Company Registration No. 3320011 (England and Wales)
Charity No. 1060910
Dorset
Community
ction
(COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)
Report of the Trustees
for the year ended
31st MARCH 2024

Dorset
41 Community
KX Action
CONTENTS
PAGE
Legal and Administration Infonnation
Trustees Report
3-14
Structure, Governan￿, and Management
15-20
Independent Examinerfs Report
20
ststement of Financial Aclivittes
21
Balance Sheet
22
Statement of Cash Flows
23-24
Notes to the Financial Statements
25-42
*****th***rfI*￿*￿*￿￿******￿￿￿****
CHARITY ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
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.
Steve Penson (Co-opted 2nd Sept 2024)
Christopher Spackman
Phil Longdin
Simon Wraw (resigned 151h November 2024)
John Morley (resigned 15th November 2024)
Aimie Cole
Jeff Hart
Rob Watt (Co-opted 2ThJ Sept 2024)
Rebecca Savory Fuller (Co-opted 2 Sept 2024)
Interim Chair
Vice Chair
Treasurer
(Chair Feb 2020 - Sept 2024)
Chief Executive
Alex Picot
Senior Managers
Paula Bennetts
Camilla Payne
Paul Seaman
Operations Manager
Finan￿ Manager
Programme Manager
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Dorset
' Community
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CHARITY ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Charity Registration Number:
1060910
Company Registration Number:
3320011
VAT Registration Number".
936 6666 78
Company Secretsry:
Alex Picot
Principal Address and Registered Office:
The Little Keep
Barrack Road
Dorchester
Dorset DT1 1SQ
Telephone Number:
01305 250921
Website:
www.dorsetcommunityacts"on.org.uk
Professional Advisors
Independent Examiner:
Miss J A Richardson FCA FCCA DChA
32 Award Road
Wimbome
Dorset
BH217NT
Bankers:
National Westminster Bank plc
49 South Street
Dorchester
Dorset
DT1 1DW
CCLA Investment Management Ltd
COIF Charities Funds
80 Cheapside
London EC2V 6DZ
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024

I Community
ion
Report of the Trustees for Year Ended 31 St March 2024
The Trustees are pleased to present their report and audited financial statements for the year ended
31S1 March 2024. This report is also the Directors, Report. required by Section 415 of the Companies
Act 2006. The legal and administrative information set out on pages 1 and 2 forms part of this report.
Trustees acknowledge the considerable endeavours of the senior management team and all members
of staff in achieving the good progress refiected in this report. in the face of a particularly challenging
environment for the sector.
The financial ststements cDmply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the
Memorandum and Articles of Association. and Accounb'ng and Reporting by Charities: Statement of
Recommended Practice applicable to tharities p￿paring their accounts in accordan￿ with the
Financial Reporting Standard appli(xble in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), effective 1 St
January 2015.
In considering its future strategy, aims and objectives the Trustees have given due regard to the Charity
Commission's guidance on Public Benefit.
Our purposes and activities
It is the mission of Dorset Community Action to encourage and support (x)mmunities in Dorset into
taking action that improves people's lives, particularly of those most disadvantaged. Our organisation
is independent and committed to providing high quality information. advice, nelworking and support
ServI￿S to community and voluntary organisations of all shapes and sizes. It is our long-term goal to
play a significant part in creating strong and sustainable communities across Dorset.
Charitable Objects
The objects of Dorset Cornmunity Aclion, as stated in its Memorandum and Articles of Association,
are as follows:
1. To promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the public. principally but not exclusively in
the local government area of Dorset and its environs (hereinafter called the "area of benefiv,) and,
in particular, build the capacity of third sector organisations and communities and provide them
with the necessary support, infonnation and services to enable them to pursue or contribute to any
charitable purpose.
2. To promote, organise and facilitate (X)-operation and partnership working between third sector,
ststutory and other relevant bodies in the achievement of the above purposes within the area of
benefit.
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' Community
Our Principles
Work delivered by Dorset Community Action is based on these fvndamental prinaples that are at the
heart of the organisation's ethos:
Local need at the heart of Community Action - ServI￿S are provided where a local need is
clearly identified.
Inclusion of those most disadvantaged - ServI￿S will always be delivered in a way that
actively involves those people and groups who are most often excluded.
Empowerment of local people and groups - serrfices will always be delivered in a way that
empowers local people and groups to develop their own solutions.
Independence to challenge for good
serVi￿S will be independent of the public sector
enabling advocacy on behalf of local people and groups.
Partnership as a positive way forward - SeNi￿S will always be developed in partnership
with local people and groups, and alongside other providers where this best meets the needs
identified.
Our Activities
Community and Voluntary Action - supporting communities and voluntary organisations to
deliver better projects and services through advice, training and development work.
Strategic Action - working with partners and front-line organisations to ensure people and
communities in Dorset have access to the ser4ices they need by supporting whole system
change.
Sustainable Communities- SUPPOrting our communities to live more sustsinably and improve
resilience to environmentsl and economic challenges.
