Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Company No. 2913280 Registered Charity No. 1035501
Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st March 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Officers and Registered Office | 1 |
| Report ofthe Trustees/Directors | 2-7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Statement ofCash Flows | 10 |
| NotestotheAccounts | 11-12 |
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Status:
Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2913280 Incorporated 22nd March 1994 Registered Charity No. 1035501
Registered Office:
- 2 Quintet Buildings Churchfield Road Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 2TZ
Business Address:
- 2 Quintet Buildings Churchfield Road Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 2TZ
Trustees/Directors:
-
A Ledgard (Chair) T Collins
-
J Smith D Middleton (Treasurer) L Wilks G Bourne
independent Examiner:
Robert Russell FCA
Russell Grenville Barker Chartered Accountants 36 Lancaster Road Wimbledon London SW19 5DD
Bankers:
CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ
1
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors
Our aims and objectives
Elmbridge Community Link (ECL) was formed in 1994 to promote the relief of all persons with a learning disability and / or autism within the area of Elmbridge Borough Council. We aim to do this by:
-
offering a range of activities for people with learning disabilities in Elmbridge
-
identifying and reaching those that need our services in Elmbridge.
We also host a regular User Forum, with other groups and agencies in the borough, which provide services for people with learning disabilities.
We have a regular, well-attended activity programme and currently support some 80 people with learning disabilities, their families and carers.
How our activities deliver public benefit
People with learning disabilities are amongst the most vulnerable and socially excluded in society and have lifelong support needs. Their multiple needs mean that they have a significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information and learn new skills. They find it difficult to cope independently and often feel isolated from the wider community as they rarely use local leisure and community facilities. They have substantially higher health needs than the general population. They are also more likely to experience poverty, poor housing, lack of employment, social isolation and discrimination.
Services for people with learning disabilities are changing yet choice remains limited and there are very few independent providers or charities working in this area. ECL's challenge is to identify and engage people with learning disabilities, particularly young people, and to engage them in our activies ensuring they do not become isolated.
ECL aims to provide support for people with learning disabilities to overcome disadvantages by enriching their daily lives through activities and group work. These activities concentrate on helping people learn new skills; improve their sense of belonging to the local community; enhance existing strengths; lead healthier lives; offer new friendship opportunities and improving confidence levels and self esteem.
2
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors cont'd
How our activities deliver public benefit cont'd
We monitor and evaluate our work by recording attendance, and canvassing members to evaluate our services and staff make regular reports on progress to funding organisations and the Trustees. Due to our support members are: learning new skills; healthier; happier; and more sociable and confident.
Ensuring our work delivers our aims
Through consultation we identified a need for us to extend and develop our existing services, specifically offering more evening and weekend activities, and to reach more people with learning disabilities in Elmbridge who are not currently accessing our support. We implemented successful sports and music acitivities which provide many younger people with evening and weekend activities.
Two successful bids to the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities fund, in 2015 and 2019, enabled us to sustain and extend our programme of activities and promote our services. We received the final installment of this funding in November 2023.
Staff and Volunteers
The charity employed two part time staff, three self employed facilitators and around thirty five volunteers, many of whom come from local sixth-form colleges and schools. Volunteers tell us that they also experience a range of benefits from their ECL involvement, citing improved confidence, friendship possibilities and employability.
Financial Review
Principal Funding Sources
In addition to the Big Lottery Fund grant, the charity is gratefulto receive multi-annual funding from Elmbridge Borough Council and The RC Sherriff Trust. We would also not be able to function as we do without the continuing support of the Walton on Thames Charity which has, in previous years, provided fundingfor our activities and continues to support us by providing subsidised office accommodation, office services, advice and expertise as we continue to grow and develop.
ECL makes a modest charge for people to attend activities which generated £14.8k during the year.
3
3
-
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors cont'd
Financial Review cont'd
Investment Policy
Aside from retaining a prudent amount in reserves each year most of the charity’s funds are to be spentin the short term so there are no funds for long term investment. Surplus funds are held on deposit.
Reserves Policy
The Trustee Board has examined the charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy wherebythe unrestricted funds held by the charity should be equal to at least six months of annual expenditure. Forecast expenditure for the year ending 31st March 2024 is c.£55,000 and, therefore, the target is £27,500. The present level of reserves of some £70,000 is above the target level. The Trustees believe this is a prudent level of reserves in the short-term as the 2019 Big Lottery Funding grant has ended and so our ability to diversify income will be tested over the next year.
