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2021-10-31-accounts

MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT

The Trustees present their report for the 12-month period ended 31st October 2021.

MindFood CIO, 6 Claygate Road, Ealing W13 6XG

Charity Registration No . 1185639

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

Contents

CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS ................................................................................ 3 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ............................................................................ 4 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................ 5 BALANCE SHEET .......................................................................................................................................... 6 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ..................................................................................................... 7 CHAIR’S REVIEW ......................................................................................................................................... 14 BACKGROUND AND INCEPTION ................................................................................................................. 14 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES ..................................................................................................................... 15 IMPACT OF COVID-19 ................................................................................................................................. 16 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ........................................................................................................ 17 SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR: ................................................................................................ 18 FINANCIAL SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 19 PLANS FOR 2021/2022 ............................................................................................................................... 20 GOVERNANCE ............................................................................................................................................ 21 APPENDIX 1 - MINDFOOD TEAM ................................................................................................................. 23 APPENDIX 2 - MINDFOOD COURSES and OTHER ACTIVITIES ...................................................................... 24

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

CHARITY REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity registration number

1185639

Company registration number

Trustees

Registered office

CE019078 N. G. Jones (Chair) P. Carter Y. P. Biggins S. N. Berry-Khan J. E. Abery 6 Claygate Road London England W13 9XG

Independent examiner

Alexander Bell FCA Mercer & Hole Trinity Court Church Street Rickmansworth WD3 1RT

The Trustees present their report and the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England & 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:

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, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

.................................

N. G. Jones (Chair) REGISTERED OFFICE 6 Claygate Road London, England W13 9XG

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25 August 2022

MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

I report to the charity trustees on my examination on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2021 which are set out on pages 1 to 13.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act;

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

...............................

Alexander Bell FCA Mercer & Hole Chartered Accountants Trinity Court Church Street Rickmansworth WD3 1RT

25 August 2022

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For the year ended 31 October 2021

MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31 October 2021
INCOME
Notes
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Sales
5
520
-
-
520
Grants
4
1,500
-
66,875
68,375
Donations
4
4,340
-
-
4,340
Other income
5
3,092
-
-
3,092
Transfer in
-
-
-
-		 13 month
ended
31.10.2020
Total
-
44,800
11,095
2,411
8,628
TOTAL INCOME
9,452
-
66,875
76,327
EXPENDITURE
Costs of delivery
Equipment
164
-
1,987
2,151
Ancillary
777
-
831
1,608
Wages
1,683
-
41,522
43,205
Charitable activities
Postage and stationery
308
-
-
308
Rent and insurance
545
-
367
912
Computer software and
subscriptions
384
-
-
384
Accountancy fees
5,050
-
-
5,050
Professional fees
1,894
-
-
1,894
Telecommunications
187
187
Employee wages
544
-
6,500
7,044
Social security costs
117
-
150
267
Staff pension costs
698
-
700
1,398
Recruitment and
subsistence costs
356
-
356
99
Other
Depreciation
400
-
-
400
Bank charges
72
-
-
72		 66,934
1,823
-
33,360
-
625
680
1,424
2,340
671
8,622
-
2,925
400
7
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
13,179
-
52,057
65,236
Net income/(expenditure)
(3,727)
-
14,818
11,091
Transfers between funds
(66)
-
66
-		 52,976
13,958
-
Net movement in funds
(3,793)
-
14,884
11,091		 13,958
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
11,669
-
2,289
13,958		 -
Total funds carried forward
7,876
-
17,173
25,049		 13,958

A breakdown of the year ended 31 October 2020 figures can be found in note 13.

The notes on pages 7-13 form part of these accounts.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

BALANCE SHEET

As at 31 October 2021

FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors and prepayments
Petty Cash and Cash at bank
Creditors due within one year
Net Current Assets
TOTAL ASSETS LESS LIABILITIES
CHARITY FUNDS
Unrestricted General Account
Restricted Funds
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS		 Notes
7
8
9
10
11		 2,207
32,354
(10,712)		 31.10.2021
1,200
9,308
16,960
(13,910)		 31.10.2020
1,600
23,849 12,358
£25,049 £13,958
7,876
17,173		 11,669
2,289
£25,049 £13,958

The financial statements were approved and signed by the trustees and authorised for issue on 25 August 2022

...................................

