Hlnckley and District Work-Llnk Prolect
Accounts
Year to 31 st March 2025

nc
istrl
or
Year
31rt March 2025
Contsnts
Trustees Report
Independent Examlners Report
Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
10
Notes to the Accounts

Hinckley and District
WORK-LINK PROJECT
Trustee's Annual report for the Year to 31 $t March 2025
Work-Link Project is a registered with the Charity commissioners (No. 1002750) and
governed by the Work-Link Project Constitution. It is located at Abbotts House, Trinity Lane,
Hinckley. LE10 OBL.
A Trustee Board administers the Charity. Between April 2024 and March 2025. the board
was served by'.-
Name
Bron Witherford
Martin Roe
John Moore
Keith Griffiths
Tim Render
Office
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee until 30th May 2024
Trustee and Chair
In attendance at meetings
Mandy Chapman
Project Manager
Sue Stanley,
Finance Manager
Tim Render was re-elected as Chaimian at the Annual General Meeting in January 2025 The
Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary posts still remain vacant, as the charity continues to
review its governance structure in the light of changing business circumstances. In particular,
Work-Link remains committed to becoming an incorporated charity as soon as practical. Once
the charity is incorporated, the assets of the Charity will be held in the name of the charity and
not individual trustees.
The Charity's Bankers are National Westminster Bank Plc, 13 The Borough, Hinckley,
Leicestershire. LE10 1 NW.
The only area of restriction contained in the governing documents is that the activities of Work-
Link shall be limited to the objects set out in (3) below.
'The trustees shall invest in the trust's name any money that is not required for the immediate
purpose of Work-Link in any of the securities in which trust money maybe by law invested with
power from time to time to transpose such investments. Any Property acquired by orfor Work-
Link shall be vested in the Trustees..

Hinckley and District
WORK-LINK PROJECT
Trustee's Annual report for the year to 31$t March 2025 (Continued)
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity is governed by a constitution dated 11th November 2008 and is registered with
The Charity Commission as a Charity.
The maximum size of the Trustee Board is fifteen members.. 4 interested representatives of
Churches Together in Hinckley and District. 4 Persons of appropriate experience and of good
standing within the community, 2 from Voluntarylstatutory sectors and'2 "Work-Link'
volunteers (service users). Additionally, the committ￿ has the power to co-opt an additional
3 members who do not have voting rights. Co-opted members may be re-co-opted or seek
election to the Trustee Board. Officers are nominated prior to AGM and. If necessary, a vote
its then taken at the AGM.
The Trustee Board continues to endeavour to widen and strengthen its membership in the
past year and is considering succession arrangements for Trustees. Following a period of
search, Work-Link was able to recruit two new experienced trustees to join the Board in July
2025.
Trustee Board members are given an induction and training in their roles and responsibilities.
A Manager is appointed by the Trustee Board to manage the day-to-day operations of the
Charity.
The Charity has a working relationship with various statutory agencies including the County
Council, Leicester City Council, and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. The Trustee
Board regularly reviews its risk management strategy. Health and Safety risk assessment
using government guidelines are in place in all areas. An independent expert is commissioned
to review and advise on Health and Safety arrangements annually.
Work-Link has adopted a Safeguarding Adults Policy and wort(s closely with referrers to
ensure risk assessment and risk management strategies are in place for individuals within the
client group.
There is also a policy concerning the level of financial reserves and this too is regularly
reviewed.
Objectives and activities
The work of the charity is entirely focussed on providing benefit to the people most in need of
practical support and those needing clear and supported routes into training. This is
especially for those who have a leaming disability, who otherwise would be at risk of long term
unemployment and exclusion from everyday economic activities, and thus very likely to be

