## **Wild Things Charity** (Registered charity, number 1209478) **Financial statements for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025**
|**Page**|**Contents**|
|---|---|
|2 - 7|Trustees’ annual report|
|8|Independent examiner’s report|
|9|Receipts & payments account|
|10|Statement of assets & liabilities|
|11 - 13|Notes to the accounts|
## **Wild Things Charity Trustees’ annual report for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025**
**Full name** Wild Things Charity
**Other names by which the charity is known** Wild Things
**Organisation type** Charitable incorporated organisation
**Registered charity number** 1209478
**Principal address** 7 Albany Road, Nottingham, NG7 7LX
## **Trustees**
Timothy Allman, from 7/8/2024 Rosemary Barker, from 7/8/2024
Aqeel Kapasi, from 7/8/2024 Daniel Bebawi, from 18/3/2025
## **Independent examiner**
Eva Stevens, employee of Community Accounting Plus, Units 1 & 2 North West, 41 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5GL
## **Governance and management**
The charity is operated under the rules of its CIO foundation constitution adopted 07/08/2024.
Our current trustees were approached due to their support for Wild Things work, their experience with our client groups, their knowledge and insight into the communities within which we work, and their experience within their professional capacities.
## **Objectives and activities**
The objects of the CIO are for the public benefit:
- (A) To advance education, particularly amongst children, young people and adults who are in need by reason of social or economic disadvantage, by providing creative outdoor experiences that inspire and educate while nurturing a respect for the natural environment;
- (B) To provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation for such children, young people and adults, with the object of improving their conditions of life and enabling them to enjoy the physical, emotional and social benefits that come from having a connection with nature.
## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit**
Wild Things Charity provides woodland based environmental learning adventures, Forest School nurture group programs, therapeutic woodland experiences, residential camps and co-operative challenges in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire woodlands.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
The majority of our work is with schools, alternative education providers, and children and young people support groups. We also provide therapeutic woodland experiences in partnership with organisations who support marginalised adults.
Wild Things specialises in working with those who are facing severe disadvantage in their lives, and as a result need extra emotional, social or learning support for their well-being and to reach their full potential. Our overall aim is to ensure that all children and young people have the right to experiences in the natural world and the positive benefits this can bring, regardless of their social and economic background.
We aim: to provide children and young people with positive experiences in the natural world they may not otherwise have access to; to provide activities in the natural environment which are designed to support emotional, social and learning development, by nurturing and building confidence, self-esteem, positive mental health, communication and co-operation skills; give children and young people the chance to start a positive and hopefully life long relationship with the natural world that will hopefully contribute to on-going positive mental health and resilience; build understandings of basic ecological principles and encourage hands on participation in activities in the natural world which will care for and improve our local and wider environment.
The majority of Wild Things’ work is with upper primary aged children and secondary aged young people from inner City Nottingham- who are at risk of social and educational exclusion- delivering Forest School sessions in school term time at Bestwood Country Park in Nottingham.
Wild Things also deliver Forest School nurture group sessions with Inner City Derby schools at Shining Cliff Woods in Derbyshire. Wild Things also works with children, young people and marginalised adults from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire outside of school time. We recognise that many children and young people need extra support during holiday time, and can benefit from the ability to take part in activities that continue the emotional and social support they receive in term time, provide diversion from situations at home or on the streets where they may be at risk, and give respite from on-going trauma.
In Derbyshire we specialise in running Forest Skills and team building days at Shining Cliff Woods and at our Wyver Lane Nature Reserve venue in Belper.
Wild Things works with all our groups to ensure that our service is accessible to those from the most under-resourced and marginalised communities in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire by: removing access barriers where possible through adaptable, flexible and responsive programs and delivery; incorporating groups into session planning and maintaining a participant-centred approach, engaging individuals in an inclusive and supportive manner; working to overcome financial barriers to access through fundraising; removing physical barriers to access through the procurement of equipment and resources for our clients such as outdoor clothing.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
## **Public benefit statement**
Our activities benefit the public in the following ways:
## **- Access to the Natural World:**
Wild Things programmes enable under-resourced children and young people and those who are affected by multiple social, cultural and economic barriers, to access impactful time in the natural world that they would not otherwise have.
