FOREST GATE COMMUNITY GARDEN
A community garden for the benefit of the residents of Forest Gate, Newham, London, largely maintained by volunteers. Funds raised provide a community gardener, courses and workshops in gardening or the arts and for it to obtain its necessary administrative and support services.
Objects
TO PROVIDE OR ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE FOR RECREATION OR OTHER LEISURE TIME OCCUPATION OF INDIVIDUALS RESIDING IN FOREST GATE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA WHO HAVE NEED OF SUCH FACILITIES BY REASON OF THEIR YOUTH, AGE INFIRMITY OR DISABILITY, FINANCIAL HARDSHIP OR SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE, IN PARTICULAR THROUGH THE FACILITATION OF A COMMUNITY GARDENING, GROWING AND VOLUNTEERING PROJECT.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity changed its accounting basis from accruals to receipts and payments for the year ended 5 April 2025, resulting in figures that are not directly comparable with the previous year. Per the trustees' report, the charity maintained unrestricted cash balances of £59,276, which exceeds its stated reserves policy target of £10,000.
What the accounts disclose
“This amount has been set at £10,000, the policy being subject to annual review.”
Policies the charity declares
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 05/04/2025
- Volunteers: 50
- Government income: £10,000 — grants £10,000 (1); 22% of the £45,407 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 05/04/2024
- Volunteers: 40
- Government income: £12,350 — grants £12,350 (4); 35% of the £35,500 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 05/04/2023
- Volunteers: 30
- Government income: £1,250 — grants £1,250 (5); 2% of the £53,212 total gross income on the same return
Trustees
- Myanah Saunderschair
- David Simon Rosenberg
- Idris Patel
- KERENA FUSSELL
- Laura Batatota
- MARK GORMAN
- Maureen Egbe
- PETER WILLIAMS
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 05/04/2025 | £45k | £47k |
| 05/04/2024 | £36k | £34k |
| 05/04/2023 | £53k | £38k |
| 05/04/2022 | £67k | £60k |
| 05/04/2021 | £25k | £22k |
Common questions
Is FOREST GATE COMMUNITY GARDEN financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity changed its accounting basis from accruals to receipts and payments for the year ended 5 April 2025, resulting in figures that are not directly comparable with the previous year. Per the trustees' report, the charity maintained unrestricted cash balances of £59,276, which exceeds its stated reserves policy target of £10,000. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.
Who funds FOREST GATE COMMUNITY GARDEN?
Funders whose own accounts filings name FOREST GATE COMMUNITY GARDEN as a grant recipient include KUSUMA TRUST UK, ONE NEWHAM.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | FY2025 | £5k | Random Act of Kindness |
| KUSUMA TRUST UK | FY2024 | £5k | Random Act of Kindness |
| ONE NEWHAM | FY2024 | £500 | Westfield Better Places 2030—Newham Community Fund |
| ONE NEWHAM | FY2024 | £500 | City Bridge Foundation Second Step Grant |
| ONE NEWHAM | FY2023 | £500 |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 06/02/2025 | £16k | Reaching out |
| City Bridge Foundation | 31/05/2024 | £28k | Grant to Forest Gate Community Garden CIO |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/07/2023 | £8k | Growing our Community Garden |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 11/05/2022 | £10k | "Learn Draw Grow" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/08/2021 | £2k | You're Welcome |
| City Bridge Foundation | 08/04/2021 | £30k | Grant to Forest Gate Community Garden CIO |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 12/03/2021 | £10k | Opening Up to a New World |
| Thrive LDN | 16/03/2020 | £1k | Opening Up the Garden |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 03/10/2019 | £10k | Green Roots - sustaining success (2) |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE GEOFFREY WATLING CHARITY | 1 | £15k |
| THE JONES 1986 CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £15k |
| FRAZER TRUST | 1 | £11k |
| Advance Nottingham | 1 | £6k |
| GOING FOR BUST | 1 | £5k |
| J N DERBYSHIRE TRUST | 1 | £4k |
| MR AND MRS J A PYE'S CHARITABLE SETTLEMENT | 1 | £3k |
| THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GARDENERS OF LONDON CHARITY | 1 | £2k |
Charities like this
- FOREST FARM PEACE GARDEN
- BARRACKS LANE COMMUNITY GARDEN
- NEW FOREST TRUST
- Nottingham Forest Foundation
- ARKWRIGHT MEADOWS COMMUNITY GARDENS
- FOREST HOLME HOSPICE CHARITY
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOREST GATE COMMUNITY GARDEN | £45k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| FOREST FARM PEACE GARDEN | £109k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| BARRACKS LANE COMMUNITY GARDEN | £33k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NEW FOREST TRUST | £84k | £2,243 | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| Nottingham Forest Foundation | £2.1m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| ARKWRIGHT MEADOWS COMMUNITY GARDENS | £143k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |