## **BRIDGES** **(Charity No. 1029169)** **Trustees Report & Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020** 0 ## **BRIDGES** ## **(Charity No. 1029169)** ## **Trustees and Officers who served during 2020** TRUSTEES Richard Dyson - Chairman David CW Stafford Barbara Abel Michael Musgrove - Secretary Susan E Oldfield Dorothy E Sutton (until 23 September 2020) François Meunier – Treasurer Adenike Omoregbee Rebecca Jordan (from 18 November 2020) CENTRE MANAGER Mary Perrett ASSISTANT TO THE CENTRE MANAGER Elizabeth A Martin-Lawrence CENTRE TREASURERS Elizabeth Richmond Gwen Chappell CENTRE COMMITTEE Mary Perrett – Chair Barbara Abel Stella Bundred Dot Francis Janet Lewis Elizabeth A Martin-Lawrence Chrissie Stephens Judy Webb Dorothy Sutton CONSULTANTS Ronald V Sutton ADDRESS Bridges Centre High Street Edenbridge Kent TN8 5AJ Telephone 01732 868186 1 ## **BRIDGES** ## **(Charity No. 1029169)** ## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 December 2020** ## **Objectives** BRIDGES was established as a registered charity in 1993. It purchased and refurbished a former chapel in the centre of the High Street, Edenbridge, Kent in order to fulfil its core purpose of running an ecumenical Centre for the benefit of the whole community. Staffed by volunteers under the supervision of a paid manager, the BRIDGES Centre offers a familiar and accessible place for people to meet, a listening ear, friendship, rest and refreshment, with particular regard for the needs of parents with young children, the aged, the unemployed and those who are lonely or distressed. Its aim is to bring together all sections of the community to their mutual benefit as visitors or volunteers, without discrimination, and to ‘bridge the gaps’ in local provision that are not being addressed by existing statutory or voluntary agencies. To that end BRIDGES provides specialist advice clinics, which give local people access to information and services without needing to travel to larger towns. BRIDGES aims to demonstrate Christian faith in action through creating a welcoming community where anyone can find, or be, a ‘good neighbour’. It maintains a Christian ethos of inclusivity and service, and encourages people to develop their creative and practical abilities. ## BRIDGES priorities are: - to overcome social isolation and strengthen communities - to co-operate with other local organisations - to build a sense of worth in volunteers and visitors alike - to help find solutions to pressing personal needs - to encourage Christians in the practice of their faith - to create sustainable communities both locally and globally - to encourage understanding and tolerance between people of different faiths and backgrounds BRIDGES is committed to implementing high standards of care to volunteers and visitors who are children or vulnerable adults and, additionally, to ensuring that its policies and procedures meet current legislative requirements. There have been no breaches of BRIDGES safeguarding standards reported to the trustees in 2020. ## **Organisational Structure** The Trustees met six times in 2020, to review strategy, policies and finance, and to receive reports from committees and working groups chaired by Trustees. The BRIDGES Centre Committee (BCC), chaired jointly by the manager and a trustee, oversees the day-to-day running of the Centre on a daily basis. Volunteers become members of BRIDGES after a period of three months’ service, and elect at the Annual Review up to seven of their number to serve on the BCC. 2 ## **Activities During 2020** The Trust’s core activity of providing a Drop-in Centre in Edenbridge flourished for 10 weeks from 4.1.20 - 16.3.20, before the first Lockdown, ordered by the Government to address the Covid-19 pandemic, came into force on 23.3.20. BRIDGES opened for a further 14½ weeks during the summer, 20.7.20 – 4.11.20 for 2 ½ hrs Mon-Fri, which was of greatest benefit to people who lived alone. It closed again when Kent went into Tier 4, and was unable to reopen for the remainder of 2020. In total the Centre has functioned for only 24½ of the 52 weeks in 2020. The ‘Creative Café’ Art Therapy group was the only group activity that could continue at the Centre throughout the periods of lockdown. Operating as a Covid-Safe workplace required the installation of sneeze-screens, the completion of risk assessments, new operational procedures, the provision of protective clothing (PPE) and re-training for staff and volunteers. Enough volunteers were available to open BRIDGES from 10.00-12.30 on Mon-Fri with a simplified menu, and with the assistance of two Duke of Edinburgh Award students who undertook the Track and Trace recording. 9 new volunteers were recruited to replace 11 who were shielding themselves or family members. The Centre’s maximum capacity was reduced by Social Distancing requirements from 50 to 20 visitors at any one time. Only 2 volunteers could assist the Manager, due to limited space in the kitchen and servery. Average Visitor numbers fell from 44 per day in 2018 to 15 per day in JulyAug 2020. The second Lockdown began on 5.11.20 and ended on 2.12.20. Re-opening of Bridges took place on 17.5.21 as the Government’s Roadmap to Recovery was not delayed by worsening infection statistics. Of the normal activities at the BRIDGES Centre which had been supported in 2019 by some 70 volunteers aged from teens to eighties, only the ones in green below were able to take place during the periods in 2020 when the Centre was allowed to open. - volunteering experience for the Duke of Edinburgh award schemes - comprehensive induction training for volunteers - food hygiene training to maintain 5* hygiene standards and Covid-Safe Workplace stand - providing a selection of home-made refreshments, including special diets, at affordable prices - thought-provoking displays on Third World, local and ethical issues - work experience for school children and adults - training in independent living skills for volunteers with learning difficulties ALL occasional events including the Celebrations of BRIDGES 25[th] Anniversary of opening were CANCELLED - Spring plant sale - A fundraising concert by The Victorious River Band - Opening on Bonfire Night to support people watching the procession in the High Street - A Christmas appeal in aid of the Parish Nurse and God’s Hands Food Bank - Hosting the annual Christmas Day lunch for people who would otherwise be on their own - A six-week ‘Makaton for Beginners’ signing course - Food for Thought – dinner and discussion - ‘Alive With Flavour’ – cooking session for primary children. ALL regular monthly activities in 2020 were CANCELLED except the Art Therapy Mental Health support group – Creative Café - Morris’s Friends folk group session - Homeopathy Advice Clinic - Displays of art and photographs by local artists - ‘Carers First’ – advice and support for carers of all ages - ‘Hi-Kent’ – routine servicing of hearing aids and advice for people with impaired hearing 3 - Craft Circle – afternoon gatherings to sew, crochet, knit or design their individual project - Knitting Group meet on Wednesday mornings – for beginners and advanced knitters - BRIDGES Community Market: table-top sale of crafts, produce etc. - BRIDGES’ Creative Café – therapeutic art activities for people living with mental health issues, or life-changing circumstances. ALL the groups hiring the Centre regularly in 2020 were UNABLE to function in person at BRIDGES. Meetings of the Trustees and BRIDGES Centre Committee moved to Zoom. - Alcoholics Anonymous - Sustainable Edenbridge - Pilates classes - Spanish classes for young children - Eden Christian Trust youth group - ‘Banter @ BRIDGES’ - The Edenbridge Partnership - networking group. - The DANDELION CAFÉ lunch club for older adults to socialise in a nurturing creative environment. - CREATIVE KIDS art therapy workshops for primary school children - MAKE A SCENE drama group for young people and adults with learning difficulties. ## **New Developments in 2020** Throughout the Lockdown periods BRIDGES’ Managers and committee members have taken Zoom training courses in Safeguarding, Mental Health First Aid, Youth Suicide Awareness, Money Management, and Digital Publicity amongst others. The Staff have attended Sevenoaks District Council’s regular Volunteer Forum, and networked with local support agencies to prepare projects that will address the town’s post-Covid needs. The Manager offered BRIDGES’ premises for the benefit of the local Food Bank, registered the Centre as a Place of Welcome ready for reopening in 2021, and began discussions with West Kent Debt Advice (Crosslight) to bring face-to-face money management advice to Edenbridge, to help those who cannot access it online. She has kept in touch with groups that hired BRIDGES previously, and has sought new hirers e.g. MIND for new mental health support groups in 2021. ## **Financial Results** The 2020 accounts saw the impact of Covid-19 through the closure of the centre for the majority of the year, resulting in significantly lower Centre income, partly offset by lower Centre costs. However, thanks to various grants and generous donations, culminating with the LocalGiving appeal, the Centre deficit was turned into an overall surplus, allowing Bridges to enter 2021 on the right foot. A noted improvement to the Centre related to the new flooring. The Creative Café and Dandelion initiatives continued to be financed by Sevenoaks District Council and Kent Community Foundation respectively but also through the Great Stone Bridge Trust. Bridges is grateful for all donations and grants awarded. Investment and other income of the trust were down on previous years reflecting continued lower market interest rates on bank deposits as well as the cancellation of events such as markets, exhibitions and plant sales, due to Covid. Overall the trust’s activities resulted in a surplus of £5,193 (2019: surplus of £4,505), with total funds standing at £281,240 (2019: £276,047) at the year-end. Of this total £228,243 (2019: £229,373) related to fixed assets and £40,976 (2019: £40,263) to unrestricted reserves, available for use by the trustees as the need arises. Restricted funds represent the balances remaining unspent against 6 conditional grants, totalling £12,020 (2019: £6,411). 4 The net cost of running the Centre was £18,396, compared to the 2019 figure of £6,139. The Centre’s total income decreased significantly compared to last year at £9,360 (2019: £33,021) again, due to Covid restrictions. We were able to cover c.£8k of Centre costs by restricted grants, and are very grateful to the Great Stone Bridge Trust, Kent Community Foundation, and Sevenoaks District Council for their support. Total Costs remained relatively stable in comparison at £35,787 (2019: £39,159), with the main decrease being reduced purchases of food and supplies as well as utilities. However, these savings were partly offset by an increase in repairs and improvements. The detailed 2020 financial statements are set out on pages 6 to 11 that follow. ## **Reserves Policy** It is an objective of the Trustees to set a financial plan each year and to ensure that operating costs are covered annually by the receipt of income from the Centre, together with donations, grants and fundraising activities. The Trustees believe that the charity should hold in unrestricted reserves a sufficient cushion of funds to enable it to: - a) meet the cost of exceptional expenditure that may be incurred from time to time on major maintenance or improvements to the BRIDGES Centre and/or - b) continue to exist in a period of reduced income and, should it be necessary, to cease to operate and wind up in an orderly fashion. The Trustees consider that the desirable level of reserves for this purpose to be one year’s operating costs and plan to generate annual operating surpluses in order to build reserves to this level, without impairing the quality of services provided. At 31 December 2020, the Trustees’ unrestricted reserves of £40,976 represented 108% of the operating costs (2019 - £40,263 represented 97% of 2019 operating costs). ## **Investment of funds surplus to immediate requirements** The Trust Deed allows the Trustees to invest surplus funds in securities of whatsoever nature as the Trustees shall in their absolute discretion think fit. Interest rates have continued to be historically low and it has been challenging to find deposit rates that yield reasonable returns, whilst at the same time maintaining an acceptable risk profile. A £10,000 three-year bond earning 1.85% completed its third year with United Trust Bank and matured in May 2020. In order to improve liquidity to protect Bridges from cash depletion with the Centre being closed due to Covid-19, this was not repositioned on long-term deposit. A one-year 1.40% fixed rate deposit of £10,000 matured in May and was placed back with CAF Bank on a 60 days’ notice account, earning 0.90%. The investment in the M&G Charibond Fixed Income Fund, a unit trust with charitable status, has continued to earn an acceptable overall return and increased in value by £108 in 2020 (2019 – increase of £145). ## **Statement of Trustees Responsibilities** Under the trust deed of the charity and charity law, the Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the excess of income over expenditure for that period. 5 In preparing these financial statements, generally accepted accounting practice entails that the Trustees: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently - make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent - state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements - state whether the financial statements comply with the trust deed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The Trustees are required by law to act in accordance with the trust deed of the charity, within the framework of trust law. They are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, sufficient to disclose at any time with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity at that time, and to enable the Trustees to ensure that, where any statements of account are prepared by them under section 132(1) of the Charities Act 2011, those statements of accounts comply with the requirements of regulations under that provision. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities. 6 BR￿￿Es (Ch•#¥ No. ￿Q9￿) STATEMENT OF FIP14KIAL ACTMfEs kncon* and ExpaKlitt*e P£counO S￿Tal￿. CEpifRE TRUST Assd5 Dor¥tior Grarts Br5d￿5 Cer*re sa*s Ce￿￿ h'rir¢J chyrges misce1k￿￿ ac1￿￿e$ FwLlraisiro arxl e¥erts Bank ir*£ipstI￿Cm￿ kNe5tnErtlr(0￿e Tax ￿O￿ttV Re￿I￿tiOn0fIr￿e5lTr￿ts S,￿11 s,￿1 21.992 8,416 626 317 8,416 626 317 14262 177 226 4774 317 14,262 177 226 Zn7 1673 108 TOTAL INCOfvE EXPENrxruRE PLYC￿Se5 Strff costs Uoliljes 2.471 18,139 2.471 18,139 147 7.213 25353 58 416 58 416 re￿h}r ststio Markel'rg ID Certp R￿1[5 arKI Mairt SnBI equprert Larye eqiiwErt Tt3iriNJ C￿￿%￿ArtWO￿roP5 Creable Kids Darylelion s￿deS 2,816 222 2.816 222 4702 91 400 274 274 31 1,459 l.W7 2,823 180 167 167 2,148 4,510 347 2,148 DeF￿clab.C 4,510 4153 TOTAL EXPENDrriiRE SURPLUS ADEFrin Trdr6ferCertre ￿L￿lDTnffjt Purhase offpÈd assets (45W) (y791 18396 1183961 13181 3381 3.C62 13.C621 7) FLwds BaLa￿e- tegiThlNJ ofyear 40.263 229.373 269.636 6.411 FUNDS BPLANCE. END£￿ YEAR BRI[￿Es BALAIKE SFEET as at31 t*CEfv8ER XO) 20 Twwjlblg Flx•l A5s¢ts Ft￿e￿kj Prok*rty F(￿￿tire. Fixtt￿S arnl Fitbro5 c￿•nt*S%•ts DebtDf5 arKI Pre[k1￿TErts Bank Ba￿￿eS Cash in 3A75 Credti) 37J12 IrNe5trerts Toknl 27&N7 Fi*1 Asset balwre Cwrertyewr(rease I{deC￿e) 229JTJ LINestiKt£d fu)Js OFeriTrJ ba*e I{dec￿Se1 RestrK*d FwK15 Operir(J bthe CUrert￿￿r￿rea5e I{deC￿e) 470 274(hJ7 A￿l￿￿ed by#p Tnslpe5 on 24 No￿[rt￿r2o2l 5KJwI i)nttpir be c￿l[rT￿n of TnEIEes BRK)GES hwity No. lo2￿) l Accounllry Polkb85 Tl* f￿3￿131 ststrn*rls IMI prepared uxlerU* h"s￿rical cosicorw*LX)aNI inaccoftlarce ￿1th Uritsd Kirtyom Ger*rètyAcceptsd Accou*iro Prnclice (UK GAPPI. Acc¢JJ*"NJ & ReFY)￿.