Me Wrexham’sCyngor GwirfoddolCounty Voluntary Sirol WrexhamCouncil
Trustee Report and Financial Statements
Year ended 31st March 2025
Including Strategic Report
Charity number: 1043989 Company number: 2993429
Important Notice
This report is a combined Directors Report and Trustees Annual report. This report also contains the Annual Strategic Report as required by law.
Contents
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| ObjectivesandActivities.........ccccccsessesssesseesneessecsnesseesseesseesesseessseessesseesssssessussseesusessesseesseessuesessecsiessseeeteenetesenesees |
| Third Sector SupportWales (TSSW).......ccccssssssssssssssssssssssecseesssssescecensessesssesssssssssssssssssanseseseovesseenesssessessnenenneeneenees D |
| Strategic Report.........ssescsssssscsneesneesserdivtibccssediccncenssennennenssdicarcesssonsenseeasensoonnsqsetdinianstutnbyaatinyannianeparsenessseveunnernee mana |
| Introductioncsssssassussacsscosssinsanarseweeneoevononveencenssoorerenenceencteeneseqsngttesasnesensenenareasss coenngliSilionsisAga Qi tenineanaTcaantemaO |
| Achievements andperformance ..........scssessssssssessesseesesseeseesseecesessenseeucsuceeeatsueescssssesesssesssscsuessseseasesseesseeseessesseeeeeesO |
| Development Activities andAchievements: Core Services ...........cccessesessessecseeseesseseseessessenseneesesseseesnnensene |
| Development Activities and Achievements: Healthand Wellbeing Team.............ccesseseeeeseneeeeeeene£2 |
| Development Activities andAchievements: Special Projects ............scscssesesseeseeesesseesesseneeneeneeeeereees LB |
| Development Activities andAchievements: Local Projects ...........cecesssssesseseesessseesseseesseeseessessneeseeeenneeeees £6 |
| Fimancial REViCW....scsssedecdicsrse-essnseasedtdedPissstsceredviosssvarsennpaseshensdaadé chbivenpuocterjggn meaermisseancaenessamnnimasnneccenssnce 1G |
| Principal Funding SOurceS.......c.ssssssesssessessseessesseesseesneeseeessesnecssesstessessusssessesusssscsssesssssseesecasecssesssessessneeeseeseeeeerQO |
| Reserves Policy ....c.ccsscsssssessessessessssssvssvcsessessucscssecsscucaussussesseseesseeeceussuseesseeacsesaneateassesssssssesesensesssesseseesseseesseeseees20 |
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| Future Plans for AVOW....csscscsssssssssssssssssssssssssesssssssssssessecsssecsecssessecsecsearesssaneeeassssssseossvoassenensrstsnsnscasssesenteacoesseseseedL |
| Reference and administrative details ..........cccccsccscsssssessesessesseesessesseeseeseseesesneeneeeeseeateacsesssseeasssesssessseesssessesssseneenesesD4 |
| Directors and Trustees .......ccccsccsssssessessessessessecsesscsecsessessecueessessuceeseeeneencsesanensssseesteassecssssesasssesseesssnseeseseessseensensensD4 |
| Structure, Governance and Management.........c.ccsccssssssssessessesesseseeseeseeseeeeseesesscsesateacsuesssssesssessessssusssseasessseaseaneseeLO |
| Governing DOCUMEN.........ccccscssssssesssssesseesecseecseesecsessucsuesnesneeseesnesuesuesatsateuesatssesssessesssecssssseaseaseeaneaveesseessenssetseeseesLO |
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Objectives and Activities
The objects of the charity as stated in the Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended are:
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e To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the area of Wrexham County Borough and in particular the advancement of education, the furtherance of health, the relief of poverty, distress and sickness.
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e Each year the Trustees review these objectives and activities to ensure they continue to reflect the aims of the organisation. In carrying out this review the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
The strategies and activities employed to achieve the charity's objectives are:
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e To provide and promote an accessible and relevant range of locally available support services to enhance development and effectiveness of voluntary/community action.
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e To identify the views of local community groups and represent these views to decision makers e.g., Welsh Government (WG), Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and local statutory bodies, and in ways which lead to effective outcomes and partnerships.
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e To assist the development of locally determined and agreed initiatives, which meet the needs of the voluntary sector and enhance community participation.
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e To develop and sustain an effective volunteering service.
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e To encourage recruitment into charitable, voluntary and community services.
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e To provide and promote accurate, current and relevant information. e To provide and promote a funding advice service for voluntary organisations.
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e To provide and promote a range of training courses to the local voluntary sector.
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e To assist organisations to operate legally and efficiently.
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e To facilitate/support the establishment of effective structured partnerships with the local authority and other agencies for the benefit of voluntary and community organisations.
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e To identify issues of concern to voluntary and community organisations.
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e To identify gaps in provision that can be met by new or existing voluntary organisations working in collaboration with statutory bodies.
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e To promote the interests of the Third Sector in planning service development including community regeneration projects.
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e To establish links with the corporate sector; and
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e To promote the sector’s role in Health and Social Care.
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Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW)
AVOW is the County Voluntary Council (CVC) for Wrexham and is part of Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW). TSSW consists of the 19 CVCs in Wales as well as Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
The shared goal is to enable the Third Sector and volunteers across Wales to contribute fully to individual and community wellbeing, now and for the future.
The focus of work concentrates on four pillars of activity:
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e Volunteering
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e Good Governance
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e Sustainable Funding
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e Engagement and Influencing
rs)
Strategic Report
Introduction
This report includes the combined reports of the Trustees Annual Report and the Directors Report. This section, the Strategic Report, brings together the contents for ‘Achievements and Performance’, ‘Financial Review’ and ‘Plans for Future Periods’ (herein called ‘Future Plans For AVOW’). It contains the information required by the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013.
Achievements and performance
AVOW 2024-25 Core Highlights
AVOW records all interactions, funding support, grants distribution, training and events on a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. Our statistics are shared with Third Sector Support Wales (TSSW) who in turn reports the overall finds to Welsh Government. AVOW’s key performance indicators for 2023-24 are as follows:
| o | Funding obtained following support fromAVOW | £979,339 |
|---|---|---|
| o | Funding awardedbyAVOW | £12,617 |
| o | Organisations supported with direct advice | 259 |
| o | Organisations supported with specialist advice | 217 |
| o | Training participants | 598 |
| o | Partnership Events | 17 |
| o | Partnership event attendees | 435 |
| o | Volunteers supported to entervolunteering | 33 |
| o | Individuals placed into volunteering | 68 |
| o | Totalmembership ofAVOW | 184 |
| o | AGMAttendance | 60 |
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Development Activities and Achievements: Core Services
AVOW’s commitment to Welsh Government as the County Voluntary Council for Wrexham is to provide free advice and signposting around the four core pillars of; Good Governance, Sustainable Funding, Volunteering, and Engagement and Influencing.
Governance
AVOW provided guidance and referrals to organisations to help community groups of all sizes choose appropriate governance structures and ensure that they are operating legally and in line with regulator guidelines.
During this period, alongside Shaun Darlington the governance lead from Flintshire Local Voluntary Council, we held 41 in-person governance surgeries with 31 different organisations. We supported groups with a range of governance issues, including:
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e Setting up or closing charities and CICs
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e Developing policies and safeguarding procedures
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e Managing land, property, banking, and finance matters
We also contributed feedback from Wrexham-based organisations through the WCVA Governance Practitioners Network and supported the development of the TSSW Safeguarding Toolkit.
A strong working relationship between our funding officer and governance lead has helped groups improve their governance, putting them in a better position to secure funding.
Thanks to increased capacity in governance support this year, and collaboration with FLVC, it has also helped us map available resources and services, improving our ability to signpost effectively. We now have a better understanding of the challenges facing groups in Wrexham. This insight will inform future networking opportunities, training, and tailored support.
Funding
During the year, AVOW supported community organisations with advice and guidance on funding. AVOW also supported organisations with funding applications. The AVOW Funding Facebook page provides funding news and updates to 457 followers.
AVOW continued its partnership with Cadwyn Clwyd to deliver WCBC’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Key Fund. This initiative was designed to support community and voluntary organisations whose projects did not meet the minimum threshold required for the main funding stream. The project is underway, with a total of £300,00 distributed to be distributed before December 2025. To support
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delivery, AVOW’s Funding Officer was seconded to the project for the equivalent of two days per week throughout.
AVOW also partnered with the Wrexham Community and Cultural Trust to deliver an SPF Key Fund with £100,000 dedicated to grants to promote art, heritage and culture in Wrexham.
The Wrexham Young Influencers (WYI) is a youth-led grant-making body, designed and delivered by young people, for young people aged 13-25. Through this initiative, young people take the lead in deciding how funding is allocated to projects that matter to them and their peers. In this year, a total of £9,571 was awarded to 13 youth-led initiatives. Funded projects included:
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e Purchasing music equipment to upskill and engage young people.
