ecoACTIVE
Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2024 (Charity Number: 1180582)
ecoACTIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st March 2024
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Legal and Administrative Report | 3 |
| Trustees’ Report | 4-10 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12-13 |
| Balance Sheet | 14 |
| Notes forming part of the Financial Statements | 15-27 |
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Reference and Administrative Information
| Reference and Administrative Information | Reference and Administrative Information |
|---|---|
| Charity Name | ecoACTIVE |
| Charity Registration Number | 1180582 |
| Trustees | K. Addae-Duah (appointed March 2024) S. Dhariwal S. Eccles (appointed April 2024) A. Graciano (appointed June 2024) M. Green A. Halfpenny C. Harrington (appointed April 2024) C. Manser (resigned November 2023) T. McSherry C. Murphy D. Rees (resigned November 2023) M. Rizzo J. Sturmy |
| Principal Address | ℅The Leaside Trust, Spring Lane, Clapton, LONDON E5 9HQ |
| Independent Examiner | Future Insight Consultancy LTD 1B, Side Door, 1 North St, Bromley, BR1 1RB |
| Bankers | The Co-operative Bank PO Box 101 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 4EP |
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ecoACTIVE TRUSTEES' REPORT
For the year ended 31st March 2024
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity ecoACTIVE for the period ended 31st March 2024. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1. of the accounts and comply with its memorandum, the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: 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).
Structure, Governance and Management:
Constitution
The object of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“CIO”) is:
To advance the education of the public in sustainable development and the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in particular but not exclusively by the provision of information and education in:
- a) Subjects relating to all aspects of sustainability- social, environmental and economic; b) Environmental conservation and the prudent use of resources.
ecoACTIVE provides activity programs and workshops with schools, in community settings and at public events, addressing themes of sustainability, nature conservation, and encouraging awareness of prudent use of resources e.g. waste, energy, water and food.
We support schools in becoming more sustainable through practical environmental initiatives and encourage individuals and young people to take personal responsibility for their own behaviours, as well as encouraging their participation in the decision and policymaking for sustainable futures.
We work in partnership with relevant organisations to encourage understanding of sustainable development. We work with families, youth clubs and community groups to engage individuals in thinking about sustainable use of resources and appreciation and protection of the natural world, through creative and hands-on activities. We support residents to create sustainable, thriving community gardens, and run forest schools for young people who greatly benefit from opportunities to explore a local green space. Our new project for 2023-24, the Hackney Buzzline, is creating a 4 km ecological corridor for pollinators, connecting parks with green spaces on housing estates, schools and in other community settings.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.
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Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are recruited from ecoACTIVE's membership and the membership of relevant professional networks having regard to the requirement for any specialist skills needed. References are taken up to ensure the suitability of potential new trustees.
Induction and training of new trustees
When new trustees are appointed, they are given a copy of the charity's Constitution and they meet with the Director who gives them a detailed insight into the running of the organisation.
Trustee Board and meetings
Trustee meetings are held online every two months. The Trustees agree on the strategy, policies and terms and conditions for the day-to-day running of the organisation, and support the Director. ecoACTIVE's Staff Handbook outlines information for staff and volunteers on all aspects of our operations, including Legal Structure, Terms and Conditions of Employment, Constitution and Policies. Policies and procedures in place include:
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Health and Safety Policy
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Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy
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Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy
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Reserves Policy
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Environmental Statement
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Social Media & Digital Communications Policy
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Absence Procedures including: Annual leave, Sickness Absence, Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave procedures
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Pensions Procedures
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Confidentiality Policy
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Data Protection Policy
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Quality Assurance Policy
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Whistle Blowing Policy
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Complaints Procedure
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Disciplinary Procedure & Grievance Procedure
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Recruitment Procedure (including handling of DBS Disclosure Information)
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Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders
Staff
At period end, ecoACTIVE had the equivalent of 3.8 full time employees. This was supplemented with support from a pool of freelance session workers and volunteers, who helped run sessions and activities. During the period, an average of 5 members of employed staff were working for ecoACTIVE each month.
Risk management
The Trustees have a risk management strategy which comprises:
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An annual review of the risks the charity may face;
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The establishment of systems and procedures to mitigate those risks identified in the plan; and
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The implementation of procedures designed to minimise any potential impact on the charity should those risks materialise.
Risks within ecoACTIVE are continually monitored by the Trustees at trustee meetings. A key element in the management of financial risk is the setting of a reserves policy and its regular review by the Trustees.
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The Charity is committed to safeguarding all those who participate in its activities, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Commitment is implemented through appropriate checks, training and procedures.
Achievements and Performance:
In total, across our projects and fee-paying service, ecoACTIVE provided 275 sessions over the year April 2023 to March 2024, with 2,400 young people and 910 adults. Most of the sessions took place in London (across 8 different London Boroughs), with 4 sessions taking place outside of London and 7 remote sessions.
ecoACTIVE’s forest school project benefited from support from the Portal Trust, L&Q Foundation and fee income, which allowed us to deliver six 10-week forest school programmes at adventure playgrounds in Hackney and at a Hackney Primary school ( involving 103 young people) . Our team of staff and volunteers carried out regular observations of the young people, alongside questionnaires conducted with the participants, their staff and their parents and carers. We also ran some training for staff at one of the adventure playgrounds, to help them gain confidence in leading outdoor environmental learning themselves. Impacts for those involved included helping beneficiaries gain confidence, enhance their social skills and improve their well-being.
Social skills:
“Have you made new friends at forest school?”; 86% of the children answered “Yes.” 71% of children who had start and end data showed improvements to their social skills by the end of the project, or already scored highly for this outcome.
"Forest school has helped to enhance my child's social skills"; 67% of parents/carers strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.
“When [Child F] first attended the Forest School, he seemed confident in interacting with the adults running the school and the staff but perhaps less so with other children. His social interaction with other children in the park has seemed to increase and he has made new friends. During the Forest School activities [Child F] said that he has found it easier to make friends at Forest School than at school. He also said that one friend he made at Forest School had also become a supportive friend at his school.” (ecoACTIVE staff)
Well-being:
"Forest school has helped to improve my child's well-being"; 100% of parents/carers strongly agreed or agreed with this statement.
87% of children who had start and end data showed improvements to their emotional and mental health by the end of the project, or already scored highly for this outcome.
"Children are happy, relaxed and mesmerised by outdoor surroundings. Staff are wonderful, full of compassion and understanding as well as an incredible amount of patience ." (Parent)
"I felt very, very, very relaxed and happy. And when I was doing clay it felt very satisfying." (Child)
Confidence:
"Forest school has helped to increase my child's confidence"; 67% of parents/carers strongly agreed or agreed to this statement.
71% of children who had start and end data showed improvements to their confidence by the end of the project, or already scored highly for this outcome.
"He is more knowledgeable and confident being outside and enjoying nature - which is great to see." (Parent)
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"[I feel] amazed from the skills I just learnt." (Child) "I like to try new things" and "I feel good about myself and what I can do." (Child)
Our Community Garden Network project , funded by City Bridge Foundation, Nineveh Charitable Trust, Bupa Foundation, Clarion Futures, Sanctuary Housing Association, London Borough of Hackney, and Our Space Award (Groundwork) has continued to thrive. Between April 2023 and March 2024 we supported 9 community garden groups (run by groups of residents volunteering at the gardens). We provided 29 training sessions with these groups, including helping residents to instal and plant up new raised beds at Upcott House, and providing advice to residents at Pembury Estate, to help them plan ways to rejuvenate areas of the estate’s green spaces. We also started a new garden from scratch, at Evergreen Square, consulting residents and recruiting volunteers to assist with caring for a new community garden in the square. In addition to these volunteer training sessions, we helped the groups to run 11 family-friendly events with their wider communities. In total we engaged 187 adults and 135 young people.
Questionnaires helped us measure the impact of the community garden project. 100% of respondents said they gained new skills as a result of being involved, including management skills (e.g. planning, coordination), practical skills (e.g. carpentry, hedge laying), wildlife identification/recording/surveying skills, and skills for engaging others. 82% of respondents said they shared skills with other people. “[I] always try to share skills with others so we can all grow and learn together.” “I've taught the group how to prune fruit trees and bushes correctly.”