## **- Connection to Nature:**
Wild Things provides high impact experiences in the woodland environment to help children, young people, and adults build a positive relationship with the natural world, so they can realise their place within it, build a deep connection with it, and gain knowledge and understanding that will enable them to care for the planet’s ecosystems, with all the positive personal, social and ecological benefits that this brings.
## **- Holistic Development:**
Wild Things aims to support the holistic development of participants who are in need of emotional, social and learning support. We recognize the interconnectedness of these aspects and address them collectively.
## **- Emotional well-being and mental health:**
Wild Things provides safe and supportive space and opportunities in the natural world, that can be both therapeutic and nurturing to the emotional and mental wellbeing of participants. Wild Things programmes offer a therapeutic alternative and nurturing environment that create opportunities for; respite from trauma, processing of emotions, physical expression, play, exhilaration and release. All programmes involve activities designed to build the confidence and self-esteem which are necessary for children, young people and adults to develop emotional resilience. This can be especially valuable for participants who are in need of extra support, or find themselves waiting for targeted interventions and services.
## **- Physical well-being:**
The physical nature of the Wild Things activities and the challenges presented by the natural environment means Wild Things programmes present children, young people and marginalised adults with opportunities for exercise and physical challenges (chosen rather than set) and the freedom to play and be physical in ways that can be difficult back at home/in educational settings due to a multitude of factors including; urban environment, lack of access to safe recreational spaces, and cultural and social norms. Wild Things activities offer a supportive and alternative experience of physical activity that helps nurture participants physical confidence to participate in future opportunities for exercise back in their communities.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
## **- Social well-being and inclusion:**
Wild Things programmes have a focus on building social skills, cooperation and communication, friendships, social confidence, group work, conflict resolution and inclusivity, through creating:
- time and safe space for verbal and non-verbal communication and the development of long lasting supportive relationships,
- new hands on practical co-operative challenges requiring participants to work together and therefore generating trust and co-operation, building new social skills and friendships for sustained support,
- a neutral and alternative space in a natural environment, to help break down barriers between participants who may be being effected by the tensions that can occur on the streets and in their communities.
Wild Things incorporate many tools into our programmes to encourage the development of social confidence, social skills and inclusion of the most marginalised participants including; team games and challenges, non- language dependent practical activities, circle time sharing sessions, high staff to participant ratios, visual aids for planning and evaluation.
## **- Educational inclusion:**
Wild Things programmes support the educational inclusion of participants who may be facing multiple barriers to thriving within the educational system, by: - providing an alternative, neutral and supportive practical educational setting. Our high quality, woodland based programmes are tailored to the needs of each group, and offer immersive, experiential and “hands on” well rounded and accessible learning experiences,
- building participants confidence to risk participation through providing high staff to participant ratios, small nurture group learning programmes, new practical challenges that are achievable but rewarding, incorporating verbal and non-verbal challenges, giving participants trust and access to physical challenges and appropriate risk taking, creating a supportive practical environment for participants to learn English,
- giving participants opportunities to succeed and excel, build social and language skills and confidence, and to get excited about learning (breaking negative cycles of low aspirations and achievements), improving behaviour and attendance and therefore helping to combat educational exclusion.
## **- Long-Term impact:**
All Wild Things programmes are designed to provide high impacting and memorable “spring-board” life experiences that can change the way a participant thinks, feels and is able to interact. The average length of time Wild Things works with each participant (12 weeks) reflects a commitment to sustained support. This extended engagement allows for long-term impact, contributing to ongoing personal and social development.
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
## **Summary of the main achievements during the period**
Wild Things Charity was registered in August 2024 as a CIO, after 26 years of previously operating as a not-for-profit co-operative (Wild Things Ecological Education Collective). The move recognised and consolidated the important charitable work Wild Things has been carrying out in the woodland environment with some of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire’s most under-resourced residents.
In January 2025 we were excited to begin delivering our work as a Charity. Since then Wild Things have been delivering high impacting nurture group Forest School sessions at Bestwood County Park with the following Nottingham schools; Forest Fields Primary, Glade Hill Primary, Mellers Primary, Radford Academy, Rufford Primary, Bentinck Academy, and Dunkirk Academy.