living in poverty. The practical work and training activities that Work-Link provides provide
essential preparation for work or further study as well as being "real. businesses that help to
make the organisation sustainable.
The Charity employed an average of 13 members of staff (3 full- time and 10 part-time) during
2024125.
Work-Link has referrals from the voluntary and statutory sectors and intends to continue to
grow that number. Volunteerslservice Users attend on one or two sessions per week, 55
individuals attending each week. Training opportunrties, support and supervision are provided
by the staff team on a daily basis in the Service Users chosen area(s) of activity. Work-Link
activities listed below provide meaningful work place opportunities and training in the following
areas:_
Furniture and Electrical Collections
Work-Link collects donated furniture from residents of Leicester, Leicestershire. and beyond
that are suitable for supply to others, or for sale. These items are then either sold in our
dedicated shop or used to fulfil orders that Leicester City Council or Leicestershire County
Council, have sent that are then delivered to vulnerable adults and families. To achieve this,
we have a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, vans to collect and distribute goods.
The charity moved to new premises which combine retail and storage space in May 2024.
Volunteerslservice Users are taught customer service, distribution, manual handling, risk
assessment and data input.
Collections of donated items saved around 120 tonnes of furniture and electrical items from
landfill in 2024125
Retail sales
New town centre retail premises were occupied in May 2024. Following bedding down of the
move, retail sales have shown a significant upward trend contributing to the improved financial
performance. Volunteers get real work experience within the shop and learn all aspects of
customer service.
Leicestershire and Rutland Re-use Network
Work-Link was a founder member of the Leicestershire and Rutland Reuse Network. (LRRN)
This was a county-wide Community Interest Company, a vehicle for organising and planning
extended re-use and supply across Leicester and Leicestershire. This opened some new
supply opportunities for us. It hosts the contract for the Community Support Grant in Leicester.
Work-Link provides furniture and electrical appliances to those in need who have been
referred by Leicester City Council. This work has become an increasingly important element
of Work-Link's activities and income generation. As other members of LRRN have changed
the focus of their work, Work-Link is now the sole member of this Community Interest
Company. LRRN remains a separate company although Directors of LRRN'and trustees of
Work-Link are continuing to assess what an appropriate organisational structure should be.
Contractual Sales

Work-Link has won the contract for the LeI￿stershire Local Welfare Provision. This used to
be run through LRRN. Work-Link supplies goods to people all over Leicestershire who are
referred to us by the District Councils.
Between April 2024 and March 2025 we delivered furniture to over 1,400 homes in Lei￿ster
and Leicestershire via LRRN and through the Local Welfare Provision scheme.
Volunteerin
and trainin
Work-Link Project provides meaningful volunteering and training opportunities for people with
mental 111 health and other disabilities based around the reuse of furniture and electrical
appliances. This year Work-Link dompleted 39 years of serving the community of Hinckley
and Bosworth.
We usually receive referrals for our Service from Community Mental Health teams. Assertive
Outreach, Early Interiention, the Inclusion Support servi￿ employment ServI￿S and
voluntary agencies. After an initial assessment and risk assessment and a settling in period,
sep4ice users look at short term goals and long temi goals. Volunteers all have individual
development plans (IDPS) and work towards their own goals.
We give our Servi￿ users lots of opportunities to tell us how they experience the project. We
hold daily informal meetings with service users over lunch where we pass on information and
seek their ideas and input. Work-Link actively encourages and supports our employees to gain
the skills and qualifications that meet the needs of our service users.
We ensure that staff continually update and extend their skills though support, supervision and
staff training. Staff continue to update their training in Safeguarding Adults, First Aid and
Health and Safety.
Business develo
ment
The loss of public sector grants a decade ago left a significant financial challenge for Work-
Link, although the availability of free reserve funds has continued to give Work-Link time to
adjust to the new situation.
Business planning arrangements were again reviewed during the year to update the long-
standing strategy to develop and thrive in a financially-sustainable way, without any significant
grant support from public authorities. A Business Development Officer is employed to progress
this agenda. This is a continuing "work in progress" as the financial and operating environment
continues to change and become more challenging.
Work-Link continues to develop its re-use activities that both provide training opportunities for
volunteers and generate a net income to support the organisation. We continue to seek
available charitable grant funding where available that supports our aims for Service Users,
increasingly using on-line channels for sale of goods, (e.g. Facebook and Work-Link websrte)
The two substantial local authority contracts will run until 2027
Financlal Review
The gross income for the year totalled £642k whilst the expenditure was £ 665k, leaving a
deficit of just under £23k. The loss included exceptional items that had to be funded in 2024125