91% of respondents said they met new people, or made new friends as a result of being involved in the garden. This has helped some feel less isolated - “[I have] made a few friends. Was feeling a bit isolated living alone in Hackney but have been growing social connections since joining.” “There were residents I already knew that [I] have become friendly with due to the garden activity”
In April 2023, we helped launch a brand new environmental learning programme at Leaside’s premises, thanks to a contract from Leaside Trust, where ecoACTIVE is now based. Schools and community organisations from surrounding boroughs are now able to take part in day-long visits to Leaside, where they can enjoy an ecoACTIVE workshop in Leaside’s new net-zero classroom, followed by an experiential session on the River Lea with the Leaside instructors. Young people have thoroughly enjoyed doing litter picking from canoes, or exploring and identifying wildlife in local green spaces, and it has helped to make the environmental learning tangible and meaningful to those involved.
As this was a new service, it took us a little while to build momentum and attract interest from schools that were able to fully-fund the sessions. However, in July 2023, we were successful in gaining a one-year grant from Ovo Foundation, that allowed us to offer a subsidy to schools or groups that couldn’t afford the full cost of these sessions. Over the year, we delivered 36 sessions at Leaside, with 844 young people and 144 adults.
We have been monitoring the impact of these sessions on participants, and asking them to write pledges about the behaviour changes they are going to make. At the start of the workshops, only 23% of participants said “yes” to the statement, ‘ I know lots of ways of helping the environment and can tell others’ . By the end of their sessions, 67% of participants raised their hands for this statement. Their pledges included:
"I pledge to buy fruit and vegetables with less plastic packaging on them." "I pledge I will turn off the light when I leave the house." "I pledge to stop climate change by stop using plastic." "I promise that I will try to calm my carbon footprint." "I promise to plant more."
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"I will try to make people believe me because the world is in big danger. I will recycle more plastic and rubbish."
"I promise to help the earth and encourage people to reuse or recycle materials." "I promise not to litter and tell other people. I can make the world better and keep it good."
In summer 2023, we finished running our Green Influencers programme (funded by Ernest Cook Trust and the iWill Fund), during which 117 young people have been involved in designing and running their own environmental social action projects. Throughout the 2.5 years of the project, we measured the impact on participants' wellbeing, their connection to nature, and assessing new skills they have gained.
On average,
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Well-being scores increased for the participants by the end of their projects (compared to their start questionnaires); and
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Nature connection scores also increased by the end of their projects (compared to start of project questionnaires).
New skills were gained, because of taking part:
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89% felt they were working better as part of a team;
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83% felt their project helped them to motivate others;
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83% felt they had improved communication skills; and
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79% felt they had increased their self-confidence/ self-esteem.
Helping others and the environment:
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68% felt it was motivating to see other people helping others/the environment; and
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70% felt that their project had made the environment better for the future.
During 2023-24, we continued running our walking and gardening project in Hackney’s King’s Park ward, thanks to funding from LB Hackney King’s Park Moving Together, and Sport England. The project aimed to help more people access green community spaces, and help inactive residents exercise, or increase their physical activity levels. Match funding from the London Borough of Hackney (Partnerships for People & Place) and Lottery Awards for All allowed us to extend this project to an over 50s group and provide family-friendly activities for young children during the gardening club.
During the period, we ran 54 sessions, with 149 children and 90 adults . Key learnings from the project include:
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Walking and Gardening Club activities enable change through a combination of ‘self-care’ activities - outdoor exercise, social interaction, connection with the natural world, engagement in meaningful activity and caring for the wider community.
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It is important to support people in being active in ways that suit them. Some individuals are less likely to engage in physical activity if they feel pressured. They are more inclined to participate when it aligns with their own timing, preferences, and goals.
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The changes created by the Walking and Gardening Club not only benefit people’s health and well-being, they also have a bigger impact by making things better for the wider community and encouraging more residents to use the park.
In March 2024, we were successful with an application to the Lottery Heritage Fund for our new Hackney Buzzline Project, which builds upon our walking and gardening club, and our previous work with Friends of the Earth in the area. This is a three-year-programme, during which we will be creating a 4 km pollinator corridor between four parks in Hackney. We will work with schools, community groups, and residents on social housing estates, helping them to create pollinator stops (meadow patches and planters), plus habitats and shelter for a range of pollinators.
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In addition, ecoACTIVE delivered 95 Earth Education sessions during the financial year 2023-24, which included running workshops at schools, providing community-based activities, and training for employees.
Business Development:
We have continued to diversify our income streams and explore other ways to develop the charity, build partnerships and reach more beneficiaries.
