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2023-03-31-accounts

Annual Report

Covering the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

1. Introduction

Wellbeing in the Weald was established to provide inclusive activities and initiatives in our rural community so that people, including those who may be isolated, can make connections and benefit from improved health and wellbeing. We aim to organise new and promote existing wellbeing activities, including community walks, lunch clubs, choirs, volunteering and other social activities that bring people together on a regular basis.

We work with local GPs, social prescribers and schools to ensure that our activities and initiatives are relevant for our community and cooperate with other organisations (such as charities that do not currently have activities in our community) to facilitate local delivery of their activities.

Our registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation was completed on 24 June 2020, under Registered Charity Number 1190083, with the following Objects set out in our Constitution dated 10 June 2020:

For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender reassignment; poor educational or skill attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing; crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society).”

2. Trustees

During this reporting period the following people acted as trustees of Wellbeing in the Weald:

Name Date appointed* Date demitted
Dineli Charlesworth 05/04/2019 -
Mark Lawrence 05/04/2019 -
Deborah Jones 11/06/2019 -
Naomi Rosling 02/07/2019 30/04/2023
Andrew Chandler 06/08/2019 -
Hedley Mayor 10/11/2020 07/07/2022
Peter Simpson 24/10/2022 -

* Where the appointment dates stated above pre-date our registration as a Charity, they are the dates from which trustees started as committee members of Wellbeing in the Weald, when it was an unincorporated association.

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Laura Wade and Seamus O’Brien have also joined as trustees since 24 April 2023.

In accordance with our Constitution, there must always be a minimum of three trustees. Trustees are volunteers, who are appointed by the Board of Trustees with regard to their skills, to support the effective administration of the Charity.

3. Activities for the public benefit

The trustees have had due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission.

During 2022-2023, we were delighted to continue so many of our activities to support our community’s wellbeing, but we were increasingly concerned about the financial and mental health impact of the rising cost of living on members of our community. We decided to extend our previously identified target groups and activities to include offering and facilitating support in our community for those who may be suffering from financial hardship. We started to work with other charities and groups to ensure that people have access to advice and we joined with them in launching a Community Kitchen, offering a hot lunch and after school meal throughout the winter.

The following table summarises our key activities to provide a public benefit during this reporting period:

Purpose Who is it for What did we achieve
Allotment
and
Allotment
Walks		 To help improve mental
health and wellbeing,
loneliness and isolation; to
encourage friendships from
varied social and ethnic
backgrounds; to offer gentle
activity to those who need
rehabilitation following
surgery or receiving
treatment. Sharing
knowledge, teaching and
encouraging people to try new
and different produce by
offering fruit, vegetables and
flowers produced at the
allotment to take home.		 Open to
everyone		 We held 35 regular sessions and 3
alternative (different day) sessions,
with total 321 attendances (315
regular/ 6 alternative). Tea/ coffee
were provided. Attendance varies
between 5 and 15 on any Sunday
morning, most are regular attendees.
The profile is 80% female and 20%
male, with age profile most attendee
aged 50+. Some of the attendees are
single, lonely, isolated and are carers
for others.
During the winter period (December –
February, varies depending on
weather) we introduced walks on 4
occasions, with 2-3 attendees, similar
profile to allotment. This year we had
an exceptionally wet October /
November 2022, missing 5 sessions and
a cold spring, making for a very late
start to the growing season.
Unfortunately, Hands of Hope were
unable to assist with growing on
seedlings due to their lack of
glasshouse space, but we hope to re-
introduce this next spring.
We enjoyed several ice cream flavours
including some made from our own
raspberries and strawberries. Any

