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2025-03-31-accounts

annual report 2024-25

chair’s report

"our sucCess relies on remarkable partnerships spanning eduCation, community serviCes, and corporate support.”

It has been an exceptional year for Spitalfields City Farm, marked by significant growth and meaningful community impact. I am delighted to report that we welcomed 2,475 individual school children through our gates, demonstrating our

vital role in environmental education within Tower Hamlets and beyond.

Our commitment to accessibility has been transformative. Through partnerships with Tower Hamlets Visual Impairment team, we have created inclusive experiences that allow children with visual impairments to explore nature through sensory interaction. This reflects our core mission of ensuring the Farm is welcoming to all communities.

The dedication of our 50 volunteers, contributing 7,742 hours through

team challenges, has been extraordinary. Their efforts, alongside our extensive network of partners, have enabled crucial site improvements including new stables, glasshouses, and accessible raised beds.

Our success relies on remarkable partnerships spanning education, community services, and corporate support. From the Jack Petchey Foundation enabling our Youth Engagement intern to the Childhood Trust funding holiday activities, each relationship strengthens our impact. Corporate partners like Lockton’s and innovative collaborations such as our fresh produce partnership with St John Bread & Wine demonstrate the Farm’s role as a community catalyst.

Our Young Farmers programme continues to flourish, with 21 participants contributing

and Westminster College’s deaf students. These partnerships, alongside our volunteer referral network including Dellow Centre and local autism services, demonstrate our commitment to serving diverse community needs.

658 volunteer hours. These young people exemplify the Farm’s role as a community catalyst, developing confidence, resilience, and environmental stewardship.

Our community partnerships have deepened significantly this year. We’ve

strengthened relationships As we look ahead, I am with local schools including proud of how Spitalfields St. Anne & Guardian Angels City Farm continues to and Thomas Buxton, while create environmentally expanding our reach through knowledgeable communities collaborations with the while fostering genuine Brady Centre’s women’s ESOL connections between people, group, Daniel Gilbert House, animals, and nature.

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Year at a Glance 2)
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our year at a glance

income and expenditure

2,475 visits from 256 hours supporting 7,742 hours contributed sChool children primary sChools in tower hamlets by 75 volunteers PANG) Roe hg a cle tS y ya Pop es ) an «<® = eS aS over 100 hours of free 658 hours of £75,474 spent on sChool holiday aCtivities volunteering by young farmers site improvement [*]

total income: £591,338 total expenditure: £484,850 total funds: £554,785 All donations: £216,133 Staff salaries: £337,315 Unrestricted Funds: (38%) (70%) £389,185 Grants: £294,521 Animal welfare (excluding (70%) (50%) Restricted staffing): £11,484 Contract income: £11,508 (3%) Funds:£165,600 | (2%) Utilities: £11,460 (30%) Shop sales: £20,681 (3%) (3%) Site Repairs: £18,123 Venue hire: £13,877 (4%) (2%) All other running costs: Mobile Farms: £8,625 £106,468 (1%) (20%) All other income: £25,993 (4%)

*During the year, the Farm carried out site improvement work of £57,351, all of which has been capitalised under Balance Sheet, and the rest of the site repair work amounted to £18,123.

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education

creating environmentally knowledgeable and action-orientated communities who are stewards for the future, by providing inspiring educational experiences.

schools

2,475 Number of individual visiting school children 62 Number of hours of guided tours

51 Number of individual schools visiting on trips

It’s been a fantastic year for the Education team. We are proud to have supported more young people than ever, thanks to growing partnerships, expanded projects, and an increase in team capacity.

With support from the Jack Petchey Foundation, we welcomed Education and Youth Engagement intern Aminah Shabir to the farm full-time.

Aminah – known as Arms – has been an invaluable asset and now steps into the role of Young Farmers Coordinator, continuing to grow our popular Saturday sessions.

Our holiday activities,

funded by the Childhood Trust, were consistently well attended. Highlights included storytelling with local performer Rez Kabir, a comic book drawing workshop, pinhole photography, weekly Stay and Play sessions, and plenty of animal handling.

During term time, our team has continued gardening sessions with students from Nursery to Year 6 at St. Anne & Guardian Angels, and with Year 3 at Thomas Buxton. We also welcomed SEND groups from Thomas Buxton and Christ Church Primary on Mondays – when

the farm is closed to the public – for a calmer, more supportive experience. Staff have observed growing confidence and resilience among this group.

We have embarked on a new partnership with Tower Hamlets Visual impairment team, which has led to visits from families and children experiencing visual impairment and thinking of innovative ways to allow the Farm to be as accessible as possible.

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young farmers

21 Young Farmers attending

658 Hours of volunteering by Young Farmers

52 Young Farmers sessions delivered

Through weekly Saturday sessions, for the last 12 months over 20 young people from Tower Hamlets and slightly further afield had the opportunity to regularly contribute to the upkeep of the Farm. Our regular group of Young Farmers, had the chance to complete a First Aid course with St John Ambulance, go on a trip to Surrey Docks Farm to meet and collaborate with their Young Farmers, as well as attend a bee workshop on site with our resident beekeeper Salvatore.

