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2024-08-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024 Little Green Sock Project

Charity Number: 1200145

CONTENTS

CONTENTS
MESSAGE FROM CEO 3 OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS 20
ABOUT US 5 THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS 22
THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL PICTURE 6 SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS 23
ESSENTIALS PROVISION 7 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES 26
CHRISTMAS SUPPORT 11 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT 27
1:1 SUPPORT 13 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 28
BACK TO SCHOOL 15 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 29
LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES WE SUPPORT 16 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW 30
OUR VOLUNTEERS 18 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31
IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY 19

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MESSAGE FROM CEO

What a year it has been! As I think back, I’m filled with gratitude for our volunteers, supporters, and partners who share in our belief that all children should have the essentials they need for a safe and happy childhood. Poverty is a complex beast with no single root cause, and the challenges faced by our families are unique and multifaceted.

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Challenges that professionals can’t even begin to unpick until the immediate crisis has been addressed. But because of our partnerships, relationships and collaborations, families have felt supported in their hardest moments.

From families rebuilding after devastating housefires, to single mums struggling to make ends meet following a life changing medical diagnosis, we’ve been the safety net, supporting them with the material items they needed for their families.

MESSAGE FROM CEO Poverty is a complex beast with no single[‘‘] root cause’.

’’ Thanks to our partnership, network and community we’ve been able to respond to 1008 requests for support. From a full newborn starter bundle including a safe place to sleep, pram, clothing, toiletries and play equipment, to a tailored bundle of clothing for a family of three including footwear, school uniform, toiletries, books and toys.

However, the demand for our service - Trafford’s sole baby bank - has meant we outgrew our base in Urmston. We needed bigger, more accessible space to work from, so we moved to Stretford Mall. Our new base has enabled us to expand our outreach, increase storage, and trial face-to-face appointments.

We’ve learnt so much this year, being able to test face to face delivery of projects such as our Christmas support, and Back to School project in Summer 2024. It was a year of growth and development for Little Green Sock Project, helping us to plan our future direction. As we look ahead we do so with positivity and hope knowing that our ethos is shared by

so many individuals and organisations around us, and a determination to continue providing this vital safety net for families for as long as we are needed.

Co-Founder & CEO, Little Green Sock Project

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ABOUT US

OUR WHY

At Little Green Sock Project, we believe that every child deserves a safe, happy childhood. We provide essential items—from clothing and footwear to cots and stair gates—ensuring that families in hardship have what they need to thrive, not just survive.

THE PROBLEM WE CAN’T IGNORE

Child poverty is rising — and with it, the devastating impact on families who are already struggling to make ends meet. Across Greater Manchester, thousands of children are going without the essentials they need for a safe, healthy, and happy childhood.

For parents facing financial hardship, the choice between heating the home or buying their child a warm winter coat is painfully real. Families forced to flee domestic abuse often arrive in refuges with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

‘‘

Babies are being put to sleep in unsafe spaces because their parents can’t afford a cot. Children are at risk of falls downstairs because a stair-gate is seen as a luxury item that can’t be afforded.

parents can’t afford a cot. In 2023-24, we Children are at risk of falls downstairs because a stair-gate supported over 850

is seen as a luxury item that children, distributing can’t be afforded. over 1000 bundles –

Poverty doesn’t just take away a 24% increase from a child’s comfort — it takes away their safety, their the previous year – dignity, and their chance to thrive. providing families with essential items that ease OUR SOLUTION

We work to alleviate the financial stress and impact of child poverty by redistributing quality preloved improve children's

and new children’s items — wellbeing. from clothing and footwear to ’’ prams and cots — directly to families in need. Through referrals from social workers, But our impact goes beyond health visitors, schools, and the practical. By delivering other frontline professionals, bundles thoughtfully chosen we ensure that vital support with love and care, we remind reaches those who need it families that they are not most. By reusing high-quality alone — that their community donations from the local stands with them. community, we’re not just supporting struggling families — we’re also promoting a more sustainable, circular economy for social good.

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THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL PICTURE

CHILD POVERTY IN THE UK: STATISTICS AND REPORTS

The UK has a significant child poverty problem, and recent reports have highlighted the severity of the issue. In April 2022, Little Village and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation presented a report that outlined the following details regarding the depth and scale of poverty faced by families across the country:

Of the 4.2 Million Children Living in Poverty in the UK are Part of a Family with a Child Under Five Years Old.

Of Families from Ethnic Minority Groups with a Child Under Five Years Old are Living in Poverty.

Of Children In Households with a Disabled Parent and a Child Under Five Years Old are Living in Poverty.

Of Children from SingleParent Families with a Child Under Five Years Old are Living in Poverty.

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Furthermore, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation have reported that child destitution has almost tripled in the UK since 2017 with a million children are now living in destitution where even basic needs cannot be met. It is recognised in this report that destitution is experienced by a growing number of families with children, particularly lone-parent households. It is also identified that the North West region have some of the highest levels of destitution, bar London and the North East.

A report by Greater Manchester Poverty Action reported that there are 250,000 children living in poverty in Greater Manchester, with 11,611 of these children residing within Trafford. Trafford is one of Manchester’s more affluent boroughs, but the affluence is not equally distributed. There are pockets of deprivation within Trafford, with 5 areas which rank in the 10% most deprived areas in the UK, mostly in North and West Trafford. Child poverty rates in these areas reaches 48.2% (Clifford ward) in comparison to 21.9% (Hale) in South Trafford. With the implementation of a Home Office hotel housing asylum seeking families in South Trafford, the referrals to our service have been spread throughout the Trafford area, highlighting the significant need for baby bank provision.

It is well documented that child poverty has a profound and long-lasting effect on a child's development and can lead to life-long challenges affecting mental health, educational attainment and relationships. By supporting families through our network of referral partners, we ensure we are reaching some of the most vulnerable families within our community ensuring they have their basic need for clothing, footwear, toiletries and equipment met.

We have rapidly established ourselves as a valued service to support agencies throughout Trafford and beyond. As the sole baby bank provision within Trafford, we are often the only place that families and professionals can turn to to provide material support to a family in severe hardship.

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ESSENTIALS PROVISION

It’s no secret that children are expensive.

In the first year of life a baby will go through 5 clothing sizes, 2500 nappies, a pram, Moses basket, cot, high chair, weaning equipment and even buying the lowest available price items, the cost of providing the basics for a baby in their first year is approximately £2500. That’s not including the additional heating, food and laundry costs of having a young child in the household.

Through reuse of children’s clothing and equipment we can reduce these costs by £1450, and enable the family to allocate money towards housing, heating and other essentials. However the impact of this work extends beyond the material provision and financial savings.

CASE STUDY

Sara, a young woman navigating motherhood with two children under age two. Recently moved on from the care system and living independently. On a home visit by the health visitor it was identified that Sara hadn’t left the flat for 2 months. Sara was isolated, she had no family, was in an unfamiliar area and no social network. Her mental health deteriorating. Sara hadn’t left the house because she didn’t have a way of managing both young children safely. Her toddler was walking, but couldn’t walk far without tiring, and her young baby needed to be carried. A double pram was a luxury that wasn’t affordable. On further assessment, the family needed support with other practical items such as warm clothing, and correct fitting shoes for the older child, books, toys and toiletries.

As soon as the referral landed, our team bundled together all of the items highlighted by the health visitor that would improve Sara’s situation and give her the practical means to take the recommended steps the health visitor had suggested such as attending local baby groups, the local community centre warm space, attending medical appointments. The material provision gave Sara the means to take those steps outside of those four walls with confidence that her children are secure and safe.

We continued to support Sara as her children grew into the next sizes, providing additional equipment such as a highchair and feeding equipment, and reassurance that we can help with the practical items for as long as she needed the support.

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We work closely with referral partners in health and social care, domestic abuse refuge (TDAS), schools, Community Response hubs and other support agencies working with families in poverty.

The impact of our work extends far beyond the essentials we provide. By equipping frontline professionals with the resources they need to address challenges of material deprivation, we empower them to build stronger, more trusting relationships with the families they support.

Our referrers tell us that being able to offer practical help—whether it’s warm clothing, a safe sleeping space, or a pram—removes barriers, builds trust and fosters deeper engagement. Instead of feeling powerless in the face of need, our referrers can provide immediate relief, helping to rebuild dignity and trust in times of crisis; ensuring families feel heard, valued, and less alone in their struggles.

‘‘

The family were extremely grateful, even tearful. It was clear to see how much this meant to them and will provide much needed support in a time of need.

’’

Ann-Marie Murphy – Family Support Worker,

HomeStart

‘‘

Without your service we could not support the families we do. You provide comfort to the parents who do not have the funds to provide basic needs for their children. We are truly thankful for your service and you all do an amazing job supporting others in need. Thank you all.

Amanda Wainright HomeStart ’’

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‘‘ A lot of the families I work with are on low income, are single parents and going through incredibly traumatic circumstances so to be able to give their children new clothes and toys means a lot to them. They are always so thankful and it’s great to see the smile it puts on their faces during difficult times. The support reduces the risk of parents seeking financial support from the perpetrator or being reliant upon them, improving their safety and ability to move on from abuse. It also increases engagement with my support, allows opportunity to meet face to face to deliver parcel and develop a meaningful trusting relationship with me as a professional.

Harriet Dyer – Trafford Domestic Abuse Service

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‘‘ I support asylum seeking families and use LGS regularly. Your service and support is absolutely essential for the families we work with. The local authority has no budget to provide anything for these families who have absolutely nothing and arrive at the hotel traumatised, lost and lonely with no possessions. Seeing their children with lovely clean clothes, fun t-shirts, little toys and baby equipment makes the parents feel so relieved and happy. You make such a difference and I, as a social worker, would be lost without your service. ’’

Claire Unsworth – Trafford Social Worker

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CHRISTMAS SUPPORT

In December 2023 we faced safety issues with our premises in Stretford Mall which meant we had to close until the problems were fixed. This was devastating as December is when families need our support the most, and following a period of closure for the relocation in November, it delayed our reopening for another month at a time of high stress and additional pressure for the families we support.

Sitting back and doing nothing was never an option, and following discussion with referral partners and families we support, we identified families’ main concerns at this time of year – Christmas. The worry of not being able to afford any presents, or having to tell the kids that ‘Santa is sick’.

Huge thanks to Dunelm - Trafford Park for supporting us through the Delivering Joy campaign, Calm Connections for lending us the space, and Print Search & Happy Linen Co for the generous toy collections & Christmas bedding!

‘‘ I felt hopeless, I didn’t know what I was going to do, I was letting my boys down, then I got your email about the christmas support and felt hope again.

A mum with two boys supported at our Christmas shop

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Number of Children Supported with Christmas Support:

With the generosity of our friends and referral partners at Calm Connections lending us some space at the rear of their premises, we were able to set up a Free Christmas Shop. We packed the space full of gifts for children age 0-10. Families were invited to attend the Christmas shop where they could pick out a selection of gifts for each child, as well as books, craft items, toiletries, gift wrap and chocolate.

What became evident was the importance of choice. Every parent came in knowing exactly what their child would enjoy, which likely wouldn’t have been what was chosen should

it have been a volunteer picking based on age/gender alone. Parents know their child the best, and know what will spark the light in their eyes when they open their gifts on Christmas morning.

This cemented our drive to deliver Christmas support with this model where possible in the future.

‘‘ ‘‘ They were the only gifts they had this Christmas. ’’

A mum supported remotely at Christmas

After the worst year of our lives, losing everything, you brought us light, thank you!

A mum of two supported at our ’’ Christmas shop

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1:1 SUPPORT

Our new temporary space at Stretford Mall brought lots of challenges, it also brought a multitude of opportunities. The public facing entrance into the mall however was in a derelict unsafe condition. Thankfully our new neighbours Caddick Construction caught wind of our plight and renovated the area to make it safe and secure, levelling the floor, installing partition walls, flooring and a front entrance enabling us to have a public donation and information point.

The additional security, visibility and donation point were brilliant, but the highlight of this work was to enable us to provide a safe welcoming space for families to access face to face support, and discuss their requirements in private or accommodate a telephone appointment and collection/volunteer delivery.

Although we proceeded with caution as this trial was not funded and needed to fit around the team’s existing and increasing workload, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity of trialling a face to face model onsite and the team made an extraordinary effort to book appointments for local families in need of support to offer choice. What we learnt during this trial was incredibly compelling for supporting a 1:1 support model in the future.

