2025-12-31-accounts

The Horsforth Shed Trustees’ Annual Report 2025

Registered Charity 1184672

See also our website at www.horsforthshed.co.uk

“The Horsforth Shed is a perfect setting for our students to (re-)learn that they are valued and worthy of trust and that they can do good things and produce work that they are proud of.”

Carl Millar Principal of Southway School, an Extended Education Provider

Contents

Objectives	2
Our History	2
Our Staffing Model	2
Achievements	3
Our Activities	3
Testimonials	4
Community Outreach	4
Looking Forward	4
Health & Safety, Safeguarding, and Risk Management	5
Health and Safety	5
Safeguarding	5
Risk Management	5
Finances	6
Charity and Trustee Details	7

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Objectives

The intention of the Horsforth Shed is to help build supportive relationships through the medium of woodwork and other craft activities. More broadly, the charitable aim of the Shed is to promote social inclusion in Horsforth and the surrounding area by assisting individuals to integrate into society. This means learning together in a workshop environment and creating an atmosphere of mutual support. The services of the Shed are directed towards helping any individual who is, or is at risk of becoming, socially excluded.

Our History

The Horsforth Shed began in 2019 with the refurbishment and equipping of a former Scout Hut owned by Woodside St James’ Parish Church which lay unused and had fallen into disrepair. The renovation work took place through the coronavirus pandemic and over £68,000 was raised to cover the cost of renovation and equipment. The majority of this renovation work was undertaken by volunteers, whose donated time amounted to approximately £70,000 worth of labour. The Shed became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in October 2019 and began delivering services to the local community in November 2021. Since then it has steadily increased its levels of engagement year by year.

Our Staffing Model

The key to our effective operation is our hybrid model of delivery involving both paid staff and volunteers. We appointed our first paid member of staff November 2021 and supplemented this with a second paid workshop tutor in September 2024. Our workshop tutors provide services for two and a half days per week managing the delivery of services to the local community. In addition, in 2025 we appointed a part time administrator (half a day per week) to support the organisation and oversee of safeguarding.

Those wishing to volunteer to deliver services are given certified training to enable them to become Session Supervisors. In 2025 our volunteer team of 8 Session Supervisors offered over 700 hours of support.

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Achievements

The trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit. Therefore the aspirations agreed by the trustees for 2025 were to:

• Expand the utilisation of the Shed by offering additional activities

• Increase our operational capacity by employing a part time administrative assistant

• Ensure future sustainability by increasing either our grant applications or income from service users or other sources

It is pleasing to report that all of these have been progressed.

We expanded the utilisation of the Shed by hiring it out to a training provider on Mondays during term time.

In April 2025 we appointed a part time administrative assistant. This has ensured that enquiries are dealt with promptly and that the Project Leader is supported with the day to day running of the Shed.

We increased our grant income significantly, raising £26.7k in 2025.

Our Activities

Horsforth Shed aims combat social isolation. It is a place for people to connect, converse and create, providing practical education and recreational activities for a wide range of people from the Horsforth area and beyond. Broadly these fall into three categories

• Young people either in alternative educational provision or attending specialist provision for students with autism spectrum disorder. In each session, participants use the equipment and resources provided by the Shed to make a variety of outcomes. There is a structured programme is in place to develop some of the skills outlined in the Design and Technology Programme of Study for Key Stage 3. This involves a variety of guided tasks involving various projects.

• Drop-in sessions that are open to the public. Those who attend may be simply wishing to learn new skills, others may be suffering from loneliness, depression or living with dementia. Whilst a range of projects are offered, the majority of tasks undertaken are by individuals’ choice.

• Specialist provision to meet particular needs. We have a long-standing relationship with Lighthouse West Yorkshire, a charity that supports vulnerable adults, those ‘battered and bruised by the storms of life.” We work together with their staff to provide a supportive environment where they learn new skills. Again, whilst a range of projects are offered, the majority of tasks undertaken are by individuals choice.

