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BEDFORDSHIRE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES LTD

Registered charity 1091271 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as BEDS GARDEN CARERS, BGC

We provide a day care service for adults with learning disabilities in the Bedford area, offering gardening, furniture renovation, and training in independent living skills.

Causes: Disability · website · Get email alerts

Latest income
£518k
Latest spending
£555k
Registered
2002
Accounts read
FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £37,104 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in unrestricted reserves of £631,809. The trustees' report indicates that the charity remains financially stable and committed to sustainability, despite noting that funds raised for building projects have not yet reached the intended level.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves policy: six months unrestricted expenditure (held: £632k)
“In this period, it has been the policy of the Charity to maintain a level of unrestricted funds equal to about six months unrestricted expenditure” — page 6
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.
Related-party transaction: The Charity started its operations as part of the services of Bedford Mencap in 1997 before becoming a separate legal entity in 2001. A close relationship remains with Bedford Mencap to the benefit of people with learning disabilities in the local area.
“The Charity started its operations as part of the services of Bedford Mencap in 1997 before becoming a separate legal entity in 2001. A close relationship remains with Bedford Mencap to the benefit of people with learning disabilities in the local area.” — page 4
Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Property (HM Land Registry)

1 registered title in England and Wales held by the charity’s company or corporate body (1 freehold); recorded price paid £250k. All charity-held property. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright, OGL v3.0.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/12/2024)

Total income
£518k
Total spending
£555k
Cost of raising funds
£6k
Reserves (reported)
£632k
Employees
20

Reported reserves equal ~13.7 months of spending — in the top quarter for charities its size (median 5.2 months; benchmarks).

Per its annual return, largest income source: Charitable activities (94% of income) — components as reported reconcile to the return’s total income; not from the accounts narrative.

Per its annual return, cost of raising funds: 1.2% of total income — below the median for charities its size (4.9%) (benchmarks).

Register events

Trustees · trustee networks

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Bedford · Cambridgeshire · Central Bedfordshire · Luton · Milton Keynes

Income and spending

Financial year endIncomeSpending
31/12/2024£518k£555k
31/12/2023£550k£772k
31/12/2022£637k£573k
31/12/2021£566k£414k
31/12/2020£431k£410k

Common questions

Is BEDFORDSHIRE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES LTD financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £37,104 for the year ended 31 December 2024, resulting in unrestricted reserves of £631,809. The trustees' report indicates that the charity remains financially stable and committed to sustainability, despite noting that funds raised for building projects have not yet reached the intended level. Its FY2024 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds BEDFORDSHIRE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES LTD?

Funders whose own accounts filings name BEDFORDSHIRE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES LTD as a grant recipient include The Connolly Foundation (UK) Limited, THE STEVEN BLOCH IMAGE OF DISABILITY CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

FunderYearAmountPurpose (as stated by the funder)
The Connolly Foundation (UK) LimitedFY2025£35kYoung people/Community
THE STEVEN BLOCH IMAGE OF DISABILITY CHARITABLE TRUSTFY2022£500

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

FunderDateAmountPurpose
The National Lottery Community Fund29/01/2026£60kCapital Build Project
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation25/06/2020£5kGrant to Bedfordshire Opportunities for Learning Disabilities
The National Lottery Community Fund25/01/2017£10kAnimal Husbandry training for people with a learning disability
The National Lottery Community Fund12/11/2009£7kBGC's IT Modernisation Project
The National Lottery Community Fund15/07/2004£5kFit for life