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2022-04-05-accounts

Empowering Futures – Annual Trustees Report – 12/12/22

Empowering Futures is registered as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation). Registered with the Charities Commission Number 1182139 on 19 February 2019.

The first Trustees are;

1. Sarah Harper

2. Maria Needs

3. Susan Farthing

Appointed 19/2/19

The board of Trustees will be required to serve for a minimum of one year and those named above served throughout this period.

Aims and Objectives

“To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society by providing therapeutic gardening activities within a community garden and outdoors.

For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one of more of the following factors: 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 orientation or gender reassignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing (that 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 aims and objectives of supporting people who are socially excluded from Society. Individuals who need support and cannot access support or independently tackle the issues and barriers presented. Those most vulnerable, disadvantaged and/or disabled are our primary participants.

For the public benefit

In constituting the charity and conducting the activities throughout the year, the Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. Examples of our delivery for the public benefit can be found in the subsequent paragraphs, which give specific examples of activity and those supported. The charity is committed to supporting people who are otherwise excluded and isolated from Society for varying reasons. Some are deemed too expensive to support, some written off, others because of incorrect assumptions made. We believe everyone can achieve, given the right opportunity, encouragement, time and belief. Our successes evidence our achievements and our aims, both with people and in society.

Background to 20/21

Covid continued to have a profound impact on our activity in the first half of the year however we were able to continue small sessions with a reduced workforce and the limitations set by the Governments restrictions.

We used this time effectively as the land we were renting was increasingly becoming difficult to access and neighbours were having regular fires burning all manner of waste.

After much research the charity was offered the use of a 2 acre site in Moorend for a peppercorn rent. In October 2020, the whole farm was dismantled and moved to the new site. This was particularly difficult due to a lack of workforce and volunteers. At the same time, planning permission was applied for to finally secure a purpose built building from where charitable activities could be delivered, without restrictions. The planning permission was a long painful process and the Charity met needless, unfair opposition to its cause. This had a significant impact on resource availability as the Trustees worked tirelessly to overcome every barrier and obstruction.

Tackling Exclusion

Despite this, the farm began to be created. Our volunteers worked relentlessly to secure products to recycle to create a Care Farm whilst learning to care for animals and investing in Training for Forest School Leaders.

Referrals from the Community and interest in the project was widespread and many people visited the farm during the end of the tax year, March and April 2022. We received countless queries regarding children suffering ill health and mental health issues, hence our investment in new training. Trustees met to discuss the situation several times as among the queries were many people asking to volunteer. Unfortunately, the majority of them were people needing one to one support to carry out the smallest of tasks which we were not able to accommodate due to staffing.

We decided to offer work experience to several participants and invested our time to enable them to reach a standard where they could move forward and secure employment.

Additionally, we accepted work placements from Schools for what was often the only child in the class, to have not secured work experience due to autism or learning difficulty. This proved tremendously successful, and every participant grew in confidence and ability.

Feedback from their Schools was extremely positive and each remarked on the incredible difference it had made to the individuals attending.

Lastly, we accepted 3 Traineeships for 70 hours work experience each. All had varying health conditions and had been in isolation throughout Covid and prior. All 3 have successfully secured employment. We discovered by supporting people in an holistic way and focusing on their barriers to move them forward, whilst identifying their root issues, we were able to observe their growth in independence, confidence and new skills. Anxiety and stress began to be triggers they could all deal with, by themselves.

Our welfare benefit support and form filling continued to support people unable to tackle applications with Personal Independent Payment and Disability Living Allowance primarily. Again, all were successful applications. The outcomes for families with children with additional need and adults was profound. New opportunities were identified, and new activity participated in, both at the farm and away from it. Weighed against the average application taking around 30 hours, the Trustees decided this would continue however a cap would need setting due to the requests.

A new session was started for people receiving Social Care and was enjoyed by two groups every week. The activities available included animal care, craft making, gardening and towards the end of the year, we introduced making crafts with willow. The skills participants gained were far reaching and comments like;

were shared. People of all abilities were able to participate on a level playing field which was our aim.

Specific In-Year Achievements

  1. Every gardening session was fully subscribed and attended by people living in isolation, once covid restrictions relaxed

  2. Every Personal Independent Payment application was successful at first interview without the need for reconsiderations or appeals

  3. Over 6500 voluntary hours delivered, either connected to the farm or its external connections by the Trustees and other volunteers. Volunteers from The Round Table and Aviva assisted us several times during the year.

  4. A land Management Report was commissioned to improve the land and take steps towards combating climate change. Creating new habitats for wildlife and additional pollinators. Over 2000 saplings have been planted.

  5. 12 Vintage apple trees have been planted along with bushes for raspberries, blackcurrants, cherries, blueberries and gooseberry to create an orchard where participants will be encouraged to eat from and we hope to supply local families.

  6. Schoolchildren from the local primary school have started attending twice a week with 30 Friday afternoons and 12 with additional needs on Wednesday afternoons. Most of whom feel it is the highlight of their week. They have developed team leading skills, outdoor risk assessing, organising and the ability to work together and communicate.

  7. New activities combining gardening and willow craft have been delivered to a wide audience of mixed ability and talents

  8. Gardening Sessions in Page Park ran for part of the 21/22 year

  9. 11 people with complex needs supported into employment

  10. The main building is being erected from May 2022

  11. We continue to house the bee hives from Aviva

  12. A willow den was created in the sensory area for people with autism to provide a quiet place

In summary

Despite setbacks with the land, building and planning permission, we finally won approval for our building in January 2022. The local council spokesman remarked on the unprecedented support that was shown in the deciding meeting, despite the standalone objection represented and raised by Mr T Jones, Parish Councillor, who was challenged and outvoted by all of the other councillors during the meeting!

