## **CHARITY COMMISSION**
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
**Registration number: 1183223**
**Annual Report and Financial Statements**
**30 April 2024**
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Contents**
|Reference and Administrative Details|1|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2|
|Trustees' responsibilities|9|
|Independent examiner's report|10|
|Statement of financial activities|11|
|Balance sheet|12|
|Notes to the financial statements|13|
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
**Charity name** Susan's Farm CIO **Charity registration number** 1183223 **Principal office** 145 Houghton Road CARLISLE CA3 0LD **Registered office** 145 Houghton Road CARLISLE CA3 0LD **Trustees** F Merritt-Smith, Chair L Slater J Aglionby W Laidlaw B Matthews (Appointed 27 September 2023) (Resigned 12 October 2024) T Abbas (Appointed 6 October 2024) **Accountant** Dodd & Co Limited FIFTEEN Rosehill Montgomery Way Rosehill Estate CARLISLE CA1 2RW
Page 1
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the accounts and comply with the charity’s governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
## 1. **Purposes of Susan’s farm CIO**
The Charitable Objects of Susan’s Farm CIO are for the benefit of the public as follows:
1) To advance education among disadvantaged and/or vulnerable adults and young people with learning difficulties, challenging behaviours, or mental/physical health problems ("the beneficiaries") through the establishment and operation of a farm, providing training and other educational facilities in agriculture, horticulture and other related skills.
2) To develop the capacity and skills of the beneficiaries in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs and to participate more fully in society.
3) The advancement of education through the provision of educational programmes on agriculture, horticulture and other farming related skills to children, young people and adult learners.
Susan’s Farm CIO’s vision, aims and values were agreed in October 2019 as follows:
**Our vision** is that people’s lives are transformed by working together in purposeful outdoor activity so they can reach their full potential.
**Our aim** is that we transform the lives of children and vulnerable people in our community through vocational farming activity by:
- engaging people infarm, gaining skills and qualificationspurposeful, educational, land-based and horticultural activities on a working organic
- offering real work; rearing farm animals, growing horticultural produce and cooking nutritious food
- connecting people to the land, farming in harmony with the environment and knowing where food comesfrom
- helping people to develop their life skills and capacity to participate in society more fully
**Our values** are that we:
- Give everyone a chance – including the time needed and help to develop their abilities
- Respect others, with a non-judgmental attitude
- Empower people so they have a sense of well-being and feel valued
- Work together as we can develop more together than alone
- Work outdoors as this has great healing/restorative properties
- Care and nurture the world around us
- Are environmentally sustainable
**Delivery** : We deliver our aims and objectives across **seven** educational strands:
**Educational visits** for school classes to learn about food, farming and nature. These include both primary and secondary school visits.
**Alternative provision** for teenage learners to provide purposeful learning and personal development through agricultural activities.
**Care Farming** for those with long term mental health illnesses using therapeutic agricultural activities.
**Care Gardening** for offenders and ex-offenders using therapeutic horticultural activities.
**Public engagement** using digital media, open days, workshops and farm visits.
Page 2
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
**Work placements** for undergraduates, post-graduates and post-16 students.
**Research activities** with partnering organisations.
## **Strategic Objectives for Susan’s Farm CIO for 2023 – 2024:**
1. To continue embedding the ambitious and inclusive educational provision, strengthening links with schools and educational establishments.
2. To develop the strategic financial management systems, and environmental and social resilience of Susan’s Farm, focusing our energies more effectively and building a robust organisation for the future.
3. To develop our network of community support building a sustainable organisation for the future.
4. Continue to further strengthen links with the community and involving users to enhance the Board of Trustees
## **Towards achieving our strategic objective 1:**
_To continue embedding the ambitious and inclusive educational provision, strengthening links with schools and educational establishments._
Relationships with schools has continued to strengthen and as a result school 2023-24 bookings were filled. The Education Manager (Schools and Community Lead) has strengthened the links, and new relationships have formed with KS3 and KS4 settings. Alternative Provision continues to be successful, and the Care Farmers’ programme is also at capacity. There is a demand from Social Care for more places.
