for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
Directors report | |
Balance sheet | |
Additional notes | |
Balance sheet notes | |
Community Interest Report |
Directors' report period ended
The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 May 2024
Directors
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 June 2023
to
31 May 2024
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006
This report was approved by the board of directors on
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
As at
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Current assets | |||
Debtors: | 3 |
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Cash at bank and in hand: |
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Total current assets: |
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Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: | 4 |
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Net current assets (liabilities): |
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Total assets less current liabilities: |
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Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year: | 5 |
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Accruals and deferred income: |
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Total net assets (liabilities): |
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Members' funds | |||
Profit and loss account: |
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Total members' funds: |
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The notes form part of these financial statements
The directors have chosen not to file a copy of the company's profit and loss account.
This report was approved by the board of directors on
and signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
The notes form part of these financial statements
for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
Basis of measurement and preparation
for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
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Average number of employees during the period |
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for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
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£ | £ | |
Trade debtors |
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Total |
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Debtors due after more than one year: |
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for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
2024 | 2023 | |
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£ | £ | |
Trade creditors |
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Total |
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for the Period Ended 31 May 2024
2024 | 2023 | |
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£ | £ | |
Other creditors |
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Total |
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Road Farm Countryways CIC was formed to give opportunities for those with learning difficulties, emotional and physical problems to improve their well-being through interaction in the working countryside and to increase peoples experience and understanding of our farming heritage. All visits and activities are supervised and incorporate supported learning and reflection. Participation varies according to needs and abilities. This year we have continued our regular delivery with its positive outcomes, followed our business plan and taken on a further staff member to help. Regular Care Farming is available four days per week. Regular weekly visits from five adults with learning, behaviour and communication special needs, living in supported housing or with parents. They are involved in meaningful activity, learning new skills and independence. Regular weekly visits from two students with learning, behaviour and communication needs with special school staff from Kite Ridge School and Chiltern Way Academy. They are learning life skills and feeling included. Four college students with special educational needs accompanied by support staff from Talkback and Private Support Assistants. They are here for supported work experience and learning new skills. Countrymens Club continues with regular Monday afternoon meetings on alternate weeks, providing social company and stimulating activity for approximately fifteen retired men. The engaging programme includes talks, demonstrations such as willow weaving and outdoor tasks. Our Club Coordinator also ensures there is verbal or written contact between meetings. Sadly we lose members when health matters overcome them. This club is a lifeline to many members and their carers or family. Tent in the Orchard and Polytunnel. This orchard-based space means that groups can sometimes visit at the same time as our other regular visitors and benefit from the farm atmosphere, countryside and connections with healthy food. We launched our Inspire to Grow project in this space as described below. Inspire To Grow. This project is aimed at young people aged eighteen to twenty-five. By having the opportunity to grow and learn about seasonal fruit and vegetables, soil health, biodiversity and sustainability, we hope to have a positive impact on them, inspiring them to try new foods, to grow produce at home and have fun at the same time. Twelve young people, many with neurodivergence and special needs, have also improved their social confidence by attending. Educational Visits and Workshops Educational visits included Turnfurlong School, Pebblebrook School, Highcrest Academy, The Misbourne and Cottlesloe School. At least two hundred and fifty school children have visited. Many school visits include cooking, following a field-to-fork approach, or seasonal fruit preservation. Four half-day visits with Action4Youth accompanied secondary school student groups to discover careers in the countryside and explore farm-to-fork cookery. Afternoon and evening visits from various youth groups and adult special interest groups, including local churches, U3A and wildlife organisations. Volunteering experience for Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver Award participants. School holiday visits, including a programme called Make Lunch, which supported twelve families from Holy Trinity Church. Action for Children visited with several small groups of special needs children during both the Easter and Summer holidays. Two of our key workers, including one Director, attended a School Farms and Education weekend conference run by Social Farms and Gardens. Networking and Events Green Futures is an initiative to promote employment in sustainable food production, especially for young people facing challenges to access work. We continued to appreciate our intern, who has been working with young people and our Inspire to Grow project. Attended two local business and charity networking events organised through the Clare Foundation, including the Angels Den awards. Hosted two special team refreshment days for charitable organisation staff from Wycombe Homeless Connection and The Schools Counselling Partnership. These days provided staff with the opportunity to discuss critical business matters while also relaxing and connecting with the countryside, improving their own wellbeing and team dynamics. Wendover Dementia Support group enjoyed a summer walk with carers and family members included, continuing networking with some cross-over with the Countrymens Club. Autism Bucks enjoyed a summer visit and enabled good networking for the future. Visits with the donkeys to a local church and a care home at Christmas. Links with the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs project to help with nature conservation, especially with regular winter wild bird seed-scattering by our farm helpers and care of young hedgerow whips. Countryways CIC has also been supported as part of a three-year grant by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Project, which helps connect people with nature, food production and countryside management. Open Farm Sunday in June 2023 was a great success, with over three hundred people of all ages visiting the farm. Amazing volunteer help made this possible. We are linking with the Dadimas community walking group to encourage greater ethnic and cultural diversity in the Chilterns countryside. Provided a crib scene for Wendover Free Church Crib Fest, further linking and engaging us with our local Wendover community. Created a tree with help from our young people for the 2023 community Christmas Tree Festival, held at St Peter and St Pauls Parish Church. This included the opportunity to sell home-made wooden gifts and to publicise Countryways to hundreds of local people, with opportunities for volunteering.
Our stakeholders include: Individuals who visit the farm for specific reasons. Potential visitors who may wish to engage with our activities. Consultation with Stakeholders We engage with our stakeholders in the following ways: - Visitor Feedback: Visitors are provided with simple feedback questionnaires tailored to the specific focus of their visit. These offer opportunities to provide suggestions for improvement. - Feedback Analysis: Feedback is almost always positive. If concerns arise, appropriate action is taken to address any issues. - Internal Feedback: Volunteers, staff, and Directors are encouraged to share feedback and suggestions for improvement. - Awareness and Promotion: There is a continued need for outreach to ensure people are aware of the services Countryways provides and to support fundraising efforts for sustainability. - Actions Taken in Response to Feedback Infrastructure Improvements: Funding has been sought to improve gateways and animal housing, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all participants. These efforts align with our business plan objectives. Staffing Enhancements: Funding was pursued to increase paid staff hours and introduce a paid internship in partnership with external organisations. - A new staff member has been employed, and some staff hours have been increased. - Feedback Mechanisms: We continue to refine and develop clearer methods for gathering feedback, particularly from volunteers and staff members. - Volunteer Coordination: A dedicated Volunteer Coordinator has been appointed to enhance volunteer engagement and organisational efficiency. - Public Awareness Efforts: Additional news updates and information are regularly posted on our website: www.roadfarmcountryways.com.
One Director was paid as an employee and received a total of £10,000. There were no other transactions or arrangements in connection with the remuneration of directors, or compensation for director’s loss of office, which require to be disclosed.
No transfer of assets other than for full consideration
This report was approved by the board of directors on
10 January 2025
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Wendy Gray
Status: Director