including settling a dilapidations claim from the landlord of the previous property, the legal
and physical costs of the move, and the settlement of outstanding lease payments on a vehicle
that was stolen. In total, exceptional items amounted to £31 k. Without these expenses, the
charity would have recorded a surplus for 2024125. Nevertheless, the actual performance
including these costs is a considerable improvement over the £50k loss recorded the previous
year.
The balance of our income has substantially changed in last decade , with the vast majority
of our income now arising from our own work and activities,(principally fulfilling contracts for
supply of furnishings and equipment to residents of Leicester City and Leicestershire County),
rather than from public sector grants.
Reserves Polic
The charity maintains reserves to cover the costs of operating the organisation for at least
three months. That minimum reserve.would equate to £166k for 2024125. The actual free
reserves amounted to £194k at 31st March 2025
Future develo
ment and
st balance sheet events
Trustees continue to keep a close watch on developments in the operating environment and
changes that will affect operations. In particular, medium term planning is in place that covers
the end date of the significant public contracts that the Charity delivers.
Goin
concern
The Trustees have considered all the financial information in the accounts as well as budget
and financial prospects for 2025126 and beyond. They are satisfied that the accounts should
be prepared on a "going concern. basis, as the organisation will have funds available to meet
costs as they become due for at least the next twelve months (as required by accounting
practice) from the date of signing the accounts.
Signed
Tim Render Chair of Trustees

Hinckley and Distrlrt Wothunk Project
Independent ExamIne￿$ Report to the Trustees of'Hlncldey & Dlstrlct work.unk Prolece.
I report to the trustees on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the above tharlty ('*he Trust,? for the year ended
31" March 2025.
RwpoMlbllkle$ and basls of report
As the charirfs trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the acctwnts In accordance the
requiremthts of the Charitie5 Att 2011 fthe Act.?.
I report In respect of my examlnadon of the Trust's accounts earrled out under sec¢lon l 45 of the 2011 Art and
In carryng out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Dlrections given by the Charity Commlsslon
under $ettbon 145(5>(b) ofth¢ A¢L
Indep•nd•nt examlnews $tat•m•nt
I have Completed my examination. l eonfim) that no material matters have come to my attention in connection
with the examlnatlon whlch gives me cause to believe that In. any materlal respe
the accounting records were not kept In accord￿Ce with sectlon 130 of the Charltles A¢ or
the accounts did not accord wlth the accounting records: or
the accounts dld not comply with the applioble requlrements conceming the forni and wntent
of #tt¢unts set out in the CPAritie5 (Ae¢ounts and Reports) Regulatlons 21))8 other than any
roqulrement that the aCCOUFts zlye a'tru¢ and falrf vlew vthl¢h ts not a matter consldernd as part cf
an independ¢nt examlnatlon.
I have no Concerns and have come across no other matters in connecrA¢n with the examinatlon to vthith
attention should be dravrn In thls report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be
reached.
Mrs K L Wright FCCA
Integra Accounting Llml¢¢d
Chartered Cerrified Accountants
5 Stttlon Road
Hlnckaey
LEIO IAW