What we achieved in 2023/24
During the year, we fonnally closed the BBO (Building Better Opportunities) I Inspire Dorset
programme (financial completion) after a long and successfvl 6 years. during which we supported
360 adult participants, all of whom were long tenn unemployed, and many with disabilities.
We successfully retained these support skills in the organisation through delivery of new work in
supporting young people through the National Citizenship servi￿ (NCS) programme, and work
supported by Boumemouth. Christchurch and Poole Council for the provision of a NEETS (Not in
Education, Employment or Training) prevents'on programme of teaming and support for Year 10 and
11 students.
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.41 Cornmunity
Action
VCSE support
Despite ongoing funding challenges, our team continued to provide valuable support services for our
communities, actively supporting 456 people from VCSE organisations with direct infomiation. advi
and guidan￿. We also continued our role as Local Trusted Organisation (LTO) for Big 4 Littlemoor
(Big4L), one of several national projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund through the Big Local Trust,
funding communities in areas of need to deliver ten year community regenerats'on plans.
Finally, at a time of much change in the public sector. we would like to thank our funding partners for
their ongoing support. without which we could not support Dorset's communities as effectively as we
do. Further details of activity in each of these areas is provided in this report.
Achievements through our Activities
1. Community and Voluntary Action
supporting communlties and voluntary
organisations through advice, training and development work
Dorset Community Action helps community groups, and people running community buildings and
facilities, to better run their organisations, manage their liabilities. and secure the funding and resources
they need.
1.1 Core Services
Dorset Community Action actively supported 456 people (through phone call support. factsheets, direct
signposting, email support, and online surgeries).
456 VCSE staffftrusteesfvolunteers directly supported with advice and organisational health
checks. covering..
o Project Management (e.g. evidence of need)
o Recruiting Trustees (e.g. skills auditing)
o Getting & Managing Money (e.g. bid writing advi￿)
o Managing Communi￿tiOnS (e.g. using social media)
o Govemance & Trustee Skills (e.g. legal structures, roles and responsibilities)
We ran 30 Online & in-person training sessions. network events. and information webinars run
on a variety of topics including:
Cost of Living Crisis Support
Fundraising
Safeguarding P&P Support
Project Managernent
Village Hall & Community Buil(fings SuptK)rt
Trustee SuptM)rt
Low Cart)on Support
Health Inequalities
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The DCA Training Academy continues to grow. with over 200 training resources currently available,
and over 500 learners signed up on the Academy plaffonn.
Other outcomes achieved during 2023-24:
0 409 Volunteerslstsff Trained. As a result groups stated they felt better informed and able to
move their organisation forward.
0 300 Frontline Workers Trained, Big Energy Saving Network training delivered across the South
West.
O DCA e-news shared with over 2,974 subscribers and members.
0 90 People booked to attend our first blended Funding Festival - delivering advice, support
and guest speakers. The event was hosted both in-person and virtually. The event raised over
£200 which was donated on the day to the group who made the best funding pitch.
O Our Website has had over 10,649 web sessions and been visited by 8,337 users
&po
ein
ormoli
oboul the lavnch ol th
CA Training Academ
MG thal looks amazi
You guys totally rockl
.*knk you for today. It w
raalfy uselul, lots ol
information that will real
help vs as a Village Hall
I feel more ¢on&"dent about
gr¢Jnt applicotion content
and essentids
1.2 National Citizenship Service (NCS)
Using the Inspire Dorset delivery model, we secured two grant agreements with the National
Citizenship Service (NCS), enabling us to deliver a two day a week programme of work for two years
(covering Bournemouth. Christchurch and Poole and Dorset). The programme is providing coaching
support for groups of young people aged 16-17 and SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities)
young people. to develop their own social action projects.
Working with SWRAC (South West Regional Assessment Centre Ltd) in Boscombe, two groups of
young people chose fundraising for charities for their social action project. One group arranged a Wii
gaming tournament to raise funds, the other held a cupcake sale outside a local community café to
raise money for Dorset Children's Foundation and Margaret Green Animal Rescue. The third cohort
used their challenge to show peers how to use the intemet safely and how to use Canva design
software. All 18 participants are now using the skills they leamt to help organise events for their
college.
10 participants from Employ My Ability worked together to create a courtyard kitchen garden for the
collegelhospitality students to use. with plans to create chutneys and other pickles to sell to the public
to raise funds. Produ￿ has been used in the kitchen by the hospitality students and the coutyard
garden is flourishing.
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V4
1.3 Trusted Voices
DCA has been working with Community Action Network and Public Health Dorset to develop a Trusted
Voices programme. This programme links marginalised groups in Dorset to effective and appropriate
vaccination I health prevention advice. This project has been extended until March 2025 due to the
effectiveness of the communic2tion channels created. The projecl extended its remit to include all
public health messaging to all health inequality groups.
We have just (x>ncluded a review of our project with the Nigerian Community in Dorset (NCD). which
saw us host 3 sessions to improve health messaging to minority ethnic groups (from statutory services).