Big thanks to Caddick Construction for the materials and skilled volunteering in renovating the space, and to The Co-op for the generous donation of signage for our unit.

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CASE STUDY

‘Jenny’ a mum supported since 2022 with clothing and equipment for her young child and newborn baby accessed in person support during the Christmas Support in 2023, and gratefully accepted an invite to attend appointments to offer choice and a more personal approach. Jenny had regularly accessed support from Little Green Sock Project and other support organisations such as Foodbank.

During the appointment Jenny was saying how she was worried that her little boy wasn’t walking yet, now over 18 months old. Alongside reassurance, we encouraged Jenny to check her ‘Red Book’ to get the details of her health visitor and give them a call to discuss any concerns she has about her little boy’s development, but we also discussed what toys and footwear ‘Adam’ was using. It was identified that a sit in walker was being used and we suggested they trialled a push along walker to strengthen the leg muscles. We also measured Adam’s feet and provided good quality first shoes to support balance and grip. With a push along walker in stock the family went home excited to try out their new items and with renewed confidence to reach out to the local health visiting team to seek further advice.

On the request of further bundles a few months later, Jenny disclosed additional financial worries relating to benefits and PIP payments. Our partnership with Stretford Foodbank and weekly hosting of a financial inclusion advisor from Citizens Advice enabled us to quickly provide support to Jenny, meaning she could access both baby bank support and financial inclusion advice in the same appointment.

During the trial we supported 27 families offering face to face and telephone support to discuss requirements with further families referred to us from the Stretford Foodbank/Citizens Advice partnership.

1 00% of the families supported had additional signposting in the form of an email directing them to their local Community Response Hub within Trafford who hold the Household Support Fund budget, as well as tailored signposting to our community partners and local organisations to support challenges disclosed in conversations.

INCLUDING:

As an organisation families are likely to continue to turn to as their children grow we offer a unique position in creating natural ‘touchpoints’ with families. Once trust is built and the initial crisis overwhelming the family is addressed, additional challenges can be explored further and tailored effective signposting strategies can be implemented. This is an area we would like to build our capacity in for the future to enable us to increase our telephone support and access wider support for families.

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BACK TO SCHOOL

Following on from our Christmas support we decided to trial a Back to School Project, to offer a shoe shop experience to families facing hardship and lighten the burden of school shoes, alongside our provision of school shoes.

In partnership with Sal’s Shoes we created the Sal’s Shoes School Shoe Shop, offering a space for children to come and get their feet measured and pick out shoes to suit their style, whilst stocking up on preloved uniform, school bags and water bottles. In July 2024 we welcomed 53 children and their parents to the shop.

Number of Children Supported with Back to School and School Shoe Support:

One young girl attended with her mum and younger sister, and demonstrated perfectly why that element of choice is so important. Not a fan on the traditional ‘girl’ shoe, she spotted the chunky lace up style on the ‘boys’ shelf below. Trying them on her face lit up, and her mum was overwhelmed with gratitude that her daughter would go to school feeling more confident in footwear that would suit her personality.

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LISTENING TO THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES WE SUPPORT

In 2023 we started working closely with the homeless and refugee support teams within Trafford, often being housed in temporary accommodation such as hotels/B&B’s. Following a number of requests for children’s cutlery, we decided to ask a few more questions about the challenges families in temporary accommodation face. With a young family, living in a hotel/B&B is difficult. Often limited timeframes for mealtimes, limited choice, no access to kitchen/washing facilities.

Feeding children outside of these set times is a challenge and certainly when a young baby is in the mix with unpredictable nap times/feeding times to consider which may overlap with the set meal times in the hotel setting.

In the B&B setting, following breakfast there are no other meals provided, and no kitchen facilities to utilise, so no choice but to eat out/takeaway which is expensive, especially when wanting to eat more nutritious food.

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In response to this, we formulated a Baby/ Toddler feeding pack, a bag packed with items to support infant weaning and toddler feeding, including free flow cups, advice and support about safe feeding, but also supporting hotel room living with washing up liquid and sponges to support cleaning of cutlery and bowls in the family room. Combined with folding highchairs and seat supports, this enables parents to manage mealtimes in their room and on the move where necessary.

