
## Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 

Period start date: From 01 April 2024 to Period end date: 31 March 2025 Charity name: Blossom – Health Through Activity 

Charity registration number: 1196575 

## Objectives and Activities 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|S|To advance education in the Manchester<br>area mainly but not exclusively by providing<br>year-round education, workshops, learning<br>and provide a drop in to teach the public<br>how to grow their own food, care for plants,<br>garden maintenance, enjoyment of nature<br>and being outside and have a positive<br>impact on health and our carbon footprint<br>by valuing local seasonal produce to<br>connect people with food in the ground and<br>demonstrate how to produce cheap<br>nutritious meals to alleviate food and fuel<br>poverty.|
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or<br>services identified in the<br>accounts.|Para 1.17 and<br>1.19|<br>A grant from the Post Code Lottery<br>for core funding has enabled the<br>charity to continue to offer well-<br>being, growing and cooking<br>activities in the Horticultural Centre<br>year-round.<br><br>3 x Green Doctor sessions offered<br>weekly.<br><br>Various activities delivered to<br>children during school holidays on<br>behalf of MCC (Manchester City<br>Council) in the park.<br><br>Growing workshops delivered on<br>behalf of We Love Manchester in<br>the Horticultural Centre.<br><br>Wythenshawe Games – Blossom<br>stand delivered growing activities.<br><br>Weekly Walking Group supported.<br>Cooking<br><br>Fuel Reducing cooking workshops<br>were delivered in the community<br>and in the Horticultural Centre. Food<br>growing opportunities, including<br>opportunities to grow the food used|





||in the cooking sessions were offered|
|---|---|
||in the Horticultural Centre. The|
||cooking and growing activities were|
||delivered on behalf of MCC to|
||support residents experiencing|
||difficulties due to the cost-of-living|
||crisis. Fuel reducing appliances|
||were used during the cooking|
||sessions.|
||Additional cooking and growing|
||sessions were delivered in the park|
||and the community on behalf of|
||MCC to support their food insecurity|
||initiatives/targets.|
||Cooking workshops and food|
||growing workshops were delivered|
||to tenants of WCHG (Wythenshawe|
||Community Housing Group) and|
||residents of the wider community on|
||behalf of WCHG in the park and in|
||community venues.|
||How to cook courses were delivered|
||in the community on behalf of MAES|
||(Manchester Adult Education|
||Services).|
||Cooking workshop delivered at|
||Wythenshawe Forum on behalf of|
||Age Concern. The session covered|
||fuel reducing appliances and the|
||benefits of batch cooking.|
||Eat Well Move More sessions were|
||delivered weekly to parents of|
||children attending Pioneer House|
||SEND school in collaboration with|
||the NHS.|
||Healthy cooking sessions were|
||delivered to children aged 8 and|
||above on behalf of Crossacres|
||Family Hub at their venue in the|
||community.|
||Healthy eating cooking sessions|
||were delivered for parents on behalf|
||of Woodhouse Park Family Centre|
||at their venue in the community.|
|Individual Workshops||
|Growing workshops: -||
||Tomato care|
||Chilli Growing|
||Orchid care|
||Cactus & succulent plant care|
||Plant Hospital|
||Wreath Making|
||Growing in small spaces|
||Introduction to Food Growing|



- Wellbeing workshops: 



|||<br>Forest Bathing<br><br>Natures Medicine Chest<br><br>Meditation and Herbal Tea<br><br>Foraging<br><br>In the Night Garden<br>Cooking workshops: -<br><br>Age Friendly Network<br><br>Fuel reducing<br><br>Cost of Living<br><br>Food insecurity<br><br>Healthy Eating|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have<br>had regard to the guidance<br>issued by the Charity<br>Commission on public<br>benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees have quarterly meetings to<br>make sure they are up to date with all<br>activities and to ensure they are being<br>carried out for the benefit of the public.|



## Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

||<br>SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|N/A|
|Policy on social investment<br>including program related<br>investment|Para 1.38|N/A|
|Contribution made by<br>volunteers|Para 1.38|Blossom has a huge contribution from its<br>regular volunteers and corporate<br>volunteers; we wouldn’t be able to deliver<br>all we offer without their support.|
|Other|||



Achievements and Performance 



||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|4,528 volunteer hours completed<br>1854 corporate volunteer hours completed<br>13,264 visitors to the Horticultural Centre<br>509 walkers supported<br>RHS Northwest in Bloom- Achieved Level<br>5 Outstanding.<br>Blossom asks for feedback from its<br>volunteers and participants who attend<br>cooking and growing workshops to ensure<br>we are meeting their expectations and<br>providing activities that can help to improve<br>their financial circumstances, their mental<br>health and diet.<br>Feedback has shown that the charity’s<br>work has had a positive impact on the<br>circumstances of many of its beneficiaries.<br>The Wider Benefits of Getting Involved with<br>Blossom:-<br>For individuals who join us as a volunteer<br>or take part in our activities, the impact can<br>be life changing.<br>Volunteering helps with:<br>Pathways to Employment<br><br>Build transferable skills in food<br>growing, cooking, and horticulture<br><br>Gain hands-on experience for CVs<br>and job interviews<br><br>Meet new people and access local<br>opportunities<br>Grow in Confidence<br><br>Learn new things in a supportive,<br>inclusive environment<br><br>Achieve small wins that boost self-<br>esteem<br><br>Take pride in helping your<br>community thrive<br>Save Money, Improve Health<br><br>Learn how to grow your own food<br>and cook affordable, healthy meals<br><br>Discover ways to stretch your family<br>budget<br><br>Reduce reliance on processed or|





expensive supermarket food Feel Better, Sleep Better  Spend time outdoors and connect with nature  Reduce stress and anxiety  Improve mood and sleep through physical activity and purposeful work Evaluation has shown several volunteers have gained valuable skills, improved their self-confidence and have moved on to paid employment. Feedback from participants at cooking sessions has been very positive; those attending cooking courses of 6 weeks or more have shared photos of newfound confidence in cooking sharing photos of their home cooked meals on social media and with other participants on the course. They have reported cooking with their children at home, enjoying mealtimes and saving money by cooking from scratch. Cactus Society 3 members of the Cactus Society volunteer in the Horticultural Centre each week; they have willingly shared their expert knowledge with volunteers and the public. Weekly Green Doctor sessions Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 1 to 4pm. These sessions give volunteers a place to come and relax with some gardening and food growing but also to talk about their lives and any problems / anxieties they may have. We have 58 different regular volunteers coming to the centre across the 3 sessions. Holiday Activity On behalf of MCC, Blossom delivered drop in workshops with activities for children in the Horticultural Centre. Big Spring Clean-up Blossom hosted MCC staff volunteers who donated 20 hours of their time to clean up 



activities. Positive action, pride in the community! Wednesday Walking Group Wednesday Walking Group – approx. 12 walkers each week. Gentle exercise, enjoying green spaces, social time and new friendships. Always followed by a lovely cup of tea and biscuits from Liz, Blossom’s volunteer coordinator. Eat Well Move More - In partnership with Manchester Local Care Organisation, we delivered 1 x 10-week program working with families from Pioneer House Special Educational Needs School Cooking with the parents and physical activity sessions for the children. Manchester Adult Education Services - MAES Blossom has delivered 2 x 6 weeks ‘How to cook’ courses in the community. 14 Attendees, all of whom were offered the option of a free online Level 2 Food Hygiene course. Cooking Cooking sessions were delivered using fuel reducing appliances and costed recipes to help participants to budget better and demonstrate how how small changes in their diet can improve their health. Workshops – Spaces for 10 participants are offered for all cooking workshops. Spaces for 15 participants are offered for all growing workshops. Spaces for 10 participants are offered for all well-being workshops. Spaces for 25 participants are offered for all children workshops. Blossom staff delivered most workshops in the park, when required specialist practitioners were engaged. The workshops were advertised on social media, on Eventbrite and in the park; the local residents were encouraged to come along and join in. We have had really good feedback regarding all the workshops. 