All sessions are led by suitably qualified Workshop Instructors or Shed Supervisors. Participants thereby learn new skills and complete projects whilst engaging with others The Shed has a dedicated social space and kitchen, allowing for quality social engagement alongside the main workshop activities and is utilised by all these groups. The positive impact of the Horsforth Shed on users has been evident in the feedback received. Although users praise the quality of the facilities and the opportunity to learn new skills, the mental health and social benefits of using the Shed are what shine through in testimonials. Here are a few of them:

Testimonials

A lady who supports her husband , a gentleman with Alzheimer’s told us that

“He loves coming along, it brightens his week. The social side of things is as important to him as anything he makes, he loves the company”.

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A student who attends as part of a group said:

“It’s really good here – I love coming!”

Finally, a comment from a staff member from one of the schools work with

“The Shed provides our students with invaluable life, work and social skills in the most fantastic facilities. The Shed team patiently, gently and kindly build rapport and trust with each student at an individual pace and the students in turn develop in self-esteem and become increasingly empowered and motivated. The standard of the woodwork and products produced is so good that we have sold items to the public via our pop-up shop, which was a hugely rewarding experience for the students involved in making them.”

Community Outreach

The work of the Shed is recognised In 2025 Katie White OBE MP, on behalf of Horsforth Town Council, presented the Shed with the “Heart of Horsforth” Community Award. This was for “their incredible work developing the Horsforth Shed, … for people with diverse needs”. We were also nominated for prestigious Kings Award by the Steven Boardman MBE Deputy Lieutenant

Looking Forward

Building on the successful operation of the Shed in 2025, our aspirations for the coming year are to:

• To increase the number of users

• Become registered as a Service Provider so that the Shed is able to bid for public sector grants

• Meet the projected funding shortfall through grants and paid service provision

• Consider writing a social impact report. This could be a potential project for a university student

Health & Safety, Safeguarding, and Risk Management

The Project Leader is responsible for overseeing the management and operation of the community workshop. Our Workshop Manager, Workshop Instructors or our experienced volunteer Session Supervisors oversee all workshop activities and ensure safe working practice, and two supervisors (paid staff or volunteers) are usually present for each session. There are the required policies and procedures in place designed to mitigate risk.

Health and Safety

Overseeing Health and Safety remains the responsibility of the Project Leader. Our Health and Safety Policy details the management and control of risks to prevent accidents and ill health resulting from activity in the Shed. All new attendees at the Shed complete a short induction process when attending the workshop for the first time.

The workshop space is well lit and uncluttered, with a new more powerful dust extraction unit directly fitted to equipment, and a wall mounted fine particle extraction unit. We also reduce the risk of fine dust by minimising the use of sanding equipment. All tools and equipment are regularly maintained, and electrical appliances are PAT tested as appropriate. The use of tools and machinery is strictly controlled. Any equipment that could cause significant injury is clearly identified as ‘restricted use’ and may only be used after specific training has been delivered. Workshop sessions are overseen by experienced Supervisors who promote the use of the Personal Protective Equipment that is provided. We encourage all

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participants to recognise that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility. Concerns may be raised in person or using feedback cards.

Activities are risk assessed to minimise possible incidents that could result in injury or harm. We record all accidents and ‘near-misses’ and review them. We then respond as appropriate to mitigate future risks. We comply with regulations concerning the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) by providing secure storage in a lockable metal store cupboard. In addition, we also have a purchased a lockable Flammable Material Storage Cabinet and undertake annual maintenance on our fire extinguishers.

Safeguarding

As the Board of Trustees, we recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults. The Board of Trustees therefore adopted a Safeguarding Policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding. The policy is based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by Thirtyone:eight agency. It is they who provide professional support and undertake Disclosure and Barring Service checks for our staff and volunteer supervisors. We have a trustee with specific oversight of safeguarding supported by our newly appointed administrator.

Risk Management

We have completed a Risk Register that identifies the principal threats to the operation of the Shed. The potential threats are mitigated by the measures that are set out in a Risk Register, which is reviewed annually by the trustees.

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Finances

We are fortunate to have a trustee who is a professionally qualified accountant as our treasurer. We have no funds materially in deficit and the trustees are satisfied that the charity is a going concern. We operate our finances within a Financial Controls Policy overseen by the treasurer and reviewed annually and we have no Related Party Transactions to disclose. To ensure that the charity continues to be financially sustainable, we have a reserves policy of five months’ operating costs. These are currently estimated at £2.4k pm with a minimum reserve threshold of £12.0k. We never undertake any purchases or commission any work unless funding is already in place. Horsforth Shed is not a grant-making charity nor does it have any investments.

The trustees are pleased to report that a volunteer has taken on the role of fundraiser and has achieved great success, achieving grants of £26.7k, see below.

During 2025, the following funding was received

Restricted funds :

£623 Barchester

£5,000 Brelms Trust

£2,375 Hedley Foundation

£4,600 Benefact Trust

£5,000 The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation

£17,598 Total Restricted Grants and Donations

Unrestricted funds:

£2,500 Grant - Albert Hunt

£1,000 Grant - Charles & Elsie Sykes

£2,600 Grant - St James Church Woodside

£3,000 Grant - Yapp Charitable Trust

£38,681 Receipts from Services Supplied

£5,291 Donations

£53,072 Total Unrestricted Donations

£70,670 Total Income

£39,384 Total Expenditure

Monies carried forward from 2024 was £24,431

Monies remaining at the end of 2025 was £55,717

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Charity and Trustee Details

Name: HORSFORTH SHED Charity number: 1184672 Date Registered: 30 July 2019.

Charity’s principal address: c/o St James Woodside, Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 5QW

Horsforth Shed is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation with a Constitution as its governing document.

The management of the charity is by the board of trustees listed below

Jonathan Cain (Chair)

Graeme Collins

Peter Gillions (Project Leader)

Joe Minton (Safeguarding)

Chris Baker (Treasurer)

Tracey Greig

Trustees are appointed by agreement of trustees, and a minimum of three trustees are needed to be quorate. As the property is owned by St James Woodside Parochial Church Council then the Vicar of St James Woodside is automatically an “ex-officio” trustee. If the post of Vicar is in vacancy, then there must be at least one trustee who is a member of the Parochial Church Council. The charity trustees will meet at least quarterly and undertake to make available to each new charity trustee, on or before their first appointment, copies of or access to:

The current version of the constitution.

The CIO’s latest Trustees’ Annual Report and statement of accounts.

The Charity Commission’s guidance on the role of the trustee.

The trustee declaration of being a ‘fit and proper’ person document.

The charity is aware of the guidance on diversity and inclusion and is actively seeking to expand the board of trustees.

Staff members:

Richard Hamlin Workshop Manager employed one and a half days per week

Nigel Stables Workshop Instructor employed one day per week

Melanie Nightingale Administrator employed for half a day per week

Peter Gillions (Project Leader): Volunteer with responsibility for the future development and maintenance of the premises. to oversee a volunteer team of eight Session Supervisors.

Others

The Independent Examiner appointed for 2025 is A.A. Clement M.A., A.C.I.B.,F.C.I.E.

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Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above on the 20[th] July 2026 Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Jonathan Cain Signatures Full names Jonathan Cain Chair of Trustees

Peter Gillions

Peter Gillions Trustee and Project Leader

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Horsforth Shed On accounts for the year end 3111 December 2025 Charity no lif any) 1184672 Set out on pages One and two. l ￿port to the trustees on my examinalion of the accounts of the above charity llhe Trust-l for the year ended 3111212024. Responslbllltles and As the charity trustees of the Trust. y(yJ are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Chanlies Act 2011 (Ihe Act.). I rekXIrt in respect of rny eXaMinat￿n of the Trusys &counts camed out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the a￿tsbie Directions given by the Charty Commission under section 145151{bl of the Ad. I have completed my examination. l (x)nfinn that ￿ material matters have come to my attent￿n in COnnect￿n with the examination which gprfes me ause to believe thal in, any matenal respect.. accounting records were not kept in accordance wth section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not acc￿￿ with the accounting records Independent oxamlnerfs Statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examinatK)n to whiGh attenlion should te drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reac1￿d. ' H88s6 delete th8 words in the brackets rfthey do not apply Slgned: 3°. September 2026 Namè: Rev'd. Aian A Clements Relevant professional quallfl¢allon{s) or body {rf any): Felkx AssocptIc￿ of Charity Independent Chariiies Address: 15 Carteton Road, Great Knowley. Chorley PR6 8TQ IER October 2018