Bluetonic (Registered charity. number 11908711 Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 Page Contents Trustees, annual report Independent examiner's report Receipts & payments account Statement of assels & liabilities Notes to the accounts 10 capLUS COMMUNITh, ACCOUNTING
Bluetonic Trustees, annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024 Full name Bluetonic Organisatlon type Charitable incorporated organisation Registered charity number 1190871 Principal addrèss 6 Hall drive, Wollaton, Nottingham, NG8 2PW Trustees Paul Dickens, Chair Clara Motley, Treasurer Richard Grieve, Started 0410912024 Jane North, Secretary Independent examiner John O'Brien. employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West. 41 Talbot Slreet, Nottingham, NG15GL Governance and management The charity is operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 1410812020. There are Gurrently 4 trustees and ideally the charity would like to increase lo 5 trustees. We are aware that it is recommended that people in named roles stay in them for 2 13 tenns and will be looking to rotate I recruit new trustees to fill roles. Truslees are selected based on our constitution terms, and have responsibility for governing the charity and signing off on proposals. Volunteers are invited to support the charity with their time and contribute ideas for the charity's development. Trustees are responsible for decisions about funding distribution. Objectives and activities We are a charity dedicated to creating experiences in, on or around blue spaces. Blue spaces are areas that are close to water either inland or by the sea. Spending time by blue spaces can make us happier and healthier. Bluetonic offers resources, activity and infomiation that helps anyone become more active in blue spaces.
Bluetonic Objectives In our fourth period of reporting. in the Midlands specifically we have objectives to: Developed activity and test ideas alongside local people. Look to secure funding for future projects for face to fa delivery. Relating to the broader work our objectives have been: Continue to grow our presence on social media and traffic to our website Review and develop all infrastructure we need to run the charity, with a focus on recruiting at least one more trustee and improving our governance and procedures around finance. Grow and develop revenue via donations for swimming hats l awaken your blue mind challenge. Provide opportunities for people to neOrk and develop ideas relating to being active in, on and around water. Summary of the main activities undertaken for the publi¢ benefit and the main achlevements during the period Online guest chats Our free online sessions are designed for people to hear stories frorn inspirational people, about the benefits of blue spaces. This year four sessions were delivered over the winter months and this has continued to grow Bluetonic's presence online. They have helped create an interest in the charity and develop neOrkIng opportunities locally and internationally. This winter Ihe highlight was a session with the author of"The Blue Mind" Dr Wallace J Nichols. The award winning book was published back in 2014 and is the biggest inspiration for our charity. He was so impressed with the charivs work he reached out to offer his support and to neiwork the charity into a nelwork he has created called "The Blue Mind Movemènt.. In the chat ha brought to life, the cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories. He discussed how proximity to water can improve performance. increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success. All knitted together with stories from his fascinating life. Over 70 people attended this chat and over half of those came from outside of the UK with over 30 people from America. Other guests supporting the chats were: Imogen Radford.. Imogen volunteers for thè Outdoor Swimming Society playing an imporiant role as one of their Inland Access Officers. She had initially supported a previous guest Shauna Tate, who talked about the positive impact wild swimming had on her health and wellbeing. She gave some brilliant insight into people's legal rights in relation to wild swimming as well as the campaign to create greater levels of access.
Bluetonic Rachel Hazell aka "The Travelling Bookbinder": came on the chat to celebrate the launch of her book, Today's Changing Room. Recording year-round swims in the Hebridean waters around lona, the book introduces the idea that every rock is a hook to hang dothes on. W8 talked wilh Rachel about her island hom8, her tips when taking cold water dips and the benefits she has experienced when cold water swimming. Rachel kindly then gave the proceeds of £2,500 from the book sales to support Bluetonic's charity activity. The format allows time for people to network with each other from wherever they are. Most people are from all over the UK, but increasingly our audience is widening. The benefits of this yearfs chats have been: Engagement directly with Dr Wallis J Nichols increasing the charity's kudos in relation to promoting the blue mind. Scott Clayton BluetoniG founder is now an official "Blue Mind Ambassador. and this supports the charity to be at the forefront of pioneering work to engage people to be active in on and around water and improve their health and wellbeing. The chats were attended by 182 people from all over the world. The chats played a big part in launching our winler fundraising "Awaken Your Blue Mind" challenge, and generating participation from people all over the world. The chats helped engage "Rachel