Southton Smallholding SC053778 Trustees Report 13 November 2024 to 30 November 2025
Purpose
(LD) and adults recovering from a mental health issues. It is a Hor4cultural Project and open throughout the year from Tuesday to Friday each week from 09:30-15:30. We close from mid-December to mid-January but staff con4nue throughout except for normal holidays.
History
for the last 15 years. OSCR granted them their own charitable status on 13 November 2024 as a SCIO. This first report therefore also covers the period 13 to 30 Nov 2024 which forms part of the former chari4es report covering 1 Dec 2023 to 30 Nov 2024.
- CEO & Secretary to the Board – 3 days a week
Hor4cultural Team Leader (HTL) – 4 days a week
Deputy HTL – 4 days per week
The HTL and Deputy are in a[endance 4 days a week and the CEO a[ends 2 days at the Smallholding and 1 day a week working from home on administra4on and management. When the HTL or Deputy are on holiday/absent one of the regular volunteer’s steps in to cover their absence; expenses are paid.
Volunteers
The Smallholding relies on regular, good quality volunteers to func4on at full capacity. We are fortunate to have up to 10 regular volunteers who offer a range of skills to compliment paid staff allowing everyone to par4cipate as fully as they are able. They also offer the skill set needed to carry out building, maintenance and repair works to enhance the facili4es. Two new volunteers with gardening experience have joined us towards the end of our year.
Team Members
The Smallholding currently has 20 Adults with a LD who a[end between ½ day and 4 days each week depending on their assessed needs. Those who need personal care or extra support are accompanied by a carer or PA. This year we have increased our Team Members to a maximum of 9 on any one day. This is the Smallholding opera4ng at full capacity.
Main Income
The vast majority of our income comes from the Local Authority (LA) under the Self-Directed Support (SDS) scheme for those assessed as having addi4onal support needs. The amount we can ask per person per day is agreed with the Health & Social Care Partnership with whom we have an agreed Service Specifica4on; both are reviewed annually. The LA set the amount at the beginning of their FY (April). The aim of this income is to cover staff salaries and employment costs.
Hor9cultural Aspect
The Smallholding enjoys a large area of ground for growing vegetables and has 5 plas4c covered poly tunnels and 2 smaller hard-shell tunnels, one of which can be heated. This allows for growing all year round. Outside garden beds are of 2 standard sizes and are rotated on a 5-year organic cycle with at least one main bed set aside for each year. A no-dig system is operated with up to 20 tonnes of bought in locally sourced compost added each year. Growing from seed and pogng up uses an inhouse mix of peat free and coir compost.
Vegetable Box Scheme
From March to November, the Smallholding prepares a weekly vegetable box (two weekly at the beginning of the season) from the produce grown that is leh in a convenient place on the estate for customers to collect. Box customers sign up for a minimum of 1 -year and pay a monthly standing order for all 12 months. This evens out the income for the charity. This income along with our Plant Sale income covers the cost of running the hor4cultural project and the cost of maintaining our animals. There are currently 15 box customers.
Annual Plant Sale and Open Day
On the First Saturday of each May the Smallholding opens its doors to family, friends and the general public to show the project and sell vegetable plants. This year we raised just over £4000 – our highest amount to date. The Smallholding enjoys much support from the local community.
Grants
The Smallholding relies on Grant Funding for new project work and applied for and was awarded 2 grants this year. The first from The Screwfix Founda1on for £5000 to repair and replace the main corrugated metal roof over the Bothy and tools storage area. Part of this was spent covering the extension to the tools storage area but the grant was paid aher the good weather had finished. The main part of the roof is planned for replacement in Spring 2026. We have un4l end August 2026 to use the grant.
The second grant is from Baily Thomas Charitable Fund for refurbishment of the tool storage areas, mainly, to replace the loose stone surface with concrete slabs.
The grant of £3,000 has been awarded but at the end of the FY has yet to be paid and will be carried forward into next year. There will be 12 months to use the grant and complete the works, which are currently on going.
Animals
The Smallholding retains animals for therapeu4c reasons. There are 2 Alpacas, 2 goats, 1 pig, 1 goose and a small flock of hens whose eggs compliment the vegetable boxes.
