Charity registration number: 1182997
SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025
SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charity name Sustainable Sussex CIO Charity registration number 1182997
Principal office Sompting Estate Office Lambleys Lane Worthing West Sussex BN14 9JX
Trustees
Liane Webb Mike Tristram Ruth Kenward Keith Colin Gerard Cronin
www.facebook.com/SustainableSussex
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SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO TRUSTEES' REPORT 2024 - 2025
Structure, governance and management
The Charitable Incorporated Organisation is governed by a constitution dated 15 April 2019.
Reserves policy
Funds are held at the year end, all for intended use in the following year with none consciously held as longer term reserves. Funds will be raised for future activities.
Risk assessment
Trustees have kept under review the major risks facing the trusts and have taken appropriate steps to manage them.
Public benefit reporting
The trustees have considered the various risks to which the trust is potentially exposed, and are satisfied that adequate measures are in place to identify, assess and mitigate the effects of these risks.
Over the last year the charity delivered 1289 individual opportunities, resulting in 5043 volunteer-beneficiary hours.
The charity welcomed 107 individual visitors for introductory tours and a total of 220 guided hours on the farm.
The charity supported 19 individual young people from Northbrook College, totaling 89 hours. The Sustainable Mind delivered mental health provision at the farm in the form of mindfulness meditation and nature connection to 89 individuals totalling 132 hours.
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Achievements and Performance
The Trustees understand how the above objects of the charity are beneficial to the public, and confirm that they have regard to guidelines from the Charity Commission on the same.
Objectives and activities
Sustainable Sussex primarily supports people who find accessing the workplace difficult by providing real-work experience, education, social and environmental connection on and around Sompting Estate. Activities include gardening, building, carpentry, animal care, mindfulness, crafts and making value added products and selling them as part of social enterprise Sussex Chilli Farm, which is a vehicle for education and social inclusion.
Sustainable Sussex is developing The Fen Farm - Sompting community farm, nature trail and community orchard, in partnership with Sompting Estate and Titch Hill Farm.
This year saw a continued increase in beneficiary engagement and vegetable production which was primarily donated to local food banks and to charity beneficiaries.
January saw vandalism and arson on site, impacting the projects significantly and delaying horticultural production for Sussex Chilli Farm.
Mission Statement
Sustainable Sussex provides welcoming spaces, diverse experiences and community connections to help people grow and share their skills, knowledge and passion. We build resilience by furthering the wellbeing, relationships and abilities of people and nature.
Vision
Growing together we thrive
Financial review
The charity ended the period with £2,893 of Unrestricted funds . It also had £16,396 of restricted purpose grant funds. The trust aims to hold sufficient funds to ensure the day to day operations continue, and to contribute to future activities. Whilst trustees aspire in the future to develop a 6-12 month reserve so as to assure future continuity, no minimum reserve level is currently held.
Operational funds are raised as and when needed including as backstop from our principal funding partner the Sompting Estate.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by M Tristram
Date: 8 December 2025
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SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds Notes 2025 2025 2025 £ £ £ Income from: Donations from businesses 8,198 - 8,198 Donations from charities 451 - 451 Donations from individuals 418 - 418 Project funding ‐ - Sale of expended assets - - Charitable activities: Trading activities 2,508 ‐ 2,508 Grant income - 20,400 20,400 Total income 11,575 20,400 31,975 Expenditure on: Charitable activities 2 8,872 7,975 16,847 Total expenses 8,872 7,975 16,847 Net income/(expenditure) 2,703 12,425 15,128 Total funds brought forward 190 3,971 4,161 Total funds carried forward 2,893 16,396 19,289 |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2024 2024 2024 £ £ £ 6,550 - 6,550 135 - 135 145 - 145 8,600 - 8,600 1,500 - 1,500 735 - 735 - 16,197 16,197 |
|---|---|
| 17,665 16,197 33,862 |
|
| 17,669 24,981 42,650 |
|
| 17,669 24,981 42,650 |
|
| (4) (8,784) (8,788) 194 12,755 12,949 |
|
| 190 3,971 4,161 |
There were no recognised gains or losses for 2025 or 2024 other than those included in the Statement of Financial Activities.
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SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Fixed assets Office equipment Current assets Debtors Cash at bank Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Represented by: Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds |
2025 £ £ - - 19,380 19,380 (91) 19,289 19,289 19,289 2,893 16,396 19,289 |
£ - 4,192 |
2024 £ - 4,161 4,161 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,192 (31) |
|||
| 4,161 | |||
| 190 3,971 |
|||
| 4,161 |
Approved by the Trustees and signed on its behalf by
M G Tristram
Date: 8 December 2025
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SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Principal accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, the Statement of Recommended Practice FRS 102 (SORP) applicable to charities.
Incoming resources
All other income is accounted for on an accruals basis.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recorded once the charity has made an unconditional commitment to pay and is accounted for on an accruals basis.
2 Charitable activities expenditure
| Charitable activities expenditure | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct charitable activities spend Costs of direct charitable activities Advertising & Marketing Consulting Minibus Telephone & Internet Insurance Stationery and Computer Accountancy Depreciation Direct charitable activities spend Costs of direct charitable activities Advertising & Marketing Consulting Minibus Telephone & Internet Insurance Stationery and Computer Accountancy Depreciation |
2025 £ Unrestricted Funds 7,651 ‐ ‐ ‐ 565 656 ‐ ‐ ‐ 8,872 2024 £ Unrestricted Funds 8,692 - 8,600 - 377 - - - - 17,669 |
2025 £ Restricted Funds 7,759 ‐ ‐ ‐ 216 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐ 7,975 2024 £ Restricted Funds 24,981 - - - - - - - - 24,981 |
2025 £ Total Funds 15,410 - - - 781 656 - - - |
| 16,847 | |||
| 2024 £ Total Funds 33,673 - 8,600 - 377 - - - - |
|||
| 42,650 |
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SUSTAINABLE SUSSEX CIO
I report on the accounts of the charitable trust for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 6 to 8.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed under its constitution.
It is my responsibility to
examine the financial statements (under section 145 of the 2011 Act),
follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) the 2011 Act), and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements
‐ to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
‐ to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act
have not been met; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Alexander Spofforth FCA for and on behalf of Spofforth Partners Limited
Chartered Accountants Byne Cottage, Manley's Hill Storrington. West Sussex RH20 4BN
Date: 8 December 2025
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