**Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
## **Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees** Charity Name Sandy’s Farm **On accounts for the year** 31 March 2025 **Charity no** 1198058 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** 12 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2025. **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** 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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. **Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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 all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did 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.
**Signed: Date:** 18/07/2025 **Name:** Eleanor Brown **Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 75 Queen Anne Road, West Mersea, CO5 8BA
1
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material 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
**Oct 2018**
**IER**
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 01/04/2024 Period start date To 01/03/2025 Period end date**
## **Charity name: SANDYS FARM**
## **Charity registration number:1198058**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants
of St. Osyth and surrounding areas the
provision of facilities for recreation or other
leisure time activities, particularly for
individuals who are disadvantaged by youth,
age, infirmity, disability, financial hardship,
or social isolation. This includes the
operation of a community care farm to
improve wellbeing and quality of life.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|We provide inclusive educational and
vocational experiences in animal care,
horticulture, crafts, and environmental
activities. Our aim is to increase confidence,
independence, and social engagement,
especially for young people and adults with
special educational needs (SEN),
disabilities, or those facing other life
challenges.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees confirm they have had due
regard to the Charity Commission's
guidance on public benefit.|
||SORP reference||
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38||
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38||
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|Sandy’s Farm is powered by over 20
dedicated volunteers. In addition to giving
their time, they have supported us with
donated materials, food, and other
essentials. Their efforts keepthe farm|
|||running 7 days a week without any paid
staff.|
|---|---|---|
|Other|||
||SORP reference||
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|During the year, Sandy’s Farm has
provided hands-on opportunities for over
100 young people with special
educational needs, disabilities, or social
disadvantages through placements,
volunteering, and alternative education.
The launch of ASDAN qualification
delivery on-site allowed students to
achieve meaningful progress toward
vocational and life skills.
We completed and opened a new
education cabin with donated materials
and volunteer labour, enabling
sheltered, year-round learning. Our
weekly Young Farmers Club, goat-
walking sessions, and Mini Pony Club
welcomed dozens of participants from
across the community, many of whom
struggle with mainstream settings.
The mobile petting farm visited schools,
care homes, and community events,
promoting inclusion and rural education
while reaching individuals unable to visit
the farm. Media exposure following a
visit by MP Nigel Farage and coverage
by GB News helped raise nearly
£20,000 and sparked new referrals from
Essex County Council.
Volunteers recovering from addiction,
social isolation, or unemployment
reported improved wellbeing and a
renewed sense of purpose through their
involvement. Our work continues to
bridge gaps in education, therapy, and
social connection for vulnerable groups
in Essex.|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Sandy’s Farm set out to create an
inclusive, supportive environment where
individuals of all ages and abilities could
engage in animal care, horticulture, and
outdoor learning. We achieved this by:
•
**Delivering over 100 structured**|
|||**placements**for students with
special educational needs and
disabilities (SEND), fulfilling our
objective to provide practical
education and personal
development opportunities.
•
**Launching ASDAN qualification**
**pathways**to support vocational
skill-building in line with our
mission to develop employability
and independence.
•
**Constructing and opening a**
**new education cabin**, enhancing
our ability to deliver year-round
services, and directly contributing
to our goal of creating accessible
learning spaces.
•
**Expanding community**
**engagement**through weekly
clubs and mobile outreach
sessions, aligning with our aim to
promote social inclusion and
reduce isolation.
•
**Sustaining operations entirely**
**through volunteer support and**
**donations**, demonstrating strong
alignment with our founding vision
of community-powered impact.
All these achievements have directly
contributed to improving the quality of
life, confidence, and skills of our
beneficiaries, while fostering a greater
sense of community and purpose.|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|Fundraising activities at Sandy’s Farm
this year focused on generating core
income to sustain free and low-cost
access for vulnerable young people and
adults. Despite limited capacity and no
paid staff, we successfully:
•
**Raised nearly £20,000**following
national media exposure,
including support from MP Nigel
Farage and GB News.
•
**Received in-kind donations**of
timber, fencing, animal feed, and
construction materials, helping
complete essential infrastructure
like our new education cabin.
•
**Launched a GoFundMe**
**campaign**, actively promoted
across social media, which|
|||helped attract small-scale
recurring donations from
supporters.
•
**Attended community events**
**and fetes**with our mobile animal
unit to raise awareness and
collect contributions, expanding
both visibility and income
streams.
•
**Submitted multiple grant**
**applications**(including National
Lottery and Tendring District
Council funds) in line with our
goal to secure long-term financial
sustainability.
While we remain heavily dependent on
volunteer support and one-off donations,
this year’s fundraising performance has
laid a foundation for greater future
resilience and growth.|
|---|---|---|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|Sandy’s Farm does not currently hold any
financial investments. All available funds are
used directly for operational purposes and
charitable activities. As such, there was no
investment activity during the period, and no
investment objectives were set or reviewed.|
|Other|||
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|At the end of the reporting period, Sandy’s
Farm continued to operate with no financial
reserves. The charity remained reliant on
volunteer labour, in-kind donations, and
direct trustee support to cover core costs.
Although cash flow has been tight, the farm
remained operational throughout the year
thanks to significant community support and
the personal contributions of trustees.