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e Supporting a campfire project.
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e Providing resources for a youth club.
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e Delivering dance sessions to support wellbeing and mental health.
In addition, WYI supported young people experiencing homelessness by purchasing essential items for those in temporary accommodation or without family support, as well as providing small gifts at
Christmas.
During the year, AVOW continued our Making a Difference Grant, funded through income generated from the AVOW Community Lottery. The grant was open to all Wrexham community groups delivering projects valued up to £500 that could makea positive difference locally.
A total of £5,680 was distributed to 14 organisations. Projects supported included craft sessions, litterpicking equipment, a family support worker, music sessions, and woodland development initiatives.
Volunteering
Over the period, we've supported volunteering in Wrexham through a range of activities:
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e Held over 70 one-to-one meetings (in person and by phone) to discuss volunteer opportunities, sharing information digitally and provided more intensive support where needed, including attending meetings with volunteer managers.
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e Connected 5 corporate organisations with local organisations for volunteering opportunities and supported with their volunteering policies.
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e Recruited and inducted 7 new in-house volunteers, while continuing to support existing volunteers at the AVOW Office, The Hub, and The Land through training and regular engagement. We also held a Christmas celebration to thank AVOW volunteers.
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e Strengthened local partnerships, including co-delivering a Volunteer Managers’ Network meeting with FLVC.
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e Supported the Open University’s Get Ahead with Volunteering online sessions.
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e Supported the Inclusion Manager on an inclusive volunteering pilot, connecting St Christopher's School and Erddig, with plans to secure future funding.
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e Increased our social media presence to promote volunteering.
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e Attended events with key organisation, such as Probation, Maximus, DWP Youth Pathway, and Coleg Cambria to engage individuals in volunteering.
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e Helped 17 new organisations join and use the Volunteering Wales platform.
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e Provided guidance on volunteer recruitment, retention, management, and policy to volunteer involving organisations.
Engagement
AVOW is responsible for ensuring the Third Sector is appropriately represented on county and regional decision-making bodies. To this end, AVOW actively engages with Public Service organisations ensuring that the voice and views of the Third Sector are presented to strategic partnerships and considered within consultations. The Third Sector should always play a major part in the way that strategies and services can be developed as the champion of the community.
AVOW’s Third Sector representation is widely varied. A sample of regularly attended boards and steering groups is listed below. Attendance and active participation ensure Third Sector is heard by the widest possible audience:
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e Flintshire and Wrexham Public Service Board
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e Wrexham Shared Prosperity Fund Steering Board
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e Wrexham Neighborhoods Board (Formerly Town Board)
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e Regional Partnership Board
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e Wrexham Civic Leaders
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e Wrexham Youth Justice Forum
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e Regional Integration Fund Regional Management Group.
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AVOW enjoys a strong relationship with our local authority, Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC). The Chief Officer has regular meetings with the WVBC Senior Leadership Team to discuss issues facing the sector as well as find synergies between Council and community led initiatives.
Marketing and Social Media
AVOW’s Marketing and Media Manager and Engagement Team continue to improve the organisations reach into the local community, increasing awareness and contact with AVOW and its many projects.
The team has created connections into the community, meeting regularly to share best practices and explore new tools with their CVC counterparts, as well as forging networks with those working in local voluntary and community organisations.
The team took on the task of creating both print and virtual material for AVOW’s new Community Agents. The project included branding, creating and producing posters, flyers and postcards, as well as setting up social media pages to enhance communication with clients across Wrexham. The team also provided training and support for the CA’s on how to use their Social Media platforms and get the most out of the software and technology available for the programme.
The team put in special effort to celebrate the 40" anniversary of Volunteers’ Week in June. Over 100 attendees at two events enjoyed entertainment from local artists and influencers who were celebrating the rich history of volunteering throughout Wrexham. This campaign saw videos of prominent Welsh/UK personalities including Doctor Cymraeg, Andy Hickie and Jason Willis sending videos of thanks.
The team actively work on clarifying our message, and iteratively improving our brand, and brand awareness, giving AVOW’s brand sure footing. Our campaign to improve brand recognition and understanding have grown over the last year as shown in our touchpoint interactions.
Website
| 1 April 2023/ 1 April | 1April 2024 / 1* April | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | ||
| Organic | Search | 6999 | 8261 |
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Facebook:
Note: New Facebook tools, and algorithm change has adjusted the numbers from 2023-2024
||AVOWMainPage||AVOWMainPage||%Change| |---|---|---|---| ||(FY 1% April 23/ 1%|| (FY 1%April 24 /|| ||April 24)|1*t April 25)|| ||26,678|70,887|+165%| |Content|2,120|3,518|+66%| |Interactions:|||| ||8,334|15,489|+86.3%| |New Followers (on | 270||264|-1.9%| |previousYear)||||
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Development Activities and Achievements: Health and Wellbeing Team
Health and Wellbeing Officer
The Third Sector Health and Wellbeing Development Officer (Health & Wellbeing Officer) involves high level engagement and partnership working, highlighting the value the third sector plays supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Wrexham Borough. In partnership with BCUHB, AVOW Health and Wellbeing team and our Community Agents, we have delivered health and wellbeing community events with the aim of bringing services directly to beneficiaries in the heart of communities. This makes accessing support more accessible, ensuring people can access services such as Stroke Prevention for blood pressure tests, Continence Team, Bone Health (formerly Falls Prevention), local pharmacies, Dementia pathways and a variety of third sector organisations. Occupational Therapists have been present at events to share information on living safely at home and giving excellent tips and tools to people. Moving forward, evidence will determine where the community health events will take place— where uptake is low and ill health is high to support future health outcomes.
We co-hosted quarterly health and wellbeing networks with FLVC with the aim of giving organisations the opportunity to share their projects via networking and as guest speakers. The number of attendees is increasing at each network as we continue to engage with more organisations, which then contributes to new AVOW memberships and collaborative working in communities. An example of this is, I visited Victim Support, St Asaph and from this meeting, connected the service with other CVCs, Wrexham social prescribers and community agents, sent invites to health and wellbeing networks which they have since attended, gave Victim Support flyers to hubs, community centres and groups to share the information and attended the AVOW Volunteer Celebration in 2025 to highlight the invaluable work volunteers bring to the service. The service also holds regular drop-in sessions at the Wellbeing Hub via an AVOW introduction.
We continue to meet with our funders BCUHB and other partners including Public Health Wales, WCBC, WCVA and Wrexham wide GP clusters to share updates on the third sector and strengthen connections between statutory services and voluntary organisations. An example of partnership working has been involved in promoting BCU PHW screening programme. Wrexham scores low in uptake of screening and since I gained this knowledge, I have met with PHW regularly to attend networks, work towards increasing screening uptake and share screening information with community agents, organisations and communities. I hope to receive data in the future to determine if engagement has increased in Wrexham due to this intervention.
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Organisation feedback collected from community events:
‘Excellent range of services present and great attendance’. (Gresford).
‘Extremely happy with the event. Well attended and a great way to share information with others’. (Gresford).
‘I have a full week’s worth of referrals just from this event’. (Little Acton).
Wellbeing Hub Development Officer
In 2022 AVOW, with seed funding from WCBC, developed a Community Hub Development Officer role to reinvigorate underutilized community buildings to bring meaningful services to local citizens in their own communities. Due to the success of the pilot project at the Gwersyllt Resource Centre, AVOW solely funded this role in 24/25. As sustainable funding has not been found, the project will end early FY25/26.
The AVOW led Gwersyllt Community Support Hub continues to grow and offers beneficiaries support and information ona range of services, learning opportunities, activities and groups to support health and wellbeing. AVOW Hub volunteers have been instrumental in the continuation of Gwersyllt Hub delivery. The volunteers support weekly coffee mornings, community crafting and have also provided support to Acton Community Hub which opened in June 2024. We wanted to reach a wider audience and connect statutory and third sector organisations with other communities to support health and wellbeing and Acton hub was established.
Working in partnership with the Rainbow Foundation Community Agent, Acton Community Council and other partners, beneficiaries from Acton have participated in chair exercise and yoga, cooking, chi-me (a low-level form of Tai Chi that supports arthritis and other ailments), stress less sessions and much more. Community engagement has been high, including very successful hot light lunch sessions which we were able to provide thanks to WCBC warm space funding. On average 16 people attended the weekly sessions which ran over 10 weeks. With support from AVOW Hub volunteers, the sessions provided a safe space for people to socialise over a hot lunch and access information and knowledge on what else they could participate in. Several people who attended lived on their own and told us how much they enjoyed eating and talking to others, improving loneliness and isolation. As the sessions were so popular, Acton community council funded a further 10 weeks of hot light lunches which were only able to run with huge thanks to the continued support of Hub Volunteers.