Future plans
The 2019 grant from the Big Lottery is assigned to cover a portion of our core costs over the 5-year period. ECL's Trustees and Management have focused on diversifying our funding base and keeping a close eye on costs. We are by no means complacent regarding the challenge presented to diversify our funding base. A major challenge over the next period is to attract new members, particularly into the younger cohort.
Our plan for the year ending 31st March 2024 is to continue to:
-
consolidate our services to members building on the growth in the number of activities we deliver; - publicise our services more widely within the local community to attract new members;
-
evaluate the success and benefits of our activities with a view to improving services;
-
ensure ongoing volunteer training and development;
-
work in partnerships in an atttempt to place high functioning younger adults into work placements. We will also continue to develop new partnerships with local organisations that not only leverage our combined resources but also deliver an exciting proposition to our members.
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated and registered as a charity on 22nd March 1994,
4
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors cont'd
Structure, governance and management cont'd
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
Over the past year, ECL has appointed one new Trustee, Mike Nally. All the Trustees on the Board bring a different lived experience and fresh perspective to ECL. New ideas generated by out Trustees in 2024 have included making and selling ECL branded t-shirts and hoodies; offering new activities witin our AllSports sessions; and exploring new fund raising avenues.
Organisational structure
A Trustee Board governs ECL. Trustees come from a range of relevant backgrounds (counselling, law, parent carer, running services for people with learning disabilities and volunteering), with key specific skills - marketing, fundraising and business development/organisational change- all represented on the board.
The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the charity. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of ECL and for ensuring that the charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet as a minimum quarterly and delegate the dayto-day operation of the organisation to staff. The Trustee Board is independent from management.
Risk Management
Significant risks to the charity are considered as part of the Trustee Board’s annual review of policies. ECL has the following policies:
- Child Protection
-
Equal Opportunities
-
Health and Safety Policy
-
Health and Safety for the kitchen
-
Vulnerable Adults
-
~ Feedback and Complaints Policy
-
Environmental and Sustainability Policy
In addition, the Charity Coordinator, Pier Markham, holds and updates specific Risk Assessments for each of the different ECL activities and there are Fire Evacuation Plans for all venues used by the charity. The charity maintains a formal Risk Register.
5
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors cont'd
Structure, governance and management cont'd
Induction and training of new Trustees
Newly appointed Trustees are provided with a comprehensive induction to ECL through the provision of training and mentoring by established Trustees.
Related parties
In so far as it is complimentary to the charity’s objects, the charity is guided by both local and national policy. Valuing People , a White Paper (2001), was the first review of Learning Disability services for 30 years and remains the blueprint for change for English local authorities and NHS agencies. Valuing People emphasised the need for new opportunities for people with learning disabilities to live more independent lives in the community. The charity continues to participate in the local network of Valuing People groups and also co-operates and liaises with a number of other local charities, sports clubs, local businesses and social services departments on behalf of clients.
Trustees/Directors
The Trustees/Directors during the year were:-
A Ledgard (Chair) T Collins J Smith
D Middleton (Treasurer)
LWilks
G Bourne (appointed 26th June 2023) M Christie (resigned 30th June 2023) K Springall (resigned 13th January 2024)
S$ Adley (resigned 30th January 2024)
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
Company law requires the charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, includingthe income and expenditure, for that period. In preparingthe financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
6
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Report of the Trustees/Directors cont'd
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements cont'd
-
® select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; e observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; e make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; e state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
-
e 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 responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiner
In so far as the Trustees are aware at the time of approving our Trustees’ annual report:
-
® there is no relevant information, being information needed by the independent examiner in connection with preparing their report, of which the independent examiner is unaware, and
-
° the Trustees, having made enquiries of fellow directors and the independent examiner that they ought to have individually taken, have each taken all steps that he/she is obliged to take as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.