N. G. Jones Chair

Company Number: CE019078 Charity Number: 1185639

The notes on pages 7-13 form part of these accounts.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the year ended 31 October 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Mindfood CIO is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is given in the charity information on page 3 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity’s operations and principal activities are detailed within trustees annual report.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011, and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.

The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

b. Reporting period

The comparative period was for 13 months to 31 October 2020 and therefore the results of the two accounting periods are not comparable.

c. Funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes.

c. Income recognition

All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the charity is legally entitled to the income after any performance conditions have been met, the amount can be measured reliably and it is probable that the income will be received.

For donations to be recognised the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 Donated facilities and donated professional services are recognised in income at their fair value when their economic benefit is probable, it can be measured reliably and the charity has control over the item. Fair value is determined on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity. For example the amount the charity would be willing to pay in the open market for such facilities and services. A corresponding amount is recognised in expenditure.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102).

Where practicable, gifts in kind donated for distribution to the beneficiaries of the charity are included in stock and donations in the financial statements upon receipt. If it is impracticable to assess the fair value at receipt or if the costs to undertake such a valuation outweigh any benefits, then the fair value is recognised as a component of donations when it is distributed and an equivalent amount recognised as charitable expenditure.

Gifts in kind donated for resale are included at fair value, being the expected proceeds from sale less the expected costs of sale. Where estimating the fair value is practicable upon receipt it is recognised in stock and ‘Income from other trading activities’. Upon sale, the value of the stock is charged against ‘Income from other trading activities’ and the proceeds are recognised as ‘Income from other trading activities’. Where it is impracticable to fair value the items due to the volume of low value items they are not recognised in the financial statements until they are sold. This income is recognised within ‘Income from other trading activities’.

Fixed asset gifts in kind are recognised when receivable and are included at fair value. They are not deferred over the life of the asset.

For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received. At this point income is recognised. On occasion legacies will be notified to the charity however it is not possible to measure the amount expected to be distributed. On these occasions, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed.

Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.

Investment income is earned through holding assets for investment purposes such as shares and property. It includes dividends, interest and rent. Where it is not practicable to identify investment management costs incurred within a scheme with reasonable accuracy the investment income is reported net of these costs. It is included when the amount can be measured reliably. Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method and dividend and rent income is recognised as the charity’s right to receive payment is established.

e. Expenditure recognition

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as an expense against the activity for which expenditure arose.

Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs and governance costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and include project management carried out at Headquarters. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.

Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Cost includes costs directly attributable to making the asset capable of operating as intended.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a systematic basis over its expected useful life as follows:

Equipment, fixtures and fittings 20% straight line

Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment of debtors are recognised in expenditure.

i. Impairment

Assets not measured at fair value are reviewed for any indication that the asset may be impaired at each balance sheet date. If such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset, or the asset’s cash generating unit, is estimated and compared to the carrying amount. Where the carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

j. Conversion to FRS102

The previous year’s financial statements were not presented in accordance with Charities Statement of Recommended Practice 2019 (FRS102) and these accounts have been converted to be presented on this basis. The 2020 accounts were previously presented on a receipts and payments basis.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

  1. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REMUNERATION

The independent examiners remuneration amounts to an independent examination fee of £3,000 (2020: £1,424) inclusive of accounts preparation.

  1. TRUSTEES’ AND KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES

The trustees neither received nor waived any remuneration during the year (2020: £nil), in their capacity as trustees.

4. VOLUNTARY INCOME

Grants
Donations and legacies		 Unrestricted
Restricted
31.10.2021
31.10.2020
1,500
66,875
68,375
44,800
4,340
-
4,340
11,095
5,840
66,875
72,715
55,895

5. OTHER INCOME

Sales
Coronavirus job
retention
scheme grant		 Unrestricted
Restricted
31.10.2021
31.10.2020
520
-
520
-
3,092
-
3,092
2,411
3,612
-
3,612
2,411

6. EMPLOYEES

6. EMPLOYEES
Number of employees
Average monthly number of employees
Employee costs
Wages
Social security
Pension		 31.10.2021
Number
31.10.2020
Number
5
5
31.10.2021
31.10.2020
50,244
41,982
267
-
1,398
2,925
51,909
44,907

