The trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Bradford Organic Communities Services Ltd is also referred to as BOCS Ltd.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)".
The charity's objects are the protection and preservation of the environment for the public benefit by:
The promotion of waste reduction, reuse, reclamation, recycling, use of recycled products.
Partaking in national and community schemes and projects for recycling and reusing materials, components and resources.
BOCS Ltd supports communities in need and delivers services of enviornmental and social benefit including re use and recycle activities. All activities encourage volunteering and skill development aiming to improve health and wellbeing for all ages.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
The financial year 2024 – 2025 has been another extremely busy and interesting year with an incredibly hard-working team delivering successes supported throughout by a strong involved Board. The team of volunteers have been brilliant and have contributed significantly to every aspect of BOCS delivery. BOCS were successful accessing the Garfield Weston Pilotlighters Programme. This has provided BOCS with funding and strategic planning support from a team of business experts. An excellent opportunity for BOCS.
The year has had many challenges, the Council’s decision to change the terms of the contract for paint collection and to close three of the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) has impacted on income for Braford Community RePaint. This has been addressed by identifying alternative sources of recycled paint for our shop. This has led to increased costs for stock and lower income from CBMDC. The sales however have been buoyant and have stayed at a good level as there is very strong community support for recycling and excellent support for environment charities.
Wibsey Community Gardens has worked well over the year with a good team and a strong range of fruit, vegetables and salads grown on site sold to the community and as wholesale to a vegetable shop and a cafe each week. It is a very strong growing site. The experience of being on site at Wibsey and growing is very beneficial for health and wellbeing. BOCS have successfully secured a three-year contract with National Lottery to work with groups on site developing skills and improving health. This has led to an increase in the staff team to deliver the project.
A challenge for the Gardens is to secure capital funds to ensure investment in the fabric of the site and make sure the site improves year on year. With this in mind BOCS applied to the Levelling up Community Ownership Fund for a project to remove and replace the toilets and the Scrap Magic Portacabin and to reskin all three Polytunnels. We were thrilled to be successful as this will be excellent for the site ensuring the future of the Gardens as a valuable and much loved community asset.
Scrap Magic has continued at the Gardens as a popular and interesting shop offering an unusual range of interesting materials for creative activities. This also offers supplies for the team at the Gardens to deliver workshops and sessions for all ages of the local community - always very popular when linked to the festivals.
Overall a good year for BOCS Ltd, there were challenges but these were addressed by the positive and flexible team leading to a successful year all with strong guidance from our Board.
Fundraising
Section 162a of the Charities Act 2011 requires charities to make a statement regarding fundraising activities. The legislation defines fundraising as ‘soliciting or otherwise procuring money or other property for charitable purposes’. The charity does not actively raise funds from the public either directly or via use of an agent, accordingly no such amounts are presented in the financial statements for the year under review. The charity has received no complaints in relation to fundraising activity for the year under review.
Given the nature of the funding of the charity the Trustees consider that it remains appropriate not to be voluntarily bound to be regulated by the Fundraising Regulator.
The income for the year amounted to £192,809 (2024 £149,281) with expenditure of £177,194 (2024 £153,541) resulting in an income for the year of £15,615 (2024 deficit £4,260).
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to three months expenditure (£44.000). The trustees considers that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has not yet been reached. The trustees are working to develop funding to meet this target.
The reserves are to be spent in an emergency and only with the full agreement of all Board members.
The unrestricted, undesignated funds held at the year end amounted to £32,272 (2024 £4,836).
Risks
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales on 12 February 2004.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
If the Board agrees that it requires additional trustees then this opportunity would be advertised with a specification provided detailing BOCS activities and any particular skills that are being sought. If there are a number of applicants then an interview process would be held with existing Board members. A recommendation would then be made to the full Board. Trustees are encouraged to take advantage of the training provided in the district.
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
Indemnity insurance is included in the insurance costs.
The charity's decisions are made by the Management Committee with day to day running being the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer supported by the Operations Manager.
This report is prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Bradford Organic Communities Service Ltd (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity 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 the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements 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 financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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 financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Bradford Organic Communities Service Ltd is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 1a9 Carlisle Business Centre, 60 Carlisle Road, Manningham, Bradford, BD8 8BD.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to the expenditure. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. it includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Items held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured the lower of replacement cost and cost.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method 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. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans 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 future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Listed below
Recycling credits
Grant funded activities
Project costs
Van costs
Volunteer expenses
Legal and professional
Rent
Rates
Power, light and heat
Premises insurance
Office costs
Telephone
Independent examination
All support costs are allocated to the sole charitable activity.
Governance costs includes payments to the Independent Examiner of £3,360 (2024- £3,192) for examination fees.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the current or prior year.
Travel expenses were paid to nil trustees amounting to £nil during the year (2024 £nil).
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Grants have been received for projects as described in the title of the funds.
Group Activities was funded by National Lottery fund for disadvantaged adults.
Creative Communities was funded by GIVEBRADFORD 2025 through Leeds Community Foundation.
Habit Heroes from CBMDC.
Facilities for people with disabilities was funded by CBMDC.
Garden equipment was funded by the West Riding Masonic Community Funds.
Fixed asset fund represents the value of assets purchased with restricted funds, the expenditure represents the depreciation in the year.
Youth activities was funded by CBMDC for equipment to run candle making and cook and eat sessions.
Growing Together was funded by the National Lottery.
Locality funded professional fees, architecture, structural engineers and surveyors. The full grant was underspent at the project end, the surplus being returned to the funder.
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
During the year a payment of £nil was paid to Mr Fred Dockerill for the purchase of jars of honey (2024 £100). Mr Fred Dockerill was a trustees of Bradford Organics Services Ltd.