owerin Futures- Annual Trustees Re BEFF is registered as o CIO (Choriloble Incorporaled Orgonisolion). Registered with the Charities Commission Number l 182139 on 19 February 2019. The name was changed lo Empowering Futures on 19112120. The bonk account name could not be changed due to Covld reslrfctlons/no face to face appointments allowed and Santonder bonk wos not prepared to allow the change to charity status. hence bank charges incurred. The first Truslees are; l. Sorah Horper 2. Maria Needs 3. Angela laylor - resigned due to poor heallh 4. Susan Farthing - oppointed 1911 /21 The board of Truslees will be required to serve for o minimum of one year ond those named above served throughout this period. Alms and Objectiv•s "To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, reliewng the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society by providing therapeutic gardening activities and animal care activities. For the purpose of this clause 'sociolly excluded, means being excluded from society. or parts of society. as a result of one of more of the following foctors: unemployment,. financial hardship: youth or old age: ill health (physical or mental).. substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs." discrimination on the grounds of sex. race. disability. ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orsentalion or gender reassignment.- poor educational or skills attainment: relathonship and fomily breakdown." poor housing Ithat is housing that does not meet basic habitable standards: crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society). Empowering Futures has maintained its objectives in supporting people who are isola*ed and excluded from Society. Individuals who need support and cannot tackle issues or barrier5 presented to them alone. Those most vulnerable, disadvantaged and/or disabled are our primary participants. For the public benefft Exomples of our delivery for the public benefit can be found in the following paragraphs which give specific examples of actiwty and those supported. Empowering Futures is committed to supporling people who are othewise
excluded from Society for numerous reason5. Some are deemed too expensive to support, some written off. others because of assumptions made. Invariably beneficiaries hove led complex lives. coupled with disability ond health issues and nowhere to turn. We believe everyone can achieve. given the right opportunity. encouragement. time and befief. Our successes show we hove achieved our aims. both with people and in society. We seek to tackle the root issues so as beneficiaries move forward. they are supported and given a voice and their barriers are overcome. Mar 20 - April 2021 Covid Variotions to servlce Lovid has aominated/preventecl most of Ihe Plannecl services Uuring the year. Our new base at Westerleigh was estabfished and erected in full by March 2020 only to encounter Covid. Our anticipated services were reduced before we could start them. The farm had chickens. goats and small animals and a wealth of products for use in horticulture actiwty both onsite and offsite. The Trustees mel and di5LU55eoJ Iiuw Itie LIIuTily iuulLI ussisl isulul¥d y¢opl during Covid whilst maintaining the site and an income. As working from home grew in popularity. extra voluntary hours became available predominantly from saved travelling to work hours. To combat Covid restrictions. we started a delivery service for our plants and compost. This allowed us to reach people most isolated and also shielding as a result of their health conditions. We kept in touch with multiple people engaged via social medio ond with telephone calls. Our media reach grew to over 80(J). wth many maintaining contact Ma facebook and receiwng newsletters. The feedback from those isolated was overwhelming and full of appreciative comments and thonks for ideas shared and the encouragement they felt. All deliveries were sociolly distanced. and we added value to each delivery and maintained contact people who otherwise would have been totally isoloted during the conlinual restrictions. The team were able to communicate growing tips. prowde seeds. planters and encourage people lo grow their own. Parents and children experimented and used the opportunity to grow their own product5 in Iheir gardens. For many, it prowded an activity they would otherwise have been prevented from. We received numerous emails of thanks and appreciation and felt we were able to offer our support to help people cope during the pandemic in on innovative unique way. Speclftc Fn year Ovtcomes
Over 3(X) shielders, reached through delivery of products and Social media which was a huge. exhausting outcome during the year however, extremely rewarding in maintaining our ethos, that no one should be left behind. During the year, we welcomed a placement who was oble to travel to the site, was unable to secure a placement elsewhere and suffered anxiety whilst completing a City and Guilds in Animal Husbandry to learn and gain skills with the animals. she went on to successfully complete her Level 2 and moved on to the Level 3. Additionally, fhis helped the charity maintain the daily tasks connected with the animol upkeep as the expected services planned to cover this were put on hold due to Covid. The beneficiary has since moved into full lime work. Beneficiaries attended from Sociol Care and spent time with the animals. including walking the goat5 05 part of their do1 exercise with support workers. Groups were limited to 2 and not os anticipated. However. we were able to keep everyone safe and we adopted a cowd sofeguarding and welk being, risk assessed policy. This resulted in no cases of the virus amongst beneficiaries and none of the volunteers suffering from Comd. ie gardeiiing ilub w05 defivered on o I" I bos15 only iii eoch polytunnel for short periods when restrictions were relaxed and to allow beneficiaries. access to an activity after being cooped up all week. For social care beneficiaries, this became one of their only activities that was safe and accessible. Each client had one support worker only whom they travelled with. Activities carried out with the Growing Staple Hill project included one volunteer from the staff and one from the community to ensure Cowd restrictions were followed. travelling to and from the High Street was completed alone. The planters. made in the premous year. weie filled with the plants and flowers beneficiories had grown and nurtured earlier in the year. Each of the planters were wotered everyday in Staple Hill throughout the hot summer. Unfortunotely. we could only include a few volunteer5 in the project as the pandemic restTictions didn't allow groups to safely work together. We tronsported hundreds of litres of water every day and the beds grew and provided colourful disploys to walkers taking their daily strolls. We did receive feedback via social media on the difference the community could see in the neighbourhood especiolly as most other High Streets did not fill their plonters during the pandemic as many distributors could not meet demands. staple Hill became a haven of colour as the weather warmed and more and more people left their homes. Seats on the High Street wera gradvolly taken up more and more which prompted conversation about the planters and we
were Ivcky enough to see and hear this whilst watering every day. Feedback from a local councillor supported this. We had employed four beneficiaries whilst at Westerleigh to care for the animals, each on port time controcts. Two were furfoughed becouse of their health and two were able to continue. The people employed had either never worked before or had not worked for a number of years. One lody with significant arnetY had progressed from not being able to leave the house to attending the farm and had began working for 4 hours a week. Her journey. counting every roundabout she passed. relurning home to check the tops were turned off gradually became easier ancl her anxiety lowered. Her debt issues were addressed as was her week to week budget. She learnt to open her post and not hide away debts until they became unsurmountable. The lady had previously worked in a prominent professional position before taking early retirement on ill health as life issues become too much for her. Another with learning difficulties had never been offered a job at the tender age of 56. She often talked about being sent to employers who didn't 'want her, t)ecause she ha(J learning (Jifficulties. She was unaDie to read or wrfte and has learnt to write her name now and become a valued staff member. Her conversation has grown from 'yes' and 'no' lo having the ability to hold true meaningtul conversalion. express herself and ask questions. A permanenl base Finally. we were able to secure a new permanent bose in Moorend. The land is being rented to the charity for a peppercorn rent in the first three years. ollowing us to hove o peimonent base where we can glow without fear of yet another move. We packed down our site and moved to what is now a farm, to establish the care farm. However. despite huge local support, we have faced continual and unanticipated barriers lo operating. A huge amount of time has been spent on planning applications as the Local Authority insisted on a change of use being requested to include education. Addilionally. erecting animal housing ond upkeeping the land/animals hos exhausted the voluntary hours we were able to provide. We had not envisaged facing a social injustice ourselves and have taken our case to ministerial level seeking justification. Although care farms ore encouraged and included in the Government5 25 Enmronmental plan. the detail is not. We know we are not alone and have spoken to the national federation of Social Farms and Gardens ond other 'starters' who are facing similar issues. I lowever. although generol activitie5 were not pcrmitted by thc LA. the Trustees were able to employ farmhand coaches to maintain the farm. New employees joined the team, who had been beneficiaries and were furthest
from the lobour market. Wilh support from Government grants we were able to support beneficiaries develop and sustain employment. This allowed our objects to be achieved as we not only supported socially isolated people, we were olso able to offer regular contact/commvnication/motivation using a 'real' job and work setting. Beneficiaries employed included those least likely to gain employment and those who had never held any job during their life. However. as extro people were given the opportunify of employment, within a few weekslmonths Covid impacted again and some were furloughed due to the need to shield. Each gradualEy resumed their part time hours as the restrictions allowed. They included people who could not read or WTite. had mental health issues, na(J slgnlflcant learnlng cjlfflcultles. were autlstic ancl one person was terminally ill. All were employed for part lime hours. Five of the people employed have now moved into permanent employment and pastures new. allowing for other5 to fill their places. One of the employees. in their 50's. who had never been employed before. is now moving towards supporting others which is a mammoth achievement in less than 18 months. The growth in beneficiaries, has once again exceeded our expectations and their own! To a551St our sustainability, we LolleLled over" 5(X) Cliiisliiius Ii"¥trs ijuiiii January 2021 and dismantled each one by hand, wth the help of severol volunteers. 1510 was completed by the end of the financial year. The goats enjoyed tasty treats and the trunks were used for designated beds and signs. We were able to make our own mulch to aid the growth of saplings planted and compost for use in the horticulture activ7ty. In Jonuary 2027. we commissioned a land management plan and have sought to create a care farm where people can leam and benefit from the outdoor space. Our sensory area is complete with a wildflower meadow and pollards of willow. The benefits of being in green space and outdoors is widely publicised as was the lack of facilify fof those not able to access green space due to disability, during comd. Our sensory garden will provide a sensory area which will support a reduction in anxiety for beneficiaries attending in the future as well as aid their mental health and well-being allowing the charity to reach and support more people using the land as a tool. Volunteers working the land hove noted the tranquil feel already when preparing the area despite the noise from the Motorway troffic. The land management plon will allow sharing of information regarding bio-diversity and climate change which will be educational and enable nature talks. The local school with 510 of pupils with Special Educational Needs have voiced interest in bringing children to site who would specifically benefit from the setting on a regular basis. The goats have enjoyed stripping the grown willow. ready to usc in craft activities. Fencing has been erected to separate the poddocks. Over 500 saplings provided by the Woodland Trust have been planted to boost the
biodiversity and help combat climote change. Social Media has been integral in altracting volunteers to perform specific tasks like the tree planting. We have a protected badger sett which sits at the base of the site and a local wllow crafter donated a willow bodger that stonds prominently there. We have also employed a willow teacher, who when covid restrictions reduce, and the weather allows. will teach us and beneficiaries willow craft. This will be especially helpful for the beneficiaries expected from Bristol NHS Trust Brain Injury Unit who have requested small group work and one to one for those recovering after various treatments relating to broin injury. Willow is recognised as being a successful therapeutic tool because of the repetitive complexities involved. The staff member is nurturing the willow whilst tackling her own health issues ond preparing to create her own business which we are supporting her with. This furthers our aim of enabling and empowering people into independence. Although we haven't been able to deliver planned serwces. we have welcomed visitors especially adults and children of disability, who cannot cope in mainstream settings and were pandemic shielders. The visits allowed them to maintoin their protected isolation whilst being in o safe outdoor spoce vlsiting the animals an(J expiofing the sensory areo being (Jevelopecj. We explored new tenitory and through innovative ideas were able to lay pathways so people who have mobility issues con namgate and access the farm in wheelchairs. One visitor commented that she had never got so close to on animal or been able to take her wheelchair on grass for fear of tipping over and had always mi55ed out on School lrips because of her mobilily. Another that she had only been able to leave her home lce in a year and that the fvip would be foremost in her memory for o very long time. Multiple visitors with disadvantaged children commented on the dif*erence it made to their children. One visitor cried as her 4-yeor-old son with Downs. mixed with the goats and told us. he rarely got out of the car. when she took him to new places. She was shocked at his behaviour ond ovewhelmed with his eagerness. For many wsitors. it was their firs1 or only trip outside their home during the pandemic. The opportunity to be in green space. safely. at o farm with animals was a lifting experience for everyone that Msited. 100% of visitors agreed the visit exceeded their expectations and that they felt at ease. relaxed. comfortable and welcome. We were able to allow people and children with comprised immune systems to the site as they literally had nowhere else they could go safely, outside of their home5 during the pandcmic. All visits wcrc prebooked to ensure cov¢d restrictions were adhered to.
Additionally. we received many messoges via our website asking about activities available for disabled children who were extremely isolated and most suff ering intense anxiefy and mental health issues. To meet the demand, Empowering Futures embarked on new training with the intention to be in a position to create a Forestry School for children who could not attend mainstream groups. This would allow disabled children to participate in an outdoor aclsvity where they could cope. and grow in confidence whilst learning new skills. During the year I volunteer passed their Foreslry School Level 3 and is now a qualified team leader and able to run a Forestry School. Whilst the charity awaits planning permission to provide welfare facilities. we ran a pilot of Forestry School for a few small groups with sessions OT 90 minutes. Tne sessions were highly successful with parents amazed at the difference in their children and in lheir willingnes5 to toke port ond be involved. For our volunteers the reactions. achievements. ideas from the beneficiaries were moving ond exceeded expectations. One lad. who had been havtng significant issues at school became much more able to attend School and showed improved behaviour. His mother said. she felf indebted to the charity and was amazed at his behaviour changes. Horticulture was one of the biggest octivities of 2021 as so much could be completed OLStdoors safely. Additionolly. Corporate volunteers were offered from Aviva who were instrumental in making compost heaps and planting trees. We have managed to make all of our own composl and mulch this year. This not only saves significant amounts of money. it also provides us extra confidence in our sustainability. Recycling and upcycfing of pollet wood has continued and outdoor furniture and fences have been constructed. We have managed to maintain the site, with great difficulty. welcome visitors, and communicate with those isoloted throughout the year despite the pandemic which is a fantastic achievement made possible by the Trustees. volunteers and disabled people employed to work on the farm for a few hours a week. Our fundroising hos been limited and our funds are low however we have sustained Ihe animals and their needs successfully. We have manoged to overcome the incre05ed workload ond support our beneficiaries where Cowd rules allowed. Through social media. we have been able to reach many people who could not have visited the farm. Our plans to run small peer support groups will go ahead once we have a structure and welfare facilities. Through the multiple communications we have received, we know groups representing the elderly, corers. people responsible for children with addilionol needs and lone parents are despgrote for svpport, advice, informalion and guidonce. Our intention is to bring these people together to support each other. both
onsite and offsite. We will seek to empower people so beneficiaries receiving support can be maximised and take fOard their experiences. We have continued to deliver welfare benefit support and have successfully gained Personal Independent Payments and Disability Liwng Allowance for I I people. These are people who would hove 'missed out, on the welfare benefits because of their abilitylcapability and the complexity of the form filling application. During the pandemic. the applications for welfare benefits concerning disability fell dramatically. Non availability of the Advice Centres and support workers etc would have significantly attribufed to this. Where we could not facilitote a full service. we were able to pass on verbal advice over the telephone. The extra benefits were crucial for some of the people who were unaL)le to leave their nomes oncj were struggling io make encls meet. We were able to fill the gap and provide conversation. an escape. support towards obtaining benefits. encouragement. and a voice at the end of the phone. The year has been testing for the Trustees and volunteers. The barriers presented by the LA have added an extra unexpected pressure. The constant worry presented by Covid. to a very small charity. was almost ii1sui¥ riuui I luL)le (J I lirT Ig5. Huwvvgi. us key vvui k¥is. vvvitr uLiltr lu ioi"I lii-iu to work to SUPPOrt people and our stoff whilst caring for the animols. In summary. we have reached more beneficiaries than expected, albeit in a different way and different form from the planned service the care farm will offer. This hos shown our adaptability and flexbilify. and eagerness to remain person led, once more. We have extensive wailing lists from people wonting to visit the farm. parlicipote in the craft activities that will be available. attend the forestry school. Multiple orgonisotions have requested placements and Corporate organisations have offered services which we plan to Use in the future. Organisations that specialise in various disabilities and health issues have requested places for small gardening groups. We have connected with the local school who are keen to leam and share with us. Many of the walkers in the area regularly stop to discuss progress and we are able to keep them abreast of where we are. We have been asked to assist with a couple of new gordeningloutdoor groups in South Glos and plans wll grow once Covid worries become less prominenl. Our voluntary hours have been very high this past yeor exceeding 3000 as have the professional hours given to us by speciolists. This has allowed the team to develop more skills which wll be of particular benefit in the future. Once we are able to have a structure. we will be able to
occommodate mre volunteer5 and more beneficiarie5. Ovr pkjns lo sow. grow and eat will be able to deFver indoorloutdoor cookery cknsses with speafic outcomes. If the pondemic allovrfs. we plan to have some community open doys during the surrrner and bter in the year. we hove been FKorri5ed o community orchord from another charity. One Plonet Matters. Tre Trustees have accepted no payments for therr ofessIonal seNices or expenses. Every employee has significant borriers to employment ond au are succeeding rThJintaining our posilive successes and outcomes. We awoit decisions from Ihe plonning derxjrtment on p8rrf¥ssion lo oparote actiwity a5 since November 2020. this has nol t)een allowed. We hove Inciucjea our alrrs antt ODJectives for pnnIng pernission to show the variety of activity we will delver. once we hove penrission. signed on behaK of the boord by Morio Needs 4 Febrvory 2(r22
| Empowering Futures | Empowering Futures | Empowering Futures | 1182139 | 1182139 | 1182139 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
06/04/2020 | To | 05/04/2021 | ||||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||||
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 5,700 51,960 4,562 0 4,537 8,903 75,662 - - - 75,662 1,142 463 87 6,315 34,914 5,466 1,840 1,766 572 7,776 83 60,424 - - - 60,424 15,238 924 16,162 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - 1,500 - 1,500 - - - 1,500 - - 1,500 - - - - - - 1,500 - - - 1,500 - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 5,700 51,960 4,562 0 4,537 - 1,500 8,903 - 77,162 - - - 77,162 1,142 463 1,587 6,315 34,914 5,466 1,840 1,766 572 7,776 83 61,924 - - - 61,924 15,238 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
||
| Sales | 5,700 | 1,329 | |||||
| Supported Employment | 51,960 | ||||||
| FundraisingActivity | 4,562 | 3,617 | |||||
| Interest | 0 | 1 | |||||
| Donations | 4,537 | 7,880 | |||||
| Adhoc Recycling | 6 | ||||||
| MAF FundingGrant | |||||||
| CJRS Furlough | 8,903 | ||||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
75,662 | 12,833 | |||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||||
| 12,833 | |||||||
| Equipment | 1,142 | 1,282 | |||||
| PPE | 463 | 519 | |||||
| GrowingStaple Hill | 87 | - | |||||
| Charitable Activities | 6,315 | 2,328 | |||||
| Staff Costs | 34,914 | 2,324 | |||||
| Site Costs | 5,466 | 2,954 | |||||
| Admin Costs | 1,840 | - | |||||
| RunningCosts | 1,766 | 2,502 | |||||
| Training | 572 | ||||||
| PlanningPermission | 7,776 | ||||||
| Bank Charges | 83 | - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | 60,424 | 11,910 | |||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||||
| 11,910 | |||||||
| 15,238 | - | - | 15,238 | 924 | |||
| - | - | - | |||||
| 924 | - | - | 924 | ||||
| 16,162 | - | - | 16,162 | 924 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
04/02/2022
1
Soction B Statement of assets and liabilities at thè end of the period Unresthcted lunds Restric fvnd• Endowmènt tunds .1•2 To1 c•sh 11.162 tund fund• fundi Fubj Ceiails 84 A8Jth retalrd lor th• B5 Da of royal beh•¥ tru*• Prnrt Nam•
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustsesl m8mbers of Emp0Vring Futures On accounts for the year ended 5 April 2021 Charity no (if any) 1182139 Set out on pages CC16a 1 and 2 I repon io the trusiees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 5 April 2021. Responsibilities and As the chartty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan wth the requ1MentS of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I havè follow•d thg applicablo Dirgctions givon by tha Charity Commission under section 145(51{b} of the Acl. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with Ihe examination which gives mè cause to believe that in. any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordan yth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's ststement I have no concems and have come across no other matter3 in connection with the examination to vthich attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date: /L zaLTr Name: Susan Rickerby Relevant professional qualification{s) or body (if any)- ICAEW Address: 118 High Street Stsple Hill Bristol BS16 SHH Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner need5 to highlight mattels of COnrn (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts." directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brief detsils of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018