Trusted Vol￿S has worked with Dorset Blind Associat'on to ¢x)-produce a blind-specific relaxation,
mindfulness and self-advocacy session. We are also supporting the setting up of a peer-support group
with a local GP for people with Complex PTSD (this will be the first of its kind in Dorset). As a result of
this work, new Public Health documents have been created based on the feedback of participants. We
have 100 people signed up to be Trusted Voices Champions. Our work in partnership with NCD was
celebrated as part of Black History Month at a National Public Health conferen￿ in Birmingham. Three
meetings were held with the Dorset Blind Association to co-produce health information sessions for
people with sight loss in Dorset, resulting in 2 workshops being delivered with over 40 participants. The
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project has helped ensure that underserved communities and those more likely to fa￿ health
inequalities are better informed of health prevention servI￿s, to improve health outcomes.
1.4 Hallmark Village Hall Project
new Hallmark project has been started in parthership with theDorset Village Hall
Association. Funding was secured from Talbot Village Trust to support the initiative which will continue
until October 2024. As a result of this project. 3 Village Halls have so far completed the Hallmark
accreditation process and re￿iVed certification. A Hallmark newsletter has been created and sent out
to 202 Village Hall representatives across Dorset with an average open rate of 610/0.
1.5 Digital communication
We sent out E-news or Funding Alerts to an audience of over 3,201 subscribers and members every
week. This resour￿ provides funding news, grant updates, ACRE support documents, Government
updates, HSE advi￿ and NHS Dorsel support resources. DCA'S new Enews and What's On
newsletters have an average open rate of 50.90/0. Our members-only funding alert had an average
open rate of 54 % , bettering an industry average of 25 % . Our website page views totalled 29,238 during
this time with 9,987 web sessions recorded.
2. Strateglc Action- DCA working with partners to ensure people and communities in
Dorset have access to the services they need.
Dorset Community Action works with public sector organisations. communities and businesses on a
range of community and research projects that support development of community & place. DCA has
been involved in several key strategic initiatives this year. including:
2.1 VCSE Research
Using our reach into local communities and our networks, enables us to quickly access community
data and insights. to infonm our policy research, analysis and evaluations, supporting social,
economic and environmental development across rural and coastal areas.
National Institute for Health and Care research
We secured a £10,000 Grant from the National Institute for Health and Care Research to deliver a
research project aiming to examine the barriers people with sensory impairment face in afftssing
health services and information. We worked directly with VCSE organisations that specialise in
sensory impairment to canvas the experien￿5 of their members.
Serious violence research
We secured £11,900 of work through Dorset Council (HM Govt funding) to undertake research work
on the causes and impacts of serious violen￿, with both perpetrators and victims of violence. While
this is new area of work for us. it links to previous work undertaken through programmes suth as
Inspire Dorset supporting ex-offenders. people with mental health challenges etc. This work
contributed evidence towards the development of Dorset's new Crime Prevention Strategy.
2.2 Place Based
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Dorset Community Action works with public sector organisat]'ons. communities and businesses, on a
range of projects. to support community & pla￿. Much of this work in 2023124 through us making
improvements to lo￿1 green SPa￿s. as part of the Seed2Plate project including:
Bridport- weekly Seed2Plate sessions working with 6 participants, and Borough Harmony
Bridport (mental help support) to grow fresh vegetables to donate to the local community
kitchen. Funding provided by Wessex Water.
Somerford - funded by SNG to build a community growing garden at the Somerford Family
Hub I Somerford Primary School. planted with help from the re￿ptIon class children and
harvested by the school.
Littlemoor- funded by Abri to create and build a community food garden behind St Francis of
Assisi Church to grow vegetables to donate to the Churth foodbank. Six volunteers enjoyed
giving back to the community and came up with recipe ideas to give away with the produ￿ at
the foodbank.
Femdown Family hub - After Iwo years of fund raising. we secured a funding package to build
a community garden at Ferndown Family Hub, with funding from Ferndown Family Hub, CLA
Charitable Trust, and Tesco Bags of Help fund. We completed work on site in November
2023.
The project engaged with volunteers to repurpose an unused plot of land to construct accessible raised
beds and when planted, grow fresh fruit and vegetables for this lo￿1 low-in￿rne community. A DCA
trainer coordinated the garden design & build with the cornmunity, will train local volunteers and families
in growing & harvesting their own food. and leam about the natural environment through a series of
educAtional workshops.
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3. Sustainable Communities
supporting our communities to live more sustsinably
and be more able to cope with environmental and economic challenges and change
DCA develops integrated solutions to neighbourhood and sustainable communities through our
expertise in community. employment, and environment. Increasingly our work has been in supporting
people affected by cost4)f-living increases and economic challenges.
3,1 BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole) Food & Warnith Support Fund.
Through the BCP Food & Warmth Support Fund. we
delivered a series of cost-of-living related skills
workshops working through Somerford Primary School,
Somerford Family Hub, and Christchurch Community
Partnership affiliated groups:
Providing a range of cooking I food skills and
household energy advice workshops.