## **Towards achieving our strategic objective 2:**
_To develop the strategic financial management systems, and environmental and social resilience of Susan’s Farm, focusing our energies more effectively and building a robust organisation for the future._
The restructuring and simplification of the staffing structure has resulted in Susan’s Farm operating effectively without the sole reliance on individuals. The transfer of farm responsibilities to a contract stock person has enabled employees to focus on the charitable purposes.
## **Towards achieving our strategic objective 3:**
_To develop our network of community support building a sustainable organisation for the future._
The transfer of tasks / knowledge from Susan’s Farm’s founder has been completed and Susan’s Farm is now independently managed and operated by a contract stock person, a team of trustees, employees, and an increasing number of committed volunteers.
## **Towards achieving our strategic objective 4:**
_Continue to further strengthen links with the community and involving users to enhance the Board of Trustees._
The team of volunteers have been very effective in strengthening the links between Susan’s Farm and the community. Susan’s Farm CIO was awarded the King’s Voluntary Service Award in January 2024 – the MBE for charities – a fantastic achievement for a charity less than five years old. In addition Susan’s Farm was granted a High Sherrif’s Award and the Cumbria Education Golden Apple Award for Inclusion. Through the volunteers, new trustees have been identified.
## **Achievements, Performance, and Impact**
Susan’s Farm has been oversubscribed for 2023-24 and the demand for school visits and service user places continues to be high. Susan’s Farm takes bookings 12 months in advance, such is the demand for places.
Our educational offer is delivered using seven different strands and the approach taken to strengthen the educational offer differs depending on the needs and current situation, as follows:
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
## **Educational visits**
Demand for educational visits from schools continue to be high, with bookings taking place 12 months in advance. School visits take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and this has extended to offering visits to secondary schools. Susan’s Farm hosted 2,334 primary school pupils and 994 secondary pupils in 2023-24.
The Education Manager (Schools and Community Lead) successfully delivered bespoke primary school visits designed to reflect exactly what the schools/ require based on the school’s curricular plans. This has been Susan’s Farm’s greatest area of growth, with schools booking more than a year in advance to secure a visit, supported in part by the Countryside Stewardship grant.
50/50 Countryside Stewardship visits at Houghton were completed by July 2023 and the Aglionby Countryside Stewardship visits were increased from 25 /year to 50 / year. 50/50 visits were completed by December 2023. Several schools booked revisits following the Countryside Stewardship visits.
A secondary school leader was successfully appointed by Susan’s Farm to support the Educational Manager (Schools and Community Lead) in developing and promoting the Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 education programme. This has resulted in a strengthening relationship with the secondary schools, with regular bookings. The programme offered to secondary schools have been largely small groups with identified additional or SEND needs.
Summer provision was offered to existing groups with two care farmer sessions and four alternative provision groups. The summer provision offer was to support existing beneficiaries, in response to direct requests from the beneficiaries. It had been identified that the beneficiaries struggled to maintain their mental health during a long summer break and the summer provision offer helped to support the beneficiaries.
Susan’s Farm has successfully recruited new volunteers to support with school visits, ensuring the charity are not solely reliant upon the regular, long-term volunteers. Volunteers come from a rich variety of backgrounds and experience, including a University of Cumbria teacher training student.
## **Alternative provision**
Susan’s Farm appointed a new Alternative Provision leader in October 2023. Alternative Provision education takes place on Mondays and Thursdays and Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. The Monday Alternative Provision group combine with the Care Farming group.
A former alternative provision student is now accessing further education, pursuing Animal Handling L3, with a weekly placement at Susan’s Farm, along with two other students. A former alternative provision student assists with a regular school group.
The Alternative Provision programme was offered as an option on Thursdays during August, in response to carers asking for continuity to support the vulnerable young people in their care. These sessions were charged at the normal rate.
## **Care Farming**
Care Farming takes place on Mondays and Fridays (12 Care Farmers as of March 2024) and all sessions have been filled throughout the year. There continues to be a waiting list for Care Farming places. Three Care Farming sessions were offered over the summer to maintain contact with the more vulnerable adults. Participation was voluntary and charged at the normal rate.