|||Blossom regularly attends Community<br>Connector events in the community to<br>forge relationships and promote the work<br>we do here in the park and in the<br>community.<br>Corporate Volunteering<br>Corporate volunteering helps companies to<br>give their employees the opportunity to<br>help out in the community whilst helping<br>their own mental health. They have helped<br>with all aspects of the park and not just the<br>Horticulture Centre.<br>Growing in the Community workshops<br>Workshops have been delivered on behalf<br>of MCC and WCHG in the community to<br>residents free of charge in the spring and<br>summer which were well attended.<br>Cooking in the Community Workshops<br><br>Cooking sessions using fuel<br>reducing appliances delivered at<br>community venues across<br>Wythenshawe. 10 attendees per<br>session<br><br>50 attendees received free larder<br>bags with basic store cupboard<br>ingredients.<br>The Firs Manchester University Plant<br>Science Department.<br>Blossom continues to collaborate with<br>senior staff from the Firs to work together<br>to improve facilities at both sites.<br>Manchester University are planning on<br>pursuing Botanical Garden Status.<br>Discussions are ongoing.<br>Social media engagement–<br>770 followers on x (formerly Twitter)<br>621 followers on Facebook<br>853 followers on Instagram<br>55 subscribers on YouTube<br>557 TikTok<br>We use Eventbrite to facilitate workshops<br>and events.<br>We have made great progress in reaching<br>our audience over social media and have<br>clear plans on how to continue growing our|
|---|---|---|





digital presence. 

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|<br>Achievements against<br>objectives set|<br>Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising<br>activities against objectives<br>set|Para 1.41|Blossom continues to apply for funding<br>monthly. £102,030 was brought in from<br>grants, donations, fundraising and other.|
|Investment performance<br>against objectives|Para 1.41|N/A|
|Other|||





## Financial Review 

|Financial Review|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s<br>financial position at the end<br>of the period|Para 1.21|Barclays Bank £1,384<br>Co-op Bank £62,335<br>Petty Cash £2|
|Statement explaining the<br>policy for holding reserves<br>stating why they are held|Para 1.22|We have reserves so we can carry forward<br>our activities in the next financial year.|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£63,719|
|Reasons for holding zero<br>reserves|Para 1.22|N/A|
|Details of fund materially in<br>deficit|Para 1.24|N/A|
|Explanation of any<br>uncertainties about the<br>charity continuing as a going<br>concern|Para 1.23|N/A|



## Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|<br>The charity’s principal<br>sources of funds (including<br>any fundraising)|<br>Para 1.47|<br>Grants, Corporate Donations, public<br>donations|
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and<br>objectives including any<br>social investment policy<br>adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal<br>risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||





## Structure, Governance and Management 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Articles of Association|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|Trustee selection method is by invitation<br>only.|



## Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|<br>Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction<br>and training of trustees|<br>Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational<br>structure and any wider<br>network with which the<br>charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related<br>parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||



## Reference and Administrative details 

|Charity name|Blossom-Health through Activity|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1196575|
|Charity’s principal address|The Pavilion, Wythenshawe Park, Wythenshawe Rd, M23<br>0AB|
|||





Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20|Trustee name|Office (if any)|Dates acted if not for whole<br>year|Name of person (or body) entitled to<br>appoint trustee (ifany)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Fred<br>Leatherbarrow|Chair|||
||Sandra McNicholls|Treasurer|||
||Anna Lorimer|Trustee|||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved 

Director name 

Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity 

Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year 



## Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others 

Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity 

Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects 

Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets 

## Additional information (optional) 

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) 

Type of Name Address adviser 

Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information) 

