2021-03-31-accounts - Kentish Town City Farm Limited

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REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31[ST] MARCH 2021 FOR

KENTISH TOWN CITY FARM

(A company limited by guarantee)

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 02020634 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 294797

Kentish Town City Farm Contents

Trustees’ Report	2-8
Reference and Administrative Details	7
Independent Examiner’s Report	8-9
Statement of Financial Activities	10
Statement of Financial Position	11
Notes to the Financial Statements	12-19

Kentish Town City Farm Trustees’ Report For year ended 31 March 2021

The trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the charities SORP (FRS 102) – Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (effective 1[st] January 2015). The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:

Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed; and
Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business

The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the Charity.

About us and our local community

Kentish Town City Farm (‘The Farm’) was founded in 1972 by the local community working together to reclaim unused land for agricultural and horticultural activities thereby creating a community asset to benefit not only local residents, but those from other boroughs.

Visionary and idealistic yet practical and effective, the Farm kick started the UK urban farming and growing movement by founding Social Farms and Gardens, a UK wide organisation supporting communities to farm, garden and grow together, the movement has brought together over 2,000 farms, and community gardens for mutual support and guidance.

As we go into our 50[th] year, our vision remains fresh; focus on local empowerment, the health benefits of being close to nature and the benefits of giving to and gaining from a community. It is heartening to see that he vision from 1972 is becoming mainstream at both a local and national level.

Our objectives are:

Social justice to ensure that everyone has equal access to the health, wellbeing, learning and economic benefits of interacting with nature and each other;
Respecting and learning the value of the natural environment; and
Giving young people the best possible start in life, enabling them to make positive lifestyle choices and to take advantage of training and work opportunities.

We aim to achieve our objectives by listening to local voices and building on the strengths and capabilities within the community.

Kentish Town City Farm Trustees’ Report (Continued) For the year ended 31 March 2021

The Farm is located in the Gospel Oak ward of the Borough of Camden. Gospel Oak is among the 5% most deprived areas in England, experiencing higher levels of income, health, safety, environmental, social and employment deprivation than other parts of Camden and the UK. Nearly 40% of children live in households experiencing poverty. Health and wellbeing needs include obesity in young people, with 26% of children leaving Primary School classified as obese. Two areas within the Ward are in the top 10% in England for the risk of loneliness in those aged 65+ and 19% of adults experience anxiety or depression. 21.9% of residents have disabilities or long-term health problems compared with 14% in the borough as a whole. There is a ten year differential in life expectancy between residents of the richest and poorest wards in the borough.

Our year - A Year like no other

At the start of the financial year, we were already in full lockdown. Our immediate priority was the health and welfare of our immediate community, the staff, volunteers, user groups (many of whom were in the higher risk categories) and of course animals.

The pandemic has been a wake-up call. It brought to the fore the gulf in our community between the haves and the have nots with the local authority having to step in to meet the most basic of needs – making sure families were fed.

Young people who were already facing extreme pressures with rising unemployment, costs of education and youth violence were disproportionately impacted by COVID19, having months of education lost. The impact of this crisis on our communities will not be fully understood for some time, but we have seen the gap widen and the need intensify.

While it’s been tough, we’ve come through it with a renewed energy. We’ve welcomed back different groups (in line with guidance) and heard how much the farm means to so many people.

Our key learning has been:

We are an essential green space in a densely populated urban area. While there are other big green spaces in the borough, local people connect with the farm in a different way – it’s theirs;
Volunteers are essential to our operation and in return they benefit from being part of the farm’s immediate community. This mutually beneficial relationship is complex and needs more investment to maximize positive outcomes for all parties; and
When the pandemic hit, we had to quickly adapt to the lockdown world. We established some great online content and developed new systems so as we could operate within the changing guidance.

In short, we did what we had to do, but this highlighted some real gaps in our technical infrastructure that need to be addressed to make us more resilient to future risks.