This year, ecoACTIVE has had a grant from Friends of the Earth, part of which has allowed us to research income generation opportunities for our gardening and Hackney Buzzline projects (beyond grant funding). For example, we have recently set up a partnership with GrowN22, a gardening community interest company based in Haringey. As a company, GrowN22 can bid for and take on contracts with local authorities and contracts with private clients, which as a CIO, ecoACTIVE wouldn’t be able to engage. We are supporting the partnership by helping explore potential business opportunities (for example through possible ongoing maintenance contracts for our planting projects on the Hackney Buzzline) and helping source local people to deliver the work, and benefit from employment with GrowN22.
Future Plans:
We are searching for further match funding for the Hackney Buzzline project, which will allow us to develop a training programme for community garden volunteers and local residents. This also helps us to map interventions made by these individuals - for example, if they add pollinator friendly plants to their gardens, or spot pollinators visiting their gardens by using an app.
We have been awarded a grant from The Julia Rausing Trust that shall be used in 2024-25 to support our Community Garden Network project for a further three years. In addition, we have received a grant from Hiscox Foundation as match funding for this project.
The Hiscox grant and another from Bupa Foundation will also enable us to subsidise Forest School and Earth Education sessions to London schools in 2024 and 2025, and assist a secondary school in Newham with creating a sensory garden in their grounds.
Financial Review:
We used restricted grants from 17 different funders during the period. This made up around 61% of our income over the year.
Unrestricted grant funding from Garfield Weston has helped cover our core costs (which covered 10% of our total income). Our remaining income came from selling sessions to schools and groups (around 8% of the total), corporate donations and sessions (around 7% ), contracts (around 7% ), and individual giving donations (around 6% ).
Our unrestricted income this year has made up around 38% of our total. We are continuing to strengthen our financial position, and the amazing efforts of our staff and trustees are starting to pay off.
Reserves:
Our aim is to build up sufficient reserves to allow for cover for a period of running costs, maternity benefit and critical illness provision. The Trustees estimate that an adequate level of unrestricted reserves would be three months of expenditure or around £48,000 . The unrestricted reserve balance at the year-end was £7,050 and restricted reserves stood at £ 65,804 . This is a slight improvement on the figures from the previous financial year, when the unrestricted reserves balance was £6,017.
While we haven't yet reached the long-term reserve level we believe is a necessary buffer for operational costs (as our reserves don't yet meet the level proposed under our reserves policy), we believe the incremental increase in our unrestricted reserves evidences that we are heading in the right direction. This view is also supported by a number of additional factors, including; the increase in our income for
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this year, compared to last year (by £78k), as well as more diversified income streams. This means that ecoActive is less reliant on any individual grant or contract and is more robust overall in terms of its sources of income.
Statements of trustees' responsibilities
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland".
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The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102);
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
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prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of theCompanies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by the Trustees on the 26th of November 2024 and signed on their behalf by,
_____ Toni McSherry, Chair
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ecoACTIVE
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the period ended 31 March 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the 2011 Act”). You are satisfied that the accounts are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 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 accounting 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.
Michèle Yianni - Attard
Future Insight Consultancy Ltd
1B, Side Door, 1 North St, Bromley BR1 1RB
Date: 25th November 2024
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ecoACTIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31st March 2024
| ecoACTIVE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
||||||
| For theyear ended 31st March 2024 | ||||||
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| Notes | Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME FROM: | ||||||
| Charitable activities: Grants and donations | 2 | 63,194 | 146,295 | 209,489 | 124,845 | |
| Workshopand resources fees | 27,504 | 0 | 27,504 | 33,283 | ||
| Other income: | ||||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 90,699 | 146,295 | 236,994 | 158,128 | ||
| EXPENDITURE ON: | 3 | |||||
| Charitable activities | (89,666) | (104,228) | (193,893) | (187,760) | ||
| Net income/(expenditure) | 1,033 | 42,067 | 43,100 | (29,631) | ||
| Transfers | ||||||
| Total Funds brought forward | 6,017 | 23,737 | 29,754 | 59,385 | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 7,050 | 65,804 | 72,854 | 29,754 |
All the above results derive from continuing charitable grants activities.