Occupational Therapy placement students continue to work closely with the Care Farmers to support us to develop our offer and monitor outcomes.
The Care Farmers are continuing to work alongside the farm lead as well as with the Care Farmer leader, supporting the care of the animals and maintaining the farm sites. Our Care Farmers are currently less physically able than they used to be, and Susan’s Farm have sought ways of engaging them with the outdoors in other ways. Care Farmers have helped to maintain the raised beds and planted a wildflower section, which rapidly become an area for remembrance of friends and relatives who have died.
Two long-standing Care Farmers continue to develop their preserve-making skills, using the catering kitchen. They now run a successful jam and marmalade business, ‘Farmers’ Five’ and are selling at large local events such as the Forty Farms Fair at Rheged, as well as at smaller local markets.
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
## **Public engagement**
Open Farm Sunday made a welcome return after the covid restrictions and Susan’s Farm welcomed over 450 visitors. Cumbria Wildlife Trust ran activities and birdwatching walks for children and Julia Aglionby led farm walks with Steve Trotter.
The Community Bonfire was well-attended by the local community (in the region of 350 attendees) and supported by Susan’s Farm volunteers.
The online shop continues to make the ordering of meat / produce easier and more efficient.
Susan’s Farm’s social media platform continues to be enhanced with more frequent up-to-date information on Facebook, Twitter and Susan’s Farm website, providing information about activities and events at the farm.
## **Work / Student Placements**
Two Occupational Health students from University of Cumbria (UoC) completed an eight-week placement in the spring term. The placements Susan’s Farm offers focus on how the students relate to different people, how they can adapt their language/behaviour and how they can apply their clinical skills in a non-medical environment. It is called a ‘Role-emerging’ placement.
A University of Cumbria student completed her research on the farm, assessing whether the impact of farming methods on butterfly numbers.
Two veterinary students supported Susan’s Farm during the lambing season and a further four school-aged work experience students came for 1 week to support during the very busy summer visits.
## **Research Activities**
A University of Lancaster PHD student continued her research work, examining the therapeutic impact of being outdoors on mental health. The research was based with the Care Farmers.
## **Susan’s Farm: Land Management**
Susan’s Farm reviewed how it delivers its farming operations and concluded it required a dedicated livestock person rather than splitting the tasks among other staff. By the end of the 2023-2024 financial year, we had successfully recruited a contract stocksperson. They are ensuring the education staff can focus on learning outcomes to beneficiaries while still enabling our beneficiaries to have practical experience of farming and land management.
Susan’s Farm has successfully renewed its certification as an organic farm by The Soil Association and ‘Pasture for Life’ certification mark by the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association (PFLA). We have undertaken Animal Health Plans and implemented the recommendations.
The ‘toolshed’ and raised beds have been completed at Houghton allowing additional groups to benefit from land-based education especially those with more limited ability.
**Stewardship Agreements** (CS = Countryside Stewardship, SFI = Sustainable Farming Incentive)
At the end of the financial year we managed the following agreements from Defra:
- a) CS Higher Tier Agreement: Mirror Agreement which runs until 31/12/27.
- b) CS Mid Tier for the Sport’s Fields that allows us funding for a further 25 paid for educational visits
- c) CS Educational Access at Aglionby: in addition to the original 25 visits
- SFI Pilot Payment: Susan’s Farm will receive the £5,000 learning supplement payment for the third and
- d) final year of this agreement.
- SFI 2023 agreement has been taken out for soil testing and for two of the fields not yet under
- e) agreement.
- Capital Works CS: a further capital works grant was awarded for new hedges at Wallacefield to sub
- f) divide the fields and enable better rotational grazing.
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
## **Financial Review**
The 2023/2024 year was challenging financially with cost saving measure introduced mid year. The Trustees concluded that Susan’s Farm CIO should target raising 25% of its expenditure from grant giving trusts or the Lottery to remain a viable organisation. This is because we cannot achieve full cost recovery from our users or via Defra agreements. Fundraising from grant giving trusts is now part of our strategic and operational delivery.
By the end of the financial year 2023/2024 we had received a £30,000 grant from the Garfield Weston Trust and have received the second tranche of our Ernest Cook Trust Outdoor Learning Officer grant. This results in us presenting a small operating surplus in these accounts.