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Purpose Who is it for What did we achieve
surplus produce is given to Horsley
Place, Rectory Fields or our Wednesday
Drop in.
Book Club To improve wellbeing through
online social interaction.
Benefits include: : mood
boost, mental stimulation,
fun and enjoyable, learning
new things and a way of
making new friends.		 Open to
everybody
from 18
upwards.		 The book group typically has seven or
eight attendees at remote sessions
held each month, so approximately 88
attendances over 12 sessions. During
this period, attendees were all women,
of all ages. It has given people
something to look forward to – a social
occasion from the comfort of their own
homes and it a very nice, respectful
group so everyone has a chance to talk.
Participants are really enjoying the
variety of books that are read and
discussed, some having never thought
about a particular genre before and are
pleased to have the chance to explore
something new.
Boxing
Fitness		 To facilitate in our community
a programme of fun, non-
contact boxing exercise
classes, to boost physical and
mental health.
These sessions are run in
conjunction with Olympia
Boxing CIC.		 Initially aimed
at children
aged 12 to 18.
We
subsequently
added an
additional
adult class in
response to
demand.		 We intended to continue running
termly boxing courses in blocks of 6
sessions. In the children’s class,
attendees were aged between 11-16.
In the adult classes, attendees were
predominantly female and aged from
18-60. Courses had reserved places for
those unable to afford the fees.
However, classes were suspended after
one term due to low demand for the
children’s class (our targeted
attendees) and difficulty securing a
coach.
Community
Kitchen		 To provide a warm space and
hot food to help the
community during the cost of
living crisis.
The Community Kitchen was
provided in collaboration with
Age Concern and the Parish
Council. The Men’s Shed
(Cranbrook) also kindly
supported with volunteers.		 Open to
everybody,
one day a
week.		 From the beginning of January until the
end of March the Community Kitchen
served approximately 650 hot meals,
with hot soup lunches aimed at the
elderly and parents with young children
and hot after-school meals aimed at
families.
An average of 28 people attended each
week at lunch and 11 children and 7
adults each week at tea.
Craft for
Wellbeing
Group		 To provide a friendly
welcoming space for people to
socialise whilst enjoying and
developing practical skills in		 Aimed at
people who,
for a variety of
reasons,may		 The group met 53 times during the year
with 360 individual attendances.
Learning a new skill has been beneficial
to the wellbeingof attendees. For a

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Purpose Who is it for What did we achieve
craft. The group is an
opportunity to learn a new
skill or rediscover an old one.
The crafting activities make
this a comfortable experience
for people who might find the
pressure to converse a
challenge.		 have difficulty
feeling
comfortable in
social groups
and/or who
are at risk of
isolation and
loneliness.		 couple of the attendees who had not
been in paid work, the opportunity to
develop skills and confidence has
allowed them to make things for sale.
Members of the group have also made
goods to be sold at local fairs to raise
money for the charity.
Day Trip See Welcome Wednesday
Drop-In		 See Welcome
Wednesday
Drop-In		 On 10 August 2022, we took a coach of
37 people from the Drop in to visit
Dungeness for a Fish and Chip lunch,
followed by a briefing from the Estate
Manager at Dungeness on the range of
visitors using the area. We returned via
Tenterden Garden Centre for afternoon
tea. Many thanks to Hams Travel who
kindly sponsored the day. We were
fortunate that it was a sunny day, and
everyone enjoyed the trip.
Dementia
Friends
Training		 To educate people about
Dementia and give them
confidence in their
interactions with people who
are experiencing cognitive
impairment due to Dementia.
This course is delivered by a
person trained by the
Alzheimer’s Society.		 Anyone;
although we
did particularly
promote the
sessions to
shop-keepers
and business
owners locally.		 Two sessions were held in April and
May. They were attended by 25
people.
Men’s
Cookery		 To provide opportunities for
participants to learn to cook
various healthy meals and for
them to enjoy cooking.		 Men who are
recently
bereaved,
living alone or
have little or
no cookery
skills		 There were 16 sessions with 106
attendances overall, plus on average 2
volunteer supporters per session.
Profile was men 65-80 from
Cranbrook, Sissinghurst, Frittenden,
Hawkhurst and Tenterden. Lesson
menus included leek and chicken pie,
Cornish pasties minestrone soup and
tortillas. Several of the men found the
class helpful for getting out and about
and making new friends. It was a
challenging period as, sadly Graeme
our first school Chef/ manager left in
May 2022. Cranbrook School were
exceptionally helpful, allowing the
catering consultant Rupert to step in
for a period until Christmas before
Keith, the new Chef /Manager kindly
agreed to volunteer his time in January
2023. We have been very grateful to

