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2024-07-31-accounts

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

Y E A R E N D J U L Y 2 0 2 4

CONTENTS

Administrative Details 1 Rooted In Summary 2 Core Values & Strategy 3 Structure, Governance & Management 5 Summary of Activities 6 Future Plans 9 Accounts 10 Independent Examiner’s Report 11 Acknowledgments 12

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Charity Name Rooted In Charity Number 1126786 Date Registered 6 November 2008 Registered Office St Peters Vicarage Leytop Lane Allerton Bradford Trustees BD15 7LT Chairman Lucy Atkin Secretary Pamela Kershaw Treasurer Rob Atkin Philippa Slingsby-Lunn Aidan Thompson Independent Examiner Torvell Dent Chartered Accountants Centre of Excellence, Hope Park Trevor Foster Way Bradford BD5 8HH Bankers Lloyds TSB 45 Hustlergate Bradford BD1 1NT ONE

ROOTED IN SUMMARY

The work of Rooted In is the culmination of 21 years of our organisation’s grassroots, volunteer-led, and community-focused vision working in the community of Allerton and Lower Grange on the outskirts of Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Rooted In aims to Build Community, Equip Individuals, and Strengthen Families. We do this by designing and delivering holistic services with the community, working with children, young people, families, and adults.

Rooted In strives to outwork our unique belief that the greatest resource and success of Allerton lies within. All of our work is centred on our model of ‘Growing Big People’. We help individuals uncover their skills and desires whilst providing holistic support, education, and training to help them overcome barriers that hold them back. We grow individuals by instilling a sense of personal identity and for them to understand their inherent value and purpose.

Over the past year, we ran programmes that enabled us to support 348 children, young people, adults, and families. These included after-school children's and youth clubs, community events, holiday activities, sports sessions, young people's volunteering, and mentoring. We partnered with local schools to deliver assemblies and targeted interventions. Working with adults we provided volunteering opportunities, training, work experience, and support into employment.

Through the Community Benefit Society - Rooted In Homes we have been working on the long-term plan to secure land and buildings to deliver community services and local homes.

In January 2019 we launched our first social enterprise ‘The Sugar Snap Kitchen Coffee Shop’ at Hope Park, followed by our a second site in October 2022 at Christian’s Against Poverty headquarters.

CORE VALUES & STRATEGY

Rooted In is to be known not just for what we do, but how we do it. We are committed to collaborating with the community, listening to their voice and creating a culture which encourages local social responsibility to deliver grassroots transformation.

This approach and the organisations significant professional experience in community leadership, compliance, social enterprises and project development paired with our long-standing involvement in the community, means that we are the right people to spearhead such a significant movement.

At Rooted In, our approach of building people creates an inner strength and resilience which empowers all ages to make more positive and constructive choices, rather than building a team and services that solely respond to crisis. To do this we have developed a new strategy, which is driven by our culture, purpose, and beliefs.

This strategy ensures that all our programmes will be centred on developing and building people. As such we structure our team and workload to ensure each person can take responsibility for training and mentoring local volunteers. This strategy opens up the organisation to a wider range of opportunities that have never been available to most in our community.

Whilst this approach may be slower and harder work, we believe it will have a much deeper and longer-lasting impact on those in our community.

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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Rooted In was formally established by a constitution dated 6 November 2008 as Kidz Klub Allerton and was subsequently registered as a charity on 19 November 2008, under registration number 1126786. On 20 September 2019 Kidz Klub Allerton changed its name to Rooted In. On 18th July 2019, Rooted In registered a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). We completed a transfer of assets from Rooted In to Rooted In CIO on 21st February 2022. Rooted In are now operating under the new registration number 1184481. The charity registered under number 1126786 shall be closed.

The Charity is managed by the Board of Trustees. Under the requirements of the constitution, in addition to the statutory powers of appointment, a new trustee may be appointed by a resolution of the trustees passed by a majority in a general meeting. Trustee training is carried out on an ongoing basis, making use of the Charity Commission website and other charity publications.

The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the Charity.

The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis together with controls over key financial systems. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces.

Linked Entities

Over the years Rooted In has founded a number of associated companies and organisations that relate to the CIO and support the vision and mission of the Charity:

The three Sugar Snap Kitchen CICs are companies limited by shares, with all shares being owned by Rooted In CIO.

Rooted In Homes CBS is registered with the FCA and is independent from the Charity, with its own Board of Directors. Rooted In CIO Trustees have the right to directly appoint two board members. Currently, the dayto-day running of the CBS is carried out under agreement by the staff of Rooted In CIO.

