2024-03-31-accounts

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1045064

Making Communities Work & Grow Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2024

Making Communities Work & Grow

Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

	Page
Trustees' annual report	1
Independent examiner's report to the trustees	6
Statement of financial activities	7
Statement of financial position	8
Statement of cash flows	9
Notes to the financial statements	10

Making Communities Work & Grow

Trustees' Annual Report

Year ended 31 March 2024

The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Reference and administrative details

Registered charity name Making Communities Work & Grow Charity registration number 1045064 Principal office 19 Goldborne Road North Kensington London W10 5NY United Kingdom The trustees Redouan Ahmadi (Chairman) Tarik Ellekhlifi (Vice Chairman) Abdelali Lamsaadi Aicha Bendayhia Said Ajban Independent examiner Corporate Leaders 1st Floor 29-31 Minerva Road London NW10 6HJ

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Structure, governance and management

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to encourage young people and families to aspire to achieve their full potential so that they realise that they have a unique contribution to make to the social, cultural and economic future of their communities.

WHO WE ARE:

Making Communities Work and Grow (MCWG) has been providing outstanding service to the community of Kensington and Chelsea and surrounding areas since 1994. MCWG first set up as a response to the lack of specific services for Black and Ethnic Minority (BAME) young people in the area. Over the years, our inclusive ethos has meant that we increasingly open our doors to disadvantaged young people and families from a variety of backgrounds, for example from White British, Moroccan, Somali and Bangladeshi communities. MCWG provide activities and services for beneficiaries aged between 5-60 years old. Our work caters for those who are living and working in one of the most deprived areas in London. Many of our beneficiaries are from low-income single parent families who struggle to access mainstream services and educational support. This is particularly the case for families who do not speak English as a first language. Isolation, loneliness, mental health, financial constraints and lack of physical activity are some of the issues we deal with and provide activities and services to address these issues. Low levels of literacy and educational attainment are also a big issue. We work closely with social care and education professionals to help families stay safe and access support, whilst working with young people to build their self-esteem and sense of achievement. Currently we are the largest of a very few organisations that facilitate activities for the North African/Arab community. We also cater for Afro-Caribbean, Asian and other minority ethnic groups.

Our supplementary school is the largest in the borough for teaching Arabic with over 200+ students and assists local schools by providing their pupils with extra-curricular support, which in turn help improve school results. This year we have created a new programme of activities aimed at parents and adults from coffee mornings, health and wellbeing workshops, day trips and sports and fitness activities. Feedback from surveys, training providers, business professionals, police and the local authority further indicate a need to provide specifically tailored services for young people of North African/Arab and other BAME backgrounds being affected by poverty-related issues.

Our users play a pivotal role in shaping and developing all our projects. We hold regular discussions and dialogue to understand their developing needs and to get suggestions for improvement in the delivery of our services to them. MCWG is a thriving charity organised by local people for the local people, a community-based charity providing a grass-root service for each individual household.

THE WORK WE DO

Youth Provision

The drop-in sessions deliver life skills and extra-curriculum programmes during the weekends and holiday periods, which enhance the personal, social and educational development of children and young people. During the drop-in sessions, we offer a wide range of activities and offer a safe and warm space for children and young people to socialise and stay off the streets.

Many of our beneficiaries are at a higher risk of engaging in criminality, drug abuse and anti-social behaviour. We work in partnership with local external agencies who feed us information so that our youth workers can promote education, employment and training on offer. We offer various projects that enhance the skills of the members of our community, from early intervention to youth and adult programs. This year we had a strong focus on building strong relationships and confidence with the

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

children and young people as we were just coming out of COVID-19 and had a large number of new children and young people accessing the drop-in sessions. We delivered generic activities within the centre as well as day trips, educational workshops and sporting tournaments throughout the year. Our aim for the youth is to build responsible, productive young men and women, who are able to take responsibility for themselves and their actions and make a positive contribution to the community. We achieve this by equipping them with relevant knowledge, correct understanding and skills. Our youth provision also helps young people to build their self- esteem and confidence by empowering them through provisions of informal education, sports and the youth activities. Our projects encourage personal development, help channel aggression, and discourage anti-social behaviour. Our youth provision ran weekly and we had a session for boys and a session for girls. The boys programme ran on Saturdays between 5pm-7pm (ages 8-13) and 7pm-9pm (ages 14-18). We held over 40 weeks of sessions for the boys. The girl’s session ran on a Friday evening between 4:30pm-6pm (ages 13+) and we were able to deliver over 30 weeks of sessions.