In addition, after the year end through a range of other grant applications we have now secured over £250,000 of funding for the next four years which enables us to move forward consolidating and growing our services.
Free reserves stand at £140,423 at the year end.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
Susan’s Farm was registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) on 2nd May 2019 on its conversion from a Community Interest Company (CIC).
Susan’s Farm CIO uses the Foundation model constitution from the Charity Commission which was adopted by the trustees on the 17th April 2019. The only members of the CIO are the trustees. The declaration and handling of conflicts of interest are covered in the constitution.
The constitution requires there to be between 3 and 12 trustees. The trustees of Susan’s Farm as of 30th April 2024 are:
Fiona Merritt-Smith (Chair)
Lindsey Slater
Julia Aglionby
Will Laidlaw (retired October 2024)
Robert Matthews (retired October 2024)
The Scheme of Delegation was reviewed following the disbanding of the Management Committee. The Education Manager (Schools and Community Lead) submits an education report and attends the Trustees’ meetings. H&S, Finance and Meat reports are submitted to the Trustees meetings.
## **Staffing**
Staffing was stable across 2023/24, and a reviewed staffing structure has ensured the charity is significantly more organisationally resilient. Since the year end there have been some changes, and we are actively recruiting more staff and have had strong interest in the positions.
Staff roles and responsibilities continue to be reviewed and adapted, resulting in greater clarity and ownership of job roles. The charity has designated staff for the following key roles: Health and Safety Manager, First Aid Manager, Designated Safeguarding Officer, and deputies.
## **Volunteers**
A volunteer leaflet was published to raise awareness of Susan’s Farm and attract new volunteers. Leaflets are shared with every purchase of meat.
The contributions made by volunteers continue to be invaluable and the policies, role descriptions, training and management of volunteers have been implemented. The Education Manager is responsible for ensuring all volunteers are recruited, inducted and are suitably qualified or trained and compliant with safeguarding requirements.
Susan’s Farm has hosted two days when local businesses came to the farm for a volunteering day, completing more challenging tasks that Susan’s Farm’s beneficiaries were unable to undertake.
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
Susan’s Farm has 24 regular volunteers and an additional 15 volunteers who help sporadically, as and when requested.
## **Staff Training**
Staff training continues to be undertaken throughout the year, including annual safeguarding training.
Training included:
Keeping Children Safe In Education 2023
Safeguarding Level 1, 2 & 3
Emergency First Aid and 1st Aid at Work
Online safety
## **Organisational Management**
Susan’s Farm continues to develop its administrative practices. The H&S Masterplan tracks activities needed throughout the year. Bitdefender antivirus software is installed on all PCs for security and Microsoft accounts set up with folders accessible on Dropbox.
The use of Xero and iZettle and the continued development of the suite of policies and procedures supports all aspects of the farm’s back-office operations. The office administrator has undertaken COSHH and IOSH Managing Safely training.
## **Recruitment, Induction and Training of Trustees**
The Trustees were chosen to bring a range of skills and experience to the establishment and governance of Susan’s Farm CIO, including those with personal experience of the setting as volunteers or carers of beneficiaries in addition to professional skills in education, financial management and land management. Susan’s Farm continues to seek additional Trustees to strengthen the Board and information, role description and application forms are available on the Susan’s Farm website.
Trustees on appointment are provided with the guidance from the Charity Commission on the duties and responsibilities of Trustees and are provided with any training as needed, including annual safeguarding training.
## **Related parties**
Trustee Julia Aglionby is part owner of some of the land leased to Susan’s Farm CIO. The land is let at a peppercorn rent to the charity with no beneficial gain to the Trustee and leases are reviewed by the independent Chair of the Trustees.
Susan Aglionby owns some of the land the charity operates from and charges a peppercorn rent to the charity.
## **Major risk statement**
The Trustees have reviewed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and systems or procedures have been put in place to manage those risks. The Trustees maintain a risk register and review major risks relating to Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Financial Management as a regular standing item on the Trustees Meeting agendas.
