This social enterprise was set up in 2011 to help improve the lives of people recovering from anxiety and depression; predominantly by running practical, creative workshops in ‘make-do-and-mend’ sewing and also upcycling of old home furnishings and furniture. Some groups women only, some mixed – always people at the centre of everything. As well as encouraging positive mental wellbeing through creativity, use of reclaimed materials is important as this social enterprise has environmental as well as strong social aims. Our core values remain helping people who experience mental health and wellbeing challenges and are also about helping the planet. Our primary focus is helping our beneficiaries, people who have Served in uniform, the British Armed Forces, and their families. During this financial year (1 August 2024 - 31 March 2025): This financial year is 8 months rather than 12, because we changed the Accounting Year End to 31 March rather than 31 July, so that it falls in line with the Tax Year End which will make accounting, planning and reporting more efficient. Company of Makers HQ CIC (CoM) gives thanks to the following charities and organisations for their support and/or grant funding received during this period: Arts Council England Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust RAF Benevolent Fund and the RAF Association – Op RAF Unite University of West London The Poppy Factory – Thrive Together and London Armed Forces Network CoM’s CIC commitment: CoM CIC continued to support former-Service men and women and their families who struggle to transition from military to civilian life, no matter how long it’s been since they left the Forces. CoM also continued to offer support to ‘WIS’ – Wounded, Injured and Sick currently Serving personnel and partners, as well as Reservists. CoM CIC continues to develop and grow: - CoM’s ‘Get in The Game’ initiative continued to thrive and progress, kindly funded by the AFCFT and Op RAF Unite - building a community of like-minded people and bringing the Armed Forces community together through tabletop games as well as providing wellbeing support. - CoM provided individual wellbeing support for veterans and their partners. - CoM live streamed ‘On the Line’ - a programme of online talks and Q&As featuring a variety of guests and subject matter experts. - CoM designed and delivered creative workshops. - CoM continued to consult with and seek feedback from beneficiaries and this feedback demonstrates that CoM CIC’s work has long-term positive impacts, furthermore this evaluation of impact has been reported to our funders to demonstrate the impact of their support. Increasing opportunities: - CoM’s ‘Get in The Game’ initiative designed and delivered events and activities that provided the opportunity for beneficiaries to build social connections, meeting new people online and face-to-face for the benefit of their sense of wellbeing and comradeship. - Working digitally, as well as delivering face-to-face activities, CoM supported beneficiaries across the UK. Collaboration and support: - CoM continued to work together with other social enterprises and charities to provide support nationally including: Op Courage, Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Arts Council England, Army Flying Museum, Poppy Factory, RAF Museum Midlands, Happy Piranha, Cobseo, BACP, Historic England, Callsign Studios. - CoM also participated in training through the Combat Stress 360 Learning Platform. Enhancing quality of life: CoM continued introducing ex-Service men and women and their partners to art and creativity for the benefit of their wellbeing. Empowering: - CoM continued to provide paid work for veterans, recognising and valuing their knowledge and skills. - CoM continued to work with ex-Service men and women and their partners, helping with transitioning from military to civilian life. Tackling difficulties faced such as anxiety and depression, loneliness and social isolation, by engaging in creative activities online and face-to-face, as well as providing support and fostering camaraderie between activities. Creating greater understanding between military and civilian communities: - CoM continued to build on this, helping ex-Service men and women and Service families with integration into civilian society. - This included engaging with members of both communities through our podcast, each episode featuring an inspiring member of the Armed Forces community. - Also, through our live video podcasts and online talks with a different guest each time. - Additionally, through holding face-to-face blended events encouraging the Armed Forces and civilian communities to bond and play games together through our new ‘Get in The Game’ initiative. Wellbeing support for the military community: CoM continued to provide individual wellbeing support and made referrals to specialist help where needed and with beneficiary consent e.g. to NHS Op Courage for mental health. Helping the environment: CoM continued to conduct its activities with the least possible impact on the environment. Podcasts, talks, workshops, wellbeing support and meetings were delivered online resulting in no unnecessary travelling. Paper and printing was also avoided by using digital technologies wherever possible including online marketing.

Company of Makers HQ CIC (CoM) continued to carry out positive work for the benefit of the Armed Forces community and the environment, bringing revenue into the local economy and also further afield by delivering events in various UK counties. The majority of CoM’s stakeholders continued to be people experiencing disadvantage or challenges. The majority of beneficiaries of CoM’s activities are former-Service men and women and their partners who have struggled to transition to civilian life. CoM has grown and is reaching and helping beneficiaries na-tionally. CoM has regular discussions with, and seeks the opinions, of its military mentors, activity participants and beneficiaries, as well as with the organisations with which it works. Building strong relationships and collaboration continues to form a huge part of CoM’s ethos and work. CoM regularly consults with participants and beneficiaries about how its activities benefit them and their families and encourages suggestions about how improvements could be made – where appropriate and possible these are implemented. These are verbal conversations, emails, zooms and digital surveys. CoM, in collaboration with Callsign Studios and the University of Portsmouth, produced a film featuring beneficiaries talking about how tabletop and computer games are of benefit to them, as part of CoM’s ‘Get in the Game’ initiative. CoM continues to engage with the wider public using social media, further helping to foster greater un-derstanding between military and civilian communities to ultimately help with social integration. CoM consults with stakeholders via online surveys. Stakeholders are also consulted and updated by email and eNewsletter. CoM continues to build a community of beneficiaries from previous activities who choose to remain involved; and many participants have gone on to start their own business, gain employment or provide peer-support for others. CoM’s stakeholders are also social entrepreneurs, social enterprises and charities; particularly those benefitting the military community, the environment, and innovations in helping to improve mental health and wellbeing. CoM consults with them regularly and continues to grow this network. To support and share experience with peers and gain further insight into benefitting the military communi-ty, the social enterprise and charity sector, innovations in improving mental health and wellbeing and also working to help the environment; numerous networking events, Zoom/Teams meetings and training sessions were attended online where possible, face-to-face where necessary.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration