independent Examiner's Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 to 15

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. 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

Sprouts Community Food Charity commits 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, Sprouts has 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 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.

Page 1

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

Sprouts Community Food Charity has continued to work to combat food insecurity and promote nutrition and wellbeing in the area. Our mission is to ensure that everyone, especially vulnerable individuals and families, has access to healthy, fresh and nutritious food, achieved through a combination of food distribution programs, community meals, educational workshops and partnerships with local businesses and organisations.

By continuing to engage the community through food projects, we have been able to use our vast knowledge of services and support to ensure people are receiving all the help they need. This has included working with the youth services, private landlord department, housing agencies, SBC, fuel companies, banks, CAB, social and health workers, schools, social prescribers, asylum and refugee organisations, police and enforcement teams, mental and physical health services and many more.

We are a "one stop shop" trusted by the community, offering non-judgemental support when it is needed the most. We know the community, the people, the issues, the services and we make it our priority that everyone is treated without discrimination, encouraging community cohesion.

In February 2025, we relocated our community café to The Community Hub, Havelock Street, Thornaby and have been running projects from there 3 days a week. The weekly timetable is as follows :

Monday

Volunteer day, inviting those who wish to help. The volunteering position helps people whose first language isn't English, to practise their conversational English. People volunteer with us to help their mental health. One lady, whose husband has dementia, pays for a carer to look after him and a taxi to the shop, because she enjoys the support she gets from the Sprouts team. People who have used the service come and volunteer to give back to the community as it helps them feel part of the bigger picture.

Community garden - creating a space for people to come, be active and enjoy nature.

Sewing club is ran by a local resident and implemented in response to the amount of people asking for sewing machines to make clothes for themselves and their children. As we did not receive many donations of sewing machines, we bought 6 new machines and invited people to come and use them at the Hub. A great session to help people save money, recycle clothes, meet new people and integrate with the community.

Tuesday

Community café open 8am -1pm incorporating the knit and natter group. Again a user led group, all inclusive, inviting people who may be isolated to come to the café for free tea and coffee and to enjoy the chat (crafting optional).

Afterschool Tea club. Once we left the café on Victoria Park, Peel Street, Thornaby, we negotiated with Teesside Charity (who had been funding the Youth café) to allow us to spend the money saved on running an additional session. This is aimed at the younger children and offers a safe space at The Hub for carers and children to attend, do some cooking, have tea and help in the yard garden .

Wednesday

Free breakfast club for children on their way to school

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

Community café open 9am -1.30pm, incorporating International Café. We realised months ago that the people who we wanted to engage with the most, were not coming to café, despite the low cost. People did not think it was a place from them, so when a member of staff left, we decided not to replace their full role and instead use part of what was their salary to provide a free meal every Wednesday. We invite a member of our shop community to come and cook one of their cultural dishes and invite everyone to share the meal for free. This has proved highly successful and we have 30 people for lunch each Wednesday and a waiting list of people wanting to cook for us.

Youth café, part funded for 1 year by The Teesside Charity and working in partnership with Corner House Youth Project. Offering a space for young people, often those excluded from mainstream education, to run their own café session, deciding on the menu, making the food and serving it.The young people who have attended, have all completed their level 2 diploma in food hygiene.

Other events

Pop up in the Park events - this funding year we have run 20 sessions, working with sports partners, Public health, health advisors and youth groups, to provide fun, free, all inclusive days for the community.

Christmas Toy sale and Christmas lunch, inviting local schools to attend and sing carols, give cards and presents.

We have been part of the Sports England funding, increasing activity in Thornaby insight work. As part of the project group, we have worked alongside Public Health, SBC, Tees Valley Sport, VCSE partners to gain insight into what the community would like and to help increase activity levels. This resulted in "test and learn" projects in the Mandale and Victoria Ward which included a community physio, helping people to understand their conditions and what they could be capable of, including pain management and treatment pathways. We also initiated a walking group with Red Balloons for people to participate in whilst waiting for the shop to be open.

In addition to our work in Thornaby, we run a Community day at Arlington Park, Stockton, every Thursday, running a community shop, café and gardening in partnership with Cultivate Tees Valley.

We continued to run outreach coming workshops, partnering with Roseworth Big Local, Thumhara Centre, The Junction, young people leaving care and Eastern Ravens.

From September 2024 to February 2025, saw us operating the café from the Community Centre on Victoria Park, Peel Street, Thornaby, which had been refurbished as part of the Challenge Anneka programme. However, charges from TTC (the centre managers) made it unviable and the Trustees decided we could not sustain the costs. This allowed us to put all our resources into working from The Community Hub at Havelock Street. The relocation to the community hub has proven highly successful. The hub's central location makes it easily accessible and encourages strong community engagement. Visitors report feeling more comfortable and secure in the space and the steady walk-by traffic has helped increase visibility and participation.