Other activities included, craft sessions involving letter writing to their

future selves for mental health awareness month, and bracelet making for sale in the Farm shop. Finally, we continued the usual...

animal care, cooking, woodwork and the planning

and planting of plants and flowers in the education gardening bed. These will hopefully then be cycled back into future cooking sessions - showing the young people how cyclical and resourceful a city farm can really be. The Young Farmers recently made and very excitedly decorated

One of our longer standing Young Farmers, A said:

“i have something to look forward to now and animal interactions boosts my mood like literally. i enjoy planting the most though”

new signage for their gardening bed.

Over the past year we have continued to have school avoiders join our Young Farmer programme in hopes to help reintegrate them into more social settings and give them a sense of community. The Young Farmers programme continues to be a microcosm for the wider farm team and a reflection of the demographic of the local community, helping young people to form longstanding connections within and outside of the farm.

farmyard

Spring welcomed new arrivals to the Farm with a successful lambing of our Rare Breed sheep, the Castlemilk Moorits. Volunteers help raise and train the lambs which provides valuable lessons about responsibility, animal care, and the cycles of nature – whilst seeing the lambs grow is a fulfilling experience for all our farm users.

With our growing herd we were able to offer local school groups educational wool workshops. Each class was able to watch the shearing and then learn all about how wool is processed to make yarn, including having a go at carding and spinning the fleece. They were also able to weave a little coaster to take home with them.

Additional new residents were adopted during the year:

2 Guinea Pigs from Wood Green Animal Shelter, 20 Excommercial hens from British Hen Welfare Trust, 2 Ferrets

from Essex Ferret Welfare Society

A highlight of the summer was a volunteer collaboration resulting in a guest resident - Toby the Tortoise! He won the hearts of all who had the pleasure to meet him and was

carefully drawn by children in our drawing safari. 21 Mobile Farms were delivered to schools, care homes, community venues, and a particularly special visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital School – each bringing many physical, emotional, educational, social benefits to a wide diversity of participants

Recreational and therapeutic visits provide contact with animals for people who may not normally have the opportunity. Interaction with animals and nature has been proven to promote stimulation, self-expression and enhance wellbeing.

Upon completion of our paddock fences, we had a unique opportunity to harvest the overgrown grass, with volunteers Mike & Lisa using their scythes to demonstrate traditional grass cutting and make our own Spitalfields Hay!

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tower hamlets learning advisory service – Case study

“i like going to the farm because the animals are nice and it’s fun. i liked the goat because it was funny, they were just getting over the fenCe, and i liked feeding the animals, the plants, and the blaCk cat chilling.”

created a safe, welcoming space where children with visual impairment can experience the wonder of nature firsthand. This collaboration allows us to offer a uniquely enriching experience by adapting and creating a safe and welcoming environment where children and young people with visual impairments and their families can touch and interact with a variety of animals. The Farm offers an invaluable opportunity for sensory exploration and learning.

temperatures of animals, making abstract ideas concrete and expanding their understanding of the natural world. These moments of connection foster confidence, curiosity, and spatial awareness, supporting both emotional well-being and cognitive growth.

For many children with visual impairments,this experience is a rare chance to explore and understand their environment in ways that traditional settings do not always provide. By making nature accessible and inclusive, the Farm affirms their ability to learn, discover, and thrive.

Through a partnership with the Learning Advisory Service from the Borough of Tower Hamlets, Spitalfields City Farm has

Through direct, handson interaction, visually impaired children can feel the textures, shapes, and

site improvements

Creating a welComing spaCe for people of all communities to come together, cultivate, grow and learn.

A key objective of our three-year strategy was to make significant investment into improving the accessibility of the Farm as well as its facilities, to better cater for our visitors, volunteers and animals. Over the past eighteen months, much of this ambition has come to fruition, led by our Site Manager Steven Adams.

Our stables have been re-built as well as introducing new housing for our small animals. We have built two new glass houses and replaced most of our raised beds.

Finally, work on building new toilets, improving our disabled toilet and hand washing facilities has started and is due to be completed by June 2025.

Building on this, we

The Farm’s much loved tree house had to be dismantled, and these have been replaced by more robust play and climbing equipment.

want to improve the paving around the Farm site as well as the fencing in our farmyard area.

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Meet our site manager

Steven is responsible for managing and maintaining our two-acre site.

What attracted you to working at Spitalfields City Farm?

I originally started as a volunteer in 2017. I was looking for an outdoor volunteer opportunity to do at the weekends around my job. I was suggested to visit the Farm by a friend and immediately fell in love with the place!

Tell us more about your role as the Farm’s Site manager?

which tie in to both the upkeep and the renovation of the Farm.

I’m responsible for

making sure the site stay safe and improving areas wherever possible! I lead our corporate volunteer sessions

What is the most challenging aspect of the role?

Figuring out what projects to start next! The Farm has

so much potential to be even better than it already is and choosing the next renovation is always difficult!

What is your favourite Farm animal + why?

I absolutely love the donkeys! They’re so gentle and are one of the cuddliest animals on the Farm .

What plans do you have for the Farm site in the coming years?

My main focus is to make the space more accessible. Working on levelling out pathways and introducing more accessible features around the site. There’s also plans to incorporate a lot more interactive education for all visitors.

