Parncombe Communlty Garden Charlty number 1198491 Famcombe Community Garden Grv*1% CoTnnwnlty Wellbei Annual report and Accounts 31st March 2025 Charit¢s principal address., Summers Road Godalming Surrey GU7 3BF Trustees: Helen Farmer (Chalr) Dr Martin Brunet Deepa Cralg Dr Karen Jones 19dm Alms and Objectlves Farncombe Community Garden is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). The charitable objectives are stated in its constitution: _ To providefacilitie5for recreation or other leisure time occupation by providing an areofvr use os a community 9ardenfor individuols in Forncombe and the surrounding oreo who hove need of such focilities by reoson of their youth. oge. infirmity or disoblement, finoncial hord5hip or social (Jnd economic circumstances orfor the public ot lorge in the interests of Social welfore ond with the objert of improving the condition of life of the said inhGbitontS. Ib6018 Farncombe Community Garden is an ambitious projectwhich aimstobringthe local communlty together in the creation of a vibrant, beautiful, productive, and wildlife-frlendly garden. It will be inclusNe to all, seeking to share the health and well-bein8 benefits of the outdoors, connertin8 people more dosely to the natural world on our doorstep and encouraging community cohesion as individuals of all ages and backgrounds work tO8ether towards a common goal. )id Vision and Misslon The project vision is to establish a working community 8'arden withln Farncombe for all the local residents to benefit from, whether it is through taking up gardening for the first time to ald recoveryfrom a physical or mental health problem, finding purpose by volunteering in support FARNCOMBE COMMUNtTYGARDENANNUAL REPORT ANDACCOUNTS MARCH 2025
Famcombe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 of the project. enjoying passing on a passion for gardening to others, or in education a5 people of all ages are encouraged to learn about horticulture and the importance of encouraging and supporting wildlife in an urban environment. In planning the charity's artivities the trustees have regarded the guidance Issued by the Charlty Commission on public benefit. Organ15atlonal Structure As well as the four trustees to oversee and give strateglc direction to the projecL there is management team who meet regularly consisting of 6 volunteers with different areas of expertlse. The garden is run entirely by volunteers, who donate their time, skills and expertise to make the garden a welcomin& beautiful space for everyone to enjoy and learn from. We are very grateful for their support and commitment without which the garden would not exist. Achievements and performance The third year of the charity continued to be productive and transformative, both in terms of the site and also in promotin8 the garden to a wider audience, Over 100 different people have visited the garden over the past year and we are also increasing our numbers of regular visitors. Durlng the third year of the charity the key activities were as follows: _ • Eretting a buildin& the Lambert Lodge, named in memoryof a long-serving local dlstrict nurse. The addition of the building will provide a warm spa for people in the colder months. extend the range of artivities we can offer, and provlde Income opportunities to help fund the garden's attivities; Developing 8rowin8 areas by Installlng more raised beds. preparing space for a cut flower garden, and adding an espalier walkformed with fruit trees: Developing a pond area to benefit wildlife and provide other opportunities for people to interact with and appreciate nature. Creating a fire pit area with seating to extend the opportunltles for social attivities. Hosting Broadwater School's bee hives on the site to support their educational programme and our wildlife. Corbtinuing to promote the garden through local fairs, articles, talks and events so that numbers of visitors and regular volunteers continues to increase. Increasing our regular 8ardenin8 sessions to 3 per week year-round, with 4 sessions duringthe summer. Holdingoursecond open daywhich attrarted 289 people includingfamiliesand the Ioc31 Mayors. Our key achievements were as follow:_ We continued our out-readi activities and extended our links with local organisations including local uniform groups, local schools, the Surrey Youth Justice Service, National Autism Soaety, FARNCOMBECOMMUNrrYGARDEN ANMLIALREPOIIT ANDAccouKfs MARCH 2025