Providing training in indoor food growing
Our Somerford pathers work with local families and
residents who are most affected by the cost-of4iving
crisis. The local school has the highest percentage of free
school meal eligible pupils in the area and regularly
distribute shoe and food vouchers to help support
families. Through this partnership, we intend this projecl
to be an incubator to share knowledge of how to grow
and prepare fresh produce.
A mix of older people. young parents and Ukrainians enjoyed the sessions leaming to reduce energy
use at home, eat healthier, and saving money. with a very posits've response to the slow cooker
workshops. Quotes:
"I will be looking at life in a different way. Saving more energy and eating healthy foods"
'It will save money for my family eating healthy meals and lovely to talk to other people.
"It's given me new ideas to use in the fvtU￿. Also good to hear otherpeople s ideas. Th8 time
went really quickly learning new things"
3.2 Low carbon
With the cost-of-living crisis very much impacting our communities, much of our low cart)on work this
year has been supporting people with managing their energy use.
Energy Outreach Pmject
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We secured another yearfs funding to deliver the Energy Outreach Project, as a Champion directly
supporting consumers in areas of deprivation. and wider work as a Regional Lead. training front line
staff in how best to support their customers in managing household energy use.
oxi*
Bournemouth foodbanks I SGN (Southern Gas Network) Safe and Wann Fund
We started work this year with Boumemouth foodbank. funded by the SGN Safe and Warm Fund, for
delivery of energy saving workshops to users of the foodbanks.
3.3 Supporting local food
NOCN (National Open College Network) Level l Award Horticulture
With support of the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Flourish Fund, we are starting to produce
significant results with our accredited training offer.
A group of six leamers from People First Forum worked at our Wimbome Community
Centre kitchen garden to help care for the garden while leaming and achieving their level
1 NOCN Horticulture qualifi(xtion.
Two volunteers worked at the Wimbome garden and our Ktngston Lacy allotment to help
with the plots whilst leaming and achieving their level 1 qualification. One participant now
works for Stewarts Garden Centre thanks to the confidence and skills leamt during the
course: the other participant uses his skills in the social care sen41￿ where he works.
Seven leamers from South West Regional Assessment Centre {SWRAC) and Employ My
Ability (EMA) worked together to achieve their Level 1 qualificztions. Working on the site
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at SWRAC Dorchester, students leamed how to plan. plant. propagate. and harvesting
fresh Produ￿ for the ￿ntre
To date, we have put 37 people though the NOCN Level 1 Horticulture award. Of these leamers, fwo
have gone onto horticulture jobs, two are now studying Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) level 2, two
are using the qualification in their current workplace (care homes). and eight now volunteer in a
horticulture I gardening setting. NOCN have confirmed that our extended Direct Claims Status (DCS)
has been approved following the recommendation from the Extemal Quality Assuran￿ (EQA).
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A big thank you to the Hayes Recruitment Team in Bournemouth
A group of 10 volunteers on a corporate volunteer aftemoon from Hayes Recruitment. supported the
clearing of our Kingston Lacy allotment site and plantj'ng of vegetables. Four volunteers have looked
after the plot and grown produ￿ to support our Wimbome Community Café, based at Wimborne
Community Centre.
3.4 Protecting Rural Services
acre
I ACTiofq WITH
| COMMUNITIES
Itq PUR￿ ENGLAND
DCA is a member of the Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) network, England's largest
grouping of rural community support charities. ACRE and its 38 county-based member organisations,
work together to advocate on behalf of rural (x)mmunities, and support a wide range of Gommunity-led
initiatives using nationally established good practice. During the year, DCA continued to Collect
evidence on the challenges our njral (x)mmunities face, reporting quarterly to ACREI DEFRA to
advocate on their behalf, and to influence national policy.
Rural Housing Enabling (RHE)
During the year we were successful with our bid to the Rural Housing Enabling (RHE) programme. The
purpose of the RHE programme is "To boost the supply of new rural affordable housing by providing
access to a service that supports landowners and communities identify sites, work with housing
associations and lo￿1 authorities to deliver high quality homes that rn￿t local housing need through
small scale schemes.. This will be delivered in villages and smaller rural communities (less than 3000
population) through:
bringing forward rural exception siles. and first homes exception sites.
supporting 1000/9 affordable housing schemes.
small S106 markel led schemes
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3.5 Supporting Social Enterprises
With the ending of the European Union funded Inspire Dorset programme, we were pleased to secure
new work. using our coaches. skills and expertise supporting young people back into education,
training, and employment.
BCP NEETS
We started work funded by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for the provision of a
NEETS prevention programme of learning and support for years 10 and 11 students. We are
supporting a cohort of students referred by BCP staff to prevent them from being NEET at the end of
year 11 , and to provide transition support for those same students across the summer holidays and
into autumn term to settle them into their post 16 provision.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
Dorset Community Action is a company limited by guarantee govemed by its Memorandum and Articles
of Association dated 18th February 1997. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission.
Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the charity and there are currently 203 members
(245 in 2023), each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up.