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| ecoACTIVE | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
||||||
| For theyear ended 31st March 2023 | ||||||
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2022 | |||
| Notes | Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total | Total | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| INCOME FROM: | ||||||
| Charitable activities: Grants and donations | 50,271 | 74,574 | 124,845 | 157,044 | ||
| 2 | ||||||
| Workshopand resources fees | 32,923 | 360 | 33,283 | 17,780 | ||
| Other income: | ||||||
| Job Retention Scheme | 8,299 | |||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 83,194 | 74,934 | 158,128 | 183,143 | ||
| EXPENDITURE ON: | ||||||
| Charitable activities | 3 | (77,831) | (109,929) | (187,760) | (162,052) | |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 5,364 | (34,995) | (29,631) | 22,051 | ||
| Transfers | ||||||
| Total Funds brought forward | 653 | 58,732 | 59,385 | 37,032 | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 6,017 | 23,737 | 29,754 | 59,385 |
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ecoACTIVE BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31st MARCH 2024
| ecoACTIVE BALANCE SHEET |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| as at 31st March 2024 | |||||
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Tangible Fixed Assets | 7 | nil | nil | ||
| Current Assets | |||||
| Debtors | 8 | 13,157 | 425 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 71,472 | 25,868 | |||
| NET CURRENT | 84,629 | 26,293 | |||
| ASSETS | |||||
| Creditors: Amounts Falling | 9 | (11,775) | 3,461 | ||
| Due within one Year | |||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | 72,854 | 29,754 | |||
| LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|||||
| FUNDS OF THE CHARITY | 10 | ||||
| Unrestricted Funds | 7,050 | 6,017 | |||
| Restricted Funds | 65,804 | 23,737 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | 72,854 | 29,754 |
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102.
The financial statements were approved, and authorised for issue, by the Board of Trustees on 26th November 2024 and signed on their behalf by: Toni McSherry, Chair
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31st March 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The principal accounting policies adopted are as follows:
(a) Basis of Preparation
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. The presentational currency of the financial statements is Pound Sterling (£).
The charity only has financial assets and liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. These are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently valued at their carrying value.
The charity has taken advantage of the disclosure exemption permitted by FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and has not prepared a Statement of Cash Flows.
(b) Incoming Resources
Incoming resources are recognised in the Statement of Financial Accounting (“SOFA”) once the organisation becomes entitled to the resources, it is probable that the resources will be received and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Where incoming resources have related expenditure (as with fundraising or contract income), the incoming resources and related expenditure are stated gross in the SOFA. Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the organisation has unconditional entitlement to the funds.
Investment income is included when receivable.
(c) Resources Expended
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure or to pay out resources. Resources expended include attributable VAT which cannot be recovered. Support costs, which include governance cost (costs for the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of Management Committee meetings and costs of any legal advice to the Management Committee on governance or constitutional matters) include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
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(d) Tangible Fixed Assets, Depreciation
Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £1,000. They are stated at cost less depreciation.
Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets less their estimated residual value on a straight line over their expected useful life, which in all cases is estimated to be four years.
(e) Restricted and Unrestricted Funds
The accounts distinguish between restricted and unrestricted funds. Restricted funds are received from donors and are subject to restrictions on the purpose for which they may be used. Unrestricted funds are those where there are no externally imposed restrictions and are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
(f) Short-term debtors and creditors
Debtors are recognised when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received. Creditors are recognised when the charity has a present legal or constructive obligation resulting from a past event to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
(g) Judgments and key sources of estimation uncertainty