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Feedback from beneficiaries:
“It’s great to get out of the house for volunteering — a great way to give back to the community, to meet other people and explore new places. And I get to enjoy the food too which is great!’.
‘We are so grateful to be able to come and enjoy the food which is always lovely, made and presented and meet and chat with the friends we have made’.
‘We have met people who live around the corner from us and didn’t realise’.
Gwersyllt Community Hub continues to engage with the community and events and sessions in are always well attended. Hub volunteers have enjoyed taking responsibility for some drop-in sessions whereby beneficiaries can access a hot drink and information. One Hub volunteer has beena great asset with updating ‘What’s on’ flyers and is a regular at the AVOW office and Gwersyllt hub. Community craft sessions are always well received with some amazing work on show! During a meeting with Wrexham University, it was suggested to me that the University could support a knowledge transfer voucher for health and wellbeing tutors to support AVOW with an exhibition to highlight the wonderful skills on show at the Hub. This led to a week long exhibition at Wrexham Library. Beneficiaries were able to showcase crafts, photography, crocheting (Gwersyllt community blanket was on display createdby attendees of the coffee morning) and many other objects. Mayor Beryl Blackmore was invited to attend and throughout the week, a high volume of people were able to visit the exhibition. An award was given by the University to AVOW in recognition of partnership working in the community.
Community Agents
In April 2024, AVOW was successful in securing the Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) Community Agents South consortium tender and subsequently being awarded with the Penycae, Gresford and Rossett Community Agent Contracts mid-year. The Community Agents project was developed in response to the recognised need that many people in our communities’ struggle to access essential services that help maintain their wellbeing and quality of life. Community Agents work with people aged 50 and over in Wrexham, providing signposting, advice, and guidance to a wide range of information and services. The aim is to enable individuals to live healthier, happier, and more independent lives. The project also plays a vital role in bridging the gap between local communities, statutory services, and the voluntary sector.
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AVOW currently supports 16 wards within Wrexham County Borough Council: Gresford, Ruabon, Penycae, Willington & Worthenbury, Bangor-On-Dee, Chirk, Rossett, Esclusham, Holt, Abenbury, Isycoed, Llangollen Rural, Marchwiel, Sesswick, Maelor South,
Since the launch of the Community Agents project, we have supported 171 individuals with signposting and advice, engaged with 122 local groups and attended 168 community events to promote the service and connect with residents. We expect these figures to grow in 2025/2026, as recruitment reaches full capacity and the project continues to expand.
Shopmobility & Accessibility
Shopmobility & Accessibility Manager heads up the Team at the AVOW Wrexham Shopmobility service and warm space. Based at Wrexham Bus Station, the service provides mobility scooters, boot scooters, wheelchairs, disability pushchairs and walkers, enabling people with mobility issues to access shops, services, and events in the city centre. In 2024/25 the service maintained its full five-day opening and supported bespoke opening hours for major events, whilst also continuing to offer ShopMobility as a community warm space open to anyone looking for a safe warm place to sit and rest, engage with others or seek information and signposting.
The Accessibility & Shopmobility Roadshow and attendance at Community and health and wellbeing events continue to be a popular means of sharing knowledge not only about the Shopmobility service but also the new RITA project. The roadshows offer the opportunity to learn about both the services available in Shopmobility and the RITA project while reducing, or even removing, hidden barriers such as language, location, and anxiety, that might prevent people from accessing the services. They also provide a platform to meet new demographics from across Wrexham, to learn and understand their accessibility concerns and needs, form relationships, and offer help and support.
The ShopMobility team has enhanced both its traditional marketing and its social and digital media promotion, ensuring greater awareness and uptake of the services on offer. As a result, the service welcomed 125 new members last year, with notable growth in day rentals for city centre visits and long-term hires supporting holidays, events, and overseas travel. Strengthened partnership with WCBC also enabled ShopMobility to expand its fleet with six new mobility scooters for use in the city centre and two new boot scooters to meet rising demand for long-term hire options. These improvements, alongside targeted promotional activity, have further increased the service’s reach and impact.
AVOW received grant funding to run an accessibility scheme providing at-home support for people living with dementia and their unpaid carers, utilising a personalised tablet version of the RITA device. The Accessibility Officer has worked closely with Community Agents from both AVOW’s workforce and partner agencies to secure referrals into the project, ensuring those most in need are supported. In addition, AVOW sits on the Dementia Friendly Wrexham Steering Group to ensure the project is widely promoted and accessible to all who require it. Work is also underway with the Wrexham Archives team based in Wrexham Library to introduce Wrexhamspecific reminiscence materials into the RITA devices. These include photographic images, historic newspaper clippings and articles, maps, and Wrexham AFC memorabilia, enriching the therapeutic value of RITA.
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Development Activities and Achievements: Special Projects
Wrexham Community Lottery
AVOW, in conjunction with Gatherwell, created and launched the lottery with over 40 local good causes on board in 2021. Ticket holders can win up to £25,000 as well as support a local cause who keep 50% of ticket sales.
2024/2025 saw a push with advertising, showing a small growth in ticket sales to 407 per week. The Lottery raised £9,280 over the reporting period for causes signed up to the lottery, and £1,856 for the AVOW Making a Difference Grant.
Development Activities and Achievements: Local Projects
Little Sunflowers Childcare Centre, Plas Madoc
AVOW Board of Trustees oversee the Little Sunflowers Childcare Centre (LSCC). The Centre offers childcare provision from age 2 to 4years of age through:
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e Flying Start
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e Rising 3’s and 4’s
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e Early Education
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e 30-hour childcare offer
Little Sunflowers have this year been successful in receiving a funding extension from Neumark Foundation to fund a breakfast club and a fun club to provide additional support to children and parents.
Breakfast club: This daily programme ensures all children have access to breakfast before starting the nursery lessons. The funding allows children with special dietary requirements to eat safely with their friends. Along with the food provided by the Neumark Foundation this programme also receives regular donations of cereal and cereal bars from Kellogg’s in Wrexham.
Family Fun club: This drop-in group runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday and offers information and support on a range of parenting challenges while the participants enjoy arts and craft, and other fun activities. This group has been very popular with 25-30 attending every session. Thursday afternoons are reserved for private sessions for families who may require additional support.
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Play and Community Development Team, Plas Madoc
The AVOW Play and Community Development Team is funded through the National Lottery Community Fund, Invest Local, Children in Need and Families First to work in Plas Madoc providing a service for children, parents, and adults of the community.
The team continued to use National Lottery Community Funds to develop a new model of integrated Play and Community Development work which building on existing high-quality Play and Youth provision and extending our reach into the wider community.
The Land, our junk playground, also offers volunteering opportunities for young people and adults within the Community - this scheme aims to increase levels of aspiration and improve the life chances of adults and also young people not in employment, education or training. We aim to work towards offering more formal access locally to dedicated programmes of support linked to training and education which can equip young people/adults who would otherwise be caught up in cycles of joblessness or self-limiting behaviour.
Other services for youth, families, and the wider community:
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e Youth Activities: Playschemes/ Street Schemes, Street Football, Youth Club e 1:1 work support for children with additional needs
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e Parental Support Kettle Club, Breakfast & Brews, Crafty Brew
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e The Pantry provides access to affordable food.
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e Weekly drop-in meetings open to all community members.
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e Thank me it’s Friday: Mental health and wellbeing support group to reduce isolation.
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e Over 50’s: Social support and activities for older residents.
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e Environmental Projects: Garden Gang and Plants Madoc
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e Volunteer scheme
AVOW are fundholders for Plas Madoc Invest Local which funds WAPM who currently contribute towards the Play/Community Development Manager and a Community Development Officer for We are Plas Madoc. In 2024, AVOW supported local residents to bring to life a new community hub affectionately known as ‘Homegrown’ — a welcoming space that offers warmth, support, and opportunities for all. Entirely shaped and led by the community itself, Homegrown stands as a testament to collective vision and grassroots action. It’s more than just a hub; it’s a place built by the community, for the community.
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In 2024, we continued to deliver events that celebrate local identity and strengthen community cohesion. Our summer gathering - known locally as Plastonbury - remains a cornerstone of the annual calendar, offering inclusive activities that bring together families, volunteers, and local organisations in a vibrant celebration of belonging and connection.
Plas Madoc’s Bonfire and Fireworks event, drawing over 1,000 residents and reinstating community tradition.
Both events highlight the importance of shared celebration in fostering pride, participation, and a sense of connection across generations.
Financial Review
AVOW began the financial year with a predicted surplus of £1,635. However, due to additional in-year funding and strategic changes, this position improved significantly, resulting in a £81,062 surplus in unrestricted funds, as reflected in the accounts.
We are currently nearing the end of several 5-year grants from The National Lottery Community Fund, including funding for The Land. As these grants conclude, we are actively exploring alternative funding sources to ensure continuity.
Meanwhile, Little Sunflowers and Flying Start remain financially secure.