No employee earned £60,000 or more.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 7. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Cost
At 1stNovember 2020
Additions
Disposals
At 31 October 2021
Depreciation
At 1stNovember 2020
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 October 2021
Net book Value
At 31 October 2021
At 31 October 2020
8. DEBTORS
Accrued income
Prepayments
9. CREDITORS
Trade Creditors
Deferred Income
Accruals
Other Creditors		 Equipment, fixtures and fittings
Total
2,000
2,000
-
-
-
-
2,000
2,000
400
400
400
400
-
-
800
800
1,200
1,200
1,600
1,600
31.10.2021
31.10.2020
2,117
9,308
90
-
2,207
9,308
31.10.2021
31.10.2020
1,786
-
4,811
13,440
3,333
267
782
203
10,712
13,910

10. FUNDS R ECONCILIATION

Current Year Funds Reconciliation

Restricted
Neighbourly
Care
Other funds
Designated
Unrestricted		 Balance at 1
November 2020
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Balance at
31 October
2021
£
£
£
£
£
-
25,233
(22,937)
-
2,296
2,289
41,642
(29,120)
66
14,877
2,289
66,875
(52,057)
66
17,173
-
-
-
-
-
11,669
9,452
(13,179)
(66)
7,876
13,958
76,327
(65,236)
-
25,049

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

Prior Year Comparison

Restricted
Crowdfunding
July 2020
Unrestricted		 Balance at 1
November 2019
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Balance at
31 October
2020
£
£
£
£
£
-
2,289
-
-
2,289
8,628
56,017
(52,976)
-
11,669
8,628
58,306
(52,976)
-
13,958

11. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Current Year Analysis of Net Assets

General Designated Restricted funds Total
unrestricted funds
Tangible fixed 1,200 - - 1,200
assets
Current assets 6,676 - 17,173 23,849
7,876 - 17,173 25,049
rior Year Comparison
General Designated Restricted funds Total
unrestricted funds
Tangible fixed 1,600 - - 1,600
assets
Current assets 10,069 - 2,289 12,308
11,619 - 2,289 13,908

Prior Year Comparison

12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no other related party transactions in the year or in the prior year.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 13. ANALYSIS OF FUNDS YEAR ENDED 2020

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total
INCOME
Grants 44,800 - - 44,800
Other income 2,411 - - 2,411
Donations 8,806 - 2,289 11,095
TOTAL INCOME 56,017 2,289 58,306
EXPENDITURE
Costs of delivery
Equipment 1,823 - 1,823
Wages 33,360 - 33,360
Charitable activities
Postage and stationery - - - -
Rent and insurance 625 - - 625
Computer software and subscriptions 680 - - 680
Accountancy fees 1,424 - - 1,424
Professional fees 2,340 - - 2,340
Telecommunications 671 - - 671
Employee wages 8,622 - - 8,622
Staff pension costs 2,925 - - 2,925
Recruitment and subsistence costs 99 - - 99
Other
Depreciation and assets written off 400 - - 400
Bank charges 7 - - 7
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 52,976 - - 52,976
Net income/(expenditure) 3,041 - 2,289 5,330
Net movement in funds 3,041 - 2,289 5,330
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 8,628 - - 8,628
Total funds carried forward 11,669 - 2,289 13,958

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

CHAIR’S REVIEW

“In a year still dominated by the pandemic, MindFood has responded significantly to the challenges, continuing to support people by adapting our engagement model with online delivery of ‘Mindfood at Home’, alongside enlarged use of social media together with more traditionally based communication for those who are digitally challenged. We embraced the best of the new practices into our post-pandemic structure with a blended approach comprising on-site, virtual, and mobile delivery. This has been the basis for strategic work building for growth going forwards, from a sound financial basis.

We are delighted that our trail-blazing work has been recognised both with our Sustainable Cities Award and by referring agencies, in particular the social prescribing service. Mindfood’s imaginative and targeted range of courses is staffed by a strong delivery team who are all, together with board members, ‘experts by experience.’ Through these and our developing partnerships, we reach a wide range of West London’s diverse population with our anti-racism journey as a core aspect of this. Our engagement with younger people has been significantly strengthened through our Grow Some Share Some school programme together with our partnership with Artification. Thanks to a dedicated and skilled staff team and board, Mindfood is well-placed to play a major role in responding to escalating Mental Health needs across West London and beyond in years to come.” Nick Jones

BACKGROUND AND INCEPTION

MindFood is a mental health charity based in Ealing, founded as a CIC in October 2012 to support people struggling with depression, anxiety and other common mental health difficulties.