Before the global crisis, the farm had been through some tough times with a high turnover of senior staff and trustees which meant the charity had been in survival mode for some time. At the start of this financial year the team (staff and trustees) were feeling very positive having secured a new board and Director following a successful ‘Hands Off Our Farm’ campaign. Rachel Schwartz stepped down from the role in October and the team welcomed Eira Gibson. This has been a smooth transition, with Eira understanding the charities immediate priorities to 1. Enhance delivery on mission and 2. Improve

Kentish Town City Farm Trustees’ Report (Continued) For the year ended 31 March 2021

financial sustainability. While so much has changed around us, these remain essential to our longterm survival.

In spite of the seemingly relentless bleak news about Covid-19 and impact it was having on everyone’s lives during the year, we weathered the storm. Some of the highlights from the year are set out below:

APRIL	In full lockdown, the staff work in two teams so as there is always suitably trained and qualified staff ready to step in and care for the animals.
MAY	The team are quick to adapt, creating digital learning content and developing our online presence.
JUNE	Our crowd-funder receives a whopping £48,930 in donations (Thanks so much Everyone!)
JULY	As soon as it is safe to do so we welcome back supported volunteers (adults with autism or other developmental disabilities).
AUGUST	We invest in a booking system to manage visitors within the restrictions. Young Farmers weekend activities are back along with Camden’s reparation service (young people and adults).
SEPTEMBER	The decked area by the pond and installation of handwashing in the gardens is completed. North London Forest School and Camden Centre for Learning restart classes onsite.
OCTOBER	Eira joins the team and finds out that the farm was originally launched as the ‘Fun Art Farm’. This confirms her instinct that this role is the perfect fit for her.
NOVEMBER	Schools are looking for COVID safe activities and we respond by offering visits to the farm including trialling an alternative (COVID secure) model.
DECEMBER	A reduced Christmas Fayre was joyous but cut short due to last minute changes in policy. We launch the Big Tree Takeaway which raised over £7000!
JANUARY	In the depth of winter, Garden Explorers reopened for early years and their grownups.
FEBRUARY	Di Probets and Dan Fletcher do a lovely job representing the farm on Countryfile and secure over £7,000 in donations.
MARCH	Frogs spawn in the pond and we are reminded that whatever is going on in the human world, the renewal of nature brings hope for the future.

Partnerships and collaborations

We are a London Borough of Camden strategic partner, delivering the Camden Plan and Vision2025, designed to improve health and wellbeing, reduce social disadvantage and community resilience. We also partner with a number of other local organisations to provide social, educational and training opportunities for various cohorts within our community.

Kentish Town City Farm Trustees’ Report (Continued) For the year ended 31 March 2021

Donors

We were incredibly lucky our major funders in this period (Camden Council and City Bridge) both responded quickly to the crisis, offering increased support. Camden waived some rent payments saving a total of £7,333 and City Bridge gave us an additional payment of £10,350 (equivalent to 1 quarter). We were also able to access other sources of funding such as the DCMS Youth Covid-19 Support Fund which helped us to cover loss of income arising from the curtailment of many of the activities and programmes offered by the Farm.

SITE USE and DEVELOPMENT

Land and Buildings

We completed the remedial repair work as required by the council to make the Farmhouse building safe. This included separating the caretakers flat (top level) from the ground floor. This work has not yet been certified by the council, due to COVID delays.

Environmental sustainability

The solar panels have shown the direct correlation investment in environmental priorities can have on our sustainability. These saved us XX last year and they are a talking point for visitors. This project is intended to be the first of many that brings direct economic benefits to the farm while raising awareness of environment and sustainability to visitors.

Our site is a borough grade 1 site of nature importance. While we have different types of habitats to encourage wildlife across the site, we do not have a shared understanding of environmental priorities across the team. While this ambition has been embedded in our constitution, we have work to do to apply this to our working practices.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Independent Examination of the Financial Statements

The financial statements of charitable companies with a turnover between £90,000 and £1,000,000 can opt for an Independent examination rather than an audit. As the Farm falls into this category, the Board of Trustees have opted for an independent examination for the Farm’s financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. We engaged Sayer Vincent as our accountants last year and they have undertaken an Independent Examination on our behalf. Subject to Members’ agreement at the AGM they will continue as our accountants for another year.

The farm secured £360,401 income and spent £304,259. This meant net incoming resources of £56,142, taking our unrestricted funds at the end of the year were £213,978. This year has been a very unusual one.

Reserves policy

The Farm needs reserve funds, so as we can cope with unforeseen events, contingencies, and opportunities. Our policy is to have free reserves that are equal to three months’ revenue expenditure. This year, this amounts to £90,140. Free reserves (defined as general funds less amounts tied up in fixed assets) at 31st March, 2021 stood at £213,978. This higher than usual reserves show the extraordinary circumstances we have been operating in and reflects our concern that significant risks remain on the horizon. We anticipate that these will be spent over the next few years and we will return to the required level.

Kentish Town City Farm Trustees’ Report (Continued) For the year ended 31 March 2021

Future Plans

Our priorities remain unchanged:

Enhance delivery on mission; and
Improve financial sustainability.

The economic impact of austerity, COVID19 and Brexit are all likely to continue to bring uncertainty and charity finances often move slower than other sectors, so the financial impact is likely to be felt in the next couple of years. Further to this, the high turnover of senior staff and trustees has meant there has been little investment in future planning and the farm site carries several liabilities that are not currently costed. Within our work on establishing financial sustainability, we need to fully understand these and establish a long-term plan for site development.

GOVERNANCE, STRUCTURE and MANAGEMENT

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

The farm is governed by a board of Trustees. This is group of volunteers who are responsible for ensuring the charity is operating as it should, setting strategy and long-term planning. This includes making sure we deliver our public benefits (the reasons why we are a charity) and spending money on the projects and activities it has been given for.

Full details on how we are constituted are publicly available on the charity commission website.

Anyone interested in supporting the farm as a trustee should speak with current trustees or get an information pack by emailing info@ktcityfarm.org.uk. A paper of current nominees has been circulated, and election is at the AGM.

Risk management

The Board maintains and regularly reviews a Risk Register. This is a list of all the risks that the farm might face and the measures that are in place to minimize these. The staff team are responsible for upholding the policies and procedures that are in place.

Going concern

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. This conclusion has been reached having regard for the financial impact on the charity of Covid-19.

At the reporting date, the trustees do not consider that there is sufficient uncertainty in any estimates made that would lead to a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the amounts of assets and liabilities carried forward to the next reporting period.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 23 December 2021 and signed on their behalf by

Angela Woods Trustee

Kentish Town City Farm Reference and Administrative Details For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Status The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 16[th] May 1986 and registered as a charity on 30[th] July 1986. Governing document The organisation was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the organisation and is governed under its articles of association. Company number 02020634 (England and Wales) Charity number 294797 Registered office and 1 Cressfield Close operational address Grafton Road London NW5 4BN Board of trustees Angela Woods - Chair Genevieve Ogle David Walker Klara Saville Diane Beveridge (Resigned 24[th] September 2020) Alison Read (Resigned 23[rd] November 2020) William Abell (Appointed 10[th] May 2021) Michael Chadney (Appointed 10[th] May 2021) Principal Staff Eira Gibson – Farm Director (Appointed 5[th] October 2020) Bankers Lloyds Bank plc Hampstead Branch Rosslyn Hill London NW3 1NL Independent Sayer Vincent LLP Examiner Invicta House 108 – 114 Golden Lane London EC1Y 0TL

Kentish Town City Farm Statement of Financial Position

As at 31[st] March 2021

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Kentish Town City Farm (‘the Company’)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2021.

This report is made solely to the trustees as a body, in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the trustees as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 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:

Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
The accounts do not accord with those records; or
The accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities

Kentish Town City Farm Statement of Financial Position

As at 31[st] March 2021

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.

Name: Jonathan Orchard FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Address: Sayer Vincent LLP, Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane, London, EC1Y 0TL Date: 23 December 2021

Kentish Town City Farm Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Capital Restricted Funds £	31 March 2021 Total £	31 March 2020 Total £
- - - -	98,671 222,950 35,391 3,389	170,350 114,823 15,800 82,380
-	360,401	383,353
18,674 - - -	234,555 13,210 13,603 42,891	276,155 15,443 21,458 41,838
18,674	304,259	354,894
(18,674)	56,142	28,459
609,862	768,040	739,581
591,188	824,182	768,040

The statement of financial activities contains all gains and losses for the year and all activities relate to continuing operations.