Additional funding received during the year includes:
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e WCBC Community Agents
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e Shared Prosperity Key Fund Scheme
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e Cadwyn Clwyd- Shared Prosperity Key Funds joint management project
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e WCBC Warm Space Initiative
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e WCBC Our Nature
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e ACL Training Funding
These contributions have further strengthened our financial position and supported the delivery of key community programmes.
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We will continue to look to the future and plan financially to apply for addition funding sources in order to support the core function of AVOW but also to seek continuation funding for those projects that may be coming to the end of their funding period. We will continue to monitor our finances monthly with the help of detailed management reports, and also through quarterly Trustee Finance meetings. These meetings are a chance to debate, challenge and question any figures that are presented.
Ty AVOW has undergone major roof repair to the lean-to addition at the rear elevation. This was funded by the WCBC Town Regeneration Fund. Through this work, it was discovered the building requires major additional works as highlighted in the 2024 building survey. The Trustees determined that it was best to plan a full building renovation not only to repair problem areas but also to bring the building to modern standards with a goal of being as close to NetZero as possible by 2030. The unrestricted funds surplus noted in year has been designated to support the building works. This investment into the building will ensure we have a healthy working environment for staff, volunteers and Trustees but also a vibrant environment for tenants and possibly increase occupancy.
AVOW has been a committed Real Living Wage (RLW) employer since 2022 and in line with that commitment increased staff to a minimum of £12.60 per hour from 1* January 2025, with all other staff receiving an uplift of 5%. Inflation remains high and Trustees want to ensure we retain staff and reduce the burden of financial difficulties as best we can.
We have been fortunate during the year to manage our cash flow wisely and invest in multiple long-term fixed investments through Flagstone. Due to the continuous high interest rates in year, we have generated £20,903 in bank interest between our Flagstone accounts and our current accounts. We continue to aim to deposit 4/5 deposits under the FSCS level of £85,000 at one time, and which mature equally throughout the year.
Restricted reserves have decreased in year to a value of £290,557 while Unrestricted funds have increased during the year due to the additional projects and grants undertaken in the year. AVOW now have a very robust unrestricted balance of £619,517 at the 31% March 2025. These funds are broken down into designated building costs £253,435 Redundancy/Other costs £201,515. Leaving our general reserves at £164,566 and free reserves at £46,295. We will apply for match funding and/or capital grants to part fund building upgrades, however, have assigned additional restricted funding to ensure Ty Avow receives the necessary repairs and maintains its value as an asset.
The Trustees have reviewed AVOW’s finances for the 2025/2026 financial year and approved a budget through to 31st March 2026, which initially projected a deficit of £19,235. However, shortly after April 2025, continuation funding was secured and additional grants were awarded, effectively reducing the deficit to zero.
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We remain committed to building on this proactive approach to financial planning and decision-making. AVOW will continue to actively seek new project opportunities and funding streams to ensure the longterm sustainability of the organisation.
Principal Funding Sources
The principal funding sources for AVOW remains the Infrastructure Core Grant from the Welsh Government - administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action.
There are other various grants and Service Level Agreements with Wrexham County Borough Council and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
WCEBC Adventure Play Project — Holiday Funds
WCEC Flying Start WCEC Early Education WCEC Families First WCBC Warm Spaces WCEC Town Centre Grant WCBC Community Agents WCEC ACL Training WCBC Our Nature WCEC Children & Young People WCEC Shared Prosperity Key Fund BCUHB Health Facilitator
Other substantial funders are detailed below:
BCT Invest Local for Plas Madoc Cadwyn Clwyd Charity Commission Children in Need Gwersyllt Community Council Lloyds Foundation Neumark Foundation Tesco The National Lottery Community Funds We Are Plas Madoc Lloyds Foundation
Reserves Policy
During the year the Trustees agreed to AVOW’s policy of having at least 3-6 months annual running costs, together with a cash flow provision and a redundancy contingency in reserve. Trustees have assigned £38K to contribute towards the funding to support Community Development posts (remains at
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4-year level). In practice this means £162,231, representing 3-6 months running costs, designated funds and redundancy contingency. Trustees have also designated £253,435 for building works on the Ty AVOW building. Total designated reserves are £454,951 which is covered by the unrestricted reserve of £619,517 at 31% March 2025. Free reserves on 31st March 2025 amounted to £46,295 (31st March 2024 £97,260). The Trustees noted that the free reserves level at the year-end is an improvement again on last year's figures due to adapting and utilising our assets to create additional unrestricted reserves.
Investment Policy
AVOW’s Memorandum and Articles of Association authorises the investment of monies of the Association not immediately required for its purpose, in or upon such investments, securities, or property as may be thought fit subject nevertheless to such conditions if any as may for the time being, be imposed or required by law.
In practice this has led to AVOW investing funding from its reserves with several banks to ensure that we do not exceed our limit of compensation cover to secure the funds within a single Bank Licence cover of £85,000. This investment decision has been reviewed regularly during the year and has been found to be the best available option for AVOW to ensure the level of risk in investing in a single source is reduced.
Future Plans for AVOW
AVOW’s future plans are shaped by its commitment to enabling a stronger, more connected voluntary and community sector in Wrexham. Building on recent achievements, AVOW will continue to develop services that promote wellbeing, inclusion, and sustainability while responding to emerging needs and opportunities.
Providing a home base for Voluntary and Community Organisations
AVOW has begun a major renovation and extension project of our home, Ty Avow on Egerton Street in the heart of Wrexham. The building is in need of major renovation including an electrical grid upgrade, sewage line realignment and major roof repairs. With the expert help of volunteer John Edwards, AVOW is taking on a project not only to correct these issue but also to expand our available community space to allow local community and voluntary organizations access to affordable meeting space, after hours, in the city centre. This project will cost approximately £3.1 million and we hope to break ground in Spring 2026.
Strengthening community wellbeing
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AVOW will continue to provide delivery of the Community Agents initiative in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, coordinating support across 19 Community Councils in the South of the county. The programme focuses on improving wellbeing for residents aged 50+ through meaningful engagement, signposting and connections to local services. AVOW’s Health and Wellbeing team will play a key role in ensuring these efforts are linked to wider community and statutory support networks.
Expanding health and accessibility initiatives
AVOW will continue to work closely with WCBC and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to embed third sector contributions within health and social care strategies. The Health and Wellbeing Facilitator, funded by BCUHB, will lead on expanding social prescribing initiatives and exploring the feasibility of establishing a new Health and Wellbeing Hub in Cefn Mawr.
In partnership with the Accessibility Officer, AVOW will also deliver a pilot project using RITA Lite devices to support residents with early onset dementia, funded by WCBC. This cross-cutting work aims to promote inclusive health outcomes by aligning assistive technology with person-centred support.
In parallel, AVOW will expand its accessibility and mobility services, including extended opening hours for the Wrexham Shopmobility scheme and the introduction of an Accessibility Roadshow. The aim is to reduce barriers and raise awareness of available services, particularly for people with visible and hidden disabilities. A wider network of partners and community groups will be brought together to support longterm accessibility improvements across the county.
Supporting young people and families
Youth and family support remains a priority. AVOW will continue to support the play and community development team based at The Land in Plas Madoc, delivering key programmes such as breakfast clubs and family fun activities. Future plans include further development of youth-led initiatives, including environmental projects, volunteer programmes and playschemes that empower young people to shape their communities.
Developing volunteering opportunities
AVOW will continue to champion volunteering across Wrexham, promoting inclusive opportunities through the Volunteering Wales platform and ongoing coordination of the Volunteer Manager Network. A new strand of work will introduce supported volunteering placements for individuals with additional needs, delivered collaboratively by the Volunteer Development Officer and Accessibility Officer. This inclusive approach reflects AVOW’s commitment to widening participation and ensuring everyone can contribute meaningfully to community life.
Sustaining and growing organisational support
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Work to strengthen governance support will continue through AVOW’s partnership with Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC), providing specialist advice on legal structures, compliance and best practice. AVOW will also maintain its wider support for voluntary and community organisations, including funding advice, training and organisational development.
Enhancing communication and digital presence
AVOW will further invest in its digital and communications strategy to promote the work of local groups and share resources more effectively. This will include the use of video, podcasts and digital storytelling to engage a wider audience. The relaunch of AVOW’s bilingual website and use of emerging social media platforms will support better visibility and community engagement.
Improving financial sustainability
Financial sustainability remains central to AVOW’s strategic planning. A mixed-income approach is in place, with revenue generated through building rental, partnerships and external grants. Designated reserves are being invested in long-term building maintenance at Ty AVOW, safeguarding its role as a central community resource.
Expanding grant and lottery management
AVOW will continue to manage community grant programmes, including the Shared Prosperity Fund, and support small-scale projects with high community impact. Alongside this, development of the Wrexham Community Lottery will provide an additional fundraising tool for local organisations, with AVOW leading on its coordination and growth.