Lots of new activity planned for the coming year including.

Specific willow class delivery to Bristol Brain Injury Unit

City and Guild qualifications for people who have none

Sensory area development

Outdoor Cooking

Forestry School for All

Inclusion of children out of School because of expulsion or health issues

New Projects for people who do not have equal access to green space

New Projects for people to find and expand their individual talent

Towards the end of the year we applied for several grants to help fund the creation of additional facilities on the farm from toilets to a kitchen in our hub, a mud control footpath for accessibility, ramp to the building, a large polytunnel and accessories.

A successful Crowdfunder raised funds which will remain restricted for the water treatment plant when it is installed.

£500 grant received from Brightside supported purchases to allow Forestry School for children with additional needs who would otherwise be excluded from mainstream activity

Empowering Futures

1182139

Receipts and payments accounts For the period 4/6/2021 To from

4/6/2021 4/5/2022

Section A Receipts and payments

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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds
funds funds funds
to the nearest
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
£
A1 Receipts
Sales 1,676 - - 1,676
Supported Employment 37,113 - - 37,113
Fundraising Activity 1,982 - - 1,982
Interest - - - -
Donations 25,856 - - 25,856
Brightside Funding 500 - 500
Maf Funding - - - -
crowdfunder 6,373 6,373
CJRS Furlough - - - -
refunds 16 16
gift aid 6,390 6,390
Sub total (Gross income for AR) 73,533 6,373 - 79,906
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - -
Total receipts 73,533 6,373 - 79,906
A3 Payments
Equipment 2,132 - - 2,132
PPE - - - -
MAF Funding - -
Charitable Activities 3,786 - - 3,786
Staff Costs 61,316 - - 61,316
Site Costs - - -
Admin Costs 1,023 - - 1,023
Running Costs 7,111 - - 7,111
Training 2,834 2,834
Planning Permission -
Hmrc 1,182 1,182
Bank Charges 90 - - 90
Sub total 79,474 - - 79,474
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - -
Total payments 79,474 - - 79,474
Net of receipts/(payments) - 5,941 6,374 - 433
A5 Transfers between funds - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end 16,162 - - 16,162
Cash funds this year end 10,221 6,374 - 16,595
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period of assets and liabilities at the end of the period of assets and liabilities at the end of the period of assets and liabilities at the end of the period of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted Restricted
Categories Details funds funds
B1 Cash funds Total cash funds to nearest £
-
10,221
-
10,221

to nearest £
6,374
-
6,374
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))		 OK OK
Unrestricted Restricted
funds funds
B2 Other monetary assets Details to nearest £
-
-
-

to nearest £
-
-
-
B3 Investment assets Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional)
-
-
-
B4 Assets retained for the Details Fund to which
asset belongs		 Cost (optional)
-
charity’s own use


-
-
-
-
Fund to which Amount due
B5 Liabilities Details liability relates

-
-
-
(optional)
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees		 Signature Print Name

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CC16a
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Last year

to the nearest £

5,700 51,960 4,562 - 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 - 924 16,162

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Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
OK
----- End of picture text -----

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Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
-
-
-
----- End of picture text -----

Current value (optional)

----- Start of picture text -----
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
----- End of picture text -----

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Date of
approval
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(HARITY COMMIS510N Receipts and pa ments accounts CC16a For th• p•rlDd from To Section A Receipt5 and pa tnent5 Restriclèd fund• EndowfWbBnt fid• fund• Tol•l fvThJJ A1 R•¢•i J7,114 1.913 37.114 F￿￿)1&¥￿9 ALvrty Irrterlss 4562 2&056 4537 Brgriiioè Fulia M FoTrrfArFg C IHS Fuflo iebJrs Sub i•x•I(GM ftjr 73.018 •7J 79.•1 T7.16Z A2 A￿￿t ind iny••lThnl saks, (•• Sub iot¥l 73.018 6,173 77.162 IPa la&2 PFE F FurwJivJ Cmattstle 01.310 Mg14 S4f4 51tr Cost5 216 7,111 ion ning 7.111 1073 1,7 anning Hnwe 1.112 Sub total 01.924 A4 Asset Investrnent tsbl• Sub totsl TP,418 61,924 N•t of Me￿P￿/(pa￿m•ntsJ Tr•n$lrn b•trwn A6 Cash fund last ￿•r •nd sh lunds thls ye•r end 6.873 43 IS,231 16,162 9,721 16,162 16.595 924 16.112 6.173 C¢XX R1 xo>Jrt8 (SSI 25Q1r2023

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted Restricted fundi Endowmtfii funds B1 Cash knJ• 073 9.722 Unr•8trlct•d fundi Io M•rn51£ 82 mon6tsry 1$••ts FL¥J lO¥Wh￿ W4k F4nd 86 Ll•i4AU•s SvJnwJty onu LW lTrMIB•scn hfil of t1￿¥ Sion•￿re prtit Na OaiÈ of v1 CCXX l&SI

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ members of Empowering Futures

On accounts for the year 5 April 2022 ended Set out on pages CC16a 1 and 2

Charity no 1182139 (if any) (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 5 April 2021.

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 have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: Date: 26/01/2023 Name: Susan Rickerby Relevant professional ICAEW qualification(s) or body (if any):

Address: 118 High Street Staple Hill Bristol BS16 5HH

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

1

October 2018

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

2

October 2018

IER