CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the period From 0110112024 P•riod start date To 3111212024 Period end date Charity name.. Letchworth Men in Sheds Charity registration number: 1188445 Objectives and Activities SORP refrrEll Para 1.17 Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its goveming document Men In Sheds are community spaces for men to connect. converse and create. Our Letchworth Shed aim5 to reduce boneliness and isolation for primarily okder and often retired men by developing that sense of personal identsty, and purpose and restoring the ca4raderie which is so often lost after rets"remenl. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the publi benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the a¢counts. Para1 17and We have been In our Men's Shed workshop now for more than years, successfully making our premises habitable, moving in donated machinery and purchasing new as needed with the support of community groups and successful grant applications. Vve tske on many routine jobs in our visitor Farm location en-lieu of rent and electricity payments and according to our license to occupy contract. In one or eases- parb"cularty supporting the farms new October Pumpkin Event- these have been quite challenging and required a great deal of engagement and co-operation from all our members over a sustained period. Everyone benefitted and shared a sense of purpose. We have undertaken community projects oUtse of our Farm location, both as sources of income and for the community good. These include making a play mud krtchen for a local pre-school, a donation food bank foi a local primary schwl. refurbishment of the local bowls club benches and a significant number of made-to-order Swift biid boxes for a nearby residential action group. Towards the end of 2024 we undertook to refurbish a local community gaiden space- a sizable project that will run well into 2025. Also in 2024 we entered into a c(>operative arrangement with an experience and dedicated wood turning group whereby they will use our facilibe5 on an unused day in retum for tutoring any of our rnembers in safe lathe wood turning. This has roved ve ular for novices lo
achieve a high stsndard of proficiency. The skills leamt have given purwse and supported wellbeing. These activities support our aim to reduce k)neliness and isolab.on by providing a place to meet up wth and engage with others whilst focusing on common purposes. Statement confim)ing whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Comrnission on public benefrt Pats 1.18 INe began this 2024 year Wtth three trustees. At our AGM in March we voted in a fourth member and trustee in order to ensure continuty beyond the minimum of three as required by our constrtution. le continue to operate in our charities best interests and manage rts resources with care and to the best of our ability. Additional infomiation loptional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on granl making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment induding program related investment Para 1.38 ContribLrtion made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance SORP lenCe Our membership continues to grow, with many who have been meeting with us for more than 3 yeats and in some cases. 4 and rrre years. Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identrfying the difference the charity's work has made to the cir¢umstan¢es of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to srriety as vthole. Pora 1.20 Currently we have around 35 members and nbnue to attract interest from mainly retired rnen who are keen to join us for camaraderie and to be invofved in 50rnething that gives purpose and give5 back to the community. We hold regular Tuesday and Friday Men's Shed sessions as well as a Thursday specific wood tuming session that are well attended by many membefs. Grants that we obtained in 2022 continued lo be spent through 2024 on essenb"als. Through 2024 we have been quite succe5sfvI in raising our own funds through the sale of items made. commission tsken and tsyo rather successful rnain events- a Steam and Country Show and Christmas Fair. These were both entirely supported and managed by our own volunteer members The regular 5e$5i0n5 we hold and workshop acttvities we undertake substantially meet our charity objectives of fighting social isolation and loneline55. as well as bringing people together in common purpose. This year. for the first time. we entered an event organised by the UK Men is Sheds AssocBtion to be Shed of the Year in the Partnership category. In this, we named the Letehwtsrth Garden Heritage FoUndatn as our partner. We were pleased to have the support of the Heritage Foundabon and were proud lo achieve a runner up award and visit to the Houses of Parfiament to receive rhe award. Following on, we suceessfulty held an event to celebrate our success for members. partners, Henlage partners and local coun¢illors. Additional infomlation (optional) You ma choose to indude further statements where relevant aboui: Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41