82 Nottingham City children (the majority from the senior end of Primary school) participated in our 12 week programmes, each participant coming out for a weekly 2- hour nurture group session. A further 28 children participated in a 6-week programme. All of the children and young people were selected to participate due to needing extra emotional, social or learning support. Schools selected children who have a lack of access to opportunities that other children may have and who would have had no access to nature without time at Wild Things.
Four of the Forest School programmes were part of our Youth Music Project with professional Nottingham musicians attending the sessions and supporting children who face extra barriers to music making and communication (due to factors such as being deaf, neuro-diverse or being newly arrived in the Country). Children were able to compose and perform their own pieces of music as part of their Forest School programme. Some of these compositions and achievements are showcased on the Wild Things website.
Wild Things have also been busy in Derbyshire during this time, running sessions both at Shining Cliff Woods and our Wyver Lane site in Belper. We have run a total of 6 therapeutic woodland days for 82 adults and 7 children and young people from Derby’s Refugee and Asylum Seeker Community, working with groups from Derby Refugee Solidarity and UpBeat Communities and providing an opportunity for respite and healing, making friendships, learning English and physical exercise.
We have also run 3 therapeutic Forest School adventure days at Shining Cliff Woods with 26 children and young people from Action for Children (Derbyshire) working with participants from the Space 4 U project, a project supporting children and young people who are affected by substance misuse in their home or community. Wild Things provided 2 therapeutic Forest School adventure days with a total of 17 Derbyshire Young Carers.
During the past year the Wild Things team has been excited to have been able to access high quality professional development opportunities including music therapy sessions and regular supervision with a trauma informed therapist to develop and support our team’s work.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
During this period, we have been delighted to welcome our 4th Trustee - Daniel Bebawi. We look forward to his input and support.
## **Financial review**
Wild Things ends this reporting period in a secure financial position, we have a significant proportion of the funding for next year’s work secured, and hold reserves.
## **The charity’s policy on reserves**
We aim to hold 4 months operating costs in reserve. In addition to this we hold a minimum of £15,000 capital reserve in case we need to replace our van, which enables our project delivery. We currently hold these reserves. Our reserves policy is reviewed annually, additionally conditions that would impact this policy are reviewed quarterly.
## **Financial risks**
We are dependent on the availability of funding, and the economic impacts of the economy on our client groups. We work closely with our client groups and funders to ensure that our provision is as relevant to their needs as possible.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signed _____________________________________________ Date __________ 03/03/2026 Timothy Allman, Trustee
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## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Wild Things Charity for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Wild Things Charity (the charity) for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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 examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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 ______________________ 10/03/2026 Eva Stevens BSc, CPFA Employee of Community Accounting Plus
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## **Wild Things Charity Receipts & payments account for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025**
|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**Note**
**£**
**Receipts**
Grants & donations
**2**
133230
Sales & fees
1645
Sundry receipts
2
**Total receipts**
**134877**
**Payments**
Wages, NI & pension
16210
Bank charges
45
Dues & subscriptions
186
Insurance
642
IT costs
1045
Legal & professional
705
Office supplies
16
Telephone, internet & postage
99
Fundraising costs
51
Group transport
40
Props & materials
269
Venue hire
201
Childcare
-
Refreshments
95
PPE
167
Sessional workers
-
Staff travel
96
Training
968
Vehicle costs
798
Sundry payments
35
**Total payments**
**21668**
**Net receipts/(payments)**
113209
Cash funds at start of this period
-
**Cash funds at end of this period**
**113209**|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
58802
-
-
**58802**
15548
20
84
1386
-
416
8
45
-
780
1309
408
282
42
75
4064
217
1778
892
-
**27354**
31448
-
**31448**|**_2025_**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
192032
1645
2|
|---|---|---|
|||**193679**|
|||31758
65
270
2028
1045
1121
24
144
51
820
1578
609
282
137
242
4064
313
2746
1690
35|
|||**49022**|
|||144657
-|
|||**144657**|
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## **Wild Things Charity Statement of assets and liabilities at 31 August 2025**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2025
Cash assets Note £
Bank accounts 144657
144657
Other monetary assets
Debtors & prepayments 4 763
763
Assets retained for the charity’s own use
General equipment.
