REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06227737 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1119226

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND

UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 29 APRIL 2026

FOR

MULBERRY COMMUNITY PROJECTS (BLACKPOOL)

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

4

Independent Examiner's Report

5

Statement of Financial Activities

6

Balance Sheet

7

to

8

Notes to the Financial Statements

9

to

16

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 29 April 2026. 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 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity's objects and main principal activity is:

(a) the relief of persons having an addiction to drugs, alcohol or other noxious substances by the provision of spiritual guidance, care and counselling;

(b) the advancement of public education concerning addictions and approaches and care by the publication of literature, the holding of conferences and seminars and such other means as are required to disseminate the relevant information;

(c) such other purposes charitable according to the law of England and Wales as will benefit the community in the Blackpool area.

Public benefit

The trustees consider that the main activities undertaken by the charity to carry out its charitable purposes are for the public benefit and furthermore they consider that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

Mulberry Community Project's mission is to offer each person who has experienced substance addiction the opportunity to achieve abstinence by offering each person holistic support and the chance to re-establish themselves successfully in the community by giving them a sense of value, respect and dignity.

We provide safe, secure accommodation and support for each resident. Residents have weekly 1-1 support from their designated support worker. Service users can engage with staff outside of their 1-1 time if they need any additional support and will be supported to appointments if this is needed. We also provide 3 groups per week that everyone initially has to attend. Support workers will put together a personal support plan with each resident of goals to work towards. These are categorised into 10 different areas, drug use, alcohol use, physical health, emotional health, meaningful use of time, community, accommodation, money, offending and family and relationships. This enables each service user to work on a wide range of issues while working towards training, education, employment and independent housing. We can hopefully work on all areas and work to improve all areas before a service user moves on.

This is the work we carry out on a day to day basis for every single resident. We also have a counsellor that comes in to support anyone that would like person-centred counselling. We will also refer to more specialist counselling and mental health support should this be needed.

We also encourage social activities and have again received a donation from Martin Geddes trust. The residents have had some days out over the past year including trips to the Lake District and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. We have had our regular volunteering days with the National Trust in the Lake District. This gives out residents a great opportunity to volunteer and give back a great organisation and also see a beautiful part of the country.

Our referrals are up again over the past year to 199. This is a massive increase over the past 2 years. We have had a constant stream of admissions. Sadly working with people in addiction means that relapses do happen, also the project simply might not suit everyone. So everyone we assess does not come in and everyone that does move in will not stay. We have been full a lot more over the past year, for the start of 2026 we had to create a waiting list and turn people away as we were full for quite some time.

Keith Stevenson, our CEO and founder retired in October 2025. Keith has stayed on in a trustee capacity as it would be a big loss to Mulberry to lose all his experience and passion. Keith has started running voluntary courses within the project one afternoon per week. Keith will continue to do some work as a trustee around potential funding streams. Emma Bottomley has taken over Keith's role as the new General Manager with Laura Howard has taken over the role as Housing Manager. Both have taken on their new roles in addition to their previous roles. We are not taking on any new staff at present and the new set up is currently working well. Both Emma and Laura bring years of experience both within the project and from wider recovery organisations.

Emma has been applying for different grants mainly for property refurbishment as a couple of the properties need a bit of work doing to them.

Our main achievements continue to be the people we support. We are extremely proud of them and proud to be a tiny part in their journey. In the financial year we had 5 successful move ons, all into independent accommodation, all re-engaged with their family. 2 left with paid work, all having completed or in some form of education and 1 moved back in with his partner and 2 children. Of our current residents 14 are currently in education, training or voluntary work. They are all giving back to the local community. The wider benefits to society are incredible. It means decreased crime, decreased homelessness, decreased cost for prison sentences, then giving back to local charities, supporting others to do the same as themselves through peer support or paid employment. It is amazing to watch people grow and this is why Mulberry Community Project exists. We provide an invaluable service to our residents. We are also proud of how we have kept the project running at a lower void rate this year, we have kept a waiting list running and kept the project busy.

Over the next 12 months we plan to keep promoting our service, to educate people so we continue to get appropriate referrals and to keep up our good reputation. We feel that now Keith has moved over to the Board of trustees that we have enough experience and knowledge on there to support the project. We have an incredible staff team who are dedicated, extremely experienced and completely committed to the project and its ethos. The Trustees will continue to support them moving forward into this next chapter.

We are extremely proud of the work that we do at Mulberry and what we have achieved with people over the past 12 months. We will continue to push to secure more funding to keep the project around to help many more people through the next few years.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

We recognise the financial position that the charity is in and that we can at times be reliant on our housing benefit income. We are also are aware of the losses made during the financial year but are encouraged that these are a lot less than the year before. After Keith's retirement in October, we have chosen to keep the staff team small, this will help financially. We also have the benefit of Keith's experience and knowledge on our board of trustees.

We were unsuccessful with our last lottery funding application but have since put in several more applications to various sources. We can also start another national lottery application.