No judgement (apart from those involving estimates-) have been made in the process of applying the above accounting policies that have a significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements. ·
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ecoACTIVE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31st March 2024
| 2. GRANTS AND DONATIONS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Awards for all | 10,000 | 10,000 | |
| City Bridge Foundation | 31,650 | 31,650 | |
| LB Hackney (Clapton Park Gardening) | 4,677 | 4,677 | |
| Clarion Futures | 6,376 | 7,495 | 13,871 |
| Ernest Cook Trust | |||
| Friends of the Earth | 2500 | 2,500 | |
| Garfield Weston | 20,000 | 20,000 | |
| Heritage Fund | 35,473 | 35,473 | |
| KPMT | 15,000 | 15,000 | |
| L&Q Foundation | 10,0000 | 10,000 | |
| Nineveh Trust | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
| Ovo Foundation | 25,000 | 25,000 | |
| Our Space Award | 0 | ||
| Partnerships forpeople | 0 | ||
| Portal Trust | 0 | ||
| Sanctuary Housing Association | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| The Robert Gavron Trust | 3,000 | 3,000 | |
| The Leaside Trust | 11,491 | 11,491 | |
| Donations | 22,327 | 22,327 | |
| Grants and Donations Total | 63,194 | 146,295 | 209,489 |
| Workshops and Resource Fees | 27,504 | 27,504 | |
| Total Income | 90,699 | 146,295 | 236,994 |
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| Comparative Grants and donations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds |
Total 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Sanctuary | 10,122 | 10,122 | |
| Richer Sounds | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| Ernest Cook Trust | 10,820 | 10,820 | |
| CityBridge Foundation | 11,250 | 11,250 | |
| Tudor Trust | |||
| Our Space Award | 2,000 | 2,000 | |
| KPMT | 12,500 | 12,500 | |
| Garfield Weston | 20,000 | 20,000 | |
| Morrisons Foundation | 4,975 | 4,975 | |
| Portal Trust | 11,860 | 11,860 | |
| Partnerships for People and Place | 10,047 | 10,047 | |
| 74,574 | 74,574 | ||
| Donations | 30,271 | 30,271 | |
| Grants and Donations Total | 50,271 | 74,574 | 124,845 |
| Workshops and Resource Fees | 32,923 | 360 | 33,283 |
| Total Income | 83,194 | 74,934 | 158,128 |
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| 3. DETAILED ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES EXPENDITURE |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total 2024 | |
| Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Activities | |||
| Wages and salaries | 43,197 | 61,351 | 104,547 |
| Social securitycosts | 2,484 | 5,892 | 8,376 |
| Sessional workers and consultants | 16,907 | 28,691 | 45,598 |
| Recruitment andpromotion | 396 | 0 | 396 |
| Training | 200 | 222 | 422 |
| Rent | 7,288 | 0 | 7,288 |
| Travel expenses | 495 | 412 | 908 |
| Insurance | 1,903 | 1,903 | |
| Telephone and internet | 136 | 120 | 256 |
| Printing,postage and stationery | 278 | 362 | 640 |
| IT costs | 1,365 | 0 | 1,365 |
| Other office costs | 1,201 | 0 | 1,201 |
| Conferences and subscriptions | 1,503 | 1,503 | |
| Miscellaneous | 5 | 5 | |
| Resources | 5,340 | 7,177 | 12,517 |
| Accountancy | 6,968 | 0 | 6,968 |
| Total expenditure | 89,666 | 104,228 | 193,893 |
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| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total 2023 | |
| Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Activities | |||
| Wages and salaries | 43,127 | 78,918 | 122,045 |
| Social securitycosts | 5,902 | 5,902 | |
| Sessional workers and consultants | 7,609 | 12,609 | 20,928 |
| Recruitment andpromotion | 2,602 | 2,602 | |
| Training | (184) | -184 | |
| Rent | 6,332 | 6,332 | |
| Travel expenses | 290 | 225 | 515 |
| Insurance | 1,606 | 1,606 | |
| Telephone and internet | 236 | 135 | 371 |
| Printing, postage and stationery | 422 | 285 | 707 |
| IT costs | 334 | 334 | |
| Other office costs | 1,684 | 1,684 | |
| Conferences and subscriptions | 1,524 | 64 | 1,588 |
| Miscellaneous | 371 | 170 | 541 |
| Resources | 146 | 17,523 | 17,669 |
| Accountancy | 5,750 | 5,750 | |
| Total expenditure | 77,831 | 109,929 | 187,760 |
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| 4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the period ended 31st March 2024. |
|||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| The reimbursement of expensespaid to the Trustees were | nil | nil | nil |
| 5. STAFF COSTS |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 99,699 | 117,794 | 111,830 |
| Social securitycosts | 8,376 | 5,902 | 2,825 |
| Pension Costs | 4,849 | 4,252 | 4,426 |
| 112,924 | 127,948 | 119,081 | |
| The average number of employees duringtheperiod was 5. | |||
| No member of staff was paid in excess of £60,000 for the period ended 31st March 2024. |
|||
| The key management personnel of the charity are those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity, directly or indirectly, including any trustee of the charity and, in the case of the charity, includes the Chief Executive. Total employee benefits paid to key management personnel in theperiod amounted to |
|||
| £32,546.54(2023 £33,158) |
6. TAXATION
As a com liability to taxation on non-trading income and capital gains provided these are applied to its charitable objects. No tax charges have arisen in the Charity.