Organisation
Dorset Community Action is a Rural Community Council (RCC) and a member of the Action with
Communities in Rural England (ACRE) network. It has a Board of Trustees of up to fifteen members.
Trustees may co-opt up to five persons who are willing to be Trustees, including one non-voting
member nominated by Dorset Council.
Dorset Community Action aims to recruit a diverse range of Trustees in order to retsin a balanced
Board, representative of the community. New Pro￿dureS introdU￿d in 2012 ensure that all candidates
for Trusteeship offer relevant skills and knowledge to the Board. In the case of elected Trustees, all
nominees are requested to attend an infonnal meeting with the Chair of the Trustees, observe a Board
meeting and can meet with senior staff before making a decision on whether to join. All Trustees are
required to sign a declaration of eligibility and a conflict of interest form. Dorset Community Action
maintains a register. which lists. for eath Board member, any business or personal interests, which
could conflict with Dorsel Community Aclion's interests. Entries are reviewed annually, and the register
is available for inspection. On appointrnent, Trustees are provided with d0￿MentS induding a copy of
the Goveming Document of the Charity and CL)pies of the last audited accounts and Board minutes.
Trustees of Dorset Community Action:
Decide the overall policy and direction of Dorset Community Action work",
Ensure that the organisation is run in Complian￿ with its Goveming Document, Charity Law and
Company Law;
Ensure that funds received by Dorset Community Action are properfy managed and accounted
for;
Act as the formal employer of the staff, and approve all HR policies;
Support and guide Senior Managers as appropriate.
Understand. promote and safeguard the good name and ethos of Dorset Community Action,.
Monitor the performance of the organisation in meeting its objectives;
Represent Dorset Cornmunity Action at extemal meetings.
The Board of Trustees meet every quarter. though the Board can arrange additional meetings to ensure
that their duties are fulfilled. A Finance and General Purpose Committee was estsblished by the Board
in September 2016. renarned as Finan￿ and Operations Committee in 2020. to maintain an overview
of, and to provide advice to it. regarding the financaal and administrative affairs for the charity. This
Committee also meets on a quarterty basis with addits'onal meetings held when necessary. A Chief
Executive is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-ttrday operations of the charity. and
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Dorset
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implement the strategies agreed by the Board. The Chair and Chief Executive meet and communicate
regularly.
All Trustees give their time freely and none of the Trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from
their work with the charity. See note 12 for travel expenses paid to Trustees in 2023124. In the current
year no related party transactions were reported.
The charity is a founder member of ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England), which is the
national network of RCCS, and a full member of the National Association for Voluntary and Community
Action (NAVCA). Through these networks, Dorset Community Action influences the development of
national policy and practice.
Across Boumemouth, Dorset and Poole, Dorset Community Acb'on participates in many partnerships
within the voluntary and statutory sectors. wherever that benefits communities or voluntary
organisations.
Staff and Premises
Dorset Community Actions registered Offi￿ is at the Little Keep in Dorchester. DCA also runs and
manages Wimbome Community Centre in Wimbome town centre. where we have a small office. The
total number of paid employees as at 31 Si March 2024 was 5 full-time and 9 part-time.
Pay scales for all staff are set on a similar level to other RCCS across the country and benchmarked
against the NJC pay scales.
Investment Policy
There are no restrictions on the charity's power to invest. The investment strategy is set by the Trustees
to take account of the demands for funds. The current policy is to invest surplus cash funds for short
periods as cash deposits with major banking institutions.
Reserves Policy
The reserves of the charity are those that are freely available to be spent in pursuing the charity's
objects. The free reserves of the charity at the year-end were:
2024
2023
Total reserves
Less: Restricted funds
267.162
(70,654)
268,298
(12,281)
Free reseNes
196.508
256,017
This represents 7 months of operating cost expenditure (2023: 9 months).
The Trustees consider that the charity needs to maintain free reserves at a minimum of 6 months of
operating cost expenditure based on 100 % of unrestricted fund expenditure plus 50 % of restricted
salary expenditure to provide the organisats'on with adequate financial stability and the means for it to
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Dorset
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meet its charitable objectives and commitrnents, and as a (x)ntingency cushion against fluctuations of
income. Trustees will continue to keep this under annual review.
Going Concern
The Trustees have prepared the accounts on a going concem basis and consider this ba51S IS
appropriate for twelve months from the date of signing the financial statements.
Risk Management
The Trustees have a risk management strategy in place which ￿mprIses.
The trustees revtew the principal risks at eath meeting of the Board and we review the
organisation's risk register annually.
the establishment of policies. systems. and Pro￿dureS to mitigate those risks identified in the
annual review.
the implementation of procedures designed to minimise or manage any potential impact on the
charity should those risks materialise.
This work has idenlified Ihat financial sustainability is the major risk for the charity. Key elements in
the management of financial risk are regular monitoring of current funding contracts, early identification
of any problems with delivery of outcomes, and regular communi12tion with funders.
Attention has also been focussed on future funding and ensuring that DCA chooses the right direction
and strategy to match a changing operating environment by the creation of a strategic plan which
includes involvement from staff, trustees and stakeholders.