Èarncombe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 Learning Spaces, Meath Epilepsy Charity. The garden was also used for forest-bathing sessions for unpaid carers, throu8h an initiative by Roots for the Future. Through these partnerships we ensured thatsome of the mostvulnerable people in the local area are aCssing and benefiting from the garden. One example is someone who previously did not 80 Out at all, but now attends a weekly garden session after encouragement from their family. Another example, is someone with autism who couldn't find a suitable 'fit' elsewhere for volunteering activities, who is now a regular visitor and expresses their enthusiasm for the projett. We also continued to promote volunteering and continued to host a number of Duke of Edinburgh student volunteers. The building has been the most significant addition to the garden and was completed in March 2025 by Nordic Room. This space has been designed with accessibility in mind, and will allow us to have a warm, sheltered space to offer our visitors. We are grateful for the public support we received for thi5 projert, and for the grant fundin8from Your Fund Surrey plus a donation from the Broadwater Lodge care home, whlch enabled thi5 amazing space to be realised. The prominence of the building has helped to raise our publlc profile, and wlll certainly help to increase our visitor numbers, and the scope of what we can do. We also won '8est Communlty Garden, In the Godalmin8 In Bloom awards in 2024. We conducted our second survey of garden attendees in Sprin8 2025. Respondents ranged in age group, gender and employment status. People responded that they are learnin8 new gardenin8 skills and that the garden is a good source of knowledge. The survey highlighted that people want to know more about future plans and progress on projects. Activities around creative projects were also Suggested. Future Plans Over the next year our aims are to achieve the following: Finish developing the wildlife pond; Develop the wood-working area and associated workshop5 to offer different learning opportunities for people to engage with the garden; Try and ensure thatthe garden is used most days durlng the week and that the building Is fully utlllsed and supports our charltable objectives. Continue to work toward5 making the site accessible for all- install more seating around the slte, and provlde clear signage; Continue to develop the annual plan of activities for the garden; Continue to develop links with other local charities, 5chods and Servi5, and involve the wider community through workshop5 and events. Continue to evidence the impact of what we do, evaluating and continually improving. Challenges may Indude: Trying to ensure a wide ran8e of people can access the garden - this will be helped by developing our partner5hip5; FARNCOMBE COMMUNt¥YGARDENANNUAL REPORT ANDACCOUNTS MARCII 2025
Farncombe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 the successful recrultment and retention of Lead Volunteers $0 that we can malntaln and extend our opening; • Ensuring that the necessary skillslexpertise is available to meet high needs groups/individuals- this may mean employin8 a qualified professional, and volunteer training. Financial Review The charlty reIVed grants from the Your Fund Surrey grants programme which was supported by Cllr Penny Rivers; and donations from the DennSngburg Centre, Gorringes Funeral Directors and Waltrose. We also received fruit tree donations from the Surrey County Council Tree Grant scheme for the espalier walk. The garden also benefitted from volunteer time, plants and seeds from Network Rail and Octavius and their staff. ,fP. We have been fortunate to receive wonderful support from local or8anisations, including Squires through their 'Love where you live, scheme. Donations were also received from individuals through varlous initiatives. induding a sponsored walk undertaken by a volunteer, a quiz night, plant sales and a wreath-making workshop. The garden has managed to bulld up unrestricted reserves to cover runnlng costs for at'least 6 months. This report was approved by the trustees on Idfi Ils and signed on thelr behalf by: Helen Farmer (Chair of Trustees) YIE FARNCOMBE COMMUNITYGAROENANNUAL REPORT ANDACCOUNTSMARCH 2025
