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2025-03-31-accounts

Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

HEART WOOD

Annual Report

and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

HEART WOOD CHARITY

Reference and administrative information for the year ended 31 March 2025

Charity Number: 1182889 Trustees: Sue James (Chair) Stephanie Ellis (Treasurer) Jonathan Joures Judi Perry Principal Office: 12 Woodside Hexham NE46 1HU Bankers: Co-Operative Bank P.O. Box 48 1 Balloon Street Manchester M60 1GP Virgin Money Symington House 7-8 North Avenue Clydebank G81 2NT Independent Examiner: Karen Rae Armstrong Watson 15 Victoria Place Carlisle CA1 1EW

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

HEART WOOD TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

INTRODUCTION

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have prepared the annual report and financial statements in accordance with the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in January 2015.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Heart Wood is a registered charity number 1182889. It was registered with the Charity Commission on 9 April 2019 and is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Its Constitution was adopted on 20 September 2018.

The charitable objectives of Heart Wood are “to improve the mental health of people with a focus on men in particular but not exclusively through evidence-based, person-centred counselling, psychotherapy and contact orientated projects delivered primarily outdoors.”

The Charity adheres to the guidelines within the Heart Wood Child/Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding Policy and all facilitators are required to undertake regular safeguarding training to the appropriate level.

Governance

The Management Committee comprises a minimum of three trustees, who are charity trustees for the purpose of charity law. Trustees are appointed by other trustees.

Trustee Induction and Training

A Trustee Information Pack is available to potential and new trustees. Potential trustees are invited to attend a trustee meeting to find out more about the workings of the Management Committee and the governance of the charity, after which they may feel better informed to make the decision to put themselves forward to become a trustee.

During a period of six months, potential trustees are introduced to the charity, their legal obligations under charity law, the content of the governing document, the trustees and the decision-making process, the business plan and financial performance of the charity. After six months, the current trustees will vote to invite the new trustee to be officially appointed.

Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate training events that will support effective conduct in their role.

Risk Management

Where appropriate, policies and procedures or systems have been put in place to mitigate the risks the charity might face. Significant external risks to funding, and the nature of funding across the Community and Voluntary Sector, have led to the development of a long-term strategic plan including the identification of priority activities in relation to income generation.

Policies and procedures exist to ensure compliance with health and safety of all staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries of the charity. This includes the provision of adequate insurance cover and risk assessment of all charitable activities. These policies and procedures are reviewed annually or more frequently, on change of circumstances, to ensure that they continue to meet the needs of the charity.

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Public Benefit

In shaping the objectives for the year and in planning the activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.

The charity provides group counselling in a nature setting for people, primarily in South-West Northumberland, suffering with poor mental health, including those with complex and enduring poor mental health.

The charity is working towards becoming a Centre of Excellence which provides training in the Heart Wood Approach.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Men’s Groups

March – August 2024

Heart Wood offered two Men’s Groups running concurrently on eighteen Fridays at our Woodland and Lakeside sites at Minsteracres, DH8 9RT.

Each group was facilitated by a Lead Facilitator and two Co-Facilitators with a maximum attendance of 12 men per group.

At the 36 sessions:

"Where have you been?" is different from "Welcome back."

Participant 2024

Men’s Groups stats overview

Men’s Groups stats overview
Period of activity March – August 2024
Sessions planned 36
Sessions delivered 36
Total men engaging 22
New participants 9
No. attending more than 50% of sessions 14
Total attendances 223

Heart Wood Facilitators, 2024

“I take my sister’s dog for a walk, 3 or 4 times a week now … My mind just switched off, but for some reason when I've come here, it's woken up … All my family have noticed as well that I've changed … And last week when I went to the doctors to see my doctor, even she said, she said "Ye what a difference." Participant 2024

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

Connecting Sessions

September 2024 – March 2025

The drop-in Connecting Sessions run throughout Autumn and Winter and provide an opportunity for new men to try out a group before the next Men’s Groups start in the Spring.

before the next Men’s Groups start in the Spring.
Connecting Sessions Stats overview.
No of sessions planned 7
No of sessions delivered 7
Total no of men engaging 27
No. of new participants 10
No of men attending more than 50% of sessions 15
Total number of attendances 99

Certificate Level Training Course 2024

Following the refurbishment of the Cottage and Office buildings within Minsteracres Walled Garden, we were able to offer our first residential CPD training programme between March – October 2024. The course offered 100 hours CPD over six residential weekends, for person-centred counsellors wanting to work therapeutically in nature, with experiences focusing on individual 'one to one' nature-based practices as well as nature-based group sessions.

