## **Trustees’ Annual Report** ## **From 1[st] April 2024 to 31[st] March 2025** **Charity name: The Camden Town Shed CIO Charity registration number: 1201864** ## **1. Objectives and Activities:** ||SORP ref|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|From governing document:
The objects of the CIO are to promote social
inclusion for the public benefit by preventing
people from becoming socially isolated,
relieving the needs of those people who are
socially excluded and assisting them to
integrate into society.| |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|From governing document:
Camden Town Shed is a volunteer-run
workshop space that enables people to come
together around practical projects of their own
choice, principally in woodwork & ceramics. It is
a social facility with a practical bias.| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|
Para 1.18|The Trustees can confirm that we are aware of
the guidance and have taken it into account
when making decisions to which the guidance is
relevant.
| ## **1A. Additional information (optional):** ||SORP ref|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|We do not make grants.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|
Para 1.38|We do not make any social investments of a
financial nature. We support other local charities
and community groups through offering craft
courses and practical help for their projects.
| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|We rely entirely on volunteers to govern and
direct the charity, maintain our equipment, and
supervise our members’ activities to ensure we
operate in a safe manner. We are therefore
highly dependent upon the goodwill of these
unpaid staff which, if salaried, would make the
enterprise unaffordable. (Note the exception is
one part-time, but grant-funded, position to
manage our referral program for those members
needing a higher level of supervision).| ## **2. Achievements and Performance:** ||SORP ref|| |---|---|---| |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|Although this is only our second report as a
CIO, the Camden Town Shed continues to
operate much as it has done for over a decade
as an unincorporated charity.
Our simplest measure of success is our
continued operation at close to our maximum
safe capacity. Indeed, for several months we
had a waiting list to join. We have welcomed 21
new members over the year and average daily
attendance has increased slightly to 10.2
people.
In order that we don’t turn anyone away, we are
trying to increase capacity by limiting members
to one day per week and opening Wednesdays
whenever a supervisor is available.
The number of days open increased slightly
from 189 to 200 due to ad-hoc Wednesdays.
****************************************************
Our members have produced many great
pieces of woodwork and ceramics both for
themselves and the local community, but we
exist primarily to improve mental health and
create a support network for our members.
Our end-of-year survey of members,
generated much positive feedback such as
the following quotations:
_“It’s beginning to feel like home to me” (51)_
_“Many thanks for the opportunity to freewheel_
_making items out of clay. I’m very grateful for_
_this, thanks.” (78)_
_“I feel good finding fulfillment and camaraderie_
_with like-minded souls” (67)_
_"The shed has provided me with meaningful_
_activity and a supportive community, at a time_
_that I am suffering a great deal of trauma and_
_anxiety. Had it not been for the shed, I honestly_
_don't know where I'd be right now." (Withheld)_
_“A calm place to escape from the numerous_
_pressures of modern life… leading to improved_
_mental health.” (67)_| We continue to have a diverse membership which is representative of our local community, The majority of our membership is male but we welcome female members. The imbalance is to be expected given the nature of our primarily woodworking facilities. Without going into personal details, we have members with a wide range of physical and mental health conditions for whom we provide a safe and stimulating diversion. Through having some very skilled members and our great facilities, we are able to challenge and stimulate our members towards increasing their skill levels and sense of achievement. There is much research now that shows the benefits of pursuing rewarding activities to one’s mental health. Some individuals, with no previous experience, have revealed true hidden talents and are now able to teach others. ***************************************************** We continue to be contacted by local health agencies for referral of potential new members for our supervised program which operates twice weekly. We are grateful to our volunteers who assist in these sessions and really make a difference to the lives of these attendees, who have suffered some misfortune or disadvantage. Last year, we supported 32 referred individuals and had contact with 20 different health agencies or interested organisations. ****************************************** We are very proud that most of our projects use recycled materials and have partnered with a second manufacturer to take away and use their wood offcuts that would otherwise be wasted. We have sourced logs from local trees that have been cut down, work with a partner that takes down temporary exhibitions and found lots of unwanted furniture – all of which we can upcycle. As well as members working on their own individual projects, we continue to support our local community by: 1. Helping our neighbours with their DIY tasks 2. Running off-site courses such as birdbox making 3. Being part of the annual London ‘Repair Day’ 4. Working with students on their undergraduate and PhD projects 5. Small projects for the Maiden Lane Community Centre in which we operate 6. Taking part in community fairs We have become a channel for people looking for a home for the tool kits of their deceased relatives. We have processed many such donations over the last year and forwarded them to Work Aid, based in Chesham, who compile sets of tools and send them onto to their training schools in Africa. We have a close working relationship with the UK Men’s Shed Association, who support similar sheds all over the country. Being in Central London, we host many official visitors and are proud to showcase what our shed has achieved to external influencers and potential donors at a national level. We hosted the Diageo CEO, leaders of several funding trusts and been used for filming on projects related to men’s health. We also have frequent international delegations visit (Korea, China & Taiwan most recently) as they are interested in replicating our operation in their home countries. Our founder was awarded a Life Presidency and our shed singled out for its contribution at a ceremony at the Speaker’s House, Palace of Westminster. **Therefore, we the Trustees consider the above activities undertaken by the Shed to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit and have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Commission.** ## **2A. Additional information (optional):** |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41
|In our last Trustees Annual review following our
successful conversion from being
unincorporated to CIO status, we had the
following aims:
1. Invest in better machinery that is safer
to operate and easier to maintain –
_Completed - three major machine tools_
_replaced and many power tools_
2. Increase our members’ skill levels and
challenge them in new areas
_Ongoing – bowl turning course_
_completed and sharpening course_
_planned_
3. Improve how we communicate with our
membership
_Completed – new emailing application_
_with privacy protection and easy surveys_
_etc. for existing members. New social_
_media site promoting our shed to a_
_wider audience._
4. Build and enhance our safety
supervisor's capability and capacity.