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Reference and administrative details
Charity number: 1043989 Company number: 2993429 Principal Office: Ty Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham, LL11 1ND
Auditors: WR Partners LLP, 1 Edison Court, Ellice Way, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YT
Bankers:
Nat West Bank Ltd, 33 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LS
Directors and Trustees
The Directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as the Trustees.
The Trustees serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Appointed Reappointed/Retired/Resigned
Peter Howell Chair 2021 Reappointed 2024 Mervyn Dean 2015 Reappointed 2024 special measures Wanjiku Mbugua 2015 Resigned 2025 David Thompson 2016 Reappointed 2022 Howard Davies 2017 Reappointed 2023 Margaret Heaton 2019 Reappointed 2022 Helen Davies 2020 Reappointed 2023
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| ScotOwen | Co-Vice Chair | 2020 | Reappointed 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Forbes | Co-Vice Chair | 2021 | Reappointed 2024 |
| Natasha Borton | 2023 | ||
| Shanone Towers | |||
| 2023 | |||
| Kevin Roberts | 2023 | Resigned 2025 | |
| OlgaFahey | 2024 |
Chief Officer: Dawn Roberts-McCabe
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
AVOW is a Company Limited by Guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 7" November 1994 (as amended in 2022). AVOW is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Membership is open to all voluntary and community organisations collectively known as the Third Sector and individuals acting for the benefit of the community either as volunteers or employees. The Governing Document is reviewed annually.
Organisational Structure
The Board of Trustees, which can have no more than 20 and not less than 6 members, sets the strategic direction of the charity. The Board of Trustees meet quarterly and there is a standing Finance Committee. A Chief Officer is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-to-day operations of the charity within a framework of delegated powers along with a team of managers.
Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees
The AVOW Board consists of no fewer than six and up to 20 volunteer Trustees who are also Directors of the Company serving for a three-year period. All trustees resign by rotation on a three yearly cycle. The Trustees may at any time co-opt any individual who is qualified to be appointed as a Truste to fill a vacancy in their number or as an additional Trustee, but such a co-opted Trustee holds office only until the next election of Trustees or until removed by the Trustees (whichever is earlier) or insert other restrictions.
The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Trustees are appointed by the Trustees annually. The Trustees have the power to appoint or co-opt further Trustees to fill vacancies following a thorough skills audit of existing Trustees.
Per the guidance in the Chairty Code of Ethics, in FY 2024-25, the Trustees found that there was no other Trustee available to take on the Chair of the Finance Committee, and reelected Mervyn Dean to a further one year term beyond the nine years stipulated in the governing document. A new Chair of the standing Finance Committee has been appointed in 2025. The Trustees are grateful to Mervyn Dean for supporting the organisation for an additional year.
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Trustee induction and training
New Trustees undergo an induction to brief them on legal obligations under charity and company law, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the committee and decision-making processes as well as an overview of the recent financial performance of the charity. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate in house and external training events where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role. All Trustees are required to undertake online training in Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Data Protection, PREVENT, Whistleblowing and Information Security. All Trustees have undergone a DBS check in line with the requirements of Care Inspectorate Wales as AVOW undertake regulated activity at Little Sunflowers Child Care in Plas Madoc.
Related Parties
AVOW collaborates with a wide range of partners at local, regional, and national levels. These include public bodies and other third sector organisations. The purpose of the collaboration includes development of new projects and services, to secure additional resources, or to represent the interests of the third sector. AVOW receives core funding from the Welsh Government (administered by Wales Council for Voluntary Action, WCVA), through the National Infrastructure Agreement. The charity builds on this core funding by attracting support from a range of sources including Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and Cadwyn Clwyd. Where trustees have any links with related parties these are declared ona register and trustees are required to declare any potential conflict of interest at the start of each meeting where the Chair will take appropriate action.
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees, Chief Officer and Development Manager (Volunteer, Community, and Finance) as comprising the key management personnel of the charity. All the Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the year.
Trustees are required to declare all relevant interests and withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
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Pay Policy for Senior Staff
The Finance Committee meet annually to review the pay and remuneration of the senior management team. The review of all senior staff pay is referenced to the NJC negotiated pay scales but not fully adopted. Any proposed adjustments to the pay of the senior management team are confirmed by the Finance Committee.
Risk management
An organisational Risk Register has been produced and is reviewed by Trustees annually. This identifies organisational risks and the risk management strategies in place to mitigate those risks.
Specialist advisors, SafetyNest, are contracted to oversee all Health and Safety matters by assessing and advising on risk assessments to ensure the safety of staff, volunteers, visitors, beneficiaries, and stakeholders and the Trustees consider the charity to be well positioned to manage.
AVOW contracts with external professional advisors on matters such as:
-
Employment (renewed May 2025)
-
Health & Safety (2024 for three years)
-
Insurance (June 2025 for three years)
-
Financial Auditing (next review January 2026)
Vision Statement
"Our vision is a Wrexham where individuals, communities, and voluntary organisations are fully supported, connected, and empowered to thrive. We envision a future where everyone has the opportunity to participate in shaping a fair, inclusive, and compassionate society--where voluntary action is recognised as a powerful force for positive change.
AVOW will continue to be a trusted partner at the heart of this transformation, driving collaboration, amplifying local voices, and championing the value of community-led initiatives across all areas of life in Wrexham. Creating a vibrant, inclusive Wrexham where communities are empowered, voices are heard, and voluntary action drives positive change for all."
Mission Statement
AVOW connects, supports, and empowers the voluntary and community sector in Wrexham to improve lives and strengthen communities. We champion collaboration, promote inclusion, and provide a voice
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for local people and organisations to thrive and make a lasting impact.
Annual Trustee and Staff Awaydays are held to focus on key issues and identify challenges and opportunities; to ensure that core functions are in line with the aims and objectives.
Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees
Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year. In preparing such financial statements, the Board of Trustees follows best practice and;
-
e selects suitable accounting policies and applies them consistently.
-
e observes the methods and principles in the charities SORP.
-
e makes judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
-
e prepares the financial statements on the “going concern” basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the company will continue on that basis.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
Members of the Board of Trustees
Members of the Board of Trustees, who are Directors for the purpose of company law and Trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out on page 3.
In accordance with company law, as the company’s directors, we certify that:
-
e so far as we are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditors are unaware; and
-
e we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity’s auditors are aware of that information.
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Auditors
WR Partners LLP, 1 Edison Court, Ellice Way, Wrexham Technology Park, Wrexham, LL13 7YT were appointed, following a tender process in December 2014, as the charitable company’s auditors and have continued in that capacity until the end of the 2021/22 financial year. The tender process was completed in January 2022 and WR Partners were instructed to continue as Audit provider for a further 3 years.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2015 and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102.
Approval
This Trustees’ Annual Report and Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 26" September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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kheut_—
ee
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Peter Howell (Chair)
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
IN WREXHAM
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
. give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended; : have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
. have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
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Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' Report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
. the information given in the Trustees’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements. . the Trustees' Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the Charitable Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
. the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or ° certain disclosures of Trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or , we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
As explained more fully in the Trustees' Responsibilities Statement, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
The audit team obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the charitable company and determined that the most significant are those which relate to the reporting framework (The Charity SORP 2019), the relevant tax compliance regulations and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
We understood how the charitable company complies with these frameworks by making enquiries of management and those responsible for legal and compliance procedures. We also reviewed board minutes to identify any recorded instances of irregularity or non-compliance that might have a material impact on the financial statements.
We assessed the susceptibility of the charitable company's financial statements to material misstatement including how fraud may occur by meeting with key management to understand where they considered there was a susceptibly to fraud. Based on our understanding our procedures involved enquiries of management and those charged with governance, manual journal entry testing, cashbook reviews for large and unusual items and the challenge of significant estimates used in preparing the financial statements.