Feedback from referral partners has been incredibly positive:

‘‘

Well what can I say!!!! you made me cry again!! Thank you so so much for your support and these packs are absolutely wonderful, I've given them out to some very grateful and appreciative families at the hotel, thank you! ’’

Claire Davies – Health Visitor South Trafford

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OUR VOLUNTEERS

Volunteering is at the heart of everything we do at Little Green Sock Project. Our volunteers are the driving force behind our work, making a tangible difference to families facing hardship while experiencing positive personal benefits themselves.

People choose to volunteer for many reasons, and whatever the motivation, we show that everyone has a valuable role to play. Whether looking to give back to your community, build confidence, develop new skills, or simply find a sense of purpose, we offer a welcoming and inclusive space where volunteers can make a meaningful impact.

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THE IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY

Little Green Sock Project is powered by its volunteers who play a crucial role in delivering our work and we are incredibly proud of the volunteering community we have created. Our core volunteer team consists of 56 local individuals who have donated over 2150 hours of their time to ensure some of the most vulnerable children in our community receive good quality material provision. From sorting donations to curating beautifully presented bundles of clothing, toys, and equipment, every volunteer's contribution helps children stay warm, safe, and supported.

Number of Volunteering Hours Contributed:

Number of Volunteers Who Donated Time in 23-24:

Wider community support from a further 267 individuals and corporate supporters has contributed a further 1250 hours of volunteering time, bolstering our workforce and enabling us to process high volumes of clothing and equipment for distribution. In Summer 2024 we distributed our first ‘Volunteer Recognition Awards’ to recognise volunteers who had attended over 40 volunteering sessions, in recognition of their commitment, dedication and continued support of our work at Little Green Sock Project.

We also had the pleasure of hosting The Co-op Senior Management Team for a team building day in the Summer.

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OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS

SEPT 23-AUG 24

Volunteering Hours:

Bundles Distributed:

Value Distributed:

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Parents Relieved With
Less Financial Burden:
Impacted:
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Toy Bundles:
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IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE PROVIDED

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Safe Places for Babies to Sleep:
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Modes of Transport to Seek New Adventures:

Clothing Packs – To be Prepared for all Weathers (we do Live in Manchester)

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Seasonally Appropriate
Footwear and Trainers,
Supporting Participation
in Sport:
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THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

IN 2023-24

We couldn’t deliver our work without the support of funders and charity partners. We’d like to particularly recognise the support of The Postcode Neighbourhood Trust whose funding was made possible thanks to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

We also benefitted from government funding through the Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund to support core costs over Autumn/Winter 2023-24.

Repeat funding from Recycle 4 Greater Manchester enabled us to fund our volunteer co-ordinator role to expand our volunteering opportunities, enabling us to process even more preloved donations, diverting them from landfill.

Funding from The National Lottery Awards for All enabled us to fund key delivery roles within the organisation and grow our small staff team.

We were also thrilled to receive support from Forever Manchester’s - Brighter Futures Fund, enabling us to offer weekend volunteering opportunities to young people age 14-18 years, developing skills such as team building, communication, public engagement and fundraising.

Towards the end of this financial year we were pleased to secure funding towards our core staffing costs from GMCVO, however at the time of writing this report were sad to see the closure of GMCVO and wanted to recognise the contribution they have made to our organisation and many across Greater Manchester throughout their years of operation.

Also special thanks to Albert Hunt, ASDA Foundation, Miller Homes, The Co-op Local Community Fund, Irwell Valley Homes , and the Sale Mayoral Fund .

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SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS

SAL’S SHOES

ORMISTON LODGE

EARLY ESSENTIALS MANCHESTER ST MONICA’S SCHOOL SMALLS FOR ALL BRUNTWOOD THE BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION CADDICK CONSTRUCTION FOREST PREP SCHOOL WE ARE FOOTPRINT TBT FITNESS BARRATT HOMES GOODNESS ZERO WASTE THOMAS KERSHAW BUILDERS ASDA TRAFFORD PARK GEORGE COX & SONS DUNELM TRAFFORD RETAIL PARK THE PILATES ROOMS AUTOTRADER PATCH TO POSY SOCIAL LITES WI UPLIFT CAFE WOMEN’S INSTITUTE URMSTON THE BENEFACT GROUP FULL CIRCLE FUNERAL PARTNERS NATWEST MOTHERS UNION BIFFA SMITHS REMOVALS LTD

ARTVENTURERS FOOTSTEPS DANCE SCHOOL

ST JAMES PLACE THINK WEALTH HILTI COOP SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM THE ROYAL FOUNDATION THE MAYOR OF TRAFFORD INTERFACE UK CALM CONNECTIONS STRETFORD PUBLIC HALL MANCHESTER AIRPORT LOVE URMSTON PARTNERSHIP OUR COMMUNITY OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS FAR AND WIDE!