Kentish Town City Farm Statement of Financial Position At 31[st] March 2021

Notes Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 10 Current Assets Debtors 11 Cash at Bank and in hand Creditors Amounts falling due within one year 12 Net Current Assets Total Assets less current liabilities Net Assets Funds Unrestricted funds 14 General Fund Designated Premises Fund Restricted funds Revenue Restricted Fund Capital Funds	31 March 2021 31 March 2020 £ £
	648,631 656,782 50,622 37,324 162,484 108,283
	213,106 145,607 (37,555) (34,349)
	175,551 111,258 824,182 768,040
	824,182 768,040
	173,978 132,356 40,000 -
	213,978 132,356 19,016 25,822 591,188 609,862
	610,204 635,684
	824,182 768,040

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to charitable small companies.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 23 December 2021 and were signed on its behalf by:

Angela Woods Trustee

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective I January 2015)’, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donations are recognised when the charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those condition is wholly within the control of the charity and is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.

Grants are recognised on a receivable basis.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Site improvements over 50 years; and
Furniture and equipment over 5 years

Tangible fixed assets are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees;
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

Going concern

2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES

Donations Gift Aid 3.INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Farm Activities Education Sales and Rent	31 March 2021 31 March 2020 £ £
	92,976 170,350 5,695 -
	98,671 170,350
	31 March 2021 31 March 2020 £ £
	222,950 114,823 35,391 15,800 3,389 82,380
	261,730 213,003

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

3. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES - continued

Grants received, included in the above, are as follows:

31 March 2021 31 March 2020

London Borough of Camden City Bridge Trust HMRC JRS DCMS Youth Covid-19 Fund Power to Change Awards for All Ageing Better in Camden Camden Giving Jack Petchy DM Thomas LBC Healthkick LBC OMD Other Income	£ £
	75,000 75,000 51,750 13,800 48,841 - 31,632 - 21,000 - 10,000 - 7,500 25,684 2,500 - 500 - - 2,000 - 5,905 - 8,000 - 233
	248,723 130,622

4. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS

5. NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration, expenses or other benefits for the year ended 3I March 2021 nor for the year ended 31 March 2020 .

7. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

8. KEY PERSONNEL

Key Personnel Management is the Chief Executive Officer whose remuneration is £40,000.

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

9. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR 31[st] March 2020

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

10. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

11. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income	31 March 2021 31 March 2020 £ £
	2,250 33,300 48,372 4,024
	50,622 37,324

12. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Trade creditors Social security and other taxes Accruals and deferred income Accured expenses	31 March 2021 31 March 2020 £ £
	11,517 3,615 3,188 2,808 16,250 13,350 6,600 14,576
	37,555 34,349

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

Fixed assets Current Assets Current Liabilities	Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Capital Restricted Funds £ 31 March 2021 Total £ 31 March 2020 Total £
	57,443 - 591,188 648,631 656,782 177,840 35,266 - 213,106 145,607 (21,305) (16,250) (37,555) (34,349)
	213,978 19,016 591,188 824,182 768,040

Restricted funds carried forward of £19,016 as of 31st March 2021 are made up of:

14. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Unrestricted Funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund Capital restricted fund	1 April 2020 Total Net Movement 31 March 2021 Total £ £ £
	132,356 81,622 213,978 25,822 (6,806) 19,016 609,862 (18,674) 591,188
	768,040 56,142 824,182

Kentish Town City Farm Notes to the Accounts (Continued) For the year ended 31[st] March 2021

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted Funds General fund Restricted funds Restricted fund Capital restricted fund	Incoming Resources Movement in Resources Expended Funds £ £ £
	310,975 (229,353) 81,622 49,426 (56,232) (6,806) - (18,674) (18,674)
	360,401 - 304,259 56,142

Comparatives for movement in funds

Comparative net movement in funds. included in the above are as follows:

Capital fund is for the farm buildings

15. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2021