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| ecoACTIVE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-CONTINUED | ||||
| For theperiod ending31st March 2024 | ||||
| 7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | Office Furniture |
|||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cost | ||||
| At 31st March 2023 and 31st March 2024 | nil | nil | nil | |
| Depreciation | ||||
| At 31st March 2023 and 31st March 2024 | nil | nil | nil | |
| Net Book Value | ||||
| At 31st March 2023 and 31st March 2024 | nil | nil | nil | |
| 8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Grants Receivable | ||||
| Other Debtors | 13,157 | 425 | 5,766 | |
| 13,157 | 425 | 5,766 | ||
| 9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| Accrued Expenses | 1,230 | |||
| Other Creditors | 11,775 | (3,461) | 2,397 | |
| 11,775 | (3,461) | 3,627 |
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| ecoACTIVE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-CONTINUED |
|||
| For the year ended 31st March 2024 | |||
| 10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS |
|||
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds 2024 |
|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| As at 1st April 2023 | 6,017 | 23,737 | 29,754 |
| IncomingResources | 90,699 | 146,295 | 236,994 |
| Resources Expended | (89,66) | (104,228) | (193,893) |
| Transfers | |||
| As at 31st March 2024 | 7,050 | 65,804 | 72,854 |
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds 2023 |
|
| £ | £ | £ | |
| As at 1st April 2022 | 653 | 58,732 | 59,385 |
| IncomingResources | 83,194 | 74,934 | 158,128 |
| Resources Expended | (77,831) | (109,929) | (187,760) |
| Transfers | |||
| As at 31st March 2023 | 6,017 | 23,737 | 29,754 |
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| Restricted funds 2024 | At 31st | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | As at 31st |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-23 | Mar-24 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Our Space Award | 1,114 | (1,114) | 0 | 0 | |
| SanctuaryHousingAssociation | 2,050 | 2,000 | (1,783) | 0 | 2,267 |
| Kings Park MovingTogether | 5,687 | 15,000 | (16,075) | 0 | 4,612 |
| Portal Trust | 11,860 | (11,860) | 0 | 0 | |
| Partnerships for People & Place | 1,286 | 0 | (1,286) | 0 | 0 |
| Ernest Cook Trust | 1,740 | 0 | (1,740) | 0 | 0 |
| 23,737 | 17,000 | (33,857) | 0 | 6,880 | |
| Awards for all | 10,000 | (4,714) | 5,286 | ||
| CityBridge Foundation | 31,650 | (25,200) | 6,450 | ||
| LB Hackney (Clapton Park Gardening) |
4,677 | (3,449) | 1,228 | ||
| Clarion Futures | 7,495 | 0 | 7,495 | ||
| Friends of the Earth | 2,500 | (2,500) | 0 | ||
| Heritage Fund | 35,473 | (2,853) | 32,620 | ||
| L&Q Foundation | 10,000 | (10,000) | 0 | ||
| Nineveh Trust | 2,500 | (2,500) | 0 | ||
| Ovo Foundation | 25,000 | (19,155) | 5,845 | ||
| 146,295 | (104,228) | 0 | 65,804 | ||
| Restricted funds 2023 | At 31st | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | As at 31st |
| Mar-22 | Mar-23 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| CityBridge Foundation | 10,139 | 11,250 | (21,389) | 0 | |
| Our Space Award | 2,000 | (886) | 1,114 | ||
| SanctuaryHousingAssociation | 244 | 10,122 | (8,316) | 2,050 | |
| Richer Sounds | 2,000 | (2,000) | 0 | ||
| Kings Park MovingTogether | 12,500 | (6,813) | 5,687 | ||
| Morrisons Foundation | 4,975 | (4,975) | 0 | ||
| Portal Trust | 11,860 | 11,860 | |||
| Partnerships for People & Place | 10,047 | (8,761) | 1,286 | ||
| Tudor Trust | 26,656 | (26,666) | 0 | ||
| Ernest Cook Trust | 11,683 | 10,180 | (20,123) | 1,740 | |
| Awards for all | 10,000 | (10,000) | 0 | ||
| 58,722 | 74,934 | (109,929) | 0 | 23,737 |
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11. PURPOSE OF RESTRICTED FUNDS
The purposes of the significant restricted funds received during the period are as follows:
Awards for All
To support the provision of family friendly activities as part of the gardening and walking club, as well as the session worker fees for delivering these activities.