FIVE

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Objectives and Activities

Rooted In’s principal objectives, as set out in the Constitution, are:

To act as a resource for people of all ages and backgrounds living in Allerton and neighbouring areas by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of physical, educational and other activities as a means of:

a) Advancing in life and helping by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals.

b) Providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have need by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons.

Our current and planned work supports children and young people, parents and families from Allerton and Lower Grange. Our aims fully reflect the purposes that the charity was set up, to benefit all children and young people regardless of personal background, faith, gender or personal circumstances.

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SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Champion Kids

Champions has had an exciting and action-packed year, filled with new activities, opportunities, and many new children joining our programme. Over the past year, we’ve run five weekly after-school groups, engaging 68 primary-aged children, all supported by a dedicated team of 15 local volunteers and young people. We’ve offered a diverse range of activities, all rooted in our belief that the children in our community deserve the very best!

A highlight of our Champion Kids sessions is our ‘connect time’, where children have the chance to talk about their day, share their worries, and celebrate their achievements.

Throughout the year, Champion Kids have been actively involved in giving back to their community. They hosted an afternoon tea for elderly residents, went carol singing at the local care home, helped lead the Remembrance Day service, took part in litter-picking, and delivered Easter gifts to isolated residents.

Wildlife

This past year, we launched a new project specifically designed for boys who have experienced childhood trauma, face challenges with their mental or emotional well-being, feel isolated, or are at risk of engaging in crime. Our goal is to bring hope into their lives by supporting their mental, social, and aspirational development.

Throughout the week, we run outdoor forest school activities, led by our outreach worker and a team of volunteers. During school holidays, we provide work placements at our social enterprise coffee shops and construction projects, giving the boys valuable hands-on experience.

SEVEN

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

A highlight for the group was building their own outdoor shelter, with support from one of the boys' dads — a rewarding project that boosted their skills and sense of community. Over three weeks, they dug foundations, built the deck, and assembled what felt like the biggest IKEA kit we've ever seen! The result is a year-round shelter, perfect for our forest activities, construction projects, and open-fire cooking.

Soul Girls

This year, our Soul Girls youth programme had the privilege of collaborating with the Arts and Heritage Workers at South Square in Thornton. This partnership has opened up incredible opportunities for our young people to work alongside local artists on creative projects set to be showcased as part of the Bradford City of Culture.

Throughout the year, we have engaged 26 young people in hands-on artistic experiences, including creating mosaics, pottery, sculptures, and photography, all exploring themes of heritage and the meaning of home. Looking ahead to next summer, they will be planning an art trail in Allerton and organising an event to exhibit their work to the community.

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Youth Enterprise

This year, we launched our Youth Apprentice Programme. Each participant took part in group coaching sessions and completed three work experience sessions at our coffee shop.

During the group sessions, the young people focused on developing ideas to start their own food businesses, creating a plan for the year ahead. They have been working on the design and marketing of their social enterprise and are preparing to run pop-up food stalls at Bradford City of Culture events and local conferences.

Therapy

The launch of our therapy service has been a major success for our organisation. We successfully recruited a highly experienced family trauma therapist with a background in private practice, the NHS, CAMHS, and school-based support. To develop our mental health services, we began by accepting referrals from primary schools, which helped establish credibility and trust within the community as we expanded our therapeutic offerings. After consulting with partners and families, we determined that an informal drop-in service would be the most effective approach for community mental health support, rather than structured workshops.

Over the past year, we have provided 10 weeks of therapy to 12 children, supported five families, delivered two 10-week wellbeing courses for 25 girls, two 10-week intervention courses for 12 boys, and offered guidance to 20 parents through our drop-in sessions. In 2024-25, 78% of young people referred had low self-esteem, 59% experienced anxiety, 36% felt isolated and 85% had experienced an Adverse Childhood Experience.

NINE

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Community Benefit Society

As part of our broader objectives, Rooted In aims to create a ripple effect across the entire community through our activities, innovation, and best practices. As our reputation has grown locally, regionally, and nationally, we have been presented with opportunities to shape policy, attract inward investment, and contribute to community development—areas well suited to a membership-based organisation.

To support this vision, Rooted In has invested time and resources into establishing a membership-based charitable Community Benefit Society. This independent, arms-length organisation will eventually operate separately from the charity, with a broad, community-driven membership focused on amplifying the community voice and facilitating sustainable development.

Our approach involves rescuing, repurposing, and sustaining community spaces and assets while leveraging community-led action to influence future investments and service procurement. We will achieve this through:

Partnership bids for contracts and grants

Through these efforts, we aim to empower the community, ensuring that its needs and aspirations shape the future of our shared spaces and resources.

Vicarage

Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned! Last year, we shared our hopes for a new home in The Vicarage... but unfortunately, that hasn’t happened just yet.