Because ofthe inherent[limitations] of an[audit,] there[is] a[risk] that we[will] not detect[all][irregularities,] including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of noncompliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
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The engagement team consisted of a team that the engagement partner believes is equipped with the relevant level of technical and society awareness to carry out our work to the required standard.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and it's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
WR Partners
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
1Edison Court Ellice Way Wrexham Technology Park Wrexham
LL13 7YT
Date: wh /nfroars
WR Partners are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
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ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025 (INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| INCOME | |||||
| Incoming resources from generated funds | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 3 | 1,722 | 1,070 | 2,792 | 1,998 |
| Investment Income-interest receivable | 20,903 | - | 20,903 | 9,441 | |
| Income from charitable activities | 4 | 373,044 | 673,611 | 1,046,655 | 978,541 |
| Total income | 395,669 | 674,681 | 1,070,350 | 989,980 | |
| EXPENDITURE | |||||
| Charitable activities | 5 | 470,510 | 612,305 | 1,082,815 | 875,596 |
| Total expenditure | 470,510 | 612,305 | 1,082,815 | 875,596 | |
| Net (expenditure)/income forthe year | |||||
| before transfers | 7 | (74,841) | 62,376 | -12,465 | 114,383 |
| Gross transfers between funds | 8 | 155,903 | (155,903) | - | |
| Net movement in funds | 81,062 | (93,527) | -12,465 | 114,383 | |
| Reconciliation offunds: | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 538,455 | 384,084 | 922,539 | 808,155 | |
| Totalfundscarriedforward | 14 | 619,517 | 290,557 | 910,074 | 922,539 |
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM
COMPANY NUMBER 2993429 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 318’ MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| FIXED ASSETS | |||||
| TangibleAssets | 11 | 235,991 | 219,469 | ||
| CURRENTASSETS | |||||
| Debtors | 12 | 55,211 | 84,965 | ||
| Cash at Bank and In Hand | 752,385 | 776,644 | |||
| 807,596 | 861,609 | ||||
| CREDITORS: Amounts falling due | |||||
| within oneyear | 13 | (133,513) | (158,358) | ||
| NETCURRENTASSETS | 674,083 | 703,070 | |||
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT | |||||
| LIABILITIES | 910,074 | 922,539 | |||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due | |||||
| after more than one year | 13 | - | |||
| NETASSETS | 910,074 | 922,539 | |||
| THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY: | |||||
| Restricted funds | 14 | 290,557 | 384,084 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| General reserves | 14 | 164,566 | 193,170 | ||
| Designated funds | 14 | 454,951 | 345,285 | ||
| TOTALCHARITYFUNDS | 910,074 | 922,539 |
The Trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and their preparation of financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on the 26"" September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
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Peter Howell (Chairman)
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ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM
STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Net movements in funds | (12,465) | 115,732 |
| Adjustments for: | ||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 36,798 | 31,867 |
| Profit or loss in disposal offixed assets | ||
| Investment income- interest receivable | ||
| (Increase)/decrease in debtors | 29,754 | (67,167) |
| Increase/(decrease) in creditors | (25,027) | 52,975 |
| Deferred Grant | - | |
| Net cash generated from operating activities | 29,060 | 133,407 |
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||
| Purchase of Fixed Assets | (53,318) | (22,549) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | (53,318) | (22,549) |
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash | ||
| equivalents | (24,258) | 110,858 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning ofyear | 776,643 | 665,785 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end ofyear | 752,385 | 776,643 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the yearend comprise: | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 752,385 | 776,643 |
| 752,385 | 776,643 |
37
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
14. ACCOUNTING POLICIES: -
The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the financial statements:
(a) Basis of preparation of accounts
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 applicable to the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (October 2019- (Charities SORP (FRS102)), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.
The Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise statement in the relevant accounting policy notes.
(b) Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis
The Trustees have reviewed the current position for 2025/2026 and anticipate that they will fulfil the same service delivery in 2024/2025. Any cuts in income will have the appropriate decrease in expenses to safeguard the current level of unrestricted reserves.
(c) Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
-
« Voluntary income is received by way of grants, donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statements of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
-
« Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified. The value of service provided by the volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
-
e Investment income is included when receivable. » Incoming resources from charitable trading activity are accounted for when earned. e Incoming resources from grants, when related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
(d) Donated services and facilities
Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over them, any condition associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and the economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) general volunteer time is not recognised.
On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in the expenditure in the period of receipt.
38
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157? MARCH 2025
(e) Interest receivable
Interest on funds held on deposit
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.
(f) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the Trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charities work or for specific projects being undertaken.
Internal transfers between funds relate to management costs, support and administration charges applied to the projects and recharged back to unrestricted costs. These are a contribution towards management, support and administration costs of the charity as a whole.
(g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
(h) Allocation of support costs
Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back-office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which supports AVOW and its activities.
(i)
Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation
Purchases of furniture and equipment are capitalised where they can be used for more than one year and cost over £500. Depreciation on fixed assets is calculated to write down their costs or valuation to their estimated residual value over the period of their economic lives at the following rates: -
Freehold property - 2% straight line basis Furniture and Fixtures - 20% straight line basis Computers and Equipment - 33% straight line basis Motor Vehicles - 20% straight line basis
(j) Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discount due.
39
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315’ MARCH 2025
(k) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term investments.
(!) Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
(m) Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at the amortised cost using the effective interest method.
(n) Pensions
All employees are invited to join the Aegon pension’s scheme with a non-contributory 7% contribution on gross salary. The pension is auto enrolment compliant and all those who had not joined the pension scheme as of November 2015 were automatically enrolled when necessary. The contributions made for the accounting period are treated as an expense and were £41,679 (2024: £35,147)
Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Critical accounting estimates and assumptions:
The charity makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. In the opinion of the Trustees there are no estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
40
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
2 LEGAL STATUSES OF THE CHARITY
AVOW is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.
| Total | Total | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| 3 | INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | ||||||||
| Membership Fees | 1,466 | - | 1,466 | 1,408 | |||||
| Donations and Legacies | |||||||||
| (including Gift Aid) | 256 | 1,070 | 1,325 | 590 | |||||
| 1,722 | 1,070 | 2,792 | £1,998 | ||||||
| Income from donation and legacies was £2,792 (2024: £1,998) ofwhich £1,722 | was | unrestricted | (2024: | £1,797) | |||||
| and | £1,070 was restricted (2024: £201). | ||||||||
| Total | Total | ||||||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| 4a | INCOMING FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | ||||||||
| Grants and Other Service | |||||||||
| Contract Income | |||||||||
| Wrexham County Borough Council | |||||||||
| Plas Madoc Flying Start | - | 103,508 | 103,508 | 88,455 | |||||
| Early Education | - | 4,430 | 4,430 | 8,750 | |||||
| Shopmobility | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Adventure Play Grant | - | 12,923 | 12,923 | 16,290 | |||||
| Families First | - | 34,116 | 34,116 | 33,060 | |||||
| RRRS | - | - | - | 250 | |||||
| Community Cohesion Grant | - | - | - | 2,250 | |||||
| Ageing Well | - | - | - | 22,727 | |||||
| Capital Digital Inclusion | - | - | - | 72,449 | |||||
| Town Centre Grant | - | 49,999 | 49,999 | - | |||||
| Community Agents | - | 134,905 | 134,905 | - | |||||
| WCBC City of Culture Grant | - | - | - | - | |||||
| : | WCBC Warm Spaces | - | 1,692 | 1,692 | - | ||||
| WCBC ACL Training | - | 7,500 | 7,500 | - | |||||
| WCBC Our Nature | - | 6,260 | 6,260 | - | |||||
| WCBC Children &Young People | - | 1,500 | 1,500 | - | |||||
| WCBC Shared Prosperity Key | |||||||||
| Fund | - | 21,467 | 21,467 | - |
(Continued on next page)
41
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
| Total | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| 4a | ||||||
| . | INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | |||||
| BCUHB | ||||||
| Health Facilitator | - | 44,446 | 44,446 | 42,452 | ||
| Partners In Care | - | - | - | - | ||
| GP Facilitator | - | - | - | - | ||
| Winter Pressures Grant | - | - | Ss | - | ||
| Poverty Research | - | - | - | - | ||
| IMPT | - | - | - | - | ||
| Wales Council for Voluntary Action | ||||||
| Local Voluntary Scheme | 220,194 | - | 220,194 | 200,754 | ||
| Safeguarding | - | 5,917 | 5,917 | - | ||
| Child Poverty | - | - | - | - | ||
| Youth Led Grants | - | 6,650 | 6,650 | 6,650 | ||
| Comic Relief Grant | - | - | - | - | ||
| VSEF Grants | - | - | - | - | ||
| Welsh Government | ||||||
| Winter Pressures Grant | - | - | Ss | - | ||
| Food Poverty | - | - | - | - | ||
| Community Transport Grant | - | - | - | - | ||
| Ann Duchess ofWestminster | - | - | - | 10,000 | ||
| Lottery | - | 95,009 | 95,009 | 92,646 | ||
| Lottery Community Fund | - | - | - | 10,000 | ||
| Children In Need | - | 19,310 | 19,310 | 18,838 | ||
| Charity Commission | - | 957 | 957 | 30,000 | ||
| AVOW MAD Grant | - | 468 | 468 | - | ||
| Plas Madoc Invest Local | - | 78,174 | 78,174 | 78,174 | ||
| BME- Ethnic Minorities & Youth | ||||||
| Support | - | - | - | - | ||
| Cadwyn Clwyd | - | 19,766 | 19,766 | 50,895 | ||
| Community Learning Grant | - | - | - | - | ||
| We Are Plas Madoc | - | - | - | - | ||
| Tesco | - | 330 | 330 | 990 | ||
| Neumark Foundation | - | 15,258 | 15,258 | 2,500 | ||
| Wrexham University | - | - | - | - | ||
| Gwersyllt Community Council | - | 780 | 780 | - | ||
| Lloyds Foundation | - | 1,000 | 1,000 | - | ||
| Neighbourly Fund | - | - | - | 555 | ||
| AVOW Loneliness & Isolation Fund | - | - | - | 4,650 | ||
| Asset Lock | - | - | - | 16,211 | ||
| Match Funding | - | - | - | 13,231 | ||
| Total | GrantsReceivable | 220,194 | 666,365 | 886,559 | 822,787 |
42
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157 MARCH 2025
| Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 4b. INCOME EARNED FROM OTHER ACTIVITIES | ||||
| Rents and services | 50,678 | 537 | 51,215 | 45,513 |
| Photocopying and postage | 72 | - | 72 | 157 |
| Payroll services | 76,995 | - | 76,995 | 78,304 |
| Trips and events | - | - | - | - |
| Training courses | 4,307 | - | 4,307 | 5,529 |
| Community Lottery | 1,995 | 717 | 2,712 | 2,923 |
| LSCC Income | 5,655 | - | 5,655 | 9,531 |
| Shopmobility | 12,381 | - | 12,381 | 5,982 |
| Other income | 767 | 5,992 | 6,759 | 7,816 |
| 373,044 | 673,611 | 1,046,655 | 978,541 |
Income from charitable activities was £1,046,655 (2024: £978,541) of which £373,044 related to unrestricted reserves (2024: £354,953) and £673,611 restricted reserves (2024: £623,288).
43
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
| Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 5ANALYSES OF EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES: | ||||
| Grants Payable | ||||
| Youth Led Grants | - | 9,571 | 9,571 | 7,659 |
| MAD Grant | - | 5,680 | 5,680 | - |
| Glyndwr University | - | - | - | 3,000 |
| Asset Lock | - | 2,656 | 2,656 | - |
| WCBC loneliness & Isolation Grant | - | - | - | 16,500 |
| WCBC Food Poverty | - | - | - | (1,543) |
| Other Costs of Charitable Activity | ||||
| Bad Debts written off | - | - | ||
| Volunteer Match | - | - | - | 13,231 |
| Staff salaries & pensions | 284,357 | 446,520 | 730,877 | 624,928 |
| Staff travel | 1,472 | 493 | 1,965 | 1,264 |
| Stafftraining | 5,172 | 1,934 | 7,106 | 6,142 |
| Other staff costs | 3,026 | 1,985 | 5,011 | 1,892 |
| DBS Charges | 269 | 695 | 964 | 482 |
| Volunteer expenses & Training | 367 | 605 | 972 | 445 |
| OtherTraining | 4,231 | 5,842 | 10,073 | - |
| Consultancy | 6,000 | - | 6,000 | - |
| Depreciation | 30,954 | 5,840 | 36,794 | 31,869 |
| Telephone | 1,207 | 1,973 | 3,180 | 1,181 |
| Computer maintenance and expenses | 22,523 | 7,486 | 30,040 | 23,039 |
| Insurance | 7,450 | - | 7,450 | 10,548 |
| Heat and light | 8,276 | - | 8,276 | 6,341 |
| Water rates | 566 | - | 566 | 498 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 51,029 | 50,405 | 101,434 | 24,385 |
| Printing, postage & stationery | 910 | 5,424 | 6,334 | 2,279 |
| Projects and events | 7,528 | 53,511 | 61,039 | 46,495 |
| Project publicity and promotion costs | 2,682 | 4,906 | 7,588 | 9,119 |
| Sundry expenses | 367 | - | 365 | 231 |
| Bank charges | 4,617 | 1 | 4,618 | 3,954 |
| Subscriptions, books and publications | 1,675 | 819 | 2,494 | 1,009 |
| Research Project | - | - | - | |
| Shopmobility | 1,071 | 2,372 | 3,443 | 1,993 |
| Van Expenses | - | 3,587 | 3,587 | 2,062 |
| Governance Costs | ||||
| Audit fees | 12,346 | - | 12,346 | 9,866 |
| AccountancyFees | - | - | - | - |
44
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
5. ANALYSIS OF EXPENDITURE ON
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES continued:
| Legal and professional fees | 11,005 | - | 11,005 | 12,401 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGM Expenses | 1,357 | 1,357 | 3,575 | |
| Health & Safety | 22 | - | 22 | 201 |
| 470,510 | 612,305 | 1,082,815 | 875,596 |
Expenditure on charitable activities was £1,082,815 (2024: £875,596) of which £470,510 was unrestricted (2024: £428,693) and £612,305 was restricted (2024: £446,903)
| Total | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costs of | Support | |||
| Activities | Costs | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 6 ANALYSES OF OTHER COSTS | ||||
| Bad Debts written off | - | - | ||
| Volunteer Match | - | - | - | 13,231 |
| Staff salaries & pensions | 550,880 | 179,997 | 730,877 | 624,928 |
| Stafftravel | 957 | 1,008 | 1,965 | 1,265 |
| Staff training | 1,994 | 11,112 | 13,106 | 6,142 |
| Other staff costs | 2,396 | 2,615 | 5,011 | 1,892 |
| DBS Charges | 741 | 223 | 964 | 482 |
| Volunteer expenses & Training | 692 | 280 | 972 | 445 |
| Other training costs & Consultancy | 10,073 | - | 10,073 | 8,780 |
| Depreciation | 5,840 | 30,954 | 36,794 | 31,869 |
| Telephone | 1,973 | 1,207 | 3,180 | 1,181 |
| Computer maintenance and expenses | 8,661 | 21,379 | 30,040 | 23,039 |
| Insurance | - | 7,450 | 7,450 | 10,548 |
| Heat and light | - | 8,276 | 8,276 | 6,341 |
| Water rates | - | 566 | 566 | 498 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 50,596 | 50,838 | 101,434 | 24,385 |
| Printing, postage & stationery | 5,457 | 877 | 6,334 | 2,279 |
| Projects and events | 58,913 | 2,126 | 61,039 | 46,495 |
| Project publicity and promotion costs | 4,924 | 2,664 | 7,588 | 9,120 |
| Sundry expenses | - | 367 | 367 | 231 |
| Bank charges | 783 | 3,835 | 4,618 | 3,954 |
| Subscriptions, books and publications | 1,453 | 1,041 | 2,494 | 1,009 |
| Research Project | - | - | - | - |
| Shopmobility | 3,443 | 3,443 | 1,993 | |
| VanExpenses | 3,587 | - | 3,587 | 2,062 |
45
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315" MARCH 2025
- ANALYSES OF OTHER COSTS continued
Legal and professional fees - 23,351 23,531 12,401 AGM Expenses - 1,357 1,357 3,575 Health & Safety - 22 22 201 713,362 351,546 1,064,908 849,978
Expenditure on other costs was £1,064,908 of which £713,362 was cost of activities (2024: £549,027) and £351,546 was support costs (2024: £300,951).
46
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3187 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 7 | NET INCOME/EXPENDITURE FOR THE | ||
| YEAR | |||
| This is stated after charging: | |||
| Depreciation | 36,798 | 31,869 | |
| AuditorsRemuneration | 11,500 | 9,763 |
8GROSS TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
This figure comprises internal recharges for services provided by AVOW to various restricted fund projects and contributions towards AVOW’s management of the restricted projects, net of any overspends on restricted projects which have been covered by general funds. A more detailed breakdown is given under note 14 c).
9TRUSTEES AND EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
a) Trustees:
No Trustees received any remuneration during the year (2024- Nil).
Travel expenses to the value of Nil (2024: Nil) were paid to 0 trustees (2024: Nil) during the year to attend meetings.
During the year a number of trustees donated their expenses to AVOW. All the transactions were conducted on an arm’s length basis in support of the charity.
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| b) | Employees: | £ | £ |
| Staff Costs: | |||
| Salaries and Wages | 644,638 | 552,151 | |
| Social Security Costs | 44,560 | 37,630 | |
| Pension Costs | 41,679 | 35,147 | |
| Redundancy Costs | - | - | |
| 730,877 | 622,305 |
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 (2024 — nil).
The key management personnel of the charity are the Chief Officer and Development Manager for Volunteering, Community & Finance. Their employee benefits total £115,496 (2024: £105,126).
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The | average | number | of employees was: | 27 | 27 | ||
| The | average | number | employeesFTE | 18 | 18 |
47
10 CORPORATION TAX
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
| The charity is exemptfrom tax on 252 ofthe Taxation ofChargeable |
income and gains failing within section 505 oftheTaxes Act 1988 or section Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. |
income and gains failing within section 505 oftheTaxes Act 1988 or section Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. |
income and gains failing within section 505 oftheTaxes Act 1988 or section Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. |
income and gains failing within section 505 oftheTaxes Act 1988 or section Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. |
income and gains failing within section 505 oftheTaxes Act 1988 or section Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects. |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS | Furniture | ||||
| & | Computer | Motor | ||||
| Building | Fixtures | Equipment | Vehicles | Totals | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| COST | ||||||
| Opening balance 1 April 2024 | 292,108 | 153,317 | 51,214 | 117,597 | 614,236 | |
| Additions | - | - | 31,477 | 21,841 | 53,318 | |
| Disposals | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Closing balance 31 March 2025 | 292,108 | 153,317 | 82,691 | 139,438 | 667,554 | |
| DEPRECIATION | ||||||
| Opening Balance 1 April 2023 | 147,514 | 148,731 | 49,249 | 49,271 | 394,765 | |
| Charge forthe year | 5,842 | 1,813 | 5,228 | 23,915 | 36,798 | |
| Disposals | ||||||
| Closing Balance 31 March 2024 | 153,356 | 150,544 | 54,477 | 66,252 | 431,563 | |
| Net BookValue 31 March 2025 | 138,752 | 2,773 | 28,214 | 66,252 | 235,991 | |
| NetBookValue31March2024 | 144,594 | 4,586 | 1,965 | 68,326 | 219,471 |
The freehold property referred to above is Ty Avow, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham, which is included in these financial statements at original cost less depreciation.
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 12 | DEBTORS | ||
| Trade Debtors | 38,805 | 64,014 | |
| Prepayments | 15,626 | 20,233 | |
| Accrued income | 465 | 403 | |
| Accrued Gift Aid Tax | 315 | 315 | |
| 55,211 | 84,965 |
48
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157 MARCH 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 13 | CREDITORS: Amounts falling duewithin one year: | ||
| Trade Creditors | 10,631 | 39,043 | |
| Accruals and Deferred Income | 16,003 | 17,795 | |
| PAYE & NI Creditor | 16,050 | 11,555 | |
| Payroll Creditor | 90,829 | 90,145 | |
| 133,513 | 158,538 |
The creditor and bank balances include £96,219 in respect of the HMRC creditor for AVOW’s payroll clients along with credits held on account.
49
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315’ MARCH 2025
14 MOVEMENT OF FUNDS TO 3187 MARCH 2025
a) Summary of funds
| a)Summaryof fundsfunds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Brought forward Net Movement in Funds |
538,455 81,062 |
384,084 (93,527) |
922,539 (12,465) |
808,155 114,384 |
| Carriedforward | 619,517 | 290,557 | 910,074 | 922,539 |
b) Unrestricted Funds
| b) Unrestricted Funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designated | ||||
| Funds: | ||||
| General Fund |
Running Costs and |
Total 2025 |
Total 2024 |
|
| Redundancy | ||||
| Contingency | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Broughtforward Income & Expenditure Account Transferfrom Restricted Funds |
193,170 (184,507) 155,903 |
345,285 109,666 |
538,455 (74,841) 155,903 |
493,170 (119,929) 165,214 |
| Carriedforward | 164,566 | 454,951 | 619,517 | 538,455 |
50
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315’ MARCH 2025
C) Restricted Funds
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|Projects|11,438|||4,067|4,131|||3,240|||
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|2|||||||||||
|BCTPlan2 |
Broughton|20,649]||17,628||9,013||—743{_28,521||||||
|CommAsset ||11,304|||2,656||||||8,648|
|Lock|||||||||||
|Cadwyn|||||||||||
|Shared|-135||19,766|12,882|4,750|||1,999|||
|Prosperity|||||||||||
|Commission|||||||||||
|Agents|||||||||||
|Transport|||||||||||
|CoreAVOW|||||||||||
|Core|||||||||||
|Gwersyllt|||||||||||
|Community|||780|||||||111|
|Council|||||||||||
|Gwersyllt|||||||||||
|Community|2,250|||2,189||||||61|
|Cohesion|||||||||||
|Gwersyllt|||||||||||
|Community|||7,900|||||||7,900|
|learning|||||||||||
|Gwersyllta)|||||||||||
|Gwersyllt|||||||||||
51
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
| Gwersyllt Hub | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H&SCFacilitator&Dev | Officer |
44995] | 44,446] | 36,947 | 5,351 | 5,685pe |
| LSCCFlyingStart LSCCNeumark |
-3,372 | 103,508 | 15,258 |
80,731] 12,086 |
||
| Play Barclaycard | ||||||
| PMCIN PMDramacub |
PMFamiliesFirst |
PMFamilies First 2 |
-2,241 405{ 297[ io75[ |
19,310 of of oo] |
13,200 of s23f sof |
~~ of sof Sot |
| PM Families First Parent Carers |
-492 | 9,999 | 3,306 | 3,108 | 3,093 | |
| PM Families First Parent Support |
5,895 | 24,117 | 28,858 | 1,154 | ||
| PMPlayLottery | 95,009 | 79,382] | 6505] | 7,672] ~——-o | ||
| PM WCBC | ||||||
| Pressures | ||||||
| PMWCBC Cityof Culture |
4,000 | 3,387 | 613 |
ce
52
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 3157 MARCH 2025
| PM WCBCholiday PMWGHoliday Playworks |
vastot 22,915] 12,000 |
vastot 22,915] 12,000 |
usziat 2,590 |
oToo 1,500 |
oToo 1,500 |
oToo 1,500 |
8,334 30,825 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PenycaeWarmSpace | 0] a7i{_— 827, |
oT | |||||
| Shopmobility | |||||||
| Loneliness & Isolation | 2,900 | 2,500 | |||||
| Grant | |||||||
| ShopmobilityLottery | 254{_ |
otTa | |||||
| Prosperity | |||||||
| Shopmobility Tesco BlueTokens ed |
|||||||
| ShopmobiliityWarm Space |
A | ||||||
| TownCentreGrant_ | YouthledGrants 2414] WCEC3rd SectorHub 6,291 WCBCCityofCulture |
750] WCBCFood Poverty |
1543] WCBC Mobility& 72,449 Digital Inclusion |
49,999 6750] of of |
49999] of to] 9.071] |
||
| WCBC Wrexham | |||||||
| Town Board Senedd | 1,500 | 757 | 150 | 553 | |||
| Yr Ifanc | |||||||
| WGWinterPressures | -273{ of ofoo -273 Wrexham Business GroupAssetLock weof of weaz Wrexham CityOf 3,388 3,688 -300 Culture |
||||||
Rounding{zt 384,082 |
674,678 |
612,304] 72,208] 42,895 |
40,800 290,557 |
Management charges/Internal charges totalling £155,903 represent grant monies expended on services provided by AVOW during the year. Management transfers include contribution towards AVOW’'s administration according to the terms of the grant. Transfers from unrestricted funds represents any overspends which have been covered by general funds. The negative balances at the 31st of March 2025 are timing issues and will be carried forward to the 2025/2026 accounts.
All the grants listed above are held by AVOW and managed according to their contract restrictions. All restricted funds are used to provide services, assistance and advice to our members, service users and members of the public in the Wrexham area and further afield. All expenses are applied against the correlating income. The property grant relates to the grant AVOW received to purchase Ty Avow, depreciation is charged against the income on an annual basis. Further details of these projects can be found in the Trustees Annual Report.
53
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
15 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fund Balances on 31% March 2025 | ||||
| are represented by: | ||||
| Tangible Fixed Assets Net Current Assets |
118,271 501,246 |
117,720 172,837 |
235,991 674,083 |
219,471 703,068 |
| 619,517 | 290,557 | 910,074 | 922,539 | |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | |
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fund Balances on 31%t March 2024 | ||||
| are represented by: Tangible Fixed Assets Net Current Assets |
95,910 442,545 |
123,561 260,523 |
219,471 703,068 |
228,789 579,366 |
| 538,455 | 384,084 | 922,539 | 808,155 |
54
ASSOCIATION OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN WREXHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315? MARCH 2025
16. OPERATING LEASES
At 318 March 2025, the charity had commitments to make sure minim leases payment under non-cancellable leases as follows:
2025
No later than 1 year £2,623 Later than 1 year and not £5,903 later than 5 years Later than 5 years - £8,526
17 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Scot Owen is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Treasure Chest, a childcare provider based at Park CP School. Treasure chests are clients of AVOW payroll services. Sales Transactions during the year totalled £1,279 (2024: £1,323). Scott also manages Xplore who are potential beneficiaries of AVOW and providers of services to The Land. Sales transactions £10 (2024: £298).
Peter Howell is a Councillor for Wrexham County Borough Council, a Community Councillor for Gwersyllt and a Committee member of Wrexham Athletics club who are potential beneficiaries of AVOW.
Shanone Towers is a Director of Litegreen who rent premises at Ty Avow. Rent charges for 2024/2025 was £7,895 £7,125 2024).
Mervyn Dean, David Thompson are both Trustees of Wrexham Miners Project who are potential beneficiaries of AVOW. Sales Transactions during the year totalled £20.
Kevin Roberts is a Community Councillor for Little Acton of which AVOW have benefited from donations totalling £500.
55