By order of the board of Trustees
Ann Ledgard (Chair) 20 December 2024
7
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31st March 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|YTD|Prior Year|
|Notes|Restricted|§|Unrestricted|Total|Total|
|Incoming Resources|
|Activities|Fees|&|Fundraising|-|17,338|17,338|14,632|
|Grants|& Donations|12,901|9,938|22,839|34,047|
|Interest|-|1,514|1,514|533|
|Total Incoming|Resources|£12,901|£28,790|£41,691|£49,212|
|Resources|Expended|
|Wages &|Payroll|11,486|19,352|30,838|34,518|
|Temporary|Staff|645|6,549|7,194|8,496|
|Workshop|Costs|56|1,887|1,943|1,258|
|Rent &|Hall|Hire|714|8,590|9,304|10,361|
|Printing &|Stationery|-|363|363|487|
|IT|& Communications|-|1,165|1,165|865|
|Insurance|-|554|554|776|
|Sundry Expenses|-|303|303|186|
|Bank Charges|-|87|87|72|
|Total|Resources|Expended|£12,901|£38,850|£51,751|£57,019|
|Net|Incoming/(Outgoing)|Resources|-|(10,060)|(10,060)|(7,807)|
|Net Movementin|Funds|-|(£10,060)|(£10,060)|(£7,807)|
|Total Funds|Brought|Forward|5|-|70,005|70,005|77,812|
|Total Funds|Carried|Forward|£59,945|£59,945|£70,005|
----- End of picture text -----
8
\
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Company No. 2913280
Balance Sheet at 31st March 2024
,
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 31/03/24 31/03/23
Tangible Fixed Assets - -
Current Assets
Debtors & prepayments 1,180 1,947
Cash at bank & in hand 72,228 80,020
Total Current Assets 73,408 81,967
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due
Within One Year 3 (13,463) (11,962)
Net Current Assets 59,945 70,005
Net Assets £59,945 £70,005
Funds
General funds 59,945 70,005
Restricted funds - :
Total Funds 5 £59,945 £70,005
----- End of picture text -----
Tangible Fixed Assets
For the year ending 3ist March 2024, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 20 December 2024 and signed On its behalf by
Ann Helen Ledgard Chairman
9
,
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31st March 2024
| 31/03/24 | 31/03/23 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openingbalance | 80,020 | 84,577 |
| Closingbalance | 72,228 | 80,020 |
| Cash inflow/(outflow) | (£7,792) | (£4,557) |
| Operating profit/(loss) | (10,060) | (7,807) |
| Debtors&prepayments | 767 | 2,453 |
| Creditors | 1,501 | 797 |
| Cashinflow/(outflow) | (£7,792) | (£4,557) |
10
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024
1 Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard FRS102 (effective January 2015) and the Companies Act 2006.
(b) Taxation
As a Registered Charitythe company is exempt from taxation.
2 Restricted Funds
Restricted funds represent amounts received from donors who have specified the use ofthose funds as[a][condition][for][making][the][donation.]
| Deferred | Incoming | Outgoing | Deferred | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income b/f | Resources | Resources | Incomec/f | |
| Big LotteryFund | 1,250 | 10,000 | (10,417) | 833 |
| Elmbridge Borough Council | - | 2,000 | - | 2,000 |
| RC Sherriff Trust | 3,864 | 2,000 | (1,879) | 3,985 |
| £5,114 | £14,000 | (£12,296) | £6,818 |
3 Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation Tax | - | - |
| Other Taxation | (50) | - |
| Creditors | (6,595) | (6,848) |
| Deferred Income: | ||
| Grants | (6,818) | (5,114) |
| Donations | = | - |
| (£13,463) | (£11,962) |
11
| |
Elmbridge Community Link
(Limited by Guarantee)
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2024 cont'd
4 Called Up Capital
The company is limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. All the members are guarantors to an amount not exceeding £1 per guarantor.
5 Reconciliation Of Movement Of Accumulated Funds
| 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Netmovement in funds for the year | (10,060) | (7,807) |
| Total funds brought forward | 70,005 | 77,812 |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | £59,945 | £70,005 |
12
----- Start of picture text -----
« wr t
, DS ys
“DG ie”
7
----- End of picture text -----*
Russell Grenville Barker, Chartered Accountants, 36, Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, LONDON, SW19 SDD email: rgb@rgbact.com telephone: 020 8544 0300
26 February 2025
Elmbridge Community Link Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024
We report to the trustees on our examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ending 31 March 2024.
You, as trustees, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
We report in respect of our examination of the Trust’s accounts cattied out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out the examination, we have followed the applicable directions provided by the Charities Commission.
We confirm that there are no material matters which have come to out attention in connection with the examination which give us cause to believe that the accounting records were not kept in accordance in accordance with section 130 of the Act or that the account did not accord with the accounting records or that the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts as set out in the Charities Regulations 2008.
We have no concerns, and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination, to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be \ Robert Russell ©: : : Fellow oftthellnsendte Gienlitter dad ccountants in England and Wales 36 Lancaster Road! Wimbiedon LONDON, 5W19 5DD eqh@rabect.com 02085440300
we w=»», y ACCREDITEDICAEW Russell Grenville Barker is the trading name of Russell Grenville Barker Limited, a company formed in England and Wales, number 04675960. Reg FOR PROBATE office: 36, Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, LONDON, SW19 5DD, The directors of the company are Robert Russell, BA FCA and Anne Russell BA ACA