Grant Making
All the funds administered in grants by the charity are govemed by procedures and limits laid down and
agreed in advan￿ belween the charity and those partners fvnding the grant schemes.
Representatives of partners always play an active role in the decision-making. The charity will not pay
any grants in advance of re￿iptS of funds of partners without the funderfs permission.
Financial Review
The results for the year and the financial position of the charity are shown in the attached financial
statements.
In summary, the Charity's total income for the yearwas £561,167 (2023 - £580,777) ofwhich £435,899
related to restricted project income (2023 £460,032). Total expenditure for the year was £562,303
(2023 - £606,855) of whith £377,525 related to restricted project expenditure (2023 - £414,042).
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ion
The net movement in unrestricted funds for the year was a deficit of £59,509 (2023 - deficit £6,787)
resulting from a £59.638 deficit on general resep4es and a surplus of £128 on the designated fund,
Wimbome Community Centre. At the stsrt ofthe financial year, Trustees agreed to allocate unrestricted
reserves to fund new development work. This was to help us in the transition following the end of the
European Social Funding programme and (x)mpletion of the Building Better Opportunities (BBO)
national programme. Trustees agreed to an investment from reserves of £30,000. giving an underlying
deficit of £29,510. The carried for4vard balan￿ on unrestricted funds of £196,508 (2023 - £256,017)
forms the general reserves of the charity. Free reserves unrestricted resep4es less fixed assets were
£190,883 (2023 - £256,017).
The net movement in restricted funds was a surplus of £58.373 (2023- deficit of £19,291). The carried
forward balan￿ on restn'cted funds was a surplus of £70,654 (2023 - surplus £12,281).
Plans for Future Periods
The risks that the organisation now faces are without doubt the most challenging in the last ten years,
and remain unchanged:
Increasingly constrained extemal funding environment
Staffing recruitment and staff capacity l expertise being retained
Stabilising the ship financially to allow enough time to repositr'on DCA into new markets 8.g. the
private sector. and to scale up trading activity.
Due to some of the significant changes in our operating and funding environment, in particular the
ending of European Social Fund (ESF) funding in June 2023, without rePla￿rnent by Shared
Prosperity Funding, is leading us to continuously re-evaluate our future plans and the assumptions
they are based on.
As a result, this year the DCA Board invested charity reserves into development time to support this
wider strategy, with a focus on our employment and enterprise support programmes, for which we
know there is an ever present need. Going forward we will be focussing on".
Developing new partnerships with organisations sharing our values in how we support people,
and where there are opportunities for expansion e.g. Garden Maintenance Team, and
Seed2Plate.
Diversify DCA'S range of income streams, indudes nationally, e.g. through the Cirican LLP,
working with ACRE network members to develop our ability to bid for national community
research contracts,
Rebalancing of senior management time towards income generation work e.g. consultancy.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202&2024
18

.41 Community
Trustees, responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The charity Trustees (who are also the directors of Dorset Community Action for the purposes of
company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements in
accordan￿ with appli(2ble law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally
Accepted Accounting Practice), including Finanaal Reporting Standard 102 ("FRS 102.).
Company law requires the charity Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial yearwhich
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources
and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In
preparing those financial statements we are required to: _
Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP:
Make reasonable and prudentjudgements and estimates;
State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any
material departures disdosed and explained in the financial statements;
Prepare the financial statements on the going con￿rn basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with
reasonable accuracy al any time the financial position of the charity and to enable us to ensure that the
financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. We are also responsible for safeguarding
the assets of the charity and hen￿ taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud
and other irregularities.
The Trustees are responsibk8 for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial
infonnation induded on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing
the preparation and dissemination of financial ststements may differ from legislation in other
jurisdictions.
Small Company Provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under
Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Approved by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by
C Spackman (VI￿ Chair)
14 November 2024
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202&2024
19

4Y Communlty
Action
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trusteesof Dorset CommunityAction
Independent examiner's report to thetrustees of Dorset Community Action {'the Company,)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of theaccountsof the Company for theyear ended 31 March
2024.
Responsibilitiesand basisof report
As the charity'stru5tees of the Company land also itsdirectorsfor the purposesof company law}you are responsible
for the preparation of theaccounts in accordancewith the requirementsof the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006
Act,).
Having satisfied myself that theaccounts of thecompanyare not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006
Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as
carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act,). In carrying out my examination I have
followed the Directionsgiven by thecharity Commission under Section 14515) Ib) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner'sstatement
Since your charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a listed body. I can
confirm that l am qualified to undertakethe examination because l am a member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales, which is oneof the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters havecometo my attention in connection with the
examination giving mecauseto believe:
l.accounting records were not kept in respect of thecompany as required bysection 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2.the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3.the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any
requirement that the accountsgivea trueand fair view which is not a matter COn￿dered as part of an independent
examination,. or
4.the accounts have not been prepared in accordancewith the methodsand principles of thestatement of
Recommended Practicefor accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts
in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 102)).