## Exemptions from disclosure 

Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details 

## Other optional information 



Declaratlons
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Blossom Health Through Activity 1196575 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a 1-Apr-24 31-Mar-25 For the period from To 


## Section A Receipts and payments 

|A1 Receipts|to the nearest      £<br>76,209<br>23,349<br>2,458<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>102,016<br>-<br>-<br> -<br>  102,016<br>52,321<br>5,629<br>13,760<br>2,078<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>l 73,788<br>Unrestricted<br>funds<br>|Restricted funds<br>to the nearest £|to the nearest £<br>Endowment<br>funds|Total funds<br>to the nearest £|Last year<br>to the nearest £|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Grants||-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-|76,209|56,314|
|Donations|||-|23,349|17,390|
|Fundraising+ Other|||-|2,458|3,542|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
|Sub total(Gross income for AR)|||-|102,016|77,246|
|||-<br>-<br>-||||
|A2 Asset and investment sales,<br>(see table).||||||
||||-|-||
||||-|-|-|
|Sub total|||-|-|-|
|Total receipts<br>A3 Payments||||||
|||-|-|102,016|77,246|
|||||||
|Salaries||-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-|52,321|45,943|
|NI & PAYE|||-|5,629|3,828|
|Direct Costs|||-|13,760|36,451|
|Pension contributions|||-|2,078|1,454|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
||||-|-|-|
|Sub tota|||-|73,788|87,676|



|A4 Asset and investment<br>purchases, (see table)|l -<br> <br> <br>|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Computer equipment||-<br>-<br>-|-|-|-|
|Other Equipment|||-|-|1,342|
|Sub tota|||-|-|1,342|
|Total payments<br>Net of receipts/(payments)<br>A5 Transfers between funds<br>A6 Cash funds last year end<br>Cash funds this year end||||||
|||-|-|73,788|89,018|
|||||||
|||-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-|28,228|-               11,772|
||||-|-|-|
||||-||-|
||||-|63,719|35,490|





## Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period 

|Categories<br>B1 Cash funds<br>B2 Other monetary assets<br>B3 Investment assets<br>B5 Liabilities<br>B4 Assets retained for the<br>charity’s own use<br>Signed by one or two trustees on<br>behalf of all the trustees|Details<br>Donation<br>Details<br>None<br>Details<br>None<br>Details<br>2023 Computer Equipment<br>2023 Other Equipment<br>2023 Mobile Sink - Correction<br>2024 Display Panels<br>2024 Mobile Sink<br>Details<br>None<br>Signature<br>Total cash funds<br>(agree balances with receipts and payments<br>account(s))|to nearest £<br>2<br>-<br>-<br>2<br>Unrestricted<br>funds|Restricted funds<br>to nearest £|to nearest £<br>Endowment<br>funds|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||-<br>-<br>-<br>-|-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||OK|
|||||to nearest £<br>Endowment<br>funds|
|||||-|
|||||-|
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|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||Current value<br>(optional)|
||||||
||||||
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||Current value<br>(optional)|
|||||1,000|
|||||2,500|
||||||
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||-|
|||||When due<br>(optional)|
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|||||Date of<br>approval|
||||||
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## Independent examiner's report on the accounts 

Section A                        Independent Examiner’s Report 

Report to the trustees/ members of 

Charity Name 

Blossom – Health Through Activity 

On accounts for the year ended 

31[tst] March 2025 

Charity no (if any) 

1196575 

Set out on pages 

(remember  to include the page numbers of additional sheets) 

Responsibilities and basis of report 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2024 . 

As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out  under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or 

- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. * Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. 

Signed: 

## Tyler Lappage 

Date: 

25/07/2025 

Name: 

Tyler Lappage 

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): 

Fellow of Association of Certified Chartered Accountants 

IER 

1 

October 2018 



Address: 

Nabarro Poole Ltd. 

31 Church Road 

Manchester, M22 4NN 

Section B                           Disclosure 

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). 

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose . 

2 

October 2018 

IER 

