2025-03-31-accounts

Saltash Community Shed - Annual Return 2025

Charity Registration Number: 1207422 Financial Year End: 31st March 2025 Submission Date: [Date - must be within 10 months of financial year end]

1. CHARITY OVERVIEW

Charity Name: Saltash Community Shed Principal Address: The Core, Church Road, Saltash PL12 4AF

Website: https://www.saltashcommunityshed.uk/

Email: [e-mail] Phone: [phone]

Charitable Purposes: To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people particularly but not exclusively older men and women, within Saltash and the surrounding area, from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society through the provision of facilities in which they can meet jointly or individually to undertake creative, physical or recreational activities, learn or pass on skills and knowledge and support each other socially.

For the purpose of this clause 'socially excluded' means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental).

Main Activities: Community workshop facilities, tool sharing, skills development, social interaction for local residents

2. TRUSTEES' ANNUAL REPORT

About Our Charity

The Saltash Community Shed is dedicated to creating a welcoming space where community members can engage in woodworking, upcycling, and other hands-on projects. The Shed aims to foster social connections, skill-sharing, and support among residents.

Our Achievements and Performance

Key activities and outcomes

Charity Status Granted (March 2024)

In March 2024, the Saltash Community Shed was officially granted charity status. This milestone has broadened our access to funding opportunities. It also underscores our commitment to serving the community with transparency and accountability.

Portacabin on site May 2024

The Shed's physical portacabin was successfully delivered to the site in May 2024. Since then, work has been focused on setting up the interior space, ensuring it is equipped and organized for safe and effective use by members.

Bank account

A dedicated bank account was established in June 2024, providing a secure and transparent means of managing the Shed's finances. This account is now active for handling donations, expenses, and other financial transactions related to the project.

Open Day (7th September 2024): We hosted an open day to introduce the community to the Shed, showcase our tools, and discuss future activities. Was very successful with lots of visitors including the Town mayor

• Opening Date (28th September 2024): was achieved but we decided due to ongoing improvements to the shed to make this a soft launch and not actively promote memberships until we had the shed in a position where members could work on projects themselves.

On the evening of Friday 22[nd] November, the Community shed was operating for the first time at full capacity with 8 individuals making items for the Christmas Fare. The Community shed opens on Tuesday mornings Wednesday evenings and Friday evenings.

A set of Club HSE policies and roles and responsibilities have been developed and a set of hard copies are kept on file at the Shed, along with :

• A Welcome notes - as a high-level induction for new members

• An Accident Report book

• Register book - to record who attends the club on club sessions

• “Dos & Don’ts” signage to summarise the club’s behaviour expectations of its members

Number of Beneficiaries served

• We have a small core membership of 17. Our target is to grow this to 50 by 2026. At present approximately 25% of our membership are women. We have been engaging with local community groups and having clients referred to us from other local charities who deal with mental health and social exclusion.

Key projects completed

• 2024 Christmas Fare where pens, puzzles and clocks made by members were sold to members of the public. The profits from the fare are used to supplement the Clubs running costs and keep membership costs low

• Planter for high street charity

• Expanding our storage with the purchase and creation of a new storage shed

Personal projects to include:

• Wood turned bowls

• Lampstands & lampshades

• Coaster sets

• Dibbers

• Pens

Laser Cutter engraver projects

• Creation of Clocks for donation and sale

• Puzzles for donation and sale

• Personal projects to include lampshades

Woodworking projects

• Personal projects for hand cut signs

• Planter

Upcycling projects

• Most timber is donated and upcycled for member projects

Community impact achieved

Our community engagement strategy has successfully introduced the Community Shed concept to Saltash residents through diverse outreach activities:

Direct Community Engagement:

• September Open Day : Welcomed prospective members and showcased facilities, resulting in 8 new enquiries and members

• Weekly Drop-in Sessions : Provided accessible "taster sessions" allowing residents to experience our facilities before committing to membership

• U3A Presentation : Engaged with the University of the Third Age group, connecting with older residents interested in active learning and social participation

Digital and Physical Outreach:

• Social Media Presence : Maintained weekly Facebook posts highlighting activities and achievements, supported by shares from local associations and individual community members, reaching over 450 contacts

• Community Advertising : Distributed promotional materials through local shops, GP surgeries, and Saltash Library, ensuring wide community awareness

• Personal Outreach : Used business cards for one-to-one contact, enabling targeted invitations to potential members and building personal connections

Economic and Social Value:

• Local Business Partnerships : Completed commissioned projects for local businesses and organizations, demonstrating our practical value to the wider community

• Sales and Commissions : Generated revenue through sales while providing affordable services to residents

• Skill Sharing : Facilitated knowledge transfer between experienced makers and newcomers, preserving traditional crafts and practical skills

These activities have established the Saltash Community Shed as more than just a workshop space—we have become a hub for social connection, skill development, and community pride. Our multi-channel approach has ensured we reach residents across different age groups, interests, and comfort levels with technology, making our services accessible to the broadest possible community.

3. Grant Applications and gifts (2024 - 2025 financial years)

Town council Grant (750): Received for purchase of work benches

Rotary Donations(£450): Received for insurance coverage, ensuring compliance with safety and liability requirements.