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TRUSTEES' REPORT

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

TRUSTEES

CHARITY NUMBER

REGISTERED OFFICE

ADMINISTRATIVE ADDRESS

OPERATIONAL BASE

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

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Little Green Sock Project
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Michele Simister (appointed March 2022) Laurence Frys (appointed March 2022, Resigned October 2024) Laura Negus (appointed March 2022) Resigned May 2024 Cara Goldrick (appointed March 2022, Resigned October 2024) Rebecca Thomson (appointed March 2022) Lorna Sales (appointed July 2023) Rosalyn Wilde (appointed August 2023) Lauren Chalmers (appointed August 2023) Aileen Edmunds (appointed August 2023), Resigned April 2024 Serena Smallman (appointed July 2024) Sophie Ream (appointed July 2024) Emma Budzynski (appointed July 2024) Gerard Carter (appointed November 2024)

1200145

The Salvation Army Building Brunswick Street Stretford Manchester M32 8NJ

57 Roseneath Road Urmston Manchester M41 5AY

Unit 13/14 Stretford Mall Stretford Manchester M32 9BA

BWP-Inspire Charter Buildings 9 Ashton Lane Sale M33 6WT

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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ascertain that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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 are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES AND SIGNED ON THEIR BEHALF BY:

Lorna Sales Chair of the Board of Trustees 21st April 2025

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J_ondenl exèminer'5 re G-,e8n Sock Pro ect I report on the accounts of Ihe Charity lor the yèai end&d 31￿ August 2024. whrh are Set oui on lh¢ a¢¢ompanied pages112-171. The chartyg trustees are responsib￿ for the preparal.on of ihe accounis. thafily's Iruslees consKr It)ai an 8vdit is nol fequi1gJ for this yeèr under seCt￿n 1441210,, tho Chariiieg A¢1 2011 Ilhe 2011 Acll and Ihai an inoepen¢Yenl exomlnaiion is needed. It Is my responsibAily lo.. &xamine the accounts under secbon 145 01 th# 2?11 Act.. to follow the pro¢eures laid ¢ow) in the genoral Direcb'ons given by thè C.arily Commission vnd•r $¢¢tion 1451Sllbl ol tho 2011 Aci.. a to $talts ¥thether partlcthar m8iiers have come to my 8iteniJon. My examlnalion was ¢ariieof out in accordance witn Ihe general Diiectlons givèn èy the Charlly Cornmlssion. An èxamlnatl¢y) includ•s a rev￿eW of the accoui)1Sng rt¢or¢?> k£>pl by charl'.y ai)d a cornparixr)ii of I',1& a￿oUn￿ pl•￿MIe0 wllh Iho$g rKords. 11 al50 Include5 conslderalon ol 8fty J',Ib¥ual,'lems or disclosures ift thè ac.¢Ouiil$, and 5eeklng explanatlons from you as Ifuslees concerning any Such matt4rs. The proGr#dures underioken do T)ot provicjé all the evldèi)Ce Ihgt would b• reouirad In an audit aiid LO?tsqu•niiy no opinion 14 given lis 10 wli¥lhgr the accounts present a 'iru• and foir vlew &nd lh• rtsptsrt li limiifjd lo IhD$8 mailers Sgt out in tho $iaiemenl be,.￿w. Ind￿0nd•n1 examlrier's slalwn.¢.ni In connèction with my $x•rnination, no mallgr hds corne lo my aiienlbon.. 111 whi¢h 9lv•s mts reas¢nable causo ￿ bdigV¢ Ihai in any maierSal respect Ihe requlreineiils." 10 keep ae£oiJnbnG recorrjs in a¢¢or4#ncfy wlth s8clion '.30 cf Ihe 2011 Act.. and lo prepare occounts whi¢l) a¢¢urd w','ltt the accountin9 'ecor¢s &r,d ￿mPlY wiltt a¢¢tsunWng rttqiirements of the 2015 Acl hJv• not b••n met.. or 121 to which, in my opinion. aiienllon should be in order to enable a propel underst8ThJin9 Df Ihe 8¢counis 10 be rèa¢hgd. N?me.' Thomas Middl•tcn ACA Rglevant professional qualificatK)n or body.. ICAEW Address.. Charter 8uildings. Ashton Lane. Sale. M33 6wr D8le.- 11- Mareh 2025 Little Green Sock Project 27

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

The notes on pages 30 to 34 form part of these accounts

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 11th March 2025

Lorna Sales Chair of the Board of Trustees 21st April 2025

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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW

FOR FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST AUGUST 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies are set out below. This is the first year the charity has been operational having registered with the charity commission on 23rd August 2022 therefore no prior period comparisons are available.

BASIS OF PREPARATION

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Charities SORP ‘Accounting and Reporting’ by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

GOING CONCERN

The Trustees of Little Green Sock Project have carefully reviewed the charity’s financial position and future prospects, considering the significant challenges posed by the planned demolition of our current premises in 2025. This includes the urgent need to secure a suitable and affordable location for continued operations.

Through the success of the Save Our Baby Bank Campaign and a comprehensive property search, we have secured a commercial lease within Trafford to continue our vital work.

The significant fundraising and the agreeable lease terms enabled us to secure a suitable commercial space. While no low-cost options were available, we have successfully obtained funding to cover the rent for the next 12 months, ensuring stability for the foreseeable future.

On this basis, the Trustees are confident in the organisation’s ability to continue as a going concern at the time of signing this report.

To address these challenges, the charity launched the “Save Our Baby Bank” campaign, which aimed to raise funds for commercial lease costs if a low-cost option were not identified during the campaign period. Alongside this, the charity were actively seeking alternative low-cost premises and exploring collaborative opportunities that may arise from the campaign’s publicity.

FUND ACCOUNTING

Unrestricted funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees’ discretion in furtherance of any of the objectives of the charity.

Restricted funds are those donated for a specific purpose or project and cannot be utilised for an alternative purpose.

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Donated items of stock are recognised when distributed and therefore any donated items held by the charity at the year-end are not included in the closing stock figure in the financial statements. Stock is valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value. The charity receives a wide range of donations from the public of second-hand items and new items from companies and community groups. All these donations are passed onto families in need, free of charge. These donations are valued at an estimate second-hand value (for second-hand items) and RRP at the time of receipt (for new items) and recorded as both income and expenditure in the accounts.

EXPENDITURE

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank and in hand is held to meet the day to day running costs of the charity as they fall due.

PENSION

INCOMING RESOURCES

All incoming resources are recognised once the charity has entitlement to the resources, it is probable that the resources will be received, and the monetary value of incoming resources can be measured with sufficient reliability.

Cash donations along with any sales income are recognised on receipt.

Income from grants is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance criteria has been met and it is probable that the income will be received.

DONATED FACILITIES AND DONATIONS IN KIND

Donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over them, any conditions associated with the facility has been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP general volunteer time is not recognised.

The charity participates in the NEST pension scheme which is open to all employees of the charity.

2. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

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3. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND GRANTS

4. INCOME FROM OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

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  1. COST OF RAISING FUNDS 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restrirted TotaL Funds Funds Funds Funds Cost of ral$ing funds Fundraising Marketing 700 700 364 364 516 516 700 364 1.064 516 516
  2. TANGIBLE ASSETS Fixed Assets Furniture & Fitting Equipment Total Cost At I September 2023 Additions 4.243 3,647 7.890 1,243 399 5.486 4,046 9.532 At 31 August 2024 1,642 Depreciation At I September 2023 Charge for the year At 31 August 2024 794 324 1.118 1.696 2.814 1.193 503 1,987 827 N8V At 31 August 2023 At 31 August 2024 3,449 5,903 919 4,368 6.718 815 Little Green Sock Project 34

8. ANALYSIS OF RESTRICTED FUNDS

The trustees have made the decision to self restrict £56k of funding to ensure adaquate reserves are maintained to support core operating costs for the next financial year.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORTI ••<(b.' Little Green Sock Project