Laptop, purchased April 2025, cost £995.
Liabilities
Creditors 5 (1141)
(1141)
**----- End of picture text -----**
These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by:
Signed ___________________________________ Date ___________ 03/03/2026 Aqeel Kapasi, Trustee
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## **Wild Things Charity Notes to the accounts for the period 7 August 2024 to 31 August 2025**
## **1. Receipts & payments accounts**
Receipts and payments accounts contain a summary of money received and money spent during the period and a list of assets and liabilities at the end of the period. Usually, cash received and cash spent will include transactions through bank accounts and cash in hand.
## **2. Grants & donations**
|Youth Music
Awards for All
Albert Hunt Trust
Derbyshire Community Foundation: Gerard Pearce Fund
J N Derbyshire Trust
Sound Bites
The Jones Trust
J Hawkins
UK Youth
The Foyle Foundation
Opengate
Ptarmigan Trust
Donation from previous organisation: Wild things EEC
Donations from individuals|**Unrestricted**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
35000
11000
6000
5000
4183
1000
70297
750
**133230**|**Restricted**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
28492
28492
19810
19810
5000
5000
2500
2500
2000
2000
1000
1000
-
35000
-
11000
-
6000
-
5000
-
4183
-
1000
-
70297
-
750
**58802**
**192032**|
|---|---|---|
## **3. Funds analysis**
The purposes of the restricted funds are as follows and the figures are in the following table.
## - Derbyshire Community Foundation (Gerard Pearce Fund)
_This funding provided activity days for some of Derbyshire’s most marginalised and vulnerable children and young people working with organisations such as Action for Children and Up Beat Communities._
## - JN Derbyshire
_Supporting our work delivering specialised Forest School nurture group sessions for children whom teachers identified as being emotionally and educationally vulnerable in the lead up to secondary transition._
## - Awards for All
_Therapeutic woodland based activities working with groups such as young carers and refugee and asylum seeker groups._
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## **Wild Things Charity**
## - The Albert Hunt Trust
_Supporting our work, providing trauma informed, high-quality, tailored, therapeutic forest school programmes, working with children and young people impacted by adverse childhood experiences and are in need of emotional, social and learning support._
## - National Foundation (Youth Music)
_Wild Musicians project – a project that will explore and learn about the impact of combining music and nature to support the emotional and communication needs of children and young people, particularly those who are Deaf, neuro-divergent, or face barriers to music-making._
## - Sound Bites
_Providing wood based day trips to a local woodland; working with refugee and asylum seekers organisations._
|**Restricted funds**
Gerard Pearce
JN Derbyshire
Awards for All
Albert Hunt
Youth Music
Sound Bites
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Operating reserves
Vehicle replacement|**Opening**
**balance**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
**-**|**Receipts (Payments)**
**£**
**£**
2500
(2500)
2000
(2000)
19810
(1666)
5000
-
28492
(20188)
1000
(1000)
**58802**
**(27354)**
134877
(21668)
-
-
-
-
**134877**
**(21668)**|**Transfers**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
(49005)
34005
15000
**-**|**Closing**
**balance**
**£**
-
-
18144
5000
8304
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**31448**|
|||||64204
34005
15000|
|||||**113209**|
The transfers from the General fund to the Designated Operating reserves fund and the Vehicle replacement fund are the balances that the trustees have decided to designate in line with their reserves policy.
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## **Wild Things Charity**
## **4. Prepayments**
**£** Dues & subscriptions 120 Insurance 643 **763**
## **5. Creditors**
**£** Independent Examination 750 Wages: Pensions 150 Wages: HMRC 206 Sundry creditors 35 **1141**
## **6. Trustees’ remuneration**
- Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this period.
## **7. Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in this period.
## **8. Previous period comparison**
The previous period’s figures have not been included for comparison because this is the charity’s first accounting period.
## **9. Glossary of terms**
**Creditors:** These are amounts owed by the charity, but not paid during the accounting period.
**Debtors:** These are amounts owed to the charity, but not received in the accounting period.
**Prepayments:** These are services that the charity has paid for in advance, but not used during the accounting period.
**Restricted funds:** These are funds given to the charity, subject to specific restrictions set by the donor, but still within the general objects of the charity.
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