Performance of fundraising activities against objectNes set Para 1.41 Investment performan against objectives Para 1.41 Other Financial Review Review of the chartty s financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 We did receive a grants in 2024. One from the North Herts Community Forum towards essential safety equipment I small workshop tools and another from Hertfordshire County Council towards First "d training. Iwle have continued to spend residual grants from the Co-op and Herttordshire Community Foundation towards essents.al equipment and ancillaries. At the beginning of 2024 our fvnds were £2,638 and at the end of 2024 our funds were £2,984, which includes member subscriptions, donations from Indivua1S as well as donations made to us by way of items made to order. statement explaining the policy for holding reseThes statin are held Amount of reserves held PaR 1.22 We do not have a poIY for holding reserves. We have underspent on grants received Para 1.22 Cash eurrently in our communty bank account is £2675 nla Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materially in deficit Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concem Para 1 22 Para 1.24 nla Par3 123 We occupy our premises by way of an agreement called a License to Occupy ILTOI from the owner of the Farm in which we reside. The owner is The Letchworth Garden Hefrtage Foundation. We know that they have been working on a revised LTO since November 2023. We do not know yel if the terms of our occupation will change. We had uncertainty in 2023 and this continued through 2024, despite our requests for clarity. We do have a very good relationship with our immediate contac15 both on the Farm and in the ownership umbrella of the Lelchworth Garden Herita e Foundation. We ex ect these ood
relalions stand us in good stead as regards our cKcupation of remises on the Farm. Additional infomiation loptional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about.. Our prinapal sources of funding have been small grants from Hertfordshire County, though more signifi¢ant has our own fundraising been wth events in the SUmnr and ChtiStrnas. The charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) Para 1.47 nla Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Para 146 We Iwan 2023 wrth a minimum three trustees and gained a fourth during the year. The unb.mety death of one trustee leaves us again a minimum. We wll look to take on another trustee from the mberShIp. A description of the principal risks facing the charity Porn 1.46 sp to operate our workshop is al a premium. We have approached the owners ofthe farm but have not been successfvl in acquiring more space. We will look to open Dre sessions on other days of the week to spread the member bad. Other Structure, Governance and Management Description of tharrty's trusts_. Type of goveming document Idt have no trusts Par3 1 25 Constrtution of a Charitable IncorForated Organisatn ICIOI wr(h voting members other than its chari trustees cio How is the charity constitLrted? Para 1.25 Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entit to appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 l our trustee5 are volunteers, elected trom and by our membership. in line with our CIO Consb"tution Additional infomiation loptional) You ma choose to include further statements vthere relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and Irainin of trustees Para 1.51
The charity's organisational structure and any wider network with vthich the charity works Para 1.51 Relationship with any related parties Para 1.51 Other Reference and Administrative details Charil name Other name the cha uses istered charit number Charity's principal address Letchworth Men in Sheds 1188445 clo 1. Milestone Close. Stevenage. Hertfordshire Postcode SG2 9RR
Names of the charlty trustees who manage the charity Dat•s aetsd il ntstfor whol• Trustet nam• Offlc• {If any) Name of person lor l)odyl entltled oint tru¥tee fa The membership The membership The membership The membership Peter Hill chair Neill Wilhington Chris Lee treasurer memteiship Nicola Withington 01104124 to 31112r24 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Cor orate trustees- names of the directors at the date the re Director name rtwasa roved Name of trustees holdin9 trtle to woperty belon9ing to the tharity Trusts• namè Dat•s acted if not for Who èar
Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees. report abovè. Signed by a majority of the charity's trustees Signatures Full Names Peter Neill John Michael Wrthington Christopher Lee Position Chair Treasurer Membership Date 211512 £1/31 d*lL
Letchworth Men in Sheds 1188445 Recei tsand ments accounts CC16a Forth• portod from To M¢mber 0110112024 3111212024 Jeciion A Keceipis ana paymen15 Unrgstrfct RoStrlct•d t• thD £ tvtlmt £ Total funds totswrwt£ .Men)er5h' fees DonatK)ns Grants Saks l event fflLY)ffl8 Intorest Olher Sub tot•1 forAIV 389.80 306.37 389.80 306.37 996.00 1819.63 59.CK) 59.IXI Sab of asset5 Sa18 of mvestftnts Sublotal .Totsl rK•lpls m•nts Shèd prvrTWS $ts Insufdnce MaterB& & nsUmableS S11 tooL81<£251 Repaws and ffjnowRL RefreShntS & deankng Adnl01[• (tjsts SubSc¥pln8 Sulldry Other Sub total 78.21 528.56 505.81 497.47 78.21 528.56 505.81 497A7 0.00 169.99 20.39 189.99 20.39 169.60 1970.03 189.60 1970.03 Hand and por TooLs1>£251 Wo¥k$hop mBchin88 bto 19.n 19.73 Not of r•c•lpWpaym•nts) Trnftsfors belknen lund$ C4•h funds last y••r ond Ca•h fundslhl• y•w•nd 47&85 319.15 2.67&06 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrn5tt•d fund¥ Total cuTrnt fvnd• Last y8ar Cash fund# CLY) account Barc s se¢nt ts>w••t£ tolhTr m•r•tt £ tottE rarest £ 1.9B8.21 2.98421
10.00 10.1)0 99421 TotalGash her matrry assets Stks/g tr sa 0.00 0.00 Invoslrnent assets 0.00 0.00 Assets rolalned for th• Sws own e items of mach" Power tcx) 582.88 1CX).C 519.IXI 100.IXI Other assets Uabllltle¥ .Tfade cr8dtors •l£crued ex .819d by gr Iwoth•ts•• ty) hawolall tr• tru•ts• Dof oval irt Nar 1113/L)