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New glasshouses, raised beds
+ play equipment.
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Volunteer wreath making workshop.

volunteering

Creating an environment for our community to build on their strengths, so that together we can address variations in people’s opportunities for a healthy life.

60 current volunteers

formal discussions between volunteers and staff.

digital with online forms and the use of a CRM system allowing for more efficiency in the process but also for more secure data storage. We continue to offer printed forms in English and Bengali to ensure there are no barriers to volunteering with us.

7,742 volunteer hours contributed Our 50 volunteers continue to reflect the diversity of Our dedicated team of weekly our local community as well volunteers continue to be as that of London with the the backbone of the Farm and majority being residents of we are forever grateful for local boroughs as well as the time and energy they being referred from social dedicate to ensure the Farm prescribers and local support runs smoothly. We show our services such as Dellow appreciation through monthly Centre and Autism services socials such as wreath to name a few. Included in making at Christmas, harvest this is the ‘Coriander Club’ celebration lunches, craft which continues to be a afternoons and more. huge success.

Our dedicated team of weekly volunteers continue to be the backbone of the Farm and we are forever grateful for the time and energy they dedicate to ensure the Farm runs smoothly. We show our appreciation through monthly socials such as wreath making at Christmas, harvest celebration lunches, craft afternoons and more.

We continue to work closely with local charities to offer the Farm as a means of supporting their service users and volunteers. We have run gardening sessions with the women’s ESOL group from the Brady Centre, started monthly volunteering groups with Daniel Gilbert House and held monthly sessions with a group of deaf students from Westminster College.

We also continue to offer further learning opportunities with trainings on chicken health and a trip to Stepney City Farm. To ensure volunteers are kept up to date with Farm wide developments we hold quarterly meetings opening the space up for more

In the coming months we plan to launch a new visitor engagement volunteer role, diversifying our volunteer opportunities whilst also improving our engagement with visitors.

Overall, the volunteer

programme and its benefit to the Farm and local community

We have also been making our volunteer systems more

has strengthened and grown in the past year to continue to support teams across the Farm as well as opening further opportunities for adult wellbeing within our local community.

Volunteer team Challenges

2150 volunteers

7,841 volunteer hours

172 teams

Sarah Nash from Lockton’s, one of our long-term supporters, discussed her experience of organising a team challenge for colleagues at the Farm.

What are you looking for from employee team building sessions and why have you chosen to partner with the Farm?

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Farm volunteers visit Kew Gardens.
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st John at the farm

Contributing to the communities we operate in has always been a crucial aspect of Lockton’s core values. Our track record of volunteering and fundraising demonstrates this ongoing commitment. The Lockton GREAC team have participated in many community projects over the years for a range of charities and causes, however we have a long-running history with Spitalfields City Farm. The team love what you do and the impact you have on the local community and beyond, so it was an easy decision to make in terms of starting a partnership with the farm.

What were your employees’ experiences of their recent Team Challenge Days? What activities did they do?

Since beginning the partnership in June 2023, GREAC have deployed 81 Associates over 5 volunteer days, equating to 324 hours

of work – and counting! The teams have done everything from painting, mucking out, planting, weeding, sweeping, digging, and of course helping to herd the animals at the end of the day. Our team photos are always full of genuine smiles and everyone comes away feeling like they have made a difference.

How do you think the Team Challenge Days benefit your employees?

GREAC now have over 200 Associates in our team, therefore it’s becoming increasingly difficult to remain connected and

maintain relationships. These team challenge days are a fantastic way for the team to spend time with people they may not know well, or at all, as well as give back to the community. Being outside for the day is also a welcome change from being in the office, and a wholesome way to spend an afternoon with colleagues.

Anything else you’d like to add.

I have personally very much enjoyed organising the quarterly volunteer days for my team and hearing how much people enjoyed their time there – I still remember the joy I felt the first time I visited, as I had no idea such spaces existed in the City of London! I have loved getting to know the team there over the years and hope that we have helped, and continue to help, make a difference to the farm and its surrounding community.

Farouq from St John + Chris, the Farm’s Growing Manager.

In early 2024 long term friend of the Farm, The Gentle Author, introduced Farokh Talati, Chef at St John Bread & Wine to Chris Gorgay, the Farm’s Growing Manager. The result is that fresh produce from the Farm has become an integral part of the menu at St John, where diners can now enjoy vegetables grown locally and picked fresh that morning. The Farm is just six minutes walk from the restaurant in Commercial St.

“Every time I come here I

learn something new!” Farokh said. “I’ll go over to the farm once a week, chefs will go on other days, and Chris delivers produce maybe twice a week. And we’re always talking to each other, Chris will send me a picture of something that’s coming up soon. I’ve been over with St John’s founders, Trevor Gulliver and Fergus Henderson.”

“For me it’s important for St John to have a strong

sense of connection with the community and the joy that it’s given us to use this farm, and to know that we can go over there and say, ‘Can we grab this?’ or ‘Can we grab that?’ or for them to come over and put their produce down on the table in front of guests. People will be eating their lunches and in walks Chris with onions, fresh garlic and mulberries and it’s such a proud moment.”

“It’s rare in London restaurants. In many places I’ve worked the produce is there in the morning in boxes and you can forget where it came from. I have a huge sense of pride when I brief the waiters to say, ‘This dish has come from Spitalfields City Farm and I want you to talk about it at the table.’ How proud we are to announce, ‘These were picked this morning at the farm down the road.’”

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ER x ’ ” wt ™~ S- ~~ ae a ai — — Se REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

SpITAlFIElDS FARM ASSOcIATION LIMITED REPORT OF THE TRuSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

OBJEcTIVES AND ACTIVITIES STRATEGIc REPORT

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 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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

OBJECTIVES AND AIMS

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES

The principal activity of the charity in the year under review was that of running an inner-city farm for the benefit of the inhabitants of Spitalfields and the surrounding neighbourhood by utilising its facilities to provide education and volunteering activities for the community.

Thanks to the hard work of the Farm’s passionate and dedicated staff team, and our wonderful volunteers and Trustees, the Farm continued an extraordinary range of charitable and community efforts this year, reaching many people from diverse groups in the local community and more widely.

PUBLIC BENEFIT

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 Charities Commission in determining the activities undertaken by the Charity.

1 January 2019).

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report of the trustees for the year ended 31 march 2025

strategic report

FINANCIAL REVIEW RESULTS FOR THE YEAR

The result for the year ended 31 March 2025 was a surplus of £106,488 (2024: surplus £149,410). This surplus includes a restricted grant from Veolia Environmental Trust of £75,000, at the financial year end. The grant remains unspent and will be spent during the year 2025/26.

INCOME:

Total income for the year
amounted to £591,338 (2024:
£541,451).

EXPENDITURE:

Total expenditure for the
year was £484,850 (2024:

£392,041).

FUNDS:

The Farm’s funds at 31
March 2025, amounted to
£554,785 (2024: £448,297),
of which £389,185 (2024:
£347,931) was unrestricted
funds and £165,600 (2024:
£100,366) was restricted.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

GRANTS AND DONATIONS

Thank you to the following
for providing us with a
grant or donation during
the past year:

Garfield Weston

Jack Petchey Foundation
Tower Hill Trust
Community Fund (Reaching
Communities, England)
The Worshipful Company of
Horner’s Charity Fund
City Bridge Foundation
SEI Investments
Access Reach Fund
Veolia Environmental
Trust

The Worshipful Company of

Vintners
The Childhood Trust
Worshipful Company of
Farmers

Thank you to the companies
who either attended our
team challenge volunteering
programme in person, or who
supported the Farm by making
donations or pre-paid for
future volunteering days.
Companies in 2024-25 were:

Ably Realtime; Accenture; Addleshaw Goddard; Adverity; AECOM; Amplify; Antares; Antares Global; Apollo; Ares; Ashurst Atlantis; Aventum; Aviva; Baker McKenzie; Beat Capital; Beazley: Blackrock; Bloomreach; British Psychotherapy Foundation Brookfield Properties; Buzzacott; CFC (Click for Cover); CFC Underwriting; Chaucer; Checkout.com; Cincinnati Global Underwriting Ltd; Climate Impact Partners; Coats; Columbia Threadneedle; Davies Group; DropBox; DTZ Investors; Econergy; Ethical Trading Initiative; Financial Ombudsman Service; Gallagher Craig; Gallagher Harry; Global Aerospace;

Global Assosication of Risk Professionals; Harrison Holgate; Headbox; Helical; Hewlett Packard Enterprise; staff. Howden Group; Igneo; ING; Insurance Institute of London; Internet Matters; Intuit; IQ-EQ; IQUW Group; KBC Bank NV; Kennedys Law LLP; Liberty; Linklaters; Lockton; Mackie Myers; Macquarie; Man Group; Markel; Mastercard; Maximus; MESH Construction; MS Amlin; Natterbox; Nomura; Nuveen; One Four Nine Group; Pallas; Partner Reinsurance Europe; Peel Hunt; Peters & Peters; Proctimise; PSE Consulting; Farm shop. Redis; RSM UK; S&P Global; Salesforce; Savills; SEI; INVESTMENTS Six; Smartsheet; Solici; Source Code Comms; Standard Chartered; Talbot; Texel; investments. The Investment Association; The Up Group; Thomas Miller; Tokio Marine HCC; 

Special thanks also to
the East London Business
Alliance (ELBA) and its
staff.

Thank you to everyone who donated to our successful ‘Champions for Children’ online fundraising campaign; dropped coins into our donation boxes; used the contactless donation machine; contributed via payroll giving; held a children’s party or an event at the Farm; bought our produce or something from the Farm shop. 

The Farm does not hold any
investments.

TransRe; UBS; Unily; United Talent Agency; University of the Arts London; Vervaunt; Wellcome; Westfield; Woodmac; Workday; YuLife 

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report of the trustees for the year ended 31 march 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW RESERVES POLICY

UNRESTRICTED RESERVES:

Designated for future operating costs   £240,000
Designated for redundancy costs       £30,000
Designated for new learning space   £28,000

As at 31 March 2025, the charity had £389,185 of unrestricted reserves, adjusting for fixed and biological assets, the charity had free reserves of £298,820.

£298,000

The trustees will review the reserves policy and the designation of reserves for specific purposes on an ongoing basis. 

common vision for where we
are going based on everyone
having a say.

The trustees consider it
prudent to hold unrestricted ongoing basis.
reserves of approximately 6
months of operating costs FUTURE PLANS
to cover the unexpected loss
of major income sources plus This year we developed a
a contingency for costs new strategy which presents
which could be incurred a vision for the Farm and
in the case of unexpected our services for the period
closure of the Farm. The 2022 to 2025. It outlines
balance of the unrestricted our aims, objectives and
reserves has been allocated priorities. It was the
to the cost of the creation culmination of a period of
of a dedicated learning and consultation with our staff,
education space.volunteers and trustees
during 2021, the purpose of
which was to create a shared
vision of how our city
farm can better serve the
local community, visitors
and other stakeholders: A

struCture, governanCe and management

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

Spitalfields Farm Association

is a registered Charity established as a company limited by guarantee. The objects of the Charity and its governance provisions are set out in the Articles of Association, which were adopted by the Farm’s Board on 16 February 2011. The Trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. 

adopted and is in operation
to govern operational matters.

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF NEW TRUSTEES

The Directors of the Charity ORGANISATION AND REPORTING (the Board of Trustees) AT THE FARM are usually appointed from residents or persons working Farm operations and strategy within the Borough of Tower are overseen by the Chief Hamlets or the City of London. Executive. Departmental Trustees are expected to Managers oversee the Farm’s take a particular interest projects and activities, reporting to the Chief in a specific area of the Farm’s activities and/or to Executive. have a relevant professional expertise. The Trustees meet monthly

The Trustees meet monthly with the Chief Executive and one or more staff members, on a rotational basis. Trustees reserve the final decision on major capital expenditure and strategic decisions.

Governance is undertaken by means of monthly Trustee Board Meetings at which reports are presented for discussion and decisions taken on the various aspects of the Farm’s work together with the latest financial information, health and safety matters and other governance issues. A system of internal controls is in operation at the Farm with regard to all financial operations. A series of written policies has been

OTHER CHARITIES AND RELATED PARTIES

There were no relationships
between the charity and
related parties that required
disclosure.

The Farm was a member of
the following organisations

as this was considered beneficial to achieving our objectives: 

Rare Breeds Survival Trust;
East London Business Alliance;
Social Farms & Gardens; London
Youth; Volunteer Centre Tower
Hamlets; Tower Hamlets Council
for Voluntary Services.

REMUNERATION POLICY

All staff salaries are reviewed annually as part of the Farm’s Remuneration policy. The Chief Executive’s appraisal is conducted by the Chair of Trustees. The Board of Trustees recently undertook a comprehensive review and benchmarking analysis of all salaries for parity across the staff roles and pay levels. The findings and recommendations of the benchmarking were implemented in January 2025. 

The Farm is committed to

paying all of our contracted
as well as sessional staff
at the London Living Wage.

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report of the trustees for the year ended 31 march 2025

RISK MANAGEMENT risks. The Farm has systems to give early warning The Board has examined of financial shortfalls the principal areas of and regularly reviews the Farm’s operations and its operating policies. considered the major risks The Farm maintains which may arise in a number good contact with the of key areas: necessary governmental departments on animal Governance husbandry, regulations Legal and restrictions, liaises Health & Safety extensively with the local Safeguarding council’s health and Finance safety officers, and has conducted a comprehensive Staffing Volunteers review of its washing Site facilities, fire safety Technology policy and information Privacy & Data Protection boards/warning signs.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Board has examined the principal areas of the Farm’s operations and considered the major risks which may arise in a number of key areas:

The Farm utilised a risk In the opinion of the register to review and Trustees, the Farm has monitor various operational established resources and

review systems which, under normal conditions, should allow the risks identified by them to be mitigated to an acceptable level in its day-to-day operations.

The Risk Register is reviewed at trustee meetings

on an annual basis.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

DETAILS

Registered Company number 02021898 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number 299536

Registered office Buxton Street E1 5AR

TRUSTEES

Trustees, who are also

directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Neil Stuart Rodel - Chair Alexander Michael Davidson Michael Richard Woods Momotaz Begum Kathryn Mallett Catalina Mastac Giles Heath Charlton - Appointed 3rd November 2024 Alix Emma H Jackson - Appointed 9th September 2024 Graham Thomas Morgan - Resigned 21st June 2024

Company Secretary

Alexander Michael Davidson

Chief Executive Officer

Independent Examiner

Mr A Patel BA (Hons), BFP, FCA

Prestons & Jacksons Partnership LLP 364 - 368 Cranbrook Road Ilford

Essex IG2 6HY

INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS

Prestons & Jacksons Partnership LLP were appointed as independent examiners to the charitable company during the year.

Report of the trustees, incorporating a strategic report, approved by order of the board of trustees, as the company directors, on 8th July and signed on the board’s behalf by:

Philip Nichols

Chair of Trustees

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independent examiner’s report to the trustees of spitalfields farm assoCiation limited

independent examiner’s report to the trustees of spitalfields farm assoCiation limited (‘the Company’) 

I report to the
charity trustees on
my examination of the
accounts of the Company
for the year ended
31 March 2025.