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Purpose Who is it for What did we achieve
the Charles Lewis Foundation who have
supported the classes for 2 years,
funding aprons and ingredients. We
will now seek to find another sponsor.
Men’s Shed To provide a supportive, self-
help, safe environment
targeted at men in particular,
to promote wellbeing and
engagement in active and
creative projects and hobbies
and interaction with others
who may be interested in the
same or similar activities.		 Initially, men
18yrs and
older		 During this reporting period, WITW
supported the newly launched Men’s
Shed (Cranbrook) as it established itself
as a free social and working hub and
rapidly expanded its membership,
regularly attracting around 20
attendees. We provided funding for
core costs, marketing, materials,
insurance and support for setting up
the Mens’ Shed’s first projects,
generously hosted at Cranbrook
School.
The Mens’ Shed was very quickly able
to raise funds to support its own
activities and on 7 November 2022 it
started to operate independently of
WITW, as Wealden Mens’ Shed
(Cranbrook), part of the UK Mens’
Shed/Kent Shed organisation. WITW
provided a grant representing the
balance of funds held by us but raised
for the Mens’ Shed and an additional
contribution to support their ongoing
operations. We wish them the very
best in operating this valuable, new
Community initiative long into the
future.
Pick up the
Pieces		 WITW Jigsaw Library to
provide enjoyable and
rewarding occupation for
people who are isolated at
home.		 Open to
everyone with
local delivery
and collection
of jigsaws. In
particularly
may help
people who
are unwell or
recuperating
from illness or
following
surgery.		 The Library currently supplies jigsaws
to half a dozen housebound people on
a regular basis. We do believe that
more people could benefit and will be
promoting it more widely in Autumn
2023.
Welcome
Wednesday		 To provide a warm welcoming
place where people are known
and accepted and where they		 This is aimed at
single people,
carers,recently		 There were 1194 individual
attendances at 53 Sessions held during
theyear. The Welcome Wednesday

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Purpose Who is it for What did we achieve
Drop-In can experience friendship and
occasional extra activities to
promote wellbeing.		 widowed,
people with
early-stage
dementia and
people who
are older
and/or are
living alone.		 Drop-in continues through all holiday
periods as for many people these times
are especially lonely.
This year, these sessions included two
IT training sessions on keeping yourself
and your money safe online, two taster
sessions on playing the Ukelele, a trip
for 37 people to the seaside (see Day
trip) and monthly quizzes.
From October to April on most weeks
during term-time we were joined by
volunteers from Cranbrook School.
Sometimes 1 or 2 Year 12 students
who helped to serve and 2 or 3
students from Years 7 and 8 who
played board games with other
attendees.
Wellbeing
Walks		 To provide access to regular,
low impact physical activity to
all local residents in a social
and safe environment. Walks
are accessible to people with
limited mobility or pre-existing
medical conditions / injuries.
These sessions are run by the
Tunbridge Wells Walking For
Health Scheme, which is a
franchise of The Ramblers.		 Open to
everybody.
There is a
range of
physical
fitness/ability
and motivation
to join the
walks. Multiple
groups to tailor
the walks to
the type of
attendees we
have in each
group.		 During this year we provided several
walking groups in Cranbrook and
Benenden each week, with
approximately 1,561 attendances over
142 walks . Our demographic is
predominantly female between the
ages of 50 to 80. There are a range of
ability levels and due to the fact we
operate multiple groups, we have been
able to offer longer (90 minute) walks
as well as shorter (60 minute) ones.

In addition to the above, we continued to work with several local schools to try to find a suitable Mindfulness in Schools programme that we could support. Unfortunately, our efforts continued to be frustrated and we were unable to use the balance of the grant previously received from Councillor Seán Holden / Kent County Council (KCC Combined Member Grant Scheme) by the required date and so had to return the balance of the funds to the Council.

We would like to thank all our volunteers, activity leaders, committee members / trustees and our administrators, who have devoted so much of their time and effort to organise, lead and support our activities and to help us in all aspects of operating the Charity.

We would also like to thank:

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Particular thanks also to their former Head Chef, Graeme, catering consultant Rupert and new Chef / Manager Keith, who volunteered their time to lead the Men’s Cookery sessions, and to the pupils from Cranbrook School who have supported the Drop-in.

4. Plans for 2023-2024

Having reviewed the reach and impact of our existing activities and the associated costs, during 2023 to 2024, we intend to:

i. Continue with many of our existing projects and provide and assist in the provision of similar activities and initiatives, such as: community walks, volunteering, training, workshops, signposting and other social activities that bring people together on a regular basis and allocate costs and expected revenues from these projects.

ii. Identify the hard-to-reach sections of the community in Cranbrook and its surrounding villages through reaching out to organisations or individuals, such as social prescribers and community wardens for their input. Our current target groups are:

iii. Initiate new projects, particularly to target the hard-to-reach sections of our community, with the understanding that new opportunities will arise, and these will be considered when they do.

iv. Better understand the financial effect and reach of known and forecast projects, as well as the running costs of Wellbeing in the Weald.

vi. Raise additional funds specifically to cover our running costs and new initiatives.

vii. Continue to work to reduce poverty and debt in our area by targeting activities and information that help towards this.