As MindFood established itself and developed a strong reputation within the Borough, the Trustees took the view that the organisation would benefit from having formal charitable status. As a CIC it was restricted in terms of eligibility to secure funding from a range of Trusts and Foundations and through Corporate Support. It also received feedback that individual donors often preferred to donate to a registered charity rather than to a CIC. Finally, as a charity, the organisation would be able to claim Gift Aid on all qualifying donations. An application was made to the Charity Commission to convert from a CIC to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and MindFood CIO was formally registered as such on 4th October 2019.

----- Start of picture text -----
Our Mission
Our vision Our values
Improving wellbeing
Better mental health is Person centred and Nature
by connecting
accessible for all focused
With nature
----- End of picture text -----

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

MindFood’s objective is the preservation and protection of good health among persons who are suffering from mental ill health, disability, or emotional disorder of any description or who are in need of rehabilitation as a result of such an illness, or who want to prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of the same – in each case, by the provision of therapeutic gardening and horticulture and related nature-based activities.

Activity Overview

We run food growing courses and other nature-based activities to help people tackle stress, depression, anxiety and isolation by reconnecting them with nature, using the natural environment to teach evidence based mental health self-care techniques like mindfulness. All courses are free, so we can help those most in need.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees understand and have complied with their duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s Public Benefit guidance and are confident that the aims and objectives of MindFood CIO satisfy the public benefit requirement. Further details of how this is achieved are set out in this report.

Impacts

Increased knowledge

Individual needs are met and understanding of how to through adaptive programmes protect and maintain mental and ongoing support health

Our positive impact despite the pandemic is demonstrated in participant feedback:

“Places like MindFood are invaluable, it would be wonderful if more people had the opportunity to access them” - Age 53

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

IMPACT OF COVID-19

Governance and day-to-day working

MindFood’s Trustees and Directors continued to work throughout the pandemic by use of video conferencing. Trustees meetings were more frequent than usual during the lockdowns in order to ensure good governance, safe working practices and a positive response to the new challenges posed by Covid-19.

Delivery methods were adapted to comply with Government restrictions, to maintain staff and volunteer safety and to meet the new needs arising because of the pandemic. MindFood were the only organisation in Ealing able to offer face-to-face support for mental health difficulties through the Winter months.

Effect of the pandemic on the MindFood Family

We found that the Winter lockdown (January – March) affected most people more severely than the first. Many of our current members were ‘running on empty’ and needed additional support (befriending calls, signposting support, help with social care etc). Several past participants also returned to us after a couple of years away. Increasing the demand for our services.

Previous experience helped us to meet new challenges, as our participants balanced wanting to join us on site again with anxieties around leaving the house and using public transport.

“The loneliness was unbearable, but it took me many weeks to find the energy to go to my first session”

New starters had much lower Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) scores than we would traditionally encounter, 25-30 as opposed to 30-35 (maximum score of 70). Higher scores reflect higher levels of mental well-being.

Participants are finding life much harder than a couple of years ago, so each visit to MindFood is a bigger step to manage. With participant feedback we identified this as a key development area that we need to support more.

Social prescribing referrals were up, but initial uptake was more of a struggle for prospective participants, this required more personal and sustained support to persuade people to join us on site. Participants’ attendance was further disrupted by family care commitments, school holidays, covid self-isolation, money difficulties (travel expenses), bereavement, hospital appointments, and waiting in for GP calls. Overall, despite a significant uplift in contacts via this route, they are typically taking longer to translate into course sign-ups, as cases of anxiety and depression tend to be more severe. We expect this situation to continue for some time and aim to increase the befriending aspect of our activities in the future.