Hazell" who kindly donated £2500- our biggest donation so far. Awaken your blue mind This year the charity continued to develop an online challenge to help raise funds for running costs and charity activity- Awaken your blue mind is a journaling exercise that sees participants provided with a list of challenges that encourage people to get out and about in, on and around the water during the winter months. Participants paid £10 entry fe8 for individuals (£12 outside the UK) or £20 for families. People entering received: 'Awaken your blue mind, e-journal. List of challenges. Access to a dedicated Facebook group. The Ghallenge badge. This year 191 people took part in the challenge raising a total of £2,076. Costs were £412.85 with a total net profit raised of £1,663.15. Participants took part from all over the world including Germany. USA. Canada, France, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
Bluetonic Under the Bridgo The project started in 2022 supported by National Lottery funding and then match funding which allowed a successful 24 week program that engaged around 31 men living in the East Midlands. The project is continuing to run in partnership with not for profit organisation Nottingham CAN, using funding secured from winning the National Lottery, ITV East Midlands Peoples project. Participants are coached on the benefits of connecting in local blue spaces via simple mindfulness techniques. They also were rnade aware of the natural r8Storative effects of being active in, on and around water and how they can spre8d their knowledge to others. The Lottery funding has allowed the project to run in 10 week delivery blocks for a full year. At the end of each time is laken to evaluate impact, reflect on sessions and design the next block. Sessions are all in, on and around water and some of the highlights have been: A visit from Wim Hoff breathing and cold water exposure coach, Emma Estrell who volunteered to d81iver a session after working with Scott Clayton at Deershed Festival. A cook out and wild swim at the ancient Achour Church Caves. Various water sports engagement session at Spring Lakes. Sailing taster and painting by the water both held at Trent Valley sailing club. Also during this reporting year the project held its first resident181 ané a field trip both in the Matlock area of Derbyshire. A further residential is planned in Scarborough in the next reporting year. Also the project is about to d81iver its first community engagement day. The "Under the Bridge. walking music festival will take place on the 13th April 2024. Seeing musical artists from the local area performing under a variety of bridges in a walking music festival. The participants of the choir are already volunleering time to help design. plan and promote thè day. The "Under the Bridge" choir will sing at the end of the event lo highlight the importance of men engaging in activily that improves mental health and wellbeing. Numbers of participants have grown to over 60 men attending at least one session. Each week sees between 12 and 25 men coming together. A meeting has taken place with the lottery and as a resull the charity is exploring submitting a bid to sustain delivery for the next three years.
Bluetonic Swim Safe Swim Safe was successfully delivered in summer of 2023 to 498 young people and their parents I guardians. Funding was provided via an under-spend from the previous year's lottery bid and via a fundraising evening run at the delivery venue. Swim Saf8 gets children and their families actively18arning in the environment about water safety to help reduce risk of drowning. Our delivery is unique as we include supporting education related to the Blue Mind. The Blue mind is about the positive impact of blue spaces on your mental heallh and our swimming coaches 8re trained to.. Talk about the positive impact to health and wellbeing when being active in, on and around water. Signpost children and families to resources that help them be active in, on and around water. Talk about the science that backs up the theory that blue spaces are good for our health. The charity has secured funding from the Thomas Farr Foundation to run Swim Safe again in tho summer of 2024. South East Derbyshire Provider Collaboration Blu8 Tonic is a part of this collaboration between local support providers. This is still a relatively new way of working irlvolving five providers working together to enable flexible local support. Three of the providers involved offer counselling I therapy support and have made this available if needed to the 'Under the Bridge" participants. This has provided a safety net of support to attendees and has been utilized by at least one group mèmber and helped prevent his issues esc81ating into crisis. The partn8rship really helps by creating peer support, exploring funding and dev8loping the potential to change the local approaches in NHS. Public health and Derbyshire County Council. The four other providers in the network are: https.'Ilwww.elephantrooms.w.uk/ https.'Ilwww.honeyhopefarm.orgl https.'Ilwww.longeatoncommunitygarden.org.ukl https.'Ilwww.whisperingtrees.org.ukl There is increasing cross over support especially with the 'Under the Bridge" project with sessions being held at the Elephant Rooms and Honey Hope farm. More recently a new project simll ar to 'Under the Bridge, is In its eadiest stsge of development which will see a focus on positive activity for women experiencing the menopause. Scope is being explored for some of the initial sessions to be delivered at another partner Long Eaton Community Garden.