We have been unable to look for any more properties as the council have put a stop to this. However, the council boundaries will change in the future and this will enable us to change our catchment area.

Principal funding sources

The charity is funded mainly by housing benefit paid in respect of the beneficiaries.

Investment policy and objectives

The Charity's powers of investment are governed by its deed of trust.

Reserves policy

It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds, which are free reserves of the charity, at a level which equate to approximately six months unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management and administration and support costs. The unrestricted expenditure for 6 months in this year was £138,602 (2025: £131,508).

The charity has unrestricted reserves of £73,220 (2025: £77,070) which covers less than 6 months unrestricted expenditure. The adequacy of the reserves policy is reviewed annually.

FUTURE PLANS

Over the next 12 months we plan to keep promoting our service, to educate people so we get more appropriate referrals and to keep up our good reputation. We will strive to keep the project as full as we possibly can by promoting and assessing thoroughly.

We feel that now Keith has moved over to the Board of trustees that we have enough experience and knowledge on there to support the project. We have an incredible staff team who are dedicated, extremely experienced and completely committed to the project and its ethos. The Trustees will continue to support them moving forward into the next chapter.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.

Recruitment and appointment of new trustees

Trustees are appointed according to the memorandum and articles of association.

Key management remuneration

The total remuneration paid to the key employees responsible for carrying out the day to day activities of the charity in the year amounted to £73,762 (2025: £76,852).

Public benefit

When planning the activities for the year, the trustees have considered the commissions guidance on public benefit and in particular the trustees have considered how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

06227737 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

1119226

Registered office

30-32 Clifton Street

Blackpool

FY1 1JP

Trustees

A Bottomley Flight Technician

Ms A M Gordon Trustee

Mrs N J Johnston Trustee

K Stevenson (appointed 9.12.25)

Independent Examiner

Candice Higgins

Whitehead & Howarth

327 Clifton Drive South

Lytham St Annes

Lancashire

FY8 1HN

Approved by order of the board of trustees on 18 August 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

K Stevenson - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Mulberry Community Projects (Blackpool) ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 29 April 2026.

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.

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:

1.	accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2.	the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3.	the accounts 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

4.

the accounts 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 accounts to be reached.

Candice Higgins

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Whitehead & Howarth

327 Clifton Drive South

Lytham St Annes

Lancashire

FY8 1HN

21 August 2026

29.4.26

29.4.25

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

3,211

625

3,836

7,942

Other trading activities

2

268,083

-

268,083

242,683

Other income

2,061

-

2,061

330

Total

273,355

625

273,980

250,955

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Welfare services

151,588

778

152,366

142,604

Housing services

125,617

-

125,617

120,412

Total

277,205

778

277,983

263,016

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(3,850

)

(153

)

(4,003

)

(12,061

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

77,070

1,438

78,508

90,569

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

73,220

1,285

74,505

78,508

29.4.26

29.4.25

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

Total

fund

funds

funds

funds

Notes

£

£

£

£

FIXED ASSETS

Tangible assets

7

10,669

68

10,737

13,917

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

8

13,497

-

13,497

14,713

Cash at bank and in hand

55,246

1,217

56,463

54,930

68,743

1,217

69,960

69,643

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

9

(6,192

)

-

(6,192

)

(5,052

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

62,551

1,217

63,768

64,591

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

73,220

1,285

74,505

78,508

NET ASSETS

73,220

1,285

74,505

78,508

FUNDS

11

Unrestricted funds

73,220

77,070

Restricted funds

1,285

1,438

TOTAL FUNDS

74,505

78,508

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 29 April 2026.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 29 April 2026 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

(b)

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 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.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 18 August 2026 and were signed on its behalf by:

K Stevenson - Trustee

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 financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis under the historic cost convention. The charity has net assets of £78,508 (2024: £90,569) and a net deficit of £12,061 (2024: £40,579) in the year.

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.

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. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis 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.

Fixtures and fittings

-

Straight line over 4 years

Motor vehicles

-

25% on reducing balance

Computer equipment

-

Straight line over 3 years

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.

Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

Government grants

Revenue grants are recognised on a systematic basis over the periods in which the company recognises the related costs for which the grant is intended to compensate.

A grant that becomes receivable as compensation for expenses or losses already incurred, or for the purpose of giving immediate financial support to the company with no future related costs, is recognised in income in the period in which it becomes receivable.

2.	OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES

29.4.26

29.4.25

£

£

Rent and housing benefit

268,083

242,683

3.	NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

Net income/(expenditure) is stated after charging/(crediting):

29.4.26

29.4.25

£

£

Depreciation - owned assets

5,685

6,174

Other operating leases

80,463

81,347

Deficit on disposal of fixed assets

461

172

4.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 29 April 2026 nor for the year ended 29 April 2025.

Trustees' expenses

Trustee expenses of £16 were repaid in the year.

