REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 10168064 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1178639
Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
for Goscote Greenacres Community Garden (A Company Limited by Guarantee)
Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
| Contents of the Financial Statements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 | |||
| Page | |||
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 | ||
| Report of the Trustees | 2 | ||
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 | ||
| Balance Sheet | 5 | ||
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 | to | 10 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 11 |
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
TRUSTEES Mrs L J Holloway Mrs A N Tolley (resigned 26.1.25) Mrs M E Whiting M Bracey (resigned 22.10.24) Mr N Imber (resigned 22.10.24) Mr S Pritchard (resigned 22.10.24) Mr R Dolan (appointed 28.5.24) Mr C Carrington (appointed 28.5.24) Mr M J Morton (appointed 26.1.25) Ms D Adams (appointed 26.1.25) Mr D S Frost (appointed 26.1.25) COMPANY SECRETARY Mr P B Mason REGISTERED OFFICE Goscote Greenacres Community Garden Goscote Lane Walsall West Midlands WS3 1SJ REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER 10168064 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1178639 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW
Page 1
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. 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
To provide facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation by providing an area for use as a community garden for individuals in Goscote and the surrounding area, who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the objective of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
We have supported 22 adults with learning disabilities each week undertaking supervised activities, growing vegetables and help maintain the site. This helps their well-being and helps them feel part of the wider community.
We have 5 'able bodied' volunteers who assist on site including some admin support.
All 60 plots have been let again this year therefore we are at full capacity and will be starting a waiting list
We have started a men's fishing group on a Thursday to help tackle mental health in partnership with rethink, a local mental health charity. Also we hoping to develop a community woodworking hut on site to make habitat boxes and planters which we hope to sell to earn income for the charity. We have a partnership with makerspace / urban Hax, they are helping support the woodworking hut and a potential woodland craft area going forward.
We have held 3 events over the past 12 months with well over 100 people attending each one, including a Mayday plant sale, art and music event in august and our traditional Halloween event.
The garden maintenance team still operates 4 days per week, but we have struggled to find enough work over the winter period so we have had to lay off one member of staff.
We continue to sell vegetables from the site and hope to forge new partnerships with local community cafes.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The charity had net expenditure this year of £37,216 (2023 - £33,002). The net assets of the charity at the year end were £20,082 (2023 - £57,298). The net assets are split into unrestricted funds of £5,765 (2023 - £27,125) and restricted funds of £14,317 (2023 - £30,173).
Going concern
At the year end the charity's surplus of funds was not sufficient to cover another years worth of expenses and significant new funding would be required for it to continue in its current format. Unfortunately this has not been possible and at this time the charity's activities are being scaled down and all staff have been made redundant. We are hoping to continue the charity on a volunteer basis.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 28 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr R Dolan - Trustee
Page 2
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Goscote Greenacres Community Garden ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
-
the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
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.
Mr Andrew James Smith ACCA
Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW
28 March 2025
Page 3
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 19,393 Other trading activities 3 26,029 Total 45,422 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Raising funds 5,930 Payroll costs 40,713 Other costs 20,139 Total 66,782 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (21,360) RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 27,125 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 5,765 |
Restricted funds £ 32,304 - 32,304 250 38,184 9,726 48,160 (15,856) 30,173 14,317 |
31.12.24 31.12.23 Total Total funds funds £ £ 51,697 47,633 26,029 15,448 77,726 63,081 6,180 4,194 78,897 72,485 29,865 19,404 114,942 96,083 (37,216) (33,002) 57,298 90,300 20,082 57,298 |
|---|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 4
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Balance Sheet
31 December 2024
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| fund | funds | funds | funds | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| Tangible assets | 8 | 1,823 | 10,275 | 12,098 | 15,755 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||||
| Debtors | 9 | 230 | - | 230 | 161 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 6,162 | 4,042 | 10,204 | 44,110 | |
| 6,392 | 4,042 | 10,434 | 44,271 | ||
| CREDITORS | |||||
| Amounts falling due within one year | 10 | (2,450) | - | (2,450) | (2,728) |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 3,942 | 4,042 | 7,984 | 41,543 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES | 5,765 | 14,317 | 20,082 | 57,298 | |
| NET ASSETS | 5,765 | 14,317 | 20,082 | 57,298 | |
| FUNDS | 11 | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | 5,765 | 27,125 | |||
| Restricted funds | 14,317 | 30,173 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 20,082 | 57,298 |
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
-
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
-
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 28 March 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Mr R Dolan - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, 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 Companies Act 2006. 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.
| Plant and machinery | - 25% on reducing balance |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles | - 25% on reducing balance |
| Computer equipment | - 25% on reducing balance |
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation 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.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donations | 3,168 | 1,556 |
| Grants | 47,609 | 45,172 |
| Subscriptions | 920 | 905 |
| 51,697 | 47,633 | |
| Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: | ||
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund | - | 33,834 |
| Wages grants | 9,403 | 11,338 |
| General grants | 15,703 | - |
| Spacehive | 22,503 | - |
| 47,609 | 45,172 |
Page 6
continued...
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES
4.
| OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Fundraising events | 300 | 4,441 |
| Shop income | 12,605 | 4,829 |
| Garden maintenance services | 13,124 | 6,178 |
| 26,029 | 15,448 | |
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Depreciation - owned assets | 4,040 | 5,263 |
5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023.
6. STAFF COSTS
| STAFF COSTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 76,827 | 70,542 |
| Other pension costs | 2,070 | 1,943 |
| 78,897 | 72,485 | |
| The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows: | ||
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| Management | 2 | 2 |
| Other | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | 4 | |
| No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. |
7. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
| Unrestricted Restricted fund funds £ £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2,460 45,173 Other trading activities 15,448 - Total 17,908 45,173 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activities Raising funds 4,194 - Payroll costs 225 72,260 Other costs 4,438 14,966 Total 8,857 87,226 |
Total funds £ 47,633 15,448 |
|---|---|
| 63,081 | |
| 4,194 72,485 19,404 |
|
| 96,083 |
continued...
Page 7
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
| 7. | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued | COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES - continued | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | |||
| fund | funds | funds | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) | 9,051 | (42,053) | (33,002) | ||
| RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 18,074 | 72,226 | 90,300 | ||
| TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD | 27,125 | 30,173 | 57,298 | ||
| 8. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | ||||
| Plant and | Motor | Computer | |||
| machinery | vehicles | equipment | Totals | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| COST | |||||
| At 1 January 2024 | 35,183 | 20,854 | 2,099 | 58,136 | |
| Additions | 383 | - | - | 383 | |
| At 31 December 2024 | 35,566 | 20,854 | 2,099 | 58,519 | |
| DEPRECIATION | |||||
| At 1 January 2024 | 25,049 | 15,906 | 1,426 | 42,381 | |
| Charge for year | 2,634 | 1,237 | 169 | 4,040 | |
| At 31 December 2024 | 27,683 | 17,143 | 1,595 | 46,421 | |
| NET BOOK VALUE | |||||
| At 31 December 2024 | 7,883 | 3,711 | 504 | 12,098 | |
| At 31 December 2023 | 10,134 | 4,948 | 673 | 15,755 | |
| 9. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Prepayments and accrued income | 230 | 161 | |||
| 10. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Pension creditor | 351 | 778 | |||
| Accruals and deferred income | 2,099 | 1,950 | |||
| 2,450 | 2,728 | ||||
| 11. | MOVEMENT IN FUNDS | ||||
| Net | |||||
| movement | At | ||||
| At 1.1.24 | in funds | 31.12.24 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | |||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General fund | 27,125 | (21,360) | 5,765 | ||
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund | 22,563 | (13,684) | 8,879 | ||
| Big Lottery Awards For All | 4,012 | (2,616) | 1,396 | ||
| Wages Grants | 3,598 | (3,598) | - | ||
| Spacehive | - | 4,042 | 4,042 | ||
| 30,173 | (15,856) | 14,317 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 57,298 | (37,216) | 20,082 |
continued...