City Bridge Foundation
Match funding for our community garden project, allowing us to work with and support a network of community gardens across Hackney and Newham.
Clarion Futures Green Grant
We received a grant in March 2024 to allow us to carry on supporting a community gardening project on Evergreen Square (all carried forward to 2024-25).
Ernest Cook Trust, iWill Fund
Salary costs for our Green Mentor and a contribution towards our organisational costs. The Green Mentor works with young people aged 10-14 years, helping them to set up and run their own social environmental action projects. This project finished in June 2023.
Friends of the Earth
We received a grant from Friends of the Earth which allowed us to add pollinator friendly planting to the grounds of Concorde Youth Hub and run sessions with their participants. We also carried out some surveys of this planting and explored future income-generating possibilities for the Hackney Buzzline project.
Garfield Weston Foundation
We received core cost funding from Garfield Weston for a two-year period.
King’s Park Moving Together (London Borough of Hackney) and Sport England
Two-year grant to provide an exercise and gardening club, plus additional funding for partnerships, learning and development aspects of the grant.
L&Q Foundation
A grant from L&Q allowed us to run Forest School sessions at an adventure playground and a primary school in the Shoreditch area of Hackney, as well as providing staff training and support for parents.
London Borough of Hackney (Community Safety & Partnerships team)
A grant from Hackney has allowed us to do planting and gardening sessions on Clapton Park Estate, consult with residents, and run sessions with young people and adults at Pedro Club.
Lottery Heritage Fund
We received a three-year grant from Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing us to run our Hackney Buzzline project. We will deliver 15 planting projects over the three years, carry out pollinator surveys, recruit and skill-up local volunteers, and encourage more local people to learn about natural heritage and get involved in helping to care for wildlife in their neighbourhoods.
Nineveh Charitable Trust
25
Match funding towards the Community Garden Network Project.
Our Space Award, Groundwork
A grant to help cover capital expenditure, plus session worker fees for running sessions at Upcott House Community Garden, in Hackney.
Ovo Foundation
A one-year grant supporting the delivery of environmental learning sessions at Leaside. The grant covered salary costs, the delivery of some staff training, the creation of learning materials, and subsidised sessions for schools and groups visiting the site.
Partnerships for People & Place Grant (London Borough of Hackney)
Providing gardening sessions for residents aged 50+ at Kingsmead Community Centre.
Portal Trust
We received a two-year grant from Portal Trust, to run Forest School programmes at Adventure Playgrounds in Hackney.
Sanctuary Housing Association Community Programme
We have continued to support Westmead and Eastmead community gardens, finishing the spending of a grant received from Sanctuary in 2022-23.
We have also received some match funding from Sanctuary towards our Hackney Buzzline project, enabling us to do pollinator friendly planting on the estate and create a memorial garden.
12. PENSION COSTS
The charity contributes to a stakeholder pension scheme on behalf of employees who have elected to join the scheme. All of the charity’s employees may elect to join the scheme. The Charity’s liability to the pension scheme is limited to paying across to the scheme the contributions due and pension costs are charged as payments fall due and are disclosed in Note 5 to the accounts. Amounts due to the pension scheme at 31st March 2024 amounted to £798.
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| 13. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||
| INCOME FROM: Funds | Funds | Funds | Total 2023 | Total 2022 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable activities: | ||||
| Grants and donations | 50,271 | 74,574 | 124,845 | 160,427 |
| Workshopand resources fees | 32,923 | 360 | 33,283 | 14,417 |
| Other income: | ||||
| Job Retention Scheme | 8,299 | |||
| Transfer of funds from | ||||
| ecoACTIVE Education | ||||
| TOTAL INCOME | 83,194 | 74,934 | 158,128 | 183,143 |
| EXPENDITURE ON: | ||||
| Charitable activities | (77,831) | (109,929) | (187,760) | (161,093) |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | (77,831) | (109,929) | (187,760) | (161,093) |
| Net income/(expenditure) | 5,364 | (34,995) | (29,631) | 22,050 |
| Transfers | ||||
| Total Funds brought forward | 653 | 58,732 | 59,385 | 37,033 |
| Total funds carried forward | 6,017 | 23,737 | 29,754 | 59,083 |
27