Farn¢ombe Community Garden Charlty number 1198491 FARNCOMBE COMMUNrrY GARDEN INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE FARNCOMBE COMMUNrrY GARDEN report lo the trustees on my exarnination of the finan¢ial stemenls of Famcombe Crmrnunity garden {the charity) for the period to 1 April 2024 10 31 Marth 2025 as sgt out on pages 6 to 7. Responllbllltles and ba81$ of roPQrt The charity's trustees are responsible for the prepardtion of the financial statements. The Charity's trustees cx>n¥idor an audit is not required for this financial period under section 144(2) of the Chaiitigs Act 2011 {the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 11 is my reSEnSIbl1Y lo: Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; To follow the pCedureS[81d down in the genernl Directlons given by th8 Charfty Commission under section 14515Mb) of the 2011 Act.. and To state whether partiwlar matters have come to my attention. 8asls of Independont oxamln•rf roport My examination was carrred (yjt in accordance with the general Direclions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the Charity and 8 compari50n of the accounts presented with those records. It also indudes consideratim of any unusua5 Items or disdo$ure$ In the accx)unts. and seeking explanatlon$ from you as Iruslees conceming such matters. The procedu$ undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be required in an audit and cOnsequenY no opinion 1$ given a$ to whether the ants present a 'true and fair. and the report Is limited to thoge matters Set out in the statement bel(M. Independent examlnerfs statement In ccmnection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. {1) Whtch gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any matertal respect the requirements: to keep accounting records in acci)rdanc with section 130 of the 2011 Act. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting reo)rds and compty with the accounting Tequirernents of the 2011 Act have not been mel.. or to which, in rny opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. (2> P I Vlckemian FCA Practising Ac¢ountsnt 318 Nightingale Road Godalming Surrey GU7 2HP FARNCOM8E COMMUNITYGARDEN ANNUAL REPORT ANDACCOUNTS MARCH 2025
Famcombe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 Y••r * Jtsi 2025 1024 Grlrts 47.931 J,tsi lQl57 599 10.756 10t3,21 443 Ft¥xkaislry trts B4r Internst 443 167 bld11¥s/ I(17 2Q036 15fj6 196> ,5.783 9,146 Pl•nrI Other leal FiY#Jr•lslry cc6t% A(knlrdstratlthi mafknlry and Ir6mrK• 775 2.520 775 3.310 IW74 225 9Nld t4..1 3,931 41832 J4$ St•t•mM¢ alts and U•bkn at 31st M1h 2025 Cash at ba U,345 11.596 JJA J45 2J2 T¢tsl Th• no¥ on p•y 7 partofth•M #Tr•nd •tht•monts. ov•d tyth• tru¥ts•S on Iclgl i&" And *n•d on th•lr IMts•lfty. In6;n FARNCOhrtBE COMMUNITY&4RDENANNUALREFORT A140AcCOUNTSRCH 2025
Farncornbe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 Notes to the Flnanclal slatoments 3111 Mar¢h 2025 1. Flxed assets Assets are only capilalised when future income or cost reduction from their ao]uisition can be idontified. Sundry 9quipment is writtgn off in the year of acquisitKJn. In the year the Garden acquired a Community Building which will enhance existing and in¢rgo¥e the facilities. Cost of Buikding lexduding FAanning,(Thstruct and servKes) 84,050 Postux Sorl¢tyTnJt IL555) Cthhmwaty IL¥ 1271 ,117,0101 4364 14,45¥ iii W4ltw. 8r•rt Pml IL8931 Dor4tkffi5 Irom s•rwiiath & F4art5 IL2111 Yryr kn•y 3WJ (ir 15.7( ioj 1ts5,OWI Crynposi Td 27 12 IL2111 1114Ji 14.4531 iii Un5ivlfl ILS551 I81 &651 FARNCOMBE COMMUNITYGARDENANNVAL REPORT ANDACCOUNTSMARCH 2025
Farncombe Community Garden Charity number 1198491 3. Refated Party TTansactlons In the year, Trustees made donations of £34212024.. £100). 4. Glfts In Klnd In the year, goods receNed or services pfovKled lo the garden with a value of £300 were provided to the garden free of charge.
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FARNCOMBE COMMVNITYGARDENANNUALREPORT ANDACCOUNTS hA4RCH 2025