## **The Strategic Objectives for Susan’s Farm CIO for 2024 – 2025**
**AIM:** For Susan’s Farm to become the sustainable, community relevant and vibrant organisation enabling people to transform their lives, of our vision, this year is the second of our longer term (3 year) plan that will ensure that inside and out, we build and develop our links and support with our community network.
## **The Strategic Objectives for Susan’s Farm CIO for 2024 – 2025 are:**
- **To continue embedding the ambitious and inclusive range of educational services offered,**
- 1. **strengthening links with schools and educational establishments.**
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Report for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
- **To continue to develop the strategic management systems, environmental and social resilience**
- 2. **of Susan’s Farm, focusing our energies more effectively and building a robust organisation for the future which places our staff, volunteers and beneficiaries at its heart.**
- **To develop our network of community support, building a sustainable organisation for the**
- 3. **future.**
Approved by the Trustees on 7 February 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
......................................... .........................................
L Slater J Aglionby
Trustee Trustee
**----- End of picture text -----**
Page 8
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Trustees' Responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 as amended by the Charities Act 2022, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the trust deed. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 9
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of**
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2024, which are set out on pages 11 to 25.
Your attention is to drawn to the fact that the Charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has since been withdrawn.
We understand that this has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view in accordance with the Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effective for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The Charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 as amended by the Charities Act 2022 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
The charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5) (b) of the Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the 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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as 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 accounts 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:
- (1) 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 Charities Act 2011 as amended by the Charities Act 2022; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
......................................... Joanne Thomlinson FCA Dodd & Co Limited Chartered Accountants
FIFTEEN Rosehill Montgomery Way Rosehill Estate CARLISLE CA1 2RW
7 February 2025
Page 10
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
|**Note**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Investment income
3
Charitable activities
4
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income before transfers
**Transfers**
Gross transfers between funds
Net movements in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
35,820
1,226
192,890|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
21,844
-
4,000|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
57,664
1,226
196,890|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
36,922
681
156,610|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||229,936|25,844|255,780|194,213|
||218,231|23,650|241,881|184,734|
||218,231|23,650|241,881|184,734|
||11,705
12,462|2,194
(12,462)|13,899
-|9,479
-|
||24,167
220,698|(10,268)
30,604|13,899
251,302|9,479
241,823|
||244,865|20,336|265,201|251,302|
The notes on pages 13 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 11
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Balance Sheet as at 30 April 2024**
||||**2024**|||**2023**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|**£**||**£**|**£**||**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||||
|Tangible assets|12|||104,442|||100,325|
|**Current assets**||||||||
|Stocks and work in progress||15,989|||14,434|||
|Debtors|13|20,568|||14,181|||
|Cash at bank and in hand||139,692|||129,906|||
|||176,249|||158,521|||
|**Creditors: Amounts falling due within**
**one year**|14|(15,490)|||(7,544)|||
|**Net current assets**||||160,759|||150,977|
|**Net assets**||||265,201|||251,302|
|**The funds of the charity:**||||||||
|**Restricted funds**||||20,336|||30,604|
|**Unrestricted funds**||||||||
|Unrestricted income funds||||244,865|||220,698|
|**Total charity funds**||||265,201|||251,302|
|The financial statements have been prepared in accordance|||with the Financial Reporting Standard||||applicable in|
|the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).||||||||
|Approved by the Board on 7 February 2025|and signed|on its|behalf by:|||||
|.........................................||.........................................||||||
|L Slater||J Aglionby||||||
|Trustee||Trustee||||||
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
The notes on pages 13 to 25 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 12
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 as amended by the Charities Act 2022.
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities:Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
## **Basis of preparation**
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
## **Going concern**
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Fund accounting policy**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees' discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes.
Further details of each fund are disclosed in note 17.
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## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **Income and endowments**
Donations and legacies including donations, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised where there is entitlement, probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Income from Government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.
Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released to incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when:
- The donor specifies that the grant or donation must only be used in future accounting periods; or - The donor has imposed conditions which must be met before the charity has unconditional entitlement.
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the statement of financial activities at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Farm produce income is recognised as earned (that is, as the related goods or services are provided).
Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.
Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned (as the related goods or services are provided) under contract or where entitlement to grant funding is subject to specific performance conditions. Grant income included in this category provides funding to support programme activities and is recognised where there is entitlement, probability of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## **Expenditure**
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Expenditure on raising funds is the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
## **Irrecoverable VAT**
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.
## **Fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets costing £100 or more are initially recorded at cost.
## **Amortisation**
The amount paid in connection with the purchase of entitlements was amortised over the useful economic life of that entitlement, and has now been fully amortised.
Page 14
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **Depreciation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
Tenant's improvements 5% straight line basis on buildings Motor vehicles 25% reducing balance basis Plant and machinery 15% reducing balance basis Office equipment 3 years straight line basis
## **Cash and Cash Equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **Stock**
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after due regard for obsolete and slow moving stocks. Net realisable value is based on selling price less anticipated costs to completion and selling costs. Items donated for resale or distribution are not included in the financial statements until they are sold or distributed.
## **Operating leases**
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged in the statement of financial activities on a straight line basis over the lease term.
## **Pensions**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions are charged in the statement of financial activities as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.
Page 15
**Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
_......... continued_
## **2 Donations and legacies**
|**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Gift Aid tax reclaimed
**Grants**
G&K Boyes Charitable Trust
Stanwix RPC
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Delamere Dairy Foundation
Ernest Cook Trust
Myerscough College
Garfield Weston Foundation
Country Land Association|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
4,314
1,006|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
2,748
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
7,062
1,006|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
2,471
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||5,320|2,748|8,068|2,471|
||-
-
-
-
-
500
30,000
-|-
336
1,760
-
12,000
-
-
5,000|-
336
1,760
-
12,000
500
30,000
5,000|15,000
663
1,788
5,000
12,000
-
-
-|
||30,500|19,096|49,596|34,451|
||35,820|21,844|57,664|36,922|
Of the donations and legacies income in 2023 £17,471 related to unrestricted funds and £19,451 related to restricted funds.
## **3 Investment income**
|Interest on cash deposits|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
1,226|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
1,226|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
681|
|---|---|---|---|---|
All of the investment income in 2023 related to unrestricted funds.
Page 16
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **4 Charitable activities**
|**Education**
Alternative provision
School visits income
Care farming income
Growing changes income
Training income
Event income
Other income
**Farming**
RPA - Basic Payment Scheme
RPA - Land Management
Farm produce sales
Produce sales
Livestock sales
Grazing income|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
37,548
16,937
33,768
-
2,062
659
75|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
-
-
4,000
-
-
-|**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
37,548
16,937
33,768
4,000
2,062
659
75|**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
26,286
9,381
26,030
4,950
8,078
1,347
104|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||91,049|4,000|95,049|76,176|
||7,523
45,823
36,776
7,217
4,102
400|-
-
-
-
-
-|7,523
45,823
36,776
7,217
4,102
400|9,262
33,803
28,063
6,226
2,500
580|
||101,841|-|101,841|80,434|
||192,890|4,000|196,890|156,610|
Of the income from charitable activities in 2023 £151,660 related to unrestricted funds and £4,950 related to restricted funds.