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

Since your charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies. 

and fair view which is matters in connection
not a matter considered with the examination to
as part of an independent which attention should be
examination; or drawn in this report in

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: 

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.

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27

statement of financial activities (inCorporating an inCome and expenditure acCount) for the year ended 31 march 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Horticulture
Education
Team Challenges
Other trading activities
Investment income
Total
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Charitable activity
Total
Notes
2
5
3
4
6
7		 Unrestricted
fund
£
149,070
20,682
20,206
97,657
13,878
6,181
Restricted
fund
£
281,664
-
2,000
-
-
-
31.3.25
Total funds
£
430,734
20,682
22,206
97,657
13,878
6,181
31.3.24
Total funds
£
439,410
19,234
31,761
24,025
21,931
5,090
307,674
283,664
591,338
541,451
20,882
245,538
18,560
199,870
39,442
445,408
36,467
355,574
266,420
218,430
484,850
392,041
NET INCOME
Transfers between funds
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
Notes		 Unrestricted
fund
£
41,254
347,931
Restricted
fund
£
65,234
100,366
31.3.25
Total funds
£
106,488
448,297
31.3.24
Total funds
£
149,410
298,887
389,185
165,600
554,785
448,297

The notes form part of these financial statements

The notes form part of these financial statements 

28

29

statement of financial position

31 march 2025

Notes 31.3.25 31.3.24
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 14 98,685 30,119
CURRENT ASSETS
Biological Assets 15 6,085 5,900
Debtors 16 89,328 25,122
Cash at bank and in hand 415,529 436,057
510,942 467,079
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year 17 (54,842) (48,901)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 456,100 418,178
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 554,785 448,297
NET ASSETS 554,785 448,297
FUNDS 19
Unrestricted funds 389,185 347,931
Restricted funds 165,600 100,366
TOTAL FUNDS 554,785 448,297

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 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

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.

b charitable company. 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 Chair of Trustees

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 8th July and were signed on its behalf by:

The notes form part of these financial statements

The notes form part of these financial statements

30

31

statement of Cash flows for the year ended 31 march 2025

Cash fows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Net cash provided by operating
activities
Cash fows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible fxed assets
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents
in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the
beginning of the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end
of the reporting period
Notes
1		 31.3.25
£
49,230
31.3.24
£
148,837
49,230
148,837
(75,939)
6,181
(31,151)
5,090
(69,758)
(26,061)
(20,528)
436,057
122,776
313,281
415,529
436,057

The notes form part of these financial statements

notes to the statement of Cash flows for the year ended 31 march 2025

1 RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Net income for the reporting period
(as per the Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Other
Increase in biological assets
Increase in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operations
2 ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
Net cash
Cash at bank and in hand
Total
At 1/4/24
£
436,057
436,057
436,057		 Net income for the reporting period
(as per the Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Other
Increase in biological assets
Increase in debtors
Increase in creditors
Net cash provided by operations
2 ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
Net cash
Cash at bank and in hand
Total
At 1/4/24
£
436,057
436,057
436,057		 31.3.25
£
106,488
7,372
(6,181)
1
(185)
(64,206)
5,941
31.3.24
£
149,410
1,032
(5,090)
-
(660)
(10,669)
14,814
49,230
148,837
Cash fow
£
(20,528)
At 31/3/25
£
415,529
436,057 (20,528)
415,529
436,057 (20,528)
415,529		 
32

33

notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 march 2025

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 1 January 2019)’, 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.

GOING CONCERN

The Farm’s work continues to attract endorsement through attendance of their events, programmes and sponsorships grants and/ or donations. From the financial position, the Board is comfortable that the Farm is a viable going concern. 

As a result of this, the
accounts have been prepared
on a going concern basis.

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. 

Donated professional
services and donated
facilities are recognised
as income when the
charitable company has
control over the item,
any conditions associated
with the donated item have

been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charitable company of the item, is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the charities SORP (FRS102), general volunteer time is not recognised.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charitable company which is the amount the charitable company would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt. 

work of the charitable
company but do not directly
undertake charitable
activities. These costs
have been allocated between
cost of raising funds
and expenditure on
charitable activities on
the following 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.

ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT

COSTS

Expenditure is accounted Raising Funds - 14% for on an accruals basis Charitable Activities - 86.0% 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.

Improvements to property

Allocation of support costs - 10% on cost
Support costs are those Motor vehicles - 25%
functions that assist the on cost

34

35

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

Items of equipment are
capitalised where the
purchase price exceeds
£500. Depreciation costs
are allocated to activities
according to the percentage
used for support costs.

BIOLOGICAL ASSETS

Biological assets are
valued at the lower of
cost and net realisable
value, after making due
allowance for obsolete and
slow moving items.

TAXATION

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

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 particular 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.

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of

the scheme are held

separately from those of the charitable company in an independently administered fund. Pension costs charged in the financial statements represent the contribution payable by the charitable company during the year.