5.	STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

29.4.26

29.4.25

Management, administration and support

4

5

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

6.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

Restricted

Total

fund

funds

funds

£

£

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

6,342

1,600

7,942

Other trading activities

242,683

-

242,683

Other income

330

-

330

Total

249,355

1,600

250,955

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Welfare services

140,624

1,980

142,604

Housing services

120,412

-

120,412

Total

261,036

1,980

263,016

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(11,681

)

(380

)

(12,061

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

88,751

1,818

90,569

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

77,070

1,438

78,508

7.	TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Fixtures

and

Motor

Computer

fittings

vehicles

equipment

Totals

£

£

£

£

COST

At 30 April 2025

10,620

21,193

10,586

42,399

Additions

1,878

-

1,087

2,965

Disposals

(314

)

-

(472

)

(786

)

At 29 April 2026

12,184

21,193

11,201

44,578

DEPRECIATION

At 30 April 2025

7,723

11,127

9,632

28,482

Charge for year

2,111

2,516

1,058

5,685

Eliminated on disposal

(235

)

-

(91

)

(326

)

At 29 April 2026

9,599

13,643

10,599

33,841

NET BOOK VALUE

At 29 April 2026

2,585

7,550

602

10,737

At 29 April 2025

2,897

10,066

954

13,917

8.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

29.4.26

29.4.25

£

£

Trade debtors

-

806

Prepayments and accrued income

13,497

13,907

13,497

14,713

9.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

29.4.26

29.4.25

£

£

Social security and other taxes

1,494

1,431

Accruals and deferred income

4,698

3,621

6,192

5,052

10.	LEASING AGREEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:

29.4.26

29.4.25

£

£

Within one year

50,118

47,110

Between one and five years

7,000

13,000

57,118

60,110

11.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

At

movement

At

30.4.25

in funds

29.4.26

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

77,070

(3,850

)

73,220

Restricted funds

IT Training Project

92

-

92

National Lottery Community Fund

51

(51

)

-

Crowdfunding Boat Project

550

-

550

Angling Trust

423

(423

)

-

Martin Geddes Trust

185

390

575

Rank Foundation

137

(69

)

68

1,438

(153

)

1,285

TOTAL FUNDS

78,508

(4,003

)

74,505

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

273,355

(277,205

)

(3,850

)

Restricted funds

National Lottery Community Fund

-

(51

)

(51

)

Angling Trust

-

(423

)

(423

)

Martin Geddes Trust

625

(235

)

390

Rank Foundation

-

(69

)

(69

)

625

(778

)

(153

)

TOTAL FUNDS

273,980

(277,983

)

(4,003

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

At

movement

At

30.4.24

in funds

29.4.25

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

88,751

(11,681

)

77,070

Restricted funds

IT Training Project

92

-

92

National Lottery Community Fund

51

-

51

Crowdfunding Boat Project

550

-

550

Angling Trust

846

(423

)

423

Martin Geddes Trust

61

124

185

Rank Foundation

218

(81

)

137

1,818

(380

)

1,438

TOTAL FUNDS

90,569

(12,061

)

78,508

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

249,355

(261,036

)

(11,681

)

Restricted funds

Angling Trust

-

(423

)

(423

)

Martin Geddes Trust

600

(476

)

124

Rank Foundation

-

(81

)

(81

)

Eco Grant

1,000

(1,000

)

-

1,600

(1,980

)

(380

)

TOTAL FUNDS

250,955

(263,016

)

(12,061

)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

At

movement

At

30.4.24

in funds

29.4.26

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

88,751

(15,531

)

73,220

Restricted funds

IT Training Project

92

-

92

National Lottery Community Fund

51

(51

)

-

Crowdfunding Boat Project

550

-

550

Angling Trust

846

(846

)

-

Martin Geddes Trust

61

514

575

Rank Foundation

218

(150

)

68

1,818

(533

)

1,285

TOTAL FUNDS

90,569

(16,064

)

74,505

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

£

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

522,710

(538,241

)

(15,531

)

Restricted funds

National Lottery Community Fund

-

(51

)

(51

)

Angling Trust

-

(846

)

(846

)

Martin Geddes Trust

1,225

(711

)

514

Rank Foundation

-

(150

)

(150

)

Eco Grant

1,000

(1,000

)

-

2,225

(2,758

)

(533

)

TOTAL FUNDS

524,935

(540,999

)

(16,064

)

12.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 29 April 2026.

13.	RESTRICTED FUNDS

IT Training Project

Funds were provided for IT training.

National Lottery Community Fund

Funds have been provided to cover any office costs for Clifton Street including - salaries, professional fees, van costs, training costs, travel costs, utility bills and repairs & renewals. Funds can also be used for any repairs and renewals for any other properties.

Crowdfunding Boat Project

Money was raised to cover any costs associated with the sail boat donated to the charity.

Angling Trust

Funds were provided to the charity to use towards the cost of coarse fishing activities for residents including - purchases of equipment, rod licences, fishery fees etc.

Martin Geddes Trust

Funds have been provided to pay for residents recreational activities including - sports equipment and associated indoor/outdoor costs.

Rank Foundation

Funds were provided to pay for any household items including white goods for any of the residential properties.

Eco Grant