_Ongoing – Appropriate First Aid_
_certification for all Supervisors and_
_upgraded our FA supplies._
Aims for the next reporting year include:
1. Refresh our policies and procedures,
particularly safeguarding and financial
controls.
2. Partnering with other sheds and similar
local agencies.
3. Reduce the workload on Trustees by
engaging members to take on delegated
responsibilities in non-legal areas.| |---|---|---| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|No explicit fundraising objectives have been
set. Instead, the Trustees regularly review the
financial health of the charity to ensure that our
planned expenditure can be met by our
fundraising through member donations.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|No investment objectives have been set.| ## 3. Financial Review: |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|The charity is in a healthy financial position at
the end of March 2025.
We are very grateful to HS2 for a grant for
replacing worn-out machinery with much better
and safer models. Groundworks/HS2 also
funded an extra year of our referral program
which will now end in September 2025.
Even with a further one-off donation of £4,000,
we had a shortfall of nearly £3,000 between
membership income and costs in 24/25.
Going forward without this financial support, we
expect our costs to significantly exceed our
membership donations. Income from
commissions make a significant contribution but
not enough to cover the increased workshop hire
charges and general cost growth.
Hence, the Trustees expect our bank reserve will
be drawn down in the coming years to
supplement this shortfall. We will also spend
funds on improving the quality of materials &
equipment in the workshop to benefit our
members. Finally, we will continue to offer highly
subsidised/free access to our facilities to those
who can least afford it.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|There remains a key risk of losing our existing
workshop space for which we have no tenancy
rights. We intend to keep a long-term reserve of
three years’ running costs in case there is a
need to find and transfer to new premises.| |Reserves held|Para 1.22|We have historically aimed to hold reserves of
three year’s running costs, which based on our
latest accounts, totals £72,000.
Our current cash position is £84,362 but we
have since lost several of our major donors that
help build up this sum. We anticipate an annual
shortfall of between £2,500 and £12,500
depending on the cuts we make. We can
therefore afford this annual shortfall for the next
couple of years from reserves, after which we
will need to find more donors/grants or reduce
our costs if we are to maintain the reserve.| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|N/A| |Details of fund materially in
deficit.
|Para 1.24|N/A| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern.|Para 1.23|N/A| |---|---|---| ## **3A. Additional information (optional):** |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)
|Para 1.47|- One-off grants (although none are anticipated
going forward).
- Member donations, many with Gift Aid.
- Funds raised from community projects, craft
sales and commissions.| |---|---|---| |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|Loss of premises.
Loss of skilled volunteers.| ## **4. Structure, Governance and Management:** |Description of charity’s trusts:|
|None| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document|Para 1.25
|CIO Foundation Model Constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?|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|The board of trustees to select and appoint
trustees to fill vacancies or close gaps in trustee
experience which is required to deliver our
charitable objects.| ## **4A. Additional information (optional):** |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees.
|Para 1.51|In accordance with our constitution and
collective discussions to determine the most
appropriate intervention to remedy any
knowledge or competencydeficiencies.| |---|---|---| |||| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works.|Para 1.51|The CIO is governed by the Trustees. There
are approximately 115 Associate (non-voting)
Members who are also beneficiaries of the
CIO.
| |Relationship
with
any
related parties.|Para 1.51|We are affiliated to UK Men’s Shed
Association.| ## **5. Reference and Administrative details:** |Charity name|The Camden Town Shed CIO| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|N/A
| |Registered charity number|1201864
| |Charity’s principal address|Maiden Lane Community Centre
St Paul's Crescent
London NW1 9XZ| ## **6. 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| |---|---|---|---| |Carl Hughes|Chair|N/A|N/A| |Alan Alison|Treasurer|N/A|N/A| |Calvin Mason|Secretary|N/A|N/A| |Mark Albery|N/A|N/A|N/A| |N/A|||| ## **7. Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others:** |Description of the assets held in this capacity|N/A| |---|---| |Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are
held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects|N/A| |Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such
assets from the charity’s own assets|N/A| ## **8. Exemptions from disclosure:** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details: **N/A** ## **Other optional information** **N/A** ## **9. Declaration:** **The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** ## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:** |Signature|_Carl Hughes_| |---|---| ||| |Full Name|Carl Hughes| |Position|Chair| |Date|12/9/25| ||0 00||0 00||0 00||0 00||0 00| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||||||| ||**90 189 92**||**3 861 00**||**94 050 92**||**92 190 43**||**1 860 49**| ||||||||||| ||Signature||Name||Date||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||356 68||||||||| |025/2026|||||||||| ||10 100 00||Shortfall on receipt||paid in next year||||| CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts +•• Section A Independent Examinerfs Report Roport to the trustsesl members of The Camden Town Shed On accounts lor the yèar ended 31 st March 2025 Charity no (if any) 1201864 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above ¢harty (Ihe Trust.) ft)r the year ended R88ponsibillti•s and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of rèport of the accounls in accordance wrth the requirements of the Chanties Act 2011 rthe Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the Tru$t'$ accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my èxamination, I have followed th8 applicable Directions given by the Chanty Commission under seth'on 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention l 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 Independent oxaminor's statsment I have no concems and have com8 across no other matters in connection wrth the examination to which attention should be dravm in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the wonys in the brackets rf they do not apply. Slgned: Dats: Za2< Namo: Sandeep Dhingra Relevant professional qualifjcationls) or body (if anyl: CEO Factentry (UK) Ltd Address: 23 Harcourt Street London W1H4HJ IER October 2018 Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of con￿rn (see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examinor wish•s to dl$¢loso. IER October 2018