We had four full paying participants and two places (funded by DRLFCT) for Trainee Facilitators.

Our three Co-Facilitators are attending two of the weekends to complete their training.

The DRLFCT grant also funded the costs for BSL interpreters who were supporting a participant.

“A great opportunity to learn from gifted and experienced practitioners. They embody the very principles that they seek to teach.” Bill, Training Certificate Participant 2024

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

Evaluation

Qualitative Evaluation

The Men’s Groups Sessions were evaluated by an external evaluator and once again the outcomes confirm to us that we are achieving our aims in improving the wellbeing of vulnerable people in our society by offering something different to existing mental health services.

The evaluator noted feedback from participants about what they would like to change:

- Frequency of Connecting Sessions

“Some participants struggle when the project moves to its Winter cycle of once a month, instead of the Summer cycle of one a week”

“Another participant reflected on the fact that if he misses a winter session, it could be two or three months before he is able to come again, just because he wasn’t available on that day, so having to miss a winter session leaves a big hole in support for him.”

Heart Wood has now secured funding to run Connecting Sessions fortnightly in the 2025-2026 season.

- Initial Session

“One participant reflected on how hard the first session had been for him and that it might have been made easier if he had a buddy or a mentor or a case worker he already knew who could have come to the initial session with him.”

New participants are invited to come along with someone to the first session. In addition, all new participants are offered a 1-2-1 session at the fire site prior to attending the first group session in order for them to meet a facilitator face to face and to familiarise them with the site.

- Marketing Heart Wood sessions

“Participants would like to see more projects like this more widely available and more widely publicised.”

We intentionally don’t promote our services too widely as we have a steady stream of enquiries and are limited in our capacity.

Quantitative Evaluation

In order to meet the requirements of a funder, in June 2024 we undertook quantitative evaluation with 14 men who were attending a Men’s Group session.

Reasons for coming to Heart Wood

100% couldn’t find any other services who they felt could help them

79% felt lonely and / or isolated

79% wanted to meet other people

100% wanted to be involved in something that was outside

71% had had negative experience of other services

86% have experienced past trauma and needed support

93% felt sad / low / depressed

93% struggled with excessive worry / anxiety

57% thought about ending their own life

Since coming to Heart Wood 100% feel an improvement in their mental health 93% have better relationships with others 100% feel as if they belong to a community 86% have a deeper understanding of nature, conservation and wildlife

86% have seen improvements in their mood

79% have improved their physical health

79% have better self-esteem

57% feel less likely to take their own life

86% have seen an improvement in their confidence 100% feel better about themselves

100% have had better improvements to their mental health than they have from other services 100% have made friends

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

Active Listening Training

As part of our plan to embed person-centred ways of being throughout the organisation, staff and trustees undertook Active Listening training in this period. Active Listening is an empathic way of responding to someone’s words and feelings and always trusting the speaker as the expert on their own experiencing.

We have received funding to support a roll-out of this training to men who have expressed an interest in this in 2025-2026. We can see potential in offering more structured training to our participants and the benefit of sharing an understanding of our approach and resourcing their growing capacity to facilitate each other.

Organisational development

The Trustees are continuing the process of reviewing our organisational structure and operation, including reviewing: the roles and responsibilities of Trustees; decision making and assigning sub-committees; risk management; and financial processes.

The charity’s constitution Object has been updated as follows:

Previous:

“To improve the mental health of people with a focus on men through evidence-based, person-centred counselling and psychotherapy projects delivered primarily outdoors.

Revised:

“To improve the mental health of people with a focus on men in particular but not exclusively through evidence-based, person-centred counselling, psychotherapy and contact orientated projects delivered primarily outdoors.”

Governance

Stephanie Ellis resigned as a Trustee on 17 January 2025 after 4 years and 1 month service.

The Charity has undergone an audit of trustee and staff skills and experience and are in the process of appointing new Trustees.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The charity remains grateful for the help and support given by charitable trusts and other sources of fundraising and donations. The charity also recognises the valuable contribution made by individuals and supporters.

Total income, including these fees, grants, fundraising and donations, in the year ended 31 March 2025, was £124,336 (2023-2024: £93,627 ).

Grants received in financial year 2023-2024, for activity in this period (carried forward): David and Ruth Charitable Trust (£29,800) unrestricted grant

Grants received in 2024-2025 for activity in this period:

Ballinger Trust - £15,000 National Lottery Reaching Communities - £40,000 Shears Foundation - £10,000 Tynedale Lions - £500.00 Mental Health Concern (NHS) - £9,865 Screwfix - £3,380 Percy Bilton Charity - £747.00

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

Barbour Foundation - £3,000 Arnold Clark - £100.00 DRLFCT - £7,756 (of £33,474 grant)

Grants received in this period with an amount carried forward for activity in 2025-2026: DRLFCT - £25,718 (of £33,474 grant)

Total costs in 2024-2025 were £127,492 (2023-2024: £106,313).

Total cash funds at 31 March 2025 were £29,475 (2024: £32,631) of which £3,757 was unrestricted (cash) and £25,718 restricted grant funding.

Reserves Policy

Heart Wood does not have any reserves at present.

The Trustees are creating a Reserves Policy for the period 2023 – 2026 as part of the three-year plan, with the aim to build a reserve of sufficient unrestricted funds to cover three months' operating costs, plus exit charges. This figure has been identified following consideration of the main financial risks to the charity once the staff are moved from short term freelance contracts to payroll. The strategy will be to build reserves through economies of scale wherever possible, suitable cost control, and seeking additional funding to meet essential expenses which underpin the provision of service. The trustees will regularly review the level of unrestricted reserves at Management Committee meetings.

Grant Making Policy

The Charity does not make grants.

Investment Policy

The charity holds no investments, other than reserve funds held in interest bearing bank deposit accounts, and as such has no formal investment policy.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

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Heart Wood TAR / financial statements 2024- 2025 Charity Number 1182889

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees should follow best practice and:

The trustees are responsible for maintaining 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 trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection or fraud and other irregularities.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES

Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out under Legal and Administrative Information. In accordance with charity law, as the charity's trustees, we certify that:

The trustees' annual report has been approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by

SIGNED:

Sue James (Chair)

DATE: 12 November 2025

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Heart Wood Heart Wood Heart Wood 1182889
No (if any)		 1182889
No (if any)		 1182889
No (if any)		 CC16a
For the period
from		 01/04/2024
Period start date		 To 31/03/2025
Period end date
Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
15,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
30
1,502
6,738
-
23,270
-
-
-
23,270
5,333
16,453
558
-
-
-
-
-
-
22,344
-
-
-
22,344
926
-
2,831
3,757		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
33,474
40,000
9,865
747
3,380
10,000
500
3,000
100
-
-
-
-
101,066
-
-
-
101,066
20,404
34,333
-
1,627
6,795
25,740
16,249
-
105,148
-
-
-
105,148
- 4,082
-
29,800
25,718		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
to the nearest £
15,000
-
33,474
40,000
9,865
747
3,380
10,000
500
3,000
100
30
1,502
6,738
-
124,336
-
-
-
124,336
25,737
50,786
558
1,627
6,795
-
25,740
16,249
-
127,492
-
-
-
127,492
- 3,156		 Last year
to the nearest £
Grant - Ballinger Trust 15,000 15,000
Grant - Co-Op - 2,337
Grant - DRLFCT - 29,800
Grant - National Lottery - 40,000
Grant - Mental Health Concern(NHS) - -
Grant - PercyBilton Charity - -
Grant - Screwfix Foundation - -
Grant - Shears Foundation - -
Grant - Tynedale Lions - -
Grant - Barbour Foundation - -
Grant - Arnold Clarke - -
Donations Just Giving 30 78
Private Donations and Other Income 1,502 3,753
Earned Income 6,738 2,640
Gift Aid Claim - 19
Sub total(Gross income for
AR)		 23,270 93,627
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- -
- -
Sub total - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
93,627

Core Costs		 5,333 24,931
SalaryCosts 16,453 32,383
Costs ofgeneratingearned income 558 2,542
Evaluation - 2,721
ConnectingSessions - 5,208
Active Survival - 14,337
Mens Group - 24,191
Training - -
- -
**Sub total ** 22,344 106,313
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
106,313
926 - 4,082 - - 3,156 - 12,686
- - - - -
2,831 29,800 - 32,631 45,317
3,757 25,718 - 29,475 32,631

CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

24/11/2025

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B1 Cash funds		 Details
Details
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
Details
Cash at bank
Details
Signature		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
3,757
25,718
-
-
-
-
3,757
25,718
OK
OK
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
liability relates
Amount due
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Print Name
Sue James		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
(optional)
Date of
approval
Sue James 12-Nov-25

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

24/11/2025

2

HEART WOOD

INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Heart Wood (the 'charity')

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.

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').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I can confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving 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 drawing in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

This report is made solely to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for my own work or for this report.

Karen Rae FCCA, DChA

Dated: 12 November 2025

Armstrong Watson Audit Limited Chartered Accountants Dumfries