16

MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Activity Summary

For more detail regarding MindFood’s Team and Courses see Appendices 1 and 2

Strategic activity

17

MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

SUMMARY OF ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR:

“I led a sedentary life until my GP recommended MindFood. Now I have a mindful purpose plus healthy exercise.” - Age 70

Peer Recognition for our approach to Sustainability

In May 2021 MindFood were delighted to be recognised for our work as part of the Global Action Plan’s Sustainable Cities Awards, receiving a commendation as a Trailblazing Voluntary Sector/Community Organisation.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

2020/2021 has been a successful year for MindFood despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. We have maintained ongoing relationships with long term funders and have been successful in obtaining grants from funders new to MindFood. We have developed our partnership model of delivery, working with others to submit joint funding bids and jointly deliver programs to participants. Our strategic planning is now focusing on building financial security by seeking longer term funds which can help us develop our business infrastructure as well as continuing to deliver our program to as many participants as possible free of charge.

RESERVES POLICY

The term ‘reserves’ is used to describe that part of MindFood’s funds that is freely available for its operating purposes and not subject to commitments or planned expenditure. Reserves do not include restricted funds. The reserves that MindFood will set aside will be to provide financial continuity in the event that an anticipated source of income is lost or delayed and our initial policy will be to keep reserves sufficient to meet three months’ operating costs, including staff salaries (approximately £16,500). As we are a new organisation the trustees will review this policy quarterly to ensure that it remains both adequate and achievable.

FUNDING: MAIN SOURCE OF FUNDS AND HOW THESE ARE SPENT

The past year MindFood has received grants and donations from many partners including statutory, trusts and foundations, corporates and individuals. We would like to give special thanks to everyone who has chosen to support us over the past year and beyond, with a special mention to:

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

An extra special thanks to all the individuals who have chosen to support us with a donation this past year. It is thanks to you that we can continue to make a difference to those people who need our support most.

PLANS FOR 2021/2022

----- Start of picture text -----
“What an Enchanting,
magical, healing and happy
little haven Cleveley
Crescent is!”
- Age 54
----- End of picture text -----

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

GOVERNANCE

MindFood has a 16-page Constitution and is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation whose only voting members are its charity trustees.

Trustees served during the year are:

In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO. Trustees were recruited based on the need to have a diverse range of skills on the board covering finance, clinical governance, marketing, community development and business management.

Under the Articles of Association, the Board of Trustees consists of at least three and not more than fifteen individuals. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of up to three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.

Short biographies of all the Trustees are on our website https://www.mindfood.org.uk/our-team

Trustee Benefit

Trustees of the Charity do not receive any benefits from their position.

Trustees are entitled to reclaim travel and other reasonable expenses incurred in their duties. No Trustees made a claim in the 2020/21 period. The charity pays for trustee indemnity insurance.

Trustee Induction and on-going training

Recruitment and induction procedures for new Trustees are the responsibility of the Chair of Trustees. All Trustees are provided with a detailed role description and given informal guidance and support regarding their role from the Chair. All new Trustees receive a copy of the NCVO Good Trustee Guide. Trustees are encouraged to attend training to help them in their roles.

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction of the Charity, setting its aims and monitoring progress towards these. Day to day management is delegated to the Programme Director, Finance Director and Development Director.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 Trustees take on specific responsibilities related to their skills and experience e.g. Shabnam Berry-Khan is our Clinical lead and James Abery is our Finance lead, and they meet regularly with the relevant Director.

Trustees’ Meetings

The Board of Trustees meet once every three months, and the directors attend each meeting to present their reports.

Policies adopted by the CIO, reviewed annually:

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

APPENDIX 1 - MINDFOOD TEAM

Management Staff:

Co-founded MindFood and has been responsible for fundraising and financial management since inception in 2012. He rejoined us in December 2020 after taking a sabbatical year to train as a Horticulturist and start his own gardening business.

At the end of 2021 Ciaran Biggins steps down as Fundraising and Development Director to become MindFood’s patron. We will be recruiting a new Fundraising Director to take his place. (Sarah Jones has since been recruited into this position, with a wealth of fundraising experience at Women’s Aid, Tree Aid, and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales)

Joined MindFood in April 2021 as a dedicated Finance Director now taking responsibility for these areas and budget management. Sarah Hadland settled quickly into this role – she is also Treasurer for the Friends of Horsenden Hill, who manage the Horsenden Farm site with Ealing Council.

Joined MindFood in 2015 as a participant, then retrained in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture with Thrive and then worked for almost 3 years at Mind in Ealing. She has been employed as a Food and Wellbeing Grower since September 2017, taking on the role of Project Manager in Oct 2018, and then Programme Director in May 2019.