DONATED GOODS AND SERVICES

Donated professional
services and donated
facilities are recognised

as income when the

charitable company has control over the item, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charitable company of the item, is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the charities SORP (FRS102), 

general volunteer time is
not recognised.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charitable company which is the amount the charitable company would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

DEBTORS

Basic financial assets, including trade and other debtors, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at 

the present value of the
future receipts discounted
at a market rate of
interest. Such assets are
subsequently carried
at amortised cost using
the effective interest
method, less any
impairment.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents are represented by cash in hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, and other short-term highly liquid investments that mature in no more than

three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

CREDITORS

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other creditors, loans from third parties and loans

from related parties, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the suture payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Such instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less and impairment.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The company only enters into basic financial instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other debtors and creditors, loans from banks and other third parties, loans to related parties and investments in non-puttable ordinary shares. 

36

37

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

2. donations and legaCies

Donations
Grants
Grants received, included in the above,
are as follows:
Grants less than £5,000
Garfeld Weston
Jack Petchey Foundation
Tower Hill Trust
Wakefeld & Tetley Trust
The National Lottery Community Fund
The Hornes’ Charity Fund
Groundwork London
The City Bridge Trust
Nuveen Community Grant
Water Conservation Trust
Big Ideas
Canary Wharf Group Young Farmers Programme
City University
Nineveh Trust
OVO Foundation
SEI Investments
Tower Hill Beautiful Shed		 31.3.25
£
136,213
294,521
31.3.24
£
188,934
250,476
430,734
439,410
23,357
20,000
11,897
18,360
-
60,821
5,000
8,906
48,200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,000
-
10,382
20,000
15,660
4,600
3,750
58,397
5,000
8,906
50,000
3,886
444
750
2,500
25,201
4,000
25,000
5,000
7,000
Access Reach Fund
Veolia Grant
Vintners (Young Farmers Programme)
3. other trading activities
Fundraising activities and Events
4. investment inCome
Deposit account interest		 31.3.25
£
12,980
75,000
5,000
294,521
31.3.24
£
-
-
-
250,476
31.3.25
£
13,878
31.3.24
£
21,931
31.3.25
£
6,181
31.3.24
£
5,090		 
38

39

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

5. inCome from Charitable activities

Grants
Grants
Grants
Activity
Horticulture
Education
Team Challenges
Grants received, included in the above,
are as follows:
Sales
Contract Income
Mobile Farm Filming and Appearances
Team Challenges		 31.3.25
£
20,682
22,206
97,657
31.3.24
£
19,234
31,761
24,025
140,545
75,020
22,755
11,508
8,625
97,657
20,363
20,522
10,110
24,025
140,545
75,020

6. raising funds

Raising donations and legacies
Animal Welfare
Bedding & Feedstuff
Catering & Refreshments
Cleaning & Hygiene
Community & Fundraising
Cost of Product for sale
Other trading activities
Bad debts
Aggregate amounts
7. Charitable activities Costs
Charitable activity
Direct
costs
£
273,366		 31.3.25
£
5,655
5,830
424
3,608
2,111
21,814
31.3.24
£
3,734
5,941
445
3,886
470
21,641
39,442
36,117
-
350
39,442
36,467
Support
costs (see
note 8)
£
82,208
Totals
£
355,574		 
40

41

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

8. support Costs

Other Other Overhead Support Governance Finance costs costs costs Totals £ £ £ £ £ Charitable activity 2,257 40,389 7,372 48,402 98,420

9. net inCome/(expenditure)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting): 31.3.25 31.3.24 £ £ Depreciation - owned assets 7,373 1,032 Independent Examiners’ Fees 2,600 2,200

10. trustees' remuneration and benefits

11. staff costs

Wages and salaries
Other pension costs		 31.3.25
£
331,162
6,153
31.3.24
£
256,620
4,480
337,315
261,100		 
The average monthly number of employees during
the year was as follows:
The average monthly number of employees during
the year was as follows:
Full Time Equivalent
Average Head Count		 11
17
9
16
28
25		 
No employees received emoluments in excess of
£60,000.

There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.

TRUSTEES' EXPENSES

There were no  trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the
year ended 31 March 2024.

42

43

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

12. Comparatives for the statement of financial activities 31.3.2024

Unrestricted Restricted Total
fund fund funds
£ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 199,317 240,093 439,410
Charitable activities
Horticulture 19,234 - 19,234
Education 30,428 1,333 31,761
Team Challenges 24,025 - 24,025
Other trading activities 21,931 - 21,931
Investment income 5,090 - 5,090
Total 300,025 241,426 541,451
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds 23,182 13,285 36,467
Charitable activities
Charitable activity 127,258 228,316 355,574
Total 150,440 241,601 392,041
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 149,585 (175) 149,410
Transfers between funds 51,595 (51,595) -
Net movement in funds 201,180 (51,770) 149,410 
UnrestrictedRestrictedTotal
fundfund funds
£££
146,751152,136298,887
347,931100,366448,297

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

13. key management personnel

The Key Management Personnel comprise of the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer. Total remuneration paid to the key management personnel during the year was £41,433 (2024: £39,595). 