Young people are drawn to the hub because it is right where things are happening - easy to reach, safe and full of energy. It is a space that feels like it is theirs; friendly, relaxed and part of the community. They say it feels welcoming, modern and part of their everyday environment. It is easy to get to, feels safe and gives them space to relax, meet friends and get involved in activities.

Our projects ran as planned during the year and we are pleased with the outcomes achieved over the period. However, we continue to work hard to manage and respond to a range of external challenges that can affect delivery. These include ongoing issues such as racism, discrimination and social inequalities, which impact the confidence and wellbeing of some community members. In addition, changes to government policies - particularly around welfare and benefit reductions - have created additional pressures for many of the individuals and families we support. Despite these challenges, our team has remained flexible and proactive, adapting our approach where needed to ensure that activities continue to run smoothly and that participants feel safe, supported and valued.

Our new website has been developed www.sproutscommunityfoodcharity.org. We also:

Page 3

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

The appointment of Graeme Dent as volunteer CEO has seen him conduct a full review of Sprouts policies and insurance, overseeing the move from Victoria Park Community Centre to The Community Hub, Havelock Street. He has also renewed and reassessed staff contacts, reviewed the Charity's constitution and its reduction of reserves, initiated the new website, developed the potential new project site and volunteer pathway and has carried out a review of funding applications.

Funding from HSBC provided a new container based alongside the Community Shop in Peel Street, Thornaby. Graeme has completed the planning permissions procedure and has signed off on the SBC lease for the land that the shop and containers are situated on.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Income received during the year was £150,340 (2024: £132,594) and of this, £58,820 (2024: £57,060) was in respect of restricted funding.

At the year end, unrestricted funds amounted to £69,825 and restricted funds were £24,913. Cash at bank was £62,631. 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 North Star Housing Teesside University Stockton-on-Tees BC Hubbub Foundation Groundwork UK HSBC; Supporting Our Community

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

Principal address

4 Winpenny Close Yarm Cleveland TS15 9XG

Trustees

Mrs C Lowe Mrs K Shelley Ms L Featherstone (resigned 14/10/2024) Ms E Rees (resigned 14/10/2024) Mrs J Naylor Mr O Abolade Ms C Jones (appointed 14/10/2024)

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

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

Page 5

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Sprouts Community Food Charity

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sprouts Community Food Charity

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sprouts Community Food Charity (the Trust) for the year ended 30 September 2025.

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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. 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: .............................................

Page 6

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Statement of Financial Activities

for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
6,617
-
Charitable activities
Health and Wellbeing
84,903
58,820
Total
91,520
58,820
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Health and Wellbeing
121,565
50,677
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(30,045)
8,143
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
100,570
16,770
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
70,525
24,913
30/9/25
Total
funds
£
6,617
143,723
150,340
172,242
(21,902)
117,340
95,438
30/9/24
Total
funds
£
9,233
123,361
132,594
156,508
(23,914)
141,254
117,340

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 7

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Balance Sheet 30 September 2025

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
Notes
£
£
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets
5
12,707
16,455
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
6
7,462
-
Cash at bank
54,173
8,458
61,635
8,458
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
7
(3,817)
-
NET CURRENT ASSETS
57,818
8,458
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
70,525
24,913
NET ASSETS
70,525
24,913
FUNDS
8
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
30/9/25
Total
funds
£
29,162
7,462
62,631
70,093
(3,817)
66,276
95,438
95,438
70,525
24,913
95,438
30/9/24
Total
funds
£
18,243
560
104,556
105,116
(6,019)
99,097
117,340
117,340
100,570
16,770
117,340

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

Page 8

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

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

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 2025 nor for the year ended 30 September 2024.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 September 2025 nor for the year ended 30 September 2024.

continued...

Page 9

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

3. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

30/9/25
Health & Wellbeing
6
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
4.
COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
£
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
9,233
-
Charitable activities
Health and Wellbeing
66,301
57,060
Total
75,534
57,060
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Health and Wellbeing
96,439
60,069
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
(20,905)
(3,009)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
121,475
19,779
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
100,570
16,770
30/9/24
6
Total
funds
£
9,233
123,361
132,594
156,508
(23,914)
141,254
117,340

continued...

Page 10

Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

5.
TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
Fixtures
and
Motor
fittings
vehicles
£
£
COST
At 1 October 2024
25,673
11,858
Additions
16,406
-
At 30 September 2025
42,079
11,858
DEPRECIATION
At 1 October 2024
15,953
3,335
Charge for year
3,356
2,131
At 30 September 2025
19,309
5,466
NET BOOK VALUE
At 30 September 2025
22,770
6,392
At 30 September 2024
9,720
8,523
6.
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
30/9/25
£
Trade debtors
1,485
Other debtors
5,977
7,462
7.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
30/9/25
£
Trade creditors
790
Taxation and social security
-
Other creditors
3,027
3,817
Totals
£
37,531
16,406
53,937
19,288
5,487
24,775
29,162
18,243
30/9/24
£
560
-
560
30/9/24
£
2,958
1,805
1,256
6,019

continued...