It’s been a challenging year navigating legal agreements and exploring funding opportunities. However, there’s good news — the lease is in final stages and 2025 is set to be an exciting year, with builders starting work, community action days taking place, and young people getting hands-on experience as they help build their community!

TEN

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Volunteers

Our team now includes 55 incredible volunteers, ranging in age from 14 to 75. We have intentionally built a diverse team and witnessed the significant impact of having older volunteers lead our youth programs. Their involvement has enriched our youth community, bringing wisdom and decades of life experience that offer valuable perspectives and guidance, helping to shape the personal growth of our young people. They also provide a calming presence and emotional stability, creating a safe and nurturing environment for young people who often face challenges in their home lives.

Eulie is one of our oldest volunteers and has lived in Allerton all her life. Eulie volunteers at our Soul Girls youth programme.

Millie is one of our youngest volunteers. Millie is a junior leader at our chlldren’s Champions programme.

Delyla

“Volunteering has allowed me so many opportunities. I have recently been accepted to college with the help of my volunteering. I love helping others. I enjoy walking in and seeing the kids have a smile on their faces and that’s what makes it worth it!”

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ELEVEN
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SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

Successes

The quality and lasting impact of Rooted In’s work is now gaining recognition beyond our immediate community. Since our inception, we have prioritised a community-first, community-led approach. This commitment led to an invitation from Power To Change to join We’re Right Here as a Community Leader, helping to drive the campaign for legislative change through the Community Power Act. As part of this initiative, we and our community partners were featured in their campaign video ahead of the General Election, showcasing the transformative work we’ve led and its positive impact on local families. Postelection, we have been invited to meet with a committee of MPs to present what communities and organisations like ours would like to see from the English Devolution Bill. Further to this we have been invited to multiple round table discussions with The Bank of England helping them understand the impact of monetary policy on communities, charities and services.

One of our key goals has been to involve children in shaping their community. Over the past year, we also focused on creating more opportunities for adults to engage with this vision. Through our involvement with We’re Right Here, our community panel has officially become members of our Community Benefit Society. This step is helping to formalise and empower local residents, giving them a stronger voice in shaping services and guiding investment in our community.

TWELVE

FUTURE PLANS

As the Trustees and Senior Leadership Team look forward to 2024-25 there are a few key areas of focus for the organisation:

The report was approved by the Trustees on 26th March 2025. Lucy Atkin - Chair Of The Board

ACCOUNTS

RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024

Unrestricted Restricted
Funds Funds 2024 2023
Income
Grants - 213058 213058 120562
Donations & Gift Aid 6500 - 6500 7125
Income from Charitable Activities 3849 - 3849 7108
Social Enterprises 3864 - 3864 33210
Other 3000 3000 -
Total 17213 213058 230271 168005
Expenses
Staff costs 2266 143365 145631 135455
Training & Volunteer Costs 3239 931 4170 4085
Premises Costs - 15065 15065 6177
Computer & Equipment 967 427 1394 3501
Administration Costs 687 2649 3336 2476
Marketing - 401 401 465
Professional Fees & Consultancy 6 1416 1422 642
Charitable Activities 1030 58507 59537 17100
Donations 360 - 360 310
Total 8555 222761 231316 170211
8658 (9703) (1045) (2026)
Funds B/Fwd as at 31st July 2023 15132 110179 125311 127517
Transfer between Funds (4043) 4043 - -
Total Funds as at 31st July 2024 19747 104519 124266 125311
Represented by:-
Cash at Bank 124266 125300
Cash in hand 11
124266 125311

FOURTEEN

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

Report to the trustees of Rooted In on the accounts for the year ended 31 July 2024.

Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit requirement of Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Chairty Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act, 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 Charities 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently, I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

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:

  2. (a) To keep accounting records in accordance with S130 of the 2011 Act; and

  3. (b) To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or

  4. To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

S J Sutcliffe F.C.C.A.

Torevell Dent Limited

Chartered Certified Accountant

1-3 St Ann’s Place

Pellon Lane

Halifax. HX1 5RB

19 November 2024

FIFTEEN

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We want to take this opportunity to reflect and thank all the companies, foundations and individuals who have chosen to commit themselves to support us and our community. All that we do would not be possible without their generosity, thoughtfulness and kindness.

This support has ranged from time, donated equipment and material, pro bono professional services, mentoring and consultancy as well as financial donations to the charity.

Rooted In Volunteers

Daniel Wilkinson - Keystone Finance & St. James’ Place Wealth Management Allerton Methodist Church

The Growing Faith Foundation Reaching Communities Henry Smith Charity

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7 Stars Foundation

Bradford Community Chest Manjit Wolstenholme The Brelms Trust Sir George Martin Fund Postcode Lottery