Bluetonlc Volunteers Bluetonic Ambassadors Our ambassadors continue to support the charity by supporting the design and promotion of charity activity. It has been acknowledged that there are Ambassadors who ar8 not supporting the charity to grow to the agreed original scope created for this role. Scott has been tasked to speak to all ambassadors about minimal levels of engagement with potential to refresh the ambassadors list. other ambassadors are going above and beyond their roles. One particular mention in this regard is Rachel Andrews aka 'the everyday athlete" She has supported by oming to events in person as well as helping design and promote "Awaken Your Blue Mind" She regularly comes along to our online sessions and at times has volunteered as a co-host. Local volunteers Bluetonic has increasing support from volunteers. Our three main volunteers are our trustees, who on top of fulfilling their roles running and organising the charity, they also support other things. Jane North our Secretary is leading growing our social media with a focus on Instagram, creating regular posts and proactively engaging other users to grow our following. She also coordinates Awaken your blue mind. Clara Morley our treasurer has led the work creating robust procedures in terms of recording and monitoring our finances. But she also supports by attending swim safe sessions and helping out. Paul Dickens fulfils his Chair role. Bul also volunteers to be a key member of the "Under the Bridge" project offering peer support to other attendees. Outside of our trustees the attendees of the 'Under the Bridge" are increasingly taking on volunteering roles. Helping by supporting each other and by promoting charity activity via personal social media feeds. Around 14 attendees volunteer in this way. Publlc benefit statement The Trustees Gonfimi that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charilies Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit,. The charity's policy on reserves We aim to keep from 3-6 months, worth of reserves to cover running Gosts of the charity. Signad on behalf of the charity's trustees.. Signed Clara Morley, Trustee Date
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Bluetonic for the year ended 31 March 2024 I report to the Irustees on my examination of the accounts of Bluetonic (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the trustees of the charity 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 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51(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; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. 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. Signed John O'Brien M FCIE Employee of Community Accounting Plus
Bluetonic Receipts & payments account for the year ended 31 March 2024 2023 2024 Total Fund$ Total Funds Unrestricted Re*ri¢tsd Funds Funds Nota Receipts Activities contributions Bank interest (nevgross) Grant5 & donations SurKlry receipts Total receipts 9438 138 1160 138 40227 526 500 10464 39067 1298 39067 40365 Payments Actiwties & events General admin cost rr costs Advertisiro Insurance Equipment Staff costs:Travel & subsistence Totsl payments 17748 400 88 58 17533 17933 88 58 131 300 318 150 18978 131 300 318 150 1314 17748 17664 (7284) 10377 Net recelptsl(payments) Cash funds at start ofthis period Transfers beeen furKJs Cash funds at end of this period (16) 3093 535 2542 21403 21387 3093 535 21938 3093 24480
Bluetonic Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 March 2024 2023 2024 Cash assets Bank Account Note 3093 3093 244480 244480 ¢Xher monetary assets PrepayTnent 43 43 Liabilities Creditors 480 480) These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Signed Clara Morley, Trust88 4rL Date 10
Bluetonic Notes to the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 1. Recelpts & payments accounts Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of mon8y receiv8d and money spent during Ihe period and a lisl of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand. 2. Grants & donations Unre*rf¢ted Restricted Total East Midland RaiaY Elephants Room Nalional Lottery Thomas Farr Co-op Sawley Store FourKJab'on Dert)yshire General Donations 820 1125 33700 2000 820 1125 33700 2000 150 1422 1010 40227 150 1422 1010 1160 39067 3. Funds analysis Openlng Re¢¢lpts IPaymentsl Trantr8 balance Closlng bèlanee Restricted funds Underthe Bridge Ch)ir Swm Safe AccountirvJ 35645 {151291 2000 (25351 1422 39067 20516 535 1422 21938 17664 535 Unrestricted funds General Fu1 3093 3093 1298 2542 1314 535 535 1298 1314) 2542 Swlm Safe.. Support's children aged 7-14 to leam about swimming in open water and was crealed by Swim England and the RNLI. It's a free session with a focus on water safely lasting 1 hour. Swim Safe is mainly taught at the coast. but Bluetonic has pioneered delivering inland. This is targeted at reducing the fact that the vast majority of people getting into difficulty and drowning or in need of rescuing at the coast, come from inland. Over the summer months for the last three years the Bluetonic team of coaches delivered sessions to over 2,500 children.
Bluetonic Under the bridge.. Supports men to come together for weekly engaging sessions, in, on and around the water. Lottery and grants from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire have supported sessions where men have taken part in activities like paddle boarding, sailing, tubing, kayaking. swimming, walking, painting and singing all in. on and around the water. The men have also learned aboul the powerful positive benefits of stimulating the blue mind in these spaces. Impact reports have been developed to evid8nce the Posltive effect sessions have had on participants one of which is available via this link: htt s:Ilwww.bluetonic.or .ukl fileslu dlb391M5 d585bd184c7b47dbaa4cf28a775b14fd. Accounting: This is a pot of funding that must be spent on accounting. 4. Prepayments Ir)surance 43 43 5. Creditors Independent examination fee 480 480 Previous perlod comparlson The previous period's figures have not been fully analysed because a breakdown of receipts and payments was not available for that period. 7. Glossary of temis Creditors: These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period. Prepayments: These are services that the charity has paid for in advance, but not used during the accounting period. Restricted funds: These are funds given to the Charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity. 12