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued

for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Net
movement
At 1/10/24 in funds At 30/9/25
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 100,570 (30,045) 70,525
Restricted funds
Community Cooking 854 (213) 641
Hartisan Bread Project 65 (16) 49
The Hart Cafe 453 (113) 340
Teesside Charity; Youth Cafe project 4,340 (4,340) -
Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid 292 (73) 219
The Five Lamps Org Youth 5,766 (5,766) -
Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project 3,000 (3,000) -
HSBC; Supporting our community - 23,664 23,664
Stockton BC; Public Health Small Grants
Fund 2023/24 2,000 (2,000) -
16,770 8,143 24,913
TOTAL FUNDS 117,340 (21,902) 95,438
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Unrestricted funds Incoming
resources
£
Resources
expended
£
Movement
in funds
£
General fund 91,520 (121,565) (30,045)
Restricted funds
Community Cooking - (213) (213)
Hartisan Bread Project - (16) (16)
The Hart Cafe - (113) (113)
Teesside Charity; Youth Cafe project - (4,340) (4,340)
Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid - (73) (73)
The Five Lamps Org Youth - (5,766) (5,766)
Coop; Hubbub Foundation UK -
Community Fridge 6,160 (6,160) -
Stockton Borough Council - Food Aid 1,250 (1,250) -
North Star Housing - Youth Work 11,000 (11,000) -
Teesside University; Together fund project 14,160 (14,160) -
Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project 750 (3,750) (3,000)
HSBC; Supporting our community 24,500 (836) 23,664
Stockton BC; Public Health Small Grants
Fund 2023/24 - (2,000) (2,000)
Groundwork UK; Tesco Stronger Starts 1,000 (1,000) -
58,820 (50,677) 8,143
TOTAL FUNDS 150,340 (172,242) (21,902)

continued...

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net
movement
At 1/10/23 in funds At 30/9/24
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 121,475 (20,905) 100,570
Restricted funds
Community Cooking 1,139 (285) 854
Hartisan Bread Project 87 (22) 65
The Hart Cafe 604 (151) 453
Community Hub Thornaby 11,000 (11,000) -
Teesside Charity; Youth Cafe project - 4,340 4,340
Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid 389 (97) 292
The Five Lamps Org Youth 4,200 1,566 5,766
North East Ladies Day fund 360 (360) -
Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project 2,000 1,000 3,000
Stockton BC; Public Health Small Grants
Fund 2023/24 - 2,000 2,000
19,779 (3,009) 16,770
TOTAL FUNDS 141,254 (23,914) 117,340

continued...

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming Resources Movement
resources expended in funds
£ £ £
Unrestricted funds
General fund 75,534 (96,439) (20,905)
Restricted funds
Community Cooking - (285) (285)
Hartisan Bread Project - (22) (22)
The Hart Cafe - (151) (151)
Community Hub Thornaby - (11,000) (11,000)
Teesside Charity; Youth Cafe project 4,340 - 4,340
Sustain Food Power for Generation Covid - (97) (97)
The Five Lamps Org Youth 26,200 (24,634) 1,566
Coop; Hubbub Foundation UK -
Community Fridge 1,000 (1,000) -
Stockton Borough Council - Food Aid 1,500 (1,500) -
North East Ladies Day fund 520 (880) (360)
Catalyst; Fairer Start Stockton project 8,250 (7,250) 1,000
Stockton BC; Community Spaces 2,000 (2,000) -
Stockton BC; Public Health Small Grants
Fund 2023/24 10,000 (8,000) 2,000
Hubbub Foundation; Eat Your Pumpkin
Community Grant 2024 800 (800) -
The Bread and Butter Thing; Big Brew
Time 400 (400) -
The Thirteen Group; Breakfast Club 550 (550) -
Groundwork UK; Tesco Stronger Starts 500 (500) -
The Hospital of God at Greatham; Youth
Cafe 1,000 (1,000) -
57,060 (60,069) (3,009)
TOTAL FUNDS 132,594 (156,508) (23,914)

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.

Funding of £11,000 from North Star Housing has been received during the year and has been used to support the work carried out at the Community Hub.

Further funding of £750 received from Catalyst Stockton-on-Tees, Fairer Start Stockton Project was spent in full to support cooking workshops, the community shop and VCSE meetings.

Funding of £24,500 received from HSBC during the year to support plot to plate growing and connected cooking sessions. £16,043 has been spent during the year on a storage container and the grant will be released annually to meet the depreciation charge on this. The remaining £8,457 will be carried forward to 2025/26 to meet volunteer courses and volunteer co-ordination.

Funding of £14,160 received in the year from Teesside University has been spent in full supporting Sport England Development.

continued...

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Sprouts Community Food Charity

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 30 September 2025

8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Income from the Hubbub Foundation, Stockton-on-Tees BC and Groundwork UK has been used in full during the year on the charity's community work including community shops, cafes, workshops, school holiday meals, community gardens, courses and training.

9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 September 2025.

Page 15