￿J LiyClk3ribes' Ststen*rtof AccoLnbrrfJ Prnclice ISORP 2(K151, ctsnb.es Act 2011 tr* charib.es IAccouts & Rep￿) Re9Llabons 2008. Tre fvkrtial stsl£n*rts L*en ona wrYJ co￿eM basis. Ur#Estrict£d conyrise gererdl tr￿ta￿ fiJrLGe at￿ discrEtionoftt* Tvtstees infiJO*t3txe Of￿ gerffil obpcti'Kes Of￿ Tn6t Restn'clEd fi￿￿5 are ftnls tstare ID ￿ Lsed in ￿cO￿a￿e Viths￿ri￿ ￿sInC￿￿E inp)sed bydon)r5 orvkich Iple been rnised by￿T￿￿ttsa S[￿1￿ Frt￿)5e. on*, ir£luth'ro dwtors ￿Cel￿d, ar￿ e>p￿1th furth￿rtar￿j SLpmcosts arE ir£lL#led ints sts1En￿rt of FirercialActi¥41ies ISOFAI on an aCcn￿￿ basis. Tar01b￿ frtrEd assets cosliryj tsn £250 a￿ caytslsed ir£kthd atcost orintre case of13TrJ ard bil￿1￿¥ attrE rr1J5trecert￿k4ti DeprEciaOon is p¥D￿ded ontsryJIb￿ assets at15% ona straigFtlrE basis In Ythip offtrE costowtsirrespecO¥e efvl li￿. Tre frEelY)kl 14rKI ar(1 tX4klirg rE4ekEd at310ecerrter2CKJ3 arKI tre di[*￿￿e tet*een tislDriC COStar(l tre wlwj arr0￿1r(1XIed intre ba14rre sIEet*itrintre fted asset￿1. *Ke51￿ts arp W bYttPTr￿￿tirbo1tlerIn geYe¥a12 irrorrE fortre swh)rtOfCtsnts￿ acty'wlies ar(1 ID prDwde assets b rreettrE rEeds ofreseTres. I￿￿11ed atrrQ￿etwth attrE bakir(e 5treetdat£. 2 Staff costs Salarfes vmges Social SeC￿ty GO￿en￿rtEn￿?wwA￿VO￿e IlrtsDdLred in 20141 24,477 1,214 11,2141 876 24,750 1,178 11,1781 25.353 25.611 Prepaid. tXDLuFtfr*rwawd Costofpwiwr6 Prepaid. carried [Dr￿pid 1,516 2,134 a.600) 2,191 11,6431 2,148 2,(W9 BRIDGES {Clwlty No. lo29￿1) F￿11￿￿ arxj Prorrnty EmipnErt TOTAL ASSETS Atts begirrirg of5ear 215.(Xi) 53.073 268.073 Additsor6 duiNJ ￿ sear Disposals dulryJ tt* sear 3,381 3.381 Tolal at5earernl 215,( 56,453 271.453 AttrE begirr•r9 of trp sear 38,699 38.699 A(kled duirg tre sear 4.510 4.510 Totsl atstare￿I 43,210 43,210 215.(M) 13.243 228.243 B￿k value at31 Decen*w2019 215.CtX) 14.373 229.373 trtrreSt￿Cel￿tde. CAF trIE￿st￿C￿￿t4e. UrilEd TrustBar* HM & CLEIDnE- GiftAid irrorre tsx t6uBr(e ptEpaid 57 81 123 1.671 1.6( 1.643 6 B**8aknes and Cash kn H*xl CAF Ba CAF Ba￿- l searfted ra CAF - 60 day mlice Lloyjs Ba Uriied TnEt Bark- 15ear Lrnj Cash in Har 27,684 12.707 iO,L 10.130 4.490 2.313 io.oc 30 li BRIDGES {Ch*lty No. lo2￿) P&)*s lo the Flnw4 Klal SlalsiBIts for1he yw 31 Decats 2020 (cononued) HMRC- PAYE atyl Nl CouEellitYJ Slnlryswplies Puchases 716 571 115 590 374 250 M&G Fixd trtrrestcoffffon kke51D*FLYxI (CNirit￿ll Val￿00n at31 DecerrOer2019 RtholLHtion 9,362 9.217 145 ValLationat31 Decents2020 Fw¥l Fund FUNIS FVNDS Targibk FI￿dAs5ets Raol￿tion ReseThe Lorg-tem lrnestn*rt CLnErtAssets CL•7Ert Liabilifjes 89,559 138,684 89.559 138.684 9.410 44.929 11,4021 9.470 32.￿9 11.4021 12,020 NetAssets at31 Decentr2019 40.263 229.373 6.411 276.047 Tn51￿$ recei4e ro ￿n￿*￿tion0reY￿ ￿lI￿.f5&￿1ce5(2Ol9. rlll. Attrp baL3rre sFt&date IJ￿￿ y￿[￿ Tr) OLtstsnlir¥J caL¥121 corrrrltr￿rtSl2019- ard intrp otmrion ofty Tr￿tEe5 trerE ￿re m corliroert lia￿lities{2019- rK)rel. 12 BRll￿Es {Ch￿rtY WI9￿) hbts ID the Financial forlhe yew ended 31 Decen*Jer 2020 (conlinuul) 12 Cash Fknw Slaten*rt Cash irfbwfromopeTrtJ'ro actiiilies 5,193 4.505 NoTrcash itenE Ir(k￿ed Rel01￿ty.0n ofitNestr*rtS DeKKpciats'on n45) 4.153 4,510 CasJtBI eyper(lith ar(1 fn3rrièl I￿tryert PayiErt5 ts) aCqiAtE throible fcod assets 13.3811 16.7561 (*(￿OSe)/deC￿ase in detrrto £￿0$e/{dec￿0se) in crpdito (1,143) (513) Bark Bakir(es a￿1 Cash inHa￿l Attre e￿1 oftre sear Attre begiryiro ofts hear 42,334 135.0501 35.050 (34.949) ioi 13 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the BRIDGES Trust** **(Charity No. 1029169)** I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 1 to 11. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. ## It is my responsibility: - to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act; - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act) and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. M C Woodward MBA BA FCMA 2021 Chartered Management Accountant 24 November 14