CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES L18RAR Y Trustees, Annual Report for the period Period stsrt date: From 1st April 2023 Period end date: March 31 St 2024 Charity name: Learning Library Charity registration number: 1000589 Objectives and Activities Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document Our main aim and objectives are to support children, young people and adults with additional needs by providing a free loan seNice of specialist resources to promote their holistic wellbeing and physical development. Our service provides items which are often expensive and may fall outside the average the family budget. All the items we provide are aimed at learning new skills, providing greater opportunity to interaGt with others, improving confidence and self-esteem, supporting sensory regulation, well-being and developing new interests and hobbies whilst having fun. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in partiGular, the activitiesi projects or services identified in the accounts. Our service is provided by means of Outreach Workers who visit members, homes, taking out equipment which will best benefit and support our members specific needs thereby encouraging physical and emotional development. We continue to ensure that resources are cleaned and sanitised to ensure that the items are totally safe to loan out to families. Our visits are always flexible to accommodate any circumstances. Outreach workers visit approximately 6 weekly and consult with members wherever possible to ensure that all of our childrenlyoung people and adults have a voice and are able make their own decisions as to the items they would like to borrow and also give their views on items they have loaned. Additionally, we provide sensory pop us sessions throughout County Durham, to bring larger resources to families. We find this brings together our members and their families in an inclusive, non-judgmental environment. Travel can be a challenge for many of our members, and having the opportun'ty to have resources brought to the safety and comfort of their home is an invaluable part of our service. Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit All Trustees are aware of their responsibilities as laid down by the Charity Commissioners. Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024 Page 11
Achievements and Performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. As of 3110312024 the Learning Library had a total of 549 Individual members. Of these members their age groups were:. TOTAL MEMBERSHIP BY AGE GROUP Ay,ed 0-5 ll Aged 6-11 11 ALJLJS 12-1_E W Aged 16 18 IM AL>od 19+ Aged 0-5 227 Aged 6-11 253 Ages 12-15 48 Aged 16-18 12 Aged 19+ 41% 46% During the financial year the Learning Library has continued to welcome new members, totalling 260 over the 12 month period. During the same period we have has 177 members journey with us come to an end. Therefore during this period the Learning Library had a growth of mernbership by 18.40h which was met head-on. Of these new members their age groups were:_ NEW MEMBERS BY AGE GROUP Ay,ed Q.5 •Ail¢,d (i-l l l?.15 • Ap.pil 16.18 Aged 0-5 Aged 6-11 Ages 12-15 Aged 16-18 Aged 19+ 129 114 14 50% Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024
Over recent years there has been a much broader knowledge and a shifting focus with regards to sensory regulation for our members. As our members can either have no sensory issues, or be over or under sensitive to some sensory input, it is essential that we support our members and their carers with regards to regulating their sensory needs. This is quite a complex process as individuals needs can change on an hour by hour basis, and we really work to try and help members identify when their sensory regulation may be impacted, and to try and put steps in place as soon as practicable to do so. A common example we get from families is that their child copes well at school, but as soon as they are home they are easily overwhelmed, or enter a crisis. A high proportion of our members are Primary Schools aged, and it is those families who most commonly report this. We find that by supporting the individual to meet their needs, there is a positive effect on the entire household as there is a lower likelihood of a child reaching crisis point as we are able to intervene and recommend strategies to assist with this depending on the individual needs of the member. It is certainly not the case that every child that presents with masking behaviours at school, and then returns to their safe space requires the same intervention, it must be tailored to the individual. As an organisation we receive regular and high volumes of referrals each and every month. In the previous financial year 50 % of our new referrals were in the 0-5 age bracket. We often find that parentslguardians Come to us really unsure about what to do for the best for their child. Sadly, we are in a time where there are substantial waiting lists for services for children with additional needs in this area, with families being quoted as much as 5 years for diagnosislintervention. As we are able to act so swiftly, we are able to work with families from the earliest Chance, and work with and support families int their time of need. Some of the outcomes we measure within the organisation include learning a new skill, interaction with others and improved Gonfidence. You can see from the numbers highlighted that we are able to quickly see positive outcome for our members. However one of the biggest pieces of feedback we receive is the benefit of having someone to turn to who will come out to their home and offer information and advice around any difficulties the family Is facing and essentially to be a shoulder to lean on whilst learning about and navigating the challenges of having a child with additional needs. Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period For this period our income and expenditure totalled £123,536.32 Income £113,397.41 Expenditure INCOME APRIL 2023- MARCH 2024 Grants We received £83,344.70 in restricted grant and £15,858.79 in unrestricted grants totalling £99,203.49 Other income Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024 Page 13
Income from bank interest, sales products and sales seNices totaled £156.36 Own Fundraisin Our own fundraising totaled £522.30 Subscri tions Income from Subscriptions totalled £4,495.00 Donations Donations to the Learning Library from individuals and organisations brought in £3,354.20 Totals The total funds into the Learning Library was £123,536.32 EXPENDITURE APRIL 2023- MARCH 2024 Vehicle Costs The vehicle costs for this financial year to include, fuel, insurance and maintenance etc was £9805.60 which was a 240/0 increase on the previous year. Staff Costs Christmas gifts including training and uniform totalled £1180.76,which was a 900/0 increase on the previous year. Runnin Costs This cost includes accountancy, repairs, stationery, postage, telephone, HR charges etc totalled £5,300.70 which was a 250/0 reduction on the previous year, Premises Costs This cost includes building maintenance including a new shed rood and back door, heating and lighting, buildings insurance etc totalled £11,360.40, a 34 % increase on the previous year. ui The cost this year for resourceslequipment was £12,161.59 with an additional £4,444.40 for replacement computers. Wa Wages for financial year 2023-2024 were £72,078.21, an increase on 19 % Totals Total running costs for the year came to £113,397.41. Based on the accounts for the year, it does appear that the library has accrued £10,138.91 this is not the base as £20,000.00 was raised for purchase of a new van which was not spent within the financial year. Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024 Page 14
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held The Learning Library holds a separate high interest account where we hold our unrestricted reserve funds. These funds are intended to support the organisation in a time of hardship. Should the Learning Library cease trading activities, it is expected that there reserves would fund any redundancy payments, prior to this the balance would fund approximately 3 months running costs. These funds can only be accessed with authorisation from the board of Trustees. Amount of reserves held £33,215.04 structure, Governance and Management Description of charity's trusts: Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) Constitution How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) The Management group comprising of 7 Trustees make up the registered charity Trustee selection methods including detsils of any constitutional provlsions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees The Management Group Reference and Administrative details Charity name Registered charity number Charity's prlncipal address Learning Library 1000589 45-47 North Street Spennymoor Co. Durham DL16 6AP Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates acted if not for whole Offlce (if any) ear Namg of person {or body) entitled toa oint trustee if an Trustee name Victoria Ross Denise Hickson Jackie Heslop Stephen Heslop Elaine William Ray Heslop Rebecca Calder Chairperson Vice Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others The Learning Library does not have a Custodian Trustee Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024 Page 15
Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke ersonnel details Not applicable Declarations The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report above. Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees Signature(s) Full name{s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Victoria Ross Chair Date 161h September 2024 Trustees Annual Report 2023-2024
THE LEARNING LIBRARY 45- 47 NORTH STREET, SPENNYMOOR, COUNTY DURHAM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR TO THE 31 ' MARCH 2024 T. & A. Dixon Accountancy Services The Old Doctors Surgery, High Etherley, Bishop Auckland. Co. Durham DL14 OHS
THE LEARNING LIBRARY l. Independent Examiners Report 2. Accounting Statement 3. Slat¢men¢ of Assets and Liabi lities
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru8fee8K members of Leaming Library On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charlty no (If any) 1000589 Set out on pages I report to the truste88 on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Yhe Trust,) for the year ended 3110312024 Responslbilitios and basls of report As the charfty's trustees, you are responslble for the preparation of the accounts In accordanc8 wlth Ihe requirements of the Charitles Act 2011 (Ihe Act"), I report In resp8Ct of my examlnation of th8 Trust's accounts carried out under s8Ctlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carying out my examlnatlon, I have followed all the appllcabl8 Direction8 given by the Charlty Comm188lon under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examlnatlon. I conflrm that no materlal mattars have examlnerf8 Statement come to my attentlon In connectlon wlth the examlnatlon (other than that dlsclosed below ') whlch glves me cause to belleve that In, any materlal respect: th8 accountlng records were not kapt In accordanc8 with section 130 of the Charlties Act. or the accounts dld not accord wlth th8 accountlng records; or the accounts dld not comply with the appllcable r8qulr8ments concemlng the form and cont8nt of accounts set out In the Charltles (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts give a 'true and falr, vlew whlch is not a matter consldered as part of an indepen(lent 8xamln8tlon, I have no concerns and have come across no other matters In connectlon wlth th8 examinatlon to whlch attention should be drawn In Ihls report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reachad. . Please delete the words In the brackets if they do not apply. Slgnod: Date: 0510612024 Name: Mr Alan Dlxon Relevant professlonal qualificatlon{s) or body (If any): ICPA IER Oct 2018
Address: Church View, High EtheTley Bishop Auckland County Durharn DL14 OHS Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner n88ds to highllght materfal matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examinatlon of charlty accounts: dlrectlons and guidance for examlners). Glve hero brfef detalls of any Items that the examiner wishes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018
THE LEARNING LIBRARY Receipts and Payments Account for the year to the 31, March 2024 The information on the following pages does not fom part of the statutory financial statements.