Page 17
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **5 Expenditure**
|**Direct costs**
Opening stock
Growing changes purchases
Sheep purchases
Cattle purchases
Purchase of goods for resale
Closing stock
Wages and salaries
Staff NIC (Employers)
Subcontract cost
Staff training
School visit expenses
Meat butchering and dressing
Feedstuffs
Veterinary and medicines
Care farming expenses
Farm produce expenses
Alternate provision expenses
Grazing and wintering
Employment costs
**Support costs**
Water rates
Insurance
Event expenses
Haulage
Repairs and renewals
Fencing
Dog expenses
Telephone and fax
Printing, postage and stationery
Sundry expenses
Motor expenses
Marketing
Accountancy fees
Independent examiner's fee
Bank charges
Depreciation of improvements
Depreciation of plant and machinery
Depreciation of motor vehicles
Depreciation of office equipment|**Education**
**£**
-
1
-
-
-
-
71,363
2,286
-
-
5,240
-
-
-
3,715
-
3,157
-
1,426
87,188
2,312
5,624
347
-
2,659
11,055
-
1,320
975
2,270
8,256
74
2,045
525
115
4,619
4,038
2,499
381
49,114|**Farming**
**£**
14,434
-
1,981
2,430
5,409
(15,989)
45,637
199
14,002
832
-
11,861
2,840
7,469
-
3,054
-
819
2,891|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
14,434
1
1,981
2,430
5,409
(15,989)
117,000
2,485
14,002
832
5,240
11,861
2,840
7,469
3,715
3,054
3,157
819
4,317|**Total**
**2023**
**£**
12,728
111
2,305
-
6,772
(14,434)
84,420
-
12,241
424
4,567
6,599
2,860
3,665
2,676
4,462
3,395
1,195
2,881|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||97,869|185,057|136,867|
|||-
-
-
562
5,961
-
120
-
-
628
-
-
-
-
439
-
-
-
-|2,312
5,624
347
562
8,620
11,055
120
1,320
975
2,898
8,256
74
2,045
525
554
4,619
4,038
2,499
381|1,690
5,093
579
328
2,977
10,255
101
1,178
1,126
3,021
5,724
308
1,046
600
450
4,182
2,942
5,384
883|
|||7,710|56,824|47,867|
Page 18
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
136,302 105,579 241,881 184,734
Of the expenditure in 2023 £152,996 related to unrestricted funds and £31,738 related to restricted funds.
## **6 Governance costs**
|Accountancy fees
Independent examiner's fee|**2024**
**£**
2,045
525|**2023**
**£**
1,046
600|
|---|---|---|
||2,570|1,646|
## **7 Trustees' remuneration and expenses**
No trustees received any remuneration during the year.
## **8 Net income**
Net income is stated after charging:
Depreciation of owned assets
|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|
|**£**|**£**|
|11,537|13,391|
## **9 Employees' remuneration**
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management) employed by the charity during the year was as follows:
|Charitable activities
The aggregate payroll costs of these persons were as follows:
Wages and salaries
Social security
Other pension costs|**2024**
**No.**
7
**2024**
**£**
117,000
2,485
1,836
121,321|**2023**
**No.**
6|
|---|---|---|
|||**2023**
**£**
84,420
-
1,317|
|||85,737|
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year.
Page 19
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **10 Taxation**
The registered charity is exempt from taxation on income and gains.
## **11 Intangible fixed assets**
## **Total £**
## **Cost**
As at 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024 4,200 **Amortisation** As at 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024 4,200 **Net book value** As at 30 April 2024 - As at 30 April 2023 -
## **12 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
As at 1 May 2023
Additions
As at 30 April
2024
**Depreciation**
As at 1 May 2023
Charge for the
year
As at 30 April
2024
**Net book value**
As at 30 April
2024
As at 30 April
2023|**Tenant's**
**improvements**
**£**
83,644
15,362
99,006
16,997
4,619
21,616
77,390
66,647|**Motor vehicles**
**£**
31,705
-
31,705
15,554
2,499
18,053
13,652
16,151|**Plant and**
**machinery**
**£**
31,235
-
31,235
14,563
4,038
18,601
12,634
16,672|**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
4,288
292
4,580
3,433
381
3,814
766
855|**Total**
**£**
150,872
15,654|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||166,526|
||||||50,547
11,537|
||||||62,084|
||||||104,442|
||||||100,325|
Page 20
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **13 Debtors**
|Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income|**2024**
**£**
14,852
5,716
20,568|**2023**
**£**
8,931
5,250|
|---|---|---|
|||14,181|
## **14 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2024**
**£**
1,142
3,847
449
10,052
15,490|**2023**
**£**
2,535
2,028
733
2,248|
|---|---|---|
|||7,544|
Creditors amounts falling due within one year includes deferred income:
|Deferred income
Deferred income|**2024**
**£**
7,584
7,584|**2023**
**£**
-|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
## **15 Pension scheme**
## **Defined contribution pension scheme**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the period represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted to £1,836 (2023 - £1,317).
Contributions totalling £449 (2023 - £733) were payable to the scheme at the end of the period and are included in creditors.
Page 21
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **16 Related parties**
## **Controlling entity**
The charity is controlled by the trustees.
Julia Aglionby is part owner of some of the land leased to Susan's Farm CIO. The land is leased at a peppercorn rent to the charity with no beneficial gain to the Trustee and leases are reviewed by the independent Chair of the Trustees.
Susan Aglionby, who founded the charity but is not a Trustee, owns four fields and the learning centre from which the charity operates. Susan was reimbursed £618 during the year for running the Farm's fridges and freezers.
Page 22
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **17 Analysis of funds**
|**Designated Funds**
Designated fixed asset
reserve
**General Funds**
Unrestricted income fund
**Restricted Funds**
Growing Changes Grant
Stanwix RPC
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Delamere Dairy
Foundation
Ernest Cook Trust
Country Land
Association Grant
Tool/Owl shed|**At 1 May**
**2023**
**£**
100,325
120,373
13,604
-
-
5,000
12,000
-
-
30,604
251,302|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
-
229,936
4,000
336
1,760
-
12,000
5,000
2,748
25,844
255,780|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(11,537)
(206,694)
(6,539)
(336)
(1,760)
-
(14,910)
-
(105)
(23,650)
(241,881)|**Transfers**
**£**
15,654
(3,192)
-
-
-
(5,000)
-
(4,964)
(2,498)
(12,462)
-|**At 30 April**
**2024**
**£**
104,442|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||140,423|
||||||11,065
-
-
-
9,090
36
145|
||||||20,336|
||||||265,201|
Designated Fixed Asset Reserve: This fund is used to hold the fixed assets.
Growing changes grant: This fund covers salaries and other expenses relating to the Growing Changes project.
Stanwix RPC: This fund covered costs of the bonfire night event.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust: This fund covered the cost of fencing for a pollinator project.
Delamere Dairy Foundation: This grant is for the construction of a new workshop.
Ernest Cook Trust: This grant is to cover the cost of an Outdoor Learning Officer and will last three years.
Country Land ASsociation Grant: This grant is for the construction of a new workshop
Tool/Owl shed: Donations received to cover the costs of a new tool shed
Page 23
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **Prior period**
|**Designated Funds**
Designated fixed asset
reserve
**General Funds**
Unrestricted income fund
**Restricted Funds**
GK Boyes Charitable Trust
Cumberland BUilding Society
Grant
Growing Changes Grant
Stanwix RPC
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Delamere Dairy Foundation
Ernest Cook Trust|**At 1 May**
**2022**
**£**
112,766
91,116
11,680
11,250
15,011
-
-
-
-
37,941
241,823|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
-
169,812
-
-
4,950
663
1,788
5,000
12,000
24,401
194,213|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(13,391)
(139,605)
(11,680)
(11,250)
(6,357)
(663)
(1,788)
-
-
(31,738)
(184,734)|**Transfers**
**£**
950
(950)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**At 30 April**
**2023**
**£**
100,325|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||120,373|
||||||-
-
13,604
-
-
5,000
12,000|
||||||30,604|
||||||251,302|
## **18 Transfers**
The transfers from restricted funds to unrestricted funds represents restricted funds received to purchase fixed assets. Once the assets were purchased the original restriction on the funds was met and the assets were therefore transferred to unrestricted funds to reflect the fact that they are unrestricted in use.
Page 24
## **Susan's Farm CIO**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 April 2024**
_......... continued_
## **19 Net assets by fund**
|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Tangible assets
104,442
Current assets
155,913
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within one year
(15,490)
Net assets
244,865
**Prior period**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
Tangible assets
100,325
Current assets
127,917
Creditors: Amounts falling due within
one year
(7,544)
Net assets
220,698||**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
20,336
-
20,336
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
-
30,604
-
30,604||**Total Funds**
**2024**
**£**
104,442
176,249
(15,490)
265,201
**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
100,325
158,521
(7,544)
251,302||**Total Funds**
**2023**
**£**
100,325
158,521
(7,544)
251,302
**Total Funds**
**2022**
**£**
112,766
135,305
(6,248)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||
||||||||
|||||||241,823|
Page 25