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
To*1 c•sh
11.162
tund*
fund•
fundi
Fubj
Ceiails
84 A8Jth retalr*d 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