THE LEARNING LIBRARY Receipts and Payments Basis For the YeAr to 31st March, 2024 Receipts DonAtions 3.354.20 3,354.20 Grants Co-operative Community Fund Grants Children in Need Dui'liam County Council National Lottery Community Fund 758.79 48,404.00 30,271.20 15,590.00 20,000.00 115,023.99 Other Income Bank Interesl Sales Pi'oducts Sales Service5 267.93 29.50 69.60 367.03 Own Fundraising Raftle 522.30 522.30 Subscriptions NursLIy Schoo15 Day Care 1,200.00 2,990.00 305.00 4,495.00 123.762.52 Bank Balance as at I st April, 2023 Ciiri'cni Accouni Balance as al 31 sl Marcli 2023 Deposit Accoiint Balance as at 31 st Mai'ch 2023 OpeninLy Cash in Hand 29,512.24 32,947.11 403.118 62,862.43 186,624.95
Payments Equipment Toys & Equipment OlCe Equipinent 12.161.59 4,444.40 16.605.99 Premises Costs Building Maintenance / Repairs / Keys Cleaning Heat & Lighi Rent Tudhoe Unit Water Rates Buildins) Insurance 2,978.69 160.89 2.816.26 2,986.56 375.69 2,042.31 11,360.40 Running Costs Accountancy HR Bank Charges Lottery Licence Repairs to Equipment Statioiiery Laundry Sundi-ies Telephone & Internet Delivery Cos15 Computer Maintenance 925.00 1,320.54 708.38 20.00 226.82 890.39 3.75 340.39 814.23 43.20 8.00 5,300.70 Staff Costs Statl Costs Flowers 1,120.76 60,00 1,180,76 Wages & On Costs General Funds HMRC Puyment Pension CDCF CIN 24.796.95 5,370.10 1,758.92 4,877,51 35,274.73 72,078.21 Vehiele Co$t$ Service l Maintenance Insurance Miscellaneous Road Tax Fuel 2,849.52 1,439.08 14.99 040.00 2,862.01 7,805.60 Miscellaneous Subsci'iptions Event 125.00 i 00.00 225.00 114.556.66 PY Creditoi's CY Creditors 172.61 1,331.86 1,159.25 113,397.41 CY Debtors 226.20 Closing, Cash Balance Current Account Balaiicc as at 31 st March 2024 D¢p05it Account Balance as at 315l Mai'ch 2024 224.17 39,562.13 33 215.04 73001.34 186,624.95
THE LEARNING LIBRARY Accounting Statement Receipts and Payiments Basis For the Year to 3 1st March, ?024 Recei ts 2024 Gifts, donations and other voluiitary receipts 119,000 Receipts from Tradin&y activities 4.495 Receipts earned from assets 268 Tolal Recei ts 123 763 ments Paynients directly for charitable purposes Payments for publicity and fundraising. manageinent and adininistration 96,791 Total Inents 96,791 Net Recei Is I menls Cash funds Last Year End Cash Fliiids This Year End The Cliarity lia5 rcslriclcd funds I'he Charity has no eiidowmLnl funds SigTne ehalf of the Trustees Approved by the board of Trustees on -
THE LEARNING LIBRARY Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 3 1st March, 2024 Cash Funds Cash in Hand Bank Current Account Bank Deposit Account Total Cash Funds 224 39.562 73,001 Debtors Invoices oulstandingy at year end 226 Assels Retained for haril '5 Own Use General Account Bfwd Bought 4.444 12,162 Sold Depn Cfwd Office Furniture and Equipment rixlurLs, fitlingys aiid Equipinenl - Cost Moioi. veliicle Cost 950 113,026 1,079 12.519 1,617 215 4,316 112,669 6,469 123 4.54 606 Liabilities General Account 1.332 Siuined on be ie Trustees Approved by the board of Trustees on -
Leaming Library Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the perlod from To 0110412023 3110312024 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to thè near•8t £ Restri¢ted funds to the nearest £ Endowment funds to thg nearesl £ Total funds Last year to thg neargsl £ to lh• n&•rt £ A1 Receipts Donations 3.354 3,354 10,125 Grants 12,760 102,264 115,024 63,198 Other Income 99 99 70 Own Fundraising 522 522 825 Subscriptions Debtors AdjLtstment 4,495 4,495 4,690 226 226 Sub total 21,004 102,264 123,268 78.908 A2 Asset and Investmenl sales, etc. 26B 268 111 Total receipts 21,272 102.264 123.536 79,020 A3 Payments Miscellaneous 100 loo 36 PieraiE¢s Ctssis 7fiSQ Running Costs 2,931 2,370 6,301 7,QS1 Staff Costs 1,181 1.IBI 121 Vehicle Costs 4,889 7,805 4,646 W8ges & ON Costs 33,060 72,079 58,492 Volunteer Costs 24 Subsuiplion 125 f25 Creditors Adjuslmenl 1,159 1,159 1,461 Sub total 48,686 48,105 96,792 8D,662 A4 Asset and investment purchases, et¢. 