Supplementary School

Our supplementary school caters for children aged 5-16 year olds. We provide formal national curriculum support in the form of tutoring and homework clubs that help children and young people with English, Maths and Science and Arabic that is taught at our weekend supplementary school. Our supplementary school runs every Saturday from 10:00-3.00 at Colville Primary School. The school boasts over 200 students, 3 senior staff, 11 teachers, 5 assistant teachers and 3 Volunteers. Our after-school tutoring/homework clubs catered for children for primary school age to secondary school age and provides additional support for Maths, English and Science.

Football Sessions

During 2023-2024 we provided 38 weeks of football sessions for free at Westway Sports Centre for children aged 8-12. The aims of the session were to promote a healthy lifestyle, social wellbeing, building confidence and self-esteem and learning to work as part of a team. Majority of the beneficiaries who participated in the sessions were residents of RBKC and the sessions were open to boys and girls. The sessions were attended on average by 20 beneficiaries every week, we had 52 unique beneficiaries access the sessions and the feedback received from parents and children was very positive. Parents were extremely grateful for the sessions and commented on how they had noticed a positive impact on their child’s/children’s confidence and that the thoroughly enjoyed the sessions in comparison to other sessions they had attended in the past. We were also able to accommodate for children with SEND within these sessions and parents were grateful that we had the experience to cater for these additional needs.

Women’s Coffee Mornings

Women’s coffee mornings proved to be one of the most popular activities. The coffee mornings were attended by an average of 25 women per session and some regular sessions would reach attendance figures of around 40+. Part of our coffee morning activity was a mini bazaar we would hold monthly and this was a huge success. The bazaar would attract over 60+ women and it gave local female entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their business and products and to gain exposure for their brand. We had many visitors attend the coffee mornings and bazaar’s including local councillors, MP’s and the mayor. The feedback we received from attendees was very positive, majority of the beneficiaries found the coffee morning a place of ‘relaxation’ and a ‘mental break’. There were also periodic workshops held in conjunction with the coffee mornings that addressed topics around a healthy lifestyle and mental health. The workshops were run in partnership with Communities Living Well (CLWM) and were well received by beneficiaries. Through feedback, 85% of attendees stated they felt more confident in addressing and tackling certain issues after attending the workshops.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Children’s Gymnastic Sessions

Another extremely popular activity we held was the children’s gymnastic sessions. These were bi-weekly, Monday and Wednesday between 5pm-6pm and 6pm-7pm. The earlier timing was for children aged between 5 years-8 years and the later timing was for 9 years-13 years. Both classes filled up very quickly and we had to operate a waiting list for the sessions due to the popularity. We have had over 100 unique users access the sessions and have over 40 children attending the classes regularly to date. The sessions are taught by a qualified coach who is accredited by British Gymnastics and has over 35+ years of experience in teaching gymnastics.

Key Highlights and Activities

The centre is a thriving place to be and we held several key events throughout last financial year. We held our annual pre-Eid bazaar on Portobello Green which attracted over 350 people made up of local residents and passers-by. The event served the purpose of bringing the community together on a joyous occasion and embracing the diversity of the community we have in RBKC and comprised of stalls, face painting, entertainment and prize giveaways. We also held several workshops throughout the year in conjunction with the women’s coffee mornings; these were delivered by Communities Living Well Mental Health (CLWM) and different topics were addressed surrounding wellbeing and mental health. There were also several trips held for the youth provisions for both boys and girls, these trips included laser tag, bowling and a trip to the beach and for many of the beneficiaries it was the first time to attend a beach in the United Kingdom.

MCWG understands that the community is the backbone of the organisation, which is why we consider community involvement a key factor in steering the organisation forward. Our engagement with the community and transparency, have helped us provide an outstanding service. MCWG holds a deep understanding of the community and is empathetic to its cultural needs, and by doing so, acts as a stepping-stone to integration in the wider society.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Trustees' Annual Report (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

Financial review

Income for the year was £89,292 and expenditure was £149,028 resulting in a deficit of £59,736. Reserves at the end of the year were £320.

POLICIES

The charity has a full range of policies and procedures. Every year the trustees review those policies which include;

Risks

Public benefit Safeguarding

Reserves

The charity aims to hold six months of turnover as reserves. During the year the charity managed to increase its reserves. We are an inner-city charity providing important services to young people from different communities. For the future of the young and social cohesion, it is important we continue our work year on year. Indeed, we are more needed when times are tough and for these reasons the trustees aim to hold 3 months reserves to ensure the future needs are met.

Investment

The charity holds some funds in an interest earning deposit account.

The trustees' annual report was approved on 31 January 2025 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:

Redouan Ahmadi (Chairman) Trustee

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Making Communities Work & Grow

Year ended 31 March 2024

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Making Communities Work & Grow ('the charity') for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Tahir Ayub (FCCA) Independent Examiner

1st Floor 29-31 Minerva Road London NW10 6HJ

31 January 2025

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Statement of Financial Activities

Year ended 31 March 2024

			2024		2023
		Unrestricted	Restricted
		funds	funds	Total funds	Total funds
	Note	£	£	£	£
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies	4	64,370	24,742	89,112	99,248
Investment income	5	180	–	180	77
		────────	────────	────────	────────
Total income		64,550	24,742	89,292	99,325
		════════	════════	════════	════════
Expenditure
Expenditure on raising funds:
Costs of other trading activities	6	89,358	–	89,358	140,887
Expenditure on charitable activities	7,8	41,430	18,240	59,670	48,848
		─────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Total expenditure		130,788	18,240	149,028	189,735
		═════════	════════	═════════	═════════
Net expenditure and net movement	in
funds		(66,238)	6,502	(59,736)	(90,410)
		═════════	════════	═════════	═════════
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward		52,697	7,359	60,056	150,466
		─────────	────────	─────────	─────────
Total funds carried forward		(13,541)	13,861	320	60,056
		═════════	════════	═════════	═════════

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Statement of Financial Position

31 March 2024

		2024	2023
	Note	£	£
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets	13	20,425	27,233
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand		5,941	37,976
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	14	26,046	5,153
		───────	────────
Net current liabilities		(20,105)	32,823
		────────	────────
Total assets less current liabilities		320	60,056
		────────	────────
Net assets		320	60,056
		════════	════════
Funds of the charity
Restricted funds		12,861	7,359
Unrestricted funds		(12,541)	52,697
		────────	────────
Total charity funds	15	320 ════════	60,056 ════════

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 31 January 2025, and are signed on behalf of the board by:

Redouan Ahmadi (Chairman) Trustee

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 March 2024

	2024	2023
	£	£
Cash flows from operating activities
Net expenditure	(59,736)	(90,410)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets	6,808	9,078
Other interest receivable and similar income	(180)	(77)
Interest payable and similar charges	–	69
Accrued expenses	2,693	1,660
Changes in:
Trade and other creditors	18,200	–
	────────	────────
Cash generated from operations	(32,215)	(79,680)
Interest paid	–	(69)
Interest received	180	77
	────────	────────
Net cash used in operating activities	(32,035)	(79,672)
	════════	════════
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(32,035)	(79,672)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	37,976	117,648
	────────	─────────
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	5,941	37,976
	════════	═════════

The notes on pages 10 to 15 form part of these financial statements.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year ended 31 March 2024

1. General information

The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 19 Golborne Road, North Kensington, London, W10 5NY, England.

2. Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

3. Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Going concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.

Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

• income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

• legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.

• income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.

• income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

• expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.

• expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

• other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are initially recorded at cost, and subsequently stated at cost less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Any tangible assets carried at revalued amounts are recorded at the fair value at the date of revaluation less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

3. Accounting policies (continued)

Tangible assets (continued)

An increase in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of a revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, unless it reverses a charge for impairment that has previously been recognised as expenditure within the statement of financial activities. A decrease in the carrying amount of an asset as a result of revaluation, is recognised in other recognised gains and losses, except to which it offsets any previous revaluation gain, in which case the loss is shown within other recognised gains and losses on the statement of financial activities.

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:

Fixtures and fittings	-	25% reducing balance
Motor vehicles	-	25% reducing balance
Equipment	-	25% reducing balance

4. Donations and legacies

		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds	2024
		£	£	£
Donations
Grants and donations		–	24,742	24,742
Donations - Unrestricted		64,370	-	64,370
		────────	────────	────────
		64,370	24,742	89,112
		════════	════════	════════
		Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds	2023
		£	£	£
Donations
Grants and donations		–	44,064	44,064
Donations - Unrestricted		55,184	–	55,184
		────────	────────	────────
		55,184	44,064	99,248
		════════	════════	════════
Investment income
	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
	Funds	2024	Funds	2023
	£	£	£	£
Bank interest receivable	180	180	77	77
	════	════	════	════

5. Investment income

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

6. Costs of other trading activities

	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Unrestricted	Total Funds
	Funds	2004	Funds	2023
	£	£	£	£
Costs of other trading activities:
Membership schemes and social
lotteries	89,358	89,358	140,887	140,887
	═════════	═════════	═════════	═════════

7. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type

	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2024
	£	£	£
Restricted funds	–	18,240	18,240
Support costs	41,430	-	41,430
	───────	────────	────────
	41,430	18,240	59,670
	═══════	════════	════════
	Unrestricted	Restricted	Total Funds
	Funds	Funds	2023
	£	£	£
Restricted funds	–	12,283	12,283
Support costs	9,223	27,342	36,565
	───────	────────	────────
	9,223	39,625	48,848
	═══════	════════	════════

8. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type

	Activities
	undertaken		Total funds	Total fund
	directly Support costs		2024	2023
	£	£	£	£
Restricted funds	18,240	–	18,240	12,283
Governance costs	33,622	7,808	41,430	36,565
	────────	───────	────────	────────
	51,862	7,808	59,670	48,848
	════════	═══════	════════	════════

9. Net expenditure

Net expenditure is stated after charging/(crediting):

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets

2024	2023
£	£
6,808	9,078
═══════	═══════

10. Staff costs

The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:

	2024	2023
	£	£
Wages and salaries	11,773	22,446
	════════	════════

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

10. Staff costs (continued)

The average head count of employees during the year was 2 (2023: 2).

No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year or in the 2023.

11. Trustee remuneration and expenses

The Trustees did not receive any remuneration and did not charge any expenses during the year or in the previous year.

12. Annual commitments under licence to occupy

The charity has two licences to occupy on separate properties as below;

(1) Office 2, 7 Thorpe Close - £5,890 renewed annually

(2) 19 Golborne Road - £20,000 per annum, 1 year licence to occupy renewable September 2025. Rent arrears of £20,000 (within trade creditors) will be paid in the next financial year as the organisation fell short of rent payments, due to lack of institutional funding.

13. Tangible fixed assets

	Fixtures and	Motor
	fittings	vehicles	Equipment	Total
	£	£	£	£
Cost
At 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024	28,973	70,230	24,259	123,462
	════════	════════	════════	═════════
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023	28,646	46,278	21,305	96,229
Charge for the year	81	5,988	739	6,808
	────────	────────	────────	─────────
At 31 March 2024	28,727	52,266	22,044	103,037
	════════	════════	════════	═════════
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024	246	17,964	2,215	20,425
	════════	════════	════════	═════════
At 31 March 2023	327	23,952	2,954	27,233
	════════	════════	════════	═════════

14. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

	2024	2023
	£	£
Trade creditors	17,945	–
Accruals and deferred income	7,152	4,459
Social security and other taxes	949	694
	────────	───────
	26,046	5,153
	════════	═══════

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Making Communities Work & Grow

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2024

15. Analysis of charitable funds

Unrestricted funds

	Unrestricted funds
					At
		At		31 March 202
		1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
		£	£	£	£
	General funds	52,697	64,550	(130,788)	(13,541)
		════════	════════	═════════	════════
					At
		At			31 March 202
		1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
		£	£	£	£
	General funds	147,546	55,261	(150,110)	52,697
		═════════	════════	═════════	════════
	Restricted funds
					At
		At		31 March 202
		1 April 2023	Income	Expenditure	4
		£	£	£	£
	Restricted Fund	7,359	24,742	(18,240)	13,861
		═══════	════════	════════	═══════
					At
		At			31 March 202
		1 April 2022	Income	Expenditure	3
		£	£	£	£
	Restricted Fund	2,920	44,064	(39,625)	7,359
		═══════	════════	════════	═══════
16.	Analysis of changes in net debt
					At
			At 1 Apr 2023	Cash flows	31 Mar 2024
			£	£	£
	Cash at bank and in hand		37,976	(32,035)	5,941
			════════	════════	═══════

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