As circumstances and funds permit, we also hope to continue/repeat various other prior WITW activities for the community in general, such as:

Quiz nights (see also under Fundraising)

Fruit picking (see also Juice sales under Fundraising)

Attendance at Community Events/ Fetes (see also under Fundraising)

Suppers

Further new activities will be considered as appropriate, as circumstances and funds permit. We will

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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wherever possible seek grant funding to at least partially cover the costs of any new activities during 2023-2024. Additional fundraising or grants will be required for these activities to be sustained longer term.

5. Fundraising

5.1 How we have raised funds

During this period, we did not run any specific fundraising appeals or campaigns.

We would like to thank the members of our community and local organisations including Kent Country Agricultural Society, Biddenden Tractorfest, Cramp Institute Club Cranbrook, The Henhurst Trust, Dulwich Prep Cranbrook, Welcome Store in Cranbrook and Benenden Fete, for their donations to support our work during this period and record our ongoing gratitude to the National Lottery Community Fund and the Co-Op Community Fund for grants received previously, which were used to fund many of our operations and activities during 2022/2023. The National Lottery Community Fund grant supported Men’s Cookery, Boxing Fitness, Book Club, Lunch Club and Men’s Shed as well as several of our core costs. The Co-Op Community Fund grant supported our Welcome Wednesday Drop-In.

We would also like to thank Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Councillor Seán Holden / Kent County Council for their funding for the Community Kitchen.

Quiz Night

In February 2023 we had a full house for our Quiz Night held in the Vestry Hall in Cranbrook. Great fun was had by all, and we were able to raise over £2,000 from local residents who came along to support us.

We had a fabulous response from local businesses who donated many products, gifts and vouchers for our raffle. We are hugely grateful to all the businesses who donated these for the evening. We had a very enticing range of lovely prizes which helped us to sell lots of raffle tickets.

Thank you to all those who bought tickets and came along on the evening, to the local businesses who supported the event, and all the volunteers who helped to make it a very successful evening.

Juice sales

This financial year includes the continuing sales from the harvest of 2021 and sales from the harvest of apples in the autumn of 2022. Thank you to the owners of apple orchards in Hawkhurst and Goudhurst for the fruits from their orchards, which provided our 2022 crop. And thanks, as ever, to our volunteer pickers.

We again owe Tony a great debt of gratitude for all his work arranging juicing, bottling and labelling and in preparing bottles for sale and selling juice at the local farmers markets, as well as supplying local shops. Thanks also to the local retailers who kindly sell our juice, including Cranbrook Farm shop, Wilkes Butchers and Benenden Community shop and Welcome Store in Cranbrook.

5.2 How we will continue to raise funds

WITW has now resumed successful fundraising ventures which had to be put on hold during Covid, and we aim to continue these in 2023/2024 including:

Registered Charity Number 1190083

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Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

We also plan to raise funds via:

6. Financial Report

The Trustees understand that they are responsible for preparing this Financial Report, for ensuring that it provides a true and fair view of the financial position of the Charity and for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity. 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.

The trustees have set a reserves policy to cover 2 months of day to day running costs, in addition to committed costs for each year.

The income of Wellbeing in the Weald is not at a level to require independent verification or audit of its financial statements.

Income and Expenditure Account 12 months to 31 March 2023 12 months to 31 March 2023 12 months to 31 March 2023 12 months to 31 March 2022 12 months to 31 March 2022 12 months to 31 March 2022
Unrestricted Restricted
Total		 Unrestricted Restricted
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
General fundraising, grants and
donations
National Lottery Community Fund Awards for
All		 -
-
-
10,000
-		 10,000
Donations(see note 1) 2,495
-		 2,495
844
-
844
Charitable activities(see note 2) 3,196
6,833		 10,029
2,718
2,200		 4,918
Other income(see note 3) 6,861
-		 6,861
2,755
-		 2,755
Total income 12,552
6,833		 19,385
16,317
2,200		 18,517
Costs
Charitable costs(see note 4) 4,037
3,703		 7,740
3,683
1,213		 4,896
Fundraisingcosts(see note 5) 2,013
-		 2,013
1,030
-		 1,030
Support Costs(see note 6) 1,715
10,078		 11,793
1,697
9,763		 11,460
Total costs 7,765
13,781		 21,546
6,410
10,976		 17,386