Hlnckle
and Dlstrkt Work-unk Pro
Flnanclal accounts for the ear to 31.03.25
Income and Ex endlture Account 315t March 2025
31.03.2025
31.03.2024
Incom
Donations and legacies
5.797
152
Income from Charftable Artlvltles:
Primary purpose and ancilliary trading
468,150
471,376
Charltable Income Irom funders:
Reuse credits/grant income
4,045
472,195
3.158
474,534
Other tradlng a¢tlvftles:
Trading artlvities to ralse funds for the charity
Other mlscellaneous Income
159,770
1.655
161,42S
53.145
53,145
Bank Interest recelvable
Total Income
2,314
641.731
966
528.797
Ex
ndlture
Expendlture on charltable actlvftles: Dlrert spendlng
Gross wa8es and salarles
Employers NIC
Defined beneflt penslon costs
207,309
10,628
3.195
221.132
9,562
230,694
194,7n
8.647
2,849
2￿268
8.370
214.638
Travel and subslstence - charltable actlvltSes
Exp•ndlture on tharltable actlvitles: Charftable tradln8
Cost of 8oods for primary purpose tradlng
Movement in stock for goods made by beneficiaries
Costs of ancilliary trading to benefit beneficiaries
Movement In stock for anclllary trading
Motor expenses
55,133
2,4T7
232.305
5,221
30,511
323,170
264.916
(4,649)
23,603
286.347
Su
rt costs for charltable actlvltles:
Premlses expenses:
Rent payable under operating leases
Rates and water charges
Light, heat and power
Cleaning and waste mana8ement
Premises repairs, renwals and maintenance
Insurance
44.016
1.220
1978
1.535
24,811
8.773
40,691
1,002
4.376
5.161
6.880

Admlnlstratlve *)verheads:
Telephone, fax and internet
Postage
Stationery and prlnting
Hire of equipment
Software licences and expenses
Advertising and marketing
Sundry expenses
1867
395
1,026
1.124
.4,112
817
617
990
3,870
5.436
3,694
Professlonal fees pald to advlsors Otherthan audltors or examlner:
Other le8al and professional
Payroll costs
Financlal costs:
Bank charges
Depreciation
1.500
975
890
4.019
1.445
1.047
1.819
T•)tal support costs
109.925
76.043
Totsl charitable expenditure excluding depreciation
Depreciation
Governance costs
661344
1,445
1.000
575,809
1,819
1.040
Loss on disposal of flxed assets
664.789
578.668
Net surplus on ordinary actlvltles
23.058
49.871
23.058
49,871
Net funds blfwd
21&274
266.145
Net funds clfwd
193,216
216.274

Hlnckle and Dlstrirt Work-Llnk Pro ert
Year to 3
st March 20
Tangible fixed assets
5,009
654
Current assets
Stock
Debtor$
Cash at bank and In hand
10,269
85,398
147,331
241998
15,490
118.426
121.631
255.547
Creditors: Amounts falling
due In l year
(54.017)
(3&192)
Net current assets
18&981
217,355
Totsl net assets
£ 193.990
£ 218.009
Unrestrlcced Revenue funds
Restricted Funds (roy Appeal)
193216
774
216.274
1,735
Total charity fund$
£ 193,990
£ 218,009
10

Hlnclde
and Dlstrlct wor￿LInk Pro.
Notes to the accounts
Year to 31rt March 2025
Tangible Fixed Assets
and Fittln
hl
Cwc blhyd
Additions
45,308
5,800
12,500
57,809
5.800
Dlsposals
Cort
51.108
12.500
£ 63.609
Depn blfivd
Charze in year
Elim on disposals
Depn elfivd
44,654
1,445
12.500
57,154
1.445
46,099
12.500
£ 5&599
NBV 2025
5.009
£ 5,009
NBV 2024
654
654
20
2024
Debtors
Trdde debtors
Prepayments and accrued incorne
Other debtors
7&045
96,388
7.136
14.902
5.269
£ 85.398
£ 118.426
Credltors: Amounts falllng due In l year
Trade credltor5
Accruals and deferred income
Other taxes and social securty costs
Other credltors
26.734
12.823
25,559
724
23,805
564
£ 54.017
£ 38.192