Cornwall Councilors Grant (£264): Used to purchase an industrial quiet vacuum cleaner and various items of PPE for members use.

Saltash Scrapstore Grant (£1,200): Used to acquire a portable laser engraver, enhancing our capabilities for detailed woodwork and personalization projects.

Personal Donation (£500) from Chris Aldridge: Contributed to our working funds, supporting miscellaneous expenses as we progress.

Personal donation of hardware by Joshua Delisle

• 6 x Laser cutter engravers (various sizes and power

• 1 resin-based 3D printer

• 1 Tig welder (well used)

• 1 Mig Welder (new Boxed)

Following discussions with Mr Delisle we sold the welders, and the 3D printer with all proceeds going into working funds for the club. The laser engravers were retained for use at the Community Shed, though, some have since been sold.

Carew Pole – grant (£1000) to pay for Laptops and Laser Software licenses, the laptops have been purchased and have been put to good use making items for sale for the Christmas Fare held at the Core

Waitrose Community Grant - £1000 used to upgrade a lathe and provide

Financial Review

Total Income: £6,711 Total Expenditure: £5,743 Net Income/(Expenditure): £970

Sources of Income:

• Grants: £3,214 (48%)

• Donations: £1,950 (29%)

• Membership fees: £510 (8%)

• Other income: £1,037 (15%)

Main Areas of Expenditure:

• Equipment, tools and materials : £5,243

• Premises costs: £0

• Insurance: £500

• Other running costs: £0

Reserves Policy

Typically to have around £1,000 in available funds to cover unforeseen expenses and the likelihood of future shed hiring costs.

Future Plans

Our plan for next year is to:

1. Expand our member numbers by trialling additional Shed sessions

2. Pursue grants for additional woodworking equipment and a 3D printer

3. Strength our relationship with The Core by signing a partnership agreement for example

3. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Annual Accounts Summary

Income:

• Voluntary income (donations, grants): £5,164

• Activities for generating funds: £1,037

• Investment income: £0

• Other income: £510 TOTAL INCOME: £6,711

Expenditure:

• Cost of generating voluntary income: £0

• Charitable activities: £0

• Governance costs: £0

• Other expenditure: £5,743 TOTAL EXPENDITURE: £5,743

Net Income/(Expenditure) for the year: £970

Assets and Liabilities:

• Cash at bank and in hand: £969

• Other current assets: £0

• Fixed assets: £4,809

• Current liabilities: £0 NET ASSETS: £5,778

Funds

• Unrestricted funds: £969

• Restricted funds: £0 TOTAL FUNDS: £969

4. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Trustees

Chair: Chris Bailey

Secretary: Stephen Gerry

Treasurer: Bill Phillips

Other Trustees:

• David Bennett

• John Herring

• Nigel Williamson

Structure and Management

The day to day administration and management of the Club is undertaken by the Chair, Secretary and the Treasurer. However the other trustees have assigned roles to deal with Membership and induction, Health and Safety and Machine maintenance. We also have some members and trustees who provide buddying, advice and guidance and basic training. We also have a separate volunteer who provides dedicated training for woodturning being a qualified instructor.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed in line with the constitution. After the first 12 months of running all trustees stood down from their positions and were either re-elected or elected for the first time at the Community Shed AGM held on 21 February 2025

Trustee Training and Support

Fire Marshall training was provided to two trustees

5. RISK MANAGEMENT

Key Risks Identified:

• There is a risk that membership fees will need to increase to cover running costs if the community shed is unable to make up the difference in adhoc sales of items made by its members

Action to mitigate the risk . Members are encouraged to produce an item for sale in September each year to be ready for the Christmas fare. The club may also have some hardware (tools) which are duplicate or not used. These will be sold and funds used to support the work of the club

• There is a risk that the club cannot front up the required number of volunteers with the skills and experience needed to support new members

Action to mitigate the risk. Limit the number of sessions to meet the resources required. Alternatively look at grants to pay individuals on an adhoc basis to provide induction and training as appropriate

Further publicity and recruitment campaigns to recruit those with the requisite skills, possibly looking to local companies or tradesmen for support.

• There is a risk that the Core will cease to be supportive of the Community Shed and ask the shed to be vacated

Action to mitigate the risk - the Community shed plans to enter into a formal partnership arrangement with the Core which provides mitigation elements to reduce the impact

6. PUBLIC BENEFIT

We confirm that the trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning future activities.

How the charity delivers public benefit: IExplain how your activities provide public benefit and serve the wider communilylThe shed prowdes an environment where people can come together to work on projects with others thereby providing a safe place lo redu￿ social exclusion. There Is Ihe opportunity to work on projects for other organlsations wllhln the communlty thus providing benefit to these organisalions and the communty at large through this. 7. SAFEGUARDING The Community shed has a safeguarding policy which covers Vulnerable Adults (agreed at our March 2025 community shed management meeting which covers.. Ensuring safety and dignity of all members. Providing appropriate support while promoting independence. Including everyone in activities according to their abilities. Maintaining confidentiality except when necessary for safety. TRUSTEE DECLARATIONS Th8 trusl88s declar8 that Ih8y have approved th8 trust8es' r8POrt abov8. Signed on behalf e charity's trustees: Signature: Name: Chris Bail Position: Chair of Trust Date: 30 October 2025