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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Net surplus/(deficit) for theperiod 4,787
(6,948)		 (2,161) 9,907
(8,776)		 1,131
Funds brought forward 18,253
2,312		 20,565
11,593
7,841		 19,434
Funds transferred (4,636) 4,636
-
(3,247)		 3,247
-
Funds carried forward 18,404
-		 18,404
18,253
2,312		 20,565
Wellbeing in the Weald
Balance Sheet As at 31 March 2023 As at 31 March 2022
Unrestricted Restricted
Total		 Unrestricted Restricted
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
Current Assets
Cash at Bank 18,276
-		 18,276
18,125
2,312		 20,437
PettyCash 128
-
128
128
-
128
18,404
-		 18,404
18,253
2,312		 20,565
Represented by:
General Funds 18,404
-		 18,404
18,253
2,312		 20,565
Notes
1. Donations £
£
£
£
£
£
Amazon Smile 47
-
47
55
-
55
EasyFundraising 57
-
57
94
-
94
General Donations 2,391
-		 2,391
695
-
695
2,495
-		 2,495
844
-
844
2. Charitable activities £
£
£
£
£
£
Allotment 100
100
155
-
155
Boxing 473
473
1,464
500		 1,964
Crafts 281
-
281
386
-
386
Communitykitchen -
7,550		 7,550
-
-
-
Dropin 1,205
-		 1,205
333
-
333
Men’s Cookery 135
135
380
1,600		 1,980
Men’s Shed 1,710
-		 1,710
-
-
-
Walkingfootball(grant from KCC) -
-
-
-
100
100
Mindfulness in Schools (KCC Members
Grant)		 -
(1,425)		 (1,425)
-
-
-
3,196
6,833		 10,029
2,718
2,200		 4,918
3. Other income £
£
£
£
£
£
Fetes / Fairs 1,435
-		 1,435
637
-		 637
Jam / Chutney 171
-		 171
154
-		 154
Juice 1,360
-		 1,360
1,964
-		 1,964
Quiz Night 2,934
-		 2,934 - -
Other income 961
-		 961
-
-		 -
6,861
-		 6,861
2,755
-		 2,755

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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4. Charitable costs £
£
£
£
£
£
Allotment - 182
182
171
-
171
Boxing - 480
480
1,920
500		 2,420
Crafts 58
-
58
308
-
308
Communitykitchen - 2,677 2,677
-
-
-
Dropin Costs 1,496
-		 1,496
949
-
949
Men’s Cooking - 364
364
-
213
213
Men’s Shed 1,913
-		 1,913
333
-
333
Mindfulness in Schools(see also note 2) 570
-
570
-
400
400
WalkingFootball -
-
-
2
100
102
4,037
3,703		 7,740
3,683
1,213		 4,896
5. Fundraisingcosts £
£
£
£
£
£
Fetes / Fairs 130
-
130
30
-
30
Jam / Chutney 60
-
60
113
-
113
Juice 902
-
902
887
-
887
Quiz night 921
-
921
-
-
-
2,013
-		 2,013
1,030
-		 1,030
6. Support costs £
£
£
£
£
£
Administrators 6,832
1,510		 8,342
-
£9,573		 9,573
Adverts 489
-
489
-
55
55
Gmail 119
-
119
256
-
256
Insurance 287
-
287
287
-
287
Phone 74
-
74
121
-
121
Printing 361
-
361
-
135
135
Safeguarding 462
-
462
230
-
230
Sundry 966
-
966
299
-
299
Training/ Resources 350
-
350
350
-
350
Venue hire etc(notproject related) 170
-
170
10
-
10
Website Costs 173
-
173
-
-
-
Zoom subscription -
-
-
144
-
144
Support costs reallocated (8,568) 8,568
-
-
-
-
1,715
10,078		 11,793
1,697
9,763		 11,460

These resources mean that we are satisfied that we will be able to continue our operations for the foreseeable future.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 12 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Andrew Chandler - Trustee, Chair

Peter Simpson - Trustee, Treasurer

Registered Charity Number 1190083 Address: Mill House, Mill Lane, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2HX

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