44

45

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

14. tangible fixed assets

COST
At 1 April 2024
Additions
At 31 March 2024
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2024
Charge for year
At 31 March 2025
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
Improvements
to property
£
358,682
57,351
416,033
331,028
5,062
336,090
79,943
27,654		 Fixtures
and
fttings
£
37,522
-
Motor
vehicles
£
-
18,588
Totals
£
396,204
75,939
37,522
18,588
472,143
35,057
762
-
1,549
366,085
7,373
35,819
1,549
373,458
1,703
17,039
98,685
2,465
-
30,119

16. debtors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade debtors
Prepayments
17. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors
Deferred income
Accrued expenses		 31.3.25
£
13,035
76,293
31.3.24
£
23,873
1,249
89,328
25,122
31.3.25
£
5,922
5,786
-
35,715
7,419
31.3.24
£
5,305
4,798
783
34,025
3,990
54,842
48,901

15. biological assets

Farmyard animals

31.3.2531.3.24
££
6,0855,900

46

47

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

18. analysis of net assets between funds

31.3.25

31.3.24
31.3.25
31.3.24
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Analysis of Restricted Funds carried
forward as at 31st March 2025
Education
Volunteering
Farm
Gardening
Central Costs
Site Improvement		 Unrestricted
fund
£
98,685
345,342
(54,842)		 Restricted
fund
£
-
165,600
-
Total
funds
£
98,685
510,942
(54,842)
Total
funds
£
30,119
467,079
(48,901)
389,185 165,600
554,785
448,297
31.3.25
£
20,284
32,755
17,216
960
5,355
89,030
165,600
31.3.24
£
45,709
17,410
21,524
-
-
-
100,366

Analysis of Restricted Funds carried forward as at 31st March 2025

EDUCATION

FARM

CENTRAL COSTS

Grants towards the purpose of education with local schools, the employment of an Education Intern to support the delivery of services specifically for young people. 

These are grants towards
maintenance of farm and Grants towards the salary
towards provision of animal of the Chief Executive and
daily care such as feeds, for support to develop a
bedding and veterinary fundraising strategy.
care. These grants also
contributed towards SITE IMPROVEMENT
associated labour costs.

VOLUNTEERING

Funds towards the upkeep
and maintenance of the Farm
site. Including renovation
of The Beautiful Shed and
installation of two new
glasshouses.

Grants towards the salary
of a designated Volunteer
Manager, to help support
the development of our
volunteer services.

GARDENING

Grants towards improving
the layout of the Farm’s
growing spaces.

19. movement in funds

Net At movement At 1/4/24 in funds 31/3/25 £ £ £ Unrestricted funds 347,931 41,254 389,185 General fund Restricted funds Restricted 100,366 65,234 165,600 Total funds 448,297 106,488 554,785 

48

49

notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 march 2025

19. movement in funds continued

Net movement in funds, included on
p49, are as follows:
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Restricted
Total funds		 Incoming
resources
£
307,674
283,664
Resources
expended
£
(266,420)
(218,430)
Movement
in funds
£
41,254
65,234
591,338
(484,850)
106,488		 
Comparative net movement in funds,
included on p50 are as follows:
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Restricted
Total funds		 Incoming
resources
£
300,025
241,426
Resources
expended
£
(150,440)
(241,601)
Movement
in funds
£
149,585
(175)
541,451
(392,041)
149,410

Comparatives for movement in funds

20. related party disclosures

Net Transfers At movement between At 1/4/23 in funds funds 31/3/24 £ £ £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 146,751 149,585 51,595 347,931 Restricted funds Restricted 152,136 (175) (51,595) 100,366 Total funds 298,887 149,410 - 448,297 

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024.

50

51

detailed statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 march 2025

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations
Grants
Other trading activities
Fundraising activities and events
Investment income
Deposit account interest
Charitable activities
Grants
Total incoming resources		 31.3.25
£
136,213
294,521
430,734
13,878
6,181
140,545
591,338
31.3.24
£
188,934
250,476
439,410
21,931
5,090
75,020
541,451
EXPENDITURE
Raising donations and legacies
Animal welfare
Bedding & feedstuff
Catering & refreshments
Cleaning & hygiene
Community & fundraising
Cost of product for sale
Other trading activities
Bad debts
Charitable activities
Wages
Pensions
Rates and water
Insurance		 31.3.25
£
5,655
5,830
424
3,608
2,111
21,814
31.3.24
£
3,734
5,941
445
3,886
470
21,641
39,442
-
331,162
6,153
6,621
3,052
36,117
350
256,620
4,480
5,100
7,166
346,988
273,366

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

52

53

detailed statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 march 2025

31.3.25 31.3.24
£ £
ssional Workers
PPORT COSTS
Finance
Bank charges 2,257 2,726
Other Overhead Costs
Rates and water 4,492 126
Light and heat 6,968 4,993
Telephone 1,051 926
Postage and stationery 2,701 3,300
Repairs and renewals 18,123 23,307
Sundries - 1,593
IT Software & Consumables 1,134 101
Mobile Farm Costs 16 -
Subscriptions & Publications 5,904 4,296

Sessional Workers

SUPPORT COSTS

Other Support Costs
Depreciation of tangible
fxed assets
Governance costs
Other Professional Costs
Independent Examiners Fees
Consultancy
Total resources expended
Net income		 31.3.25
£
7,372
14,363
2,600
31,439
31.3.24
£
1,032
11,779
2,840
25,189
48,402
39,808
484,850
392,041
106,488
149,410

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements 

54

55