Page 8
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund Big Lottery Awards For All Wages Grants Spacehive Other Small Resticted Grants TOTAL FUNDS Comparatives for movement in funds Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund Big Lottery Awards For All Wages Grants TOTAL FUNDS Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Unrestricted funds General fund Restricted funds Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund Big Lottery Awards For All Wages Grants TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 45,422 - - 9,403 22,503 398 32,304 77,726 At 1.1.23 £ 18,074 63,129 4,634 4,463 72,226 90,300 Incoming resources £ 17,908 33,835 - 11,338 45,173 63,081 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (66,782) (21,360) (13,684) (13,684) (2,616) (2,616) (13,001) (3,598) (18,461) 4,042 (398) - (48,160) (15,856) (114,942) (37,216) Net movement At in funds 31.12.23 £ £ 9,051 27,125 (40,566) 22,563 (622) 4,012 (865) 3,598 (42,053) 30,173 (33,002) 57,298 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (8,857) 9,051 (74,401) (40,566) (622) (622) (12,203) (865) (87,226) (42,053) (96,083) (33,002) |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (66,782) (21,360) (13,684) (13,684) (2,616) (2,616) (13,001) (3,598) (18,461) 4,042 (398) - (48,160) (15,856) (114,942) (37,216) Net movement At in funds 31.12.23 £ £ 9,051 27,125 (40,566) 22,563 (622) 4,012 (865) 3,598 (42,053) 30,173 (33,002) 57,298 Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (8,857) 9,051 (74,401) (40,566) (622) (622) (12,203) (865) (87,226) (42,053) (96,083) (33,002) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (42,053) | |||
| (33,002) |
Purpose of Funds
Unrestricted General Fund
This fund represents the free funds of the charity that are not designated for particular purposes.
Restricted Funds
continued...
Page 9
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Big Lottery Reaching Communities Fund
This initial grant was first received on 1st October 2018 with further amounts recieved over a five year period. Its purpose was to help fund salaries and the majority of the garden's running costs, with some fixed assets also being purchased. All of this fund has now been spent with the remaining value in the accounts representing the net book value of fixed assets purchased by the fund during the five years.
Big Lottery Awards For All
This grant of £10,000 was received during 2019 to fund the development and delivering of the garden's new digital trail. The value in the accounts represents the net book value of the trail in fixed assets.
Wages Grants
These are various grants that have been received over the years to fund the some of the wages paid by the charity.
Spacehive
This is a grant received this year to cover wages and to develop the woodworking hut.
Other Small Restricted Grants
These are other small restricted grants that have been fully utilised during the year
12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2024.
13. GOING CONCERN
At the year end the charity's surplus of funds was not sufficient to cover another years worth of expenses and significant new funding would be required for it to continue in its current format. At the date these accounts were signed no new funding had been made available and the charity's activities were being scaled down with all staff being made redundant. It is the charity's intention to continue in the short term on a volunteer basis.
Page 10
Goscote Greenacres Community Garden
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS | ||
| Donations and legacies | ||
| Donations | 3,168 | 1,556 |
| Grants | 47,609 | 45,172 |
| Subscriptions | 920 | 905 |
| 51,697 | 47,633 | |
| Other trading activities | ||
| Fundraising events | 300 | 4,441 |
| Shop income | 12,605 | 4,829 |
| Garden maintenance services | 13,124 | 6,178 |
| 26,029 | 15,448 | |
| Total incoming resources | 77,726 | 63,081 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Charitable activities | ||
| Purchases for resale | 429 | 1,339 |
| Garden supplies | 4,353 | 1,627 |
| Event and promotion costs | 1,281 | 1,168 |
| Licences | 117 | 60 |
| 6,180 | 4,194 | |
| Support costs | ||
| Management | ||
| Wages | 76,827 | 70,542 |
| Pensions | 2,070 | 1,943 |
| Insurance | 1,290 | 1,247 |
| Telephone and internet | 902 | 568 |
| IT, post, printing, stationery | 96 | 511 |
| Repairs and consumables | 3,257 | 4,177 |
| Fuel and travel expenses | 860 | 1,697 |
| Van insurance and tax | 2,153 | 1,557 |
| Other van expenses | 3,294 | 886 |
| Vehicle hire | 1,092 | - |
| Refreshments | 1,248 | 423 |
| Cleaning and hygiene costs | 459 | 256 |
| Volunteer expenses | 266 | 206 |
| Accountancy | 2,868 | 2,244 |
| Legal fees | 1,405 | - |
| Website and advertising | 166 | 302 |
| Gifts | 482 | - |
| Spacehive expenses | 5,987 | - |
| Sundry expenses | - | 67 |
| Depreciation of tangible and heritage assets | 4,040 | 5,263 |
| 108,762 | 91,889 | |
| Total resources expended | 114,942 | 96,083 |
| Net expenditure | (37,216) | (33,002) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 11