Session Leaders and Volunteers

All session leaders started as MindFood participants, making them ‘experts by experience’ in terms of managing common mental health difficulties. They are DBS checked and receive on-going training with regard to all MindFood’s policies, including Safeguarding, Health and Safety and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

There are no volunteers as such: everyone starts as a course participant. MindFood operates an on-going growing programme, and people continue to garden with us after an initial 6-session course either to receive on-going support or to give back to the project. We make no distinction between these groups.

The team of 6 part-time employees equates to just 1.5 FTE per week, working a total of 55 hours each week on average to support MindFood’s programme.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021

APPENDIX 2 - MINDFOOD COURSES and OTHER ACTIVITIES

Our sites

Between November 2020 and Oct 2021 MindFood’s activities took place at two growing sites: Cleveley Crescent Allotments near Hanger Lane, and Horsenden Farm in Perivale. With the support of Ealing Council. Sessions at Cleveley Crescent have run since early 2016, and Horsenden Farm since 2018. In periods of lockdown our programme transferred online.

Our courses

Below is a summary of the courses delivered in 2020/2021. Our services were able to operate within the Covid guidelines right up until mid-December. With spiking virus cases, the decision was taken to offer services online through to the end of February. MindFood was permitted to continue in-person sessions but the Team felt strongly that participants should avoid public transport at the height of the pandemic.

Through March and April a reduced programme was delivered at the plot, so that sessions could run for those most in need - and especially for those who found themselves digitally isolated. A detailed Lockdown Exit Strategy was implemented to phase our return to both sites, agreed by the board. Full service resumed in May.

Growing Wellbeing

Our 6-session ‘foundation’ course to help people tackle stress, depression and anxiety: teaching food-growing to reconnect people with nature, sharing evidence-based techniques like mindfulness to improve wellbeing. Outside of lockdown, we ran these 2.5 hour sessions 3 times a week. Within the Covid guidelines, these sessions continued through Lockdown 2 (November/December 2020), then we ran a mix of sessions in-person and online up through Lockdown 3 from the beginning of January until the end of April.

Sustainable Wellbeing

A follow-on course to Growing Wellbeing, designed to develop a sense of purpose and motivation, and offer practical ways to realise hopes, dreams and aspirations, with gentle wellbeing goal-setting. During lockdown we used this session to talk about nature and growing news. This group trialled ideas for windowsill growing e.g. mixed salads, chilli and tomato seedlings, and propagated succulents and houseplants, which we ended up sharing as part of our Grow Social project.

Plot to Plate

General gardening sessions, with other people who’ve already completed the Growing Wellbeing course. The Plot to Plate programme is a flexible one, allowing participants to dip into sessions for a wellbeing top-up, or join us regularly to recover at their own pace. The extra time allows participants to forge new social connections and support networks over time.

MindFood at Home

Through Lockdown 1 (March-May 2020), we piloted an approach to supporting people unable to join us on site: we called this ‘MindFood at Home’. In April this activity was funded as part of The National Lottery’s Community Response.

In January 2021 we were therefore quickly able to take our entire programme online again: running virtual Growing Wellbeing and Sustainable Wellbeing sessions; getting people growing seeds and young plants at home; sending email updates; posting regularly on social media posts; curating our MindFood Growing Wellbeing youtube channel to provide easy to follow playlists for mindfulness practice, 5 ways to wellbeing, and growing ideas.

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MindFood - Financial Statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 As a result of the lockdowns our ‘MindFood Massive’ whatsapp group grew significantly and has become an informal cuttings and plants exchange, as well as keeping people feeling connected with MindFood and each other. The group’s early birds are known as the ‘dawn chorus’, and other participants have found this to be a motivating start to their day.

Grow Social

We were also able to pilot a new programme called ‘Grow Social’, funded by the London Community Response Fund.

This project evolved into a programme (now known as Grow Some Share Some), which allowed us to share seedlings and young plants with 15 local primary schools and several community groups.

We also used this programme to reach out to local community groups: Acacia in Hounslow; Neighbourly Care, Golden Opportunities Skills and Development (GOSAD) and Southall Black Sisters in Ealing. We worked with them to tailor our support - we offered a mix of online sessions, visits to the plot, a trip to Kew, and helped kit out gardens and window sills with plants. We helped Acacia (a Somali support group) set up a veg garden of their own.

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