Income from mobile farm visits, educational
placements, and fundraising has increased,
helping to reduce the deficit, though the
charity remains financially vulnerable
without core grant funding.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|Sandy’s Farm does not currently hold
financial reserves due to limited
unrestricted income and high ongoing
operational costs. As a volunteer-run
organisation, any funds received are
used immediately to support frontline
delivery of services. However, the
trustees recognise the importance of
building a reserves policy and aim to
establish a small operating reserve in|
|||future years to ensure continuity of
services and to manage unforeseen
costs. This will be reviewed as the
charity's financial position stabilises.|
|---|---|---|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**0**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|The charity operates on a volunteer-only
basis with limited unrestricted income.
All funds received are immediately used
to support the delivery of essential
services. Due to financial constraints
and reliance on donations, Sandy’s
Farm has not been able to build up a
reserve. Trustees have personally
supported shortfalls when needed.
Establishing a reserve remains a future
objective once core funding is secured.|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|Sandy’s Farm is experiencing growing
interest and engagement from the
community, local authorities, and schools.
This has led to increased referrals and
demand for our services. While the charity
currently operates without core funding, the
trustees are confident in the long-term
sustainability of the project. We have
submitted multiple grant applications and
are in discussions regarding service
agreements with Essex County Council.
With continued community support and
increasing visibility, the trustees are
optimistic about securing the funding
required to sustain and expand operations in
the year ahead.|
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|Community donations, mobile petting farm
visits, educational placements, in-kind
support, and online fundraising. Grant
applications are underway to secure long-
term funding.|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
||||
|Other||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Description of charity’s
trusts:||||
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**FOUNDATION**||
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**CIO**||
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|||
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|||
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|||
|Other||||
|Charity name|SANDYS FARM|||
|Other name the charity uses||||
|Registered charity number|1198058|||
|Charity’s principal address|5 SEA GLEBE WAY
JAYWICK
ESSEX
CO152EL|||
|||||
## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|
|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||GARY CLARKE||||
||SANDRA MILLER||||
||ANGELA MORRIS||||
|4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|
|ANNIE SANDS||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||SUSAN NEWELL||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
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|||||||||
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|||||||||
|||**Director name**||||||
|||**GARY CLARKE**||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||**Trustee name**||**Dates acted if not for whole year**||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
|||||||||
||
|Description of the assets
held in this capacity||||||
||
|Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf the
assets are held and how this
falls within the custodian
charity’s objects||||||
||
|Details of arrangements for
safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own assets||||||
**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary,** DIRECTOR **Chair, etc) Date**
## Statement of Activity
## Sandys Farm
## April 1, 2024-March 31, 2025
|DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT|TOTAL|
|---|---|
|Income||
|Donation|69,069.75|
|Refunds|20.39|
|Sales|16,123.50|
|Sales of Product Income|340.00|
|Uncategorised Income|58.09|
|**Total for Income**|**£85,611.73**|
|Cost of Sales||
|**Gross Profit**|**£85,611.73**|
|Expenses||
|Advertising|122.50|
|Animal Equipment|2,177.64|
|Animal Feed|6,682.28|
|Bank Charges|102.31|
|Craft|330.69|
|Farrier|2,358.00|
|Fencing|2,712.75|
|Fuel|7,924.94|
|Gas|804.85|
|Insurance|2,030.08|
|Purchases|2,470.00|
|Rent|1,500.00|
|Repairs & Maintenance|1,596.57|
|Service Charges|45.00|
|Services|409.20|
|Small Equipment|2,559.59|
|Stationery|1,032.45|
|Subscriptions and membership|425.60|
|Sundries|5,721.62|
|Telephone|299.73|
|Uncategorised Expense|5.00|
|Vehicle rent|1,979.88|
|Vehicles Repair & Maintenance|6,333.51|
|Vet & Medical|1,064.85|
|Website/Email/Internet|684.22|
|**Total for Expenses**|**£51,373.26**|
|**Net Operating Income**|**£34,238.47**|
|Other Income||
|Other Expenses||
|**Net Other Income**|**0**|
|**Net Income**|**£34,238.47**|
**1/1**
**Cash Basis Monday, July 21, 2025 01:25 PM GMTZ**
## Statement of Financial Position
## Sandys Farm
## As of March 31, 2025
|DISTRIBUTION ACCOUNT|TOTAL|
|---|---|
|Called up share capital not paid||
|Fixed Asset||
|Tangible assets||
|Horses / animals|1,150.00|
|**Total for Tangible assets**|**£1,150.00**|
|Non-current Assets||
|**Total for Fixed Asset**|**£1,150.00**|
|Cash at bank and in hand||
|Lloyds (1260)|1,222.36|
|Lloyds (7760)||
|Nationwide||
|**Total for Cash at bank and in hand**|**£1,222.36**|
|Debtors||
|Current Assets||
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**|**£1,222.36**|
|Prepayments and accrued income||
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year||
|Trade Creditors||
|Credit Cards||
|Current Liabilities||
|**Total for Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**0**|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**|**£1,222.36**|
|**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**|**£2,372.36**|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year||
|Provision for liabilities and charges||
|Accruals and deferred income||
|**TOTAL NET ASSETS (LIABILITIES)**|**£2,372.36**|
|Capital and Reserves||
|Called up share capital||
|Retained Earnings|-31,866.11|
|Net Income|34,238.47|
|**Total for Capital and Reserves**|**£2,372.36**|
**1/1**
**Cash Basis Monday, July 21, 2025 01:23 PM GMTZ**
Signature cover page
Sandy's Farm
Signed by:
## GARY CLARKE
## Signing request
Created:
Description:
Document owner:
Original document name:
Original document checksum:
21/07/2025, 14:28:19
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Sandy's Farm
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Clarke, Gary
GARY CLARKE
admin@sandysfarm.org
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