Opera9ng Site
The Smallholding operates on Blackruthven Farm under a ‘ Licence to Occupy ’ for zero rent. In exchange for this the Smallholding supplies the kitchen of the Retreat Centre, on the same estate, with fresh vegetable produce. The estate owns the buildings but the Smallholding maintain them and extends where necessary, with approval. Electricity for the Smallholding is metered off the estate supply and billed separately to the Smallholding. Water is also
supplied to the Smallholding from the estate. The Smallholding qualifies for the Scottish Water discount at no charge for a Charity with a turnover under £200,000. (50% discount up to £300,000).
Reserve Policy
it is planned to build up a reserve account holding 3-6 months salary costs over the next 2 years.
Board of Trustees
==> picture [424 x 121] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
The Smallholding Board of Trustees meets quarterly to receive written reports from the CEO
and HTL, financial reports and to.discuss a published agenda. Minutes are distributed to
Board trustees and all staff.
i,
,bd ;
“Ny
f
John A Leggat \ \
Chair of Trustees
----- End of picture text -----
Southton Smalilholding SC 053778
==> picture [489 x 648] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Receipts &|Payments|Accounts|
|To:|||30Nov'24|||30|Nov'25|30|Nov|'25|30|Nov '25|30|Nov'24|
|Funds £|Funds|£|Funds|£|TOTAL|Funds}|||Last Year|
|aRECEIPTS|mala (ema|||Not|
|Gift|Aid|500|-|500}|||Applicable|
|Laing|Trust|1,200|-|1,200|
|Team|Contribution|(PKC)|83,999|-|83,999|First|
|Screwfix|Foundation|-|5,000|5,000|Year|
|Sales|Vegetable|Boxes|3,722|-|3,722|Return|
|Sales|Other|20|-|20|
|Refunds|289|-|289|
|Open|Day &|Plant|Sale|4,194|-|4,194|
|[TOTALRECEIPTS—|ss| SCS|93,923] |5,000|||
|[PAYMENTS|||Unrestricted|||Unrestricted|||
|Crafts|20|20|-|40|Not|
|Equipment &|Repairs|249|11,918|978|13,145]|||Applicable|
|Health|&|Safety|328|1,051|-|1,379|
|Horticultural|13|3,267|-|3,280|First|
|Team|Expenses|307|972|-|1,280|Year|
|Livestock|15|1,900|-|1,915|Return|
|Office|0|1,227|-|Led|
|Utilities|144|2,070|-|2,215|
|Vehicles|0|1,366|-|1,366|
|Bank Charges|12|176|-|188|
|Employment|Costs|247|75,237|-|75,483|
|Charitable|Donation|-|150|-|150|
|ITOTALPAYMENTS|—s|_—4,336]|99,354|ma|
|[||
|fasnrunsse_Cash|[Funds]|[at]|| aonovas30|Nov|'25 ||19,375||||Applicable|
|erLiabilities|‘|0|||
|Trustee Sig|ayuré|Name|Date|
----- End of picture text -----
APPENDIX 3
==> picture [81 x 10] intentionally omitted <==
----- Start of picture text -----
Scottish Charity Regulator
----- End of picture text -----
Independent examiner’s report onthe accounts « Report to the § Charity name trustees/members of Gs CALTHTON S 4 ACL Lint. ine Registerednumbercharity SC OS3Y~ On the accounts of the Period start date Period end date charity for the period Day Month Year Day Month Year O| [2 Ze2> to Bes ) Zo2sSet out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance responsibilities Of with the terms of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) 2005 Act and the trustees and examiner Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity trustees consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 10(1) (d) of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination is carried out in accordance with Regulation 11 of the 2006 Accounts examiner's statement Regulations. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, | do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner’s _ In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention [other than that statement disclosed on the attached page] 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: * to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations, and * to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006 Accounts Regulations have not been met, or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper Signed*: understanding of the accounts to be reached. Name y S Berl Date: Go ( 3 (z& ‘ “gat & SAnto Relevant professional qualification(s) i or body D AS a, AArs 1 Siw iE (if any): ye Yeas Ac * ' Address: 25 BQ Pech lexspD PE (LH PHi rem .
Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. If the words do apply, set out those matters which have come to your attention on the following page. *OSCR will accept digital or typed signatures.