2,090 16,606 22,315 Total payments 50,777 62,621 113,398 102.977 Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds 29,505 39.644 10.139 23.958 A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 62,B62 62,862 86,820 33.357 39,644 73,001 62,862 CCXX R1 ac¢ounls ISSI 0610612024
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to nearest £ Restricted funds to nearest £ Endowment funds to nèarest £ Categories Details B1 Cash funds Bank & Cash Accounts 33,357 39,644 Total cash funds 18gree balances with CeIPtS 8nd p8ymen15 crounllsll 33,357 39,644 Unrestricted funds io near¥st £ Re5trScted funds io nearost £ Endowment funds (o nearest £ Debtors 226 Fund to whlch 8se¢ belon Currènt valug tional Cost loptlonall B3 Investment a8Set8 Fund lo whlch asset bglon Cost loptlonall Current value tional 84 Assets retained for the charity'8 own u88 Olflcè Furnlture & Equlpment 4,316 FlxtUTe3, Flttlngs & Equlpment 112,669 Motor Vehicl? 6,469 Fund to whlch r•latos Amount duo tlonal When du tlonal B5 Liabilities Creditors 1.332 Signed by one or kn Iruslees on behalf of all the twslees nature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 aecoun15 ISSI 0610612024
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustoe members of Leaming Library On accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 Charlty no (If any) 1000589 Set out on pages I report to the trustee8 on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the above charity (Yha Trust,) for th& year ended 3110312024 As the charlty's trustees, you are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requirem8nts of the Charlties Act 2011 (Yhe Act"). I report In respect of my examinatlon of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examlnatlon, I have followed all the appllcable Directions given by the Charfty Cornmlsslon under section 145{5)(b) of the Act. Responsibilltles and basls of report Independent I have completed my examlnatlon. I confirm that no matsrlal matters have examlner's Statemont come to my attentlon In connection wlth the examlnatlon (other than that dlsclosad belrjw ') whlch glves me cause to belleva that In, any materlal respect: th8 accounting records were not kept In accordance wlth saction 130 of the Charlties Act; or the accounts dld not accord wlth the accounting records; or the accounts dld not comply wlth the appSicable requlrements concemlng the fonn and content of accounts set out in the Charlties (Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts give a 'true and falrf view whlch16 not a matter con81dered a8 part of an Independent examlnation. I have no concern8 and have come across no other matters In connectlon wllh the examinatlon to whlch attention should be drawn In thls report In order to enable a proper understsndlng of the accounts to be raached. Please delete the words In the brackets if they do not apply. Date: 0510612024 Slgned: Name: MrAlan Dlxon Relevant professlonal quallflcation(s) or body (If any>: ICPA IER Oct 2018
Address: Church View, High Etherfey Bishop Auckland County Durham DL14 OHS Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examlner needs to hlghllght material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examlnatlon of charlty accounts: dlrectlons and guldance for examiners). Give here brfef detalls of any items that the examiner wlshes to dlsclose. IER Oct 2018