I have no concerns and havecomeacrossno 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.
MissJA Richardson FCA FCCA DChA
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
20

.51 Community
'& Action
Statement of Financial Activities (incorpordting an Incorne & Expenditure Account)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
2024
2023
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
Restricted funds
Total funds Total funds
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
901
901
312
Charitable activities
Charitable activrties
100.025
435,899
535,924
556,374
Other trading activtties
Investment income
18,538
18,538
22,651
TOTAL
125.268
435,899
561 167
580,778
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
625
625
470
Charitable actlvltles
Charitable activities
255 376
306 302
606 386
TOTAL
306 302
606 856
NET INCOMEI{EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between funds
(130,733)
71.224
129,597
(71.224)
(1,136) (26,078)
18
Net movement in funds
(59.509)
58,373
(1,136) (26,078)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought fopNard
256,017
12.281
268,298
294,376
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
196 508
267 162
268 298
The notes ft)rm part of these financial statements
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
21

41 Communrty
Balance Sheet 31 March 2024
Registered Company Number 03320011
2024
2023
Unrestricted
funds
Notes
Restricted funds
Totsl funds Total funds
FIXED ASSErs
Tangib￿ assets
15
5.625
5,625
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
Cash at bank
16
22,306
207,614
229,921
12,890
57,764
70,654
35.197
265,378
300 575
53,160
271,587
324 747
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one
year
17
NET CURRENT ASSETS
190,883
261 537
268 298
TOTAL ASSETS LESS
CURRENT LIABILITIES
196.508
70,654
267,162
268,298
NEf ASSETS
196 508
70,654
267 162
268 298
FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
18
196,508
256,017
267,162
268,298
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for
the year ended 31 March 2024.
The members have not required the company lo obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended
31 March 2024 in accordance V￿th Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilbties for
la) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that compty with Sections 386 and 387 of
the Companies Act 2006 and
Ibl preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable
company as at the end of each financtal year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance
with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and %thich othewse comply with the requirements of the
Companies Act 2006 relating to financial State￿￿nts, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance ¥Mth the provisions applicable to charitable
companies subject to the small companies regiffE.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Tnjstees and authorised for issue on 14th November
2024 and we
signed on its behalf by".
C Spackman
Vice Chair of Trustees
The notes form
art of these financHI statements
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
22

s* Communvty
ion
Cash Flow Statement
For Year Ended 31 March 2024
Notes
2024
2023
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operath)ns
(5,764) (59,194)
Net cash (used in)IprovNJed by operating activities
(5,764) (59,194)
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Purchase of fixed asset additions
Net cash provided by investing actr¥tties
5,804
(6.250)
(446)
1,441
1,441
Change in cash and cash equivalents In the reporting
period
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the
reporting period
(6,209) (57,753)
271,587
329,340
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
reporting period
265,378
271,587
The notes form
art of these financial ststements
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
23

Communlty
Action
Notes to the Cash Flow Statement
For Year Ended 31 March 2024
RECONCILIATION OF NEf (EXPENDrruRE)IINCOME TO NET CASH FLOW FROM
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
2024
2023
Net (expenditure)lincome for the reporting period (as per the
Statement of Financial Activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Interest received
Decreasel(increase) in debtors
(Decrease)lincrease in creditors
{1.136) (26,078)
625
470
(5.804) (1,441)
17,963
179
{17,411) (32,324)
Net cash (used in)Iprovided by operations
ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS
At 1.4.23
Cash Flow At 31.3.24
Net Cash
Cash at bank and in hand
271587
265 378
Total
265,378
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
24

Communlty
Notes to Ihe Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
1 LEGAL FORM
The charty is a private company limited by guarantee and with no share capttal and incorporated in
England and Wales. The guarantors are the members whose liabilty in the event of a winding up is
limited to 51 each. There were 203 members at the balance sheet date (2023: 245 members). The
registered offte can be found on page 2 of these financial ststements.
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial ststements of the charrtable company. which is a public benefft entty under FRS 102,
have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting
by charIt￿s. Statement of Recommended Practice appI￿able to charities preparing their accounts
in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland
(FRS 102) {effectTve 1 January 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting
Standard applicable in the UK and Repubk of Ireland, and the Companies Act 2006. The financial
statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Preparation of the account on a going concern basis
The charty reported incoming resources of £561,167 and net expenditure of £562,303 leading to
net expenditure in the year of £1,136. The Trustees are of the view that the improvement to
operatK)nal effictencies and review of the business strategy for the organisation have secured the
IMmed￿te future for the charty for the next 12 months and as such the f￿ancial statements are
prepared on a going concern basis.
Incoming resources
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charty has entitlement to
the funds, it is probable that the income wl be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Donated assets are included in the Statement of Friancial Activrties on a receivable basis based on
the estimated value of the assets to the charty.
Funding received is included as income from activities in furtherance of the charty's objectives, but
included in the reStr￿ted funds where the grant is spectfic to a particular project. Income is
deferred only where the donor has speCrf￿d that the rbght to consMJeration is dependent on
performance in a future period.
Interest receivable
Interest of funds hekl on deposit is included when recerrfable and the amount can be measured
reliably by the charty; this is normaly upon notI￿atIOn of the nterest paMJ or payabk by the bank.
Debtors
Funding Receivable and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount. Prepayments are
valued at the amount prepaid.
Cash
Cash at bank and cash in hand ￿cludeS cash and short term highty liquid investments wtth a short
maturty of three months or less from the date of acqUisit￿n or opening of the deposit or similar
Resources expended
Liabilrties are recognised as expenditure as SCx)n as there is a legal or constructive obligation
committing the charty to that expenditure, it s probable that a transfer of economic benefrts will be
re
uired in settlement and the amount of the obl. ation can be measured reliabl
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
25

Communvty
Acbo
Notes to the Financial Statements - continued
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
Resources expended (continued)
Expendrture is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classifEd under headings that
aggregate all cost related to the category.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activty for which the expenditure was incurred.
Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient, except in
cases where the offer is conditM)nal and the conditmjn remains in the control of the charity. Grants
offered subject to such conditions which have not been met at the year-end are noted as a
commitment. but not accrued as expendrture.
Creditors
Credttors and provisDns are recognised where the charty has the 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 ak)wing for any trade discounts due.
Operating Leases
The charty classffies the lease of printing and copier equipment as operating leases: the title to the
equipment remains with the lessor. Rental charges are charged on a straoht line basis over the
term of the lease.
Govemance costs
Governance costs are alkxated to reStr￿ted fund projects in accordance wtth amounts agreed
with funding provKlers. These costs are shown as reallocation of internal expenses.
Allocation and apportionment of costs
Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to
activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Intangible fixed assets
Al assets wtth a cost in excess of £2,000 are capitalised.
Tangible fixed assets
All assets wrth a cost in excess of £2,000 are caprtalised with the exception as noted below.
Project Spectr￿ equipment purchases are mostty funded directy by the fund provider at the start of
the project and are not capttalised as the items may be returned to the fund provider or given to the
project.
Fixed assets are depreciated to residual value over their estimated useful economic life in equal
annual instalments at the folb)wtng rates:
Motor Vehicles
20 % strawJht line
Taxation
The charty is exempt from corporatK)n tax on its charitable activtties.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
26

Ct)mmunlty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES {continued)
Fund accounting
Restrlcted funds
Restrtcted funds are funds that can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the
objectives of the charty- RestrictK)ns arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised
for particular restricted purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged
against the SpeCrf￿ fund. Wth the agreement of the fund provider, restricted funds can roll forward
brought forward balances for use as income in the next financial year. The aim and use of each
restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial ststements.
Designated funds
Desgnated funds are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific
future purposes or projects. The aim and use of each deS￿nated fvnd is set out in the notes to the
financial statements.
Unrestricted funds
These are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of
the trustees and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The Charty operates a defined contributM?n pension scheme and the pension charge represents
the amounts payable by the charty to the fund in respect of the year.
The Charty no longer operales a defined beneffts pension scheme.
Financial instruments
The charty onty has financial assets and liabililES of a kind that qualfy as basic financial
instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transactDn value and
subsequently measured at their setuement value with the exception of bank bans which are
measured at arnortised cost using the effective interest method.
Trade and other debtors are recognEed at the setuement amount due after any trade discount
offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Credrtors and provisions are recognised where the charty has a present obligatFon resulting from a
past event that will probably result in the transfer of fvnds to a third party and the amount due to
settle the obligatx)n can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provision are normally
recognised at their setuement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
3 DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
2024
2023
Donatk)ns
Legacies
901
312
901
312
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
27

Cofflmunlty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
4 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
2024
2023
Incorne from Wimborne Communty Centre {WCC)
Grants
100,025
435,899
535,924
94,447
461927
556,374
5 INCOME FROM TRADING ACTMTIES
2024
2023
Consultancy and training
Other trading income
Membership and advertisement
13,715
3.239
1,584
18,538
15,050
5,482
2,119
22,651
6 INVESTMENT INCOME
2024
2023
Interest receivable
5.804
5,804
1,441
1,441
7 EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS
2024
2023
Other trading activitiès
DepreciatM)n and amortisation
625
625
470
470
8 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
2024
2023
Total funds Totsl funds
Employee Costs:
Salaries
Payroll charges
Recruitment
Training and conference costs
172.277
2,560
209
418
182,960
355.237
2.560
638
1,554
440,831
2,437
948
753
429
1,136
Premises related expenses
Transport related expenses
Supplies and services
VAT paid to HMRC
Governance costs:
Salaries
Other costs
Total
33.737
4,742
10,768
8.897
800
2,586
118,391
34,537
7,328
129,159
8,897
24,643
5,012
98,081
10,344
17,318
4,450
255.376
17,318
4,450
561,678
17,571
5,766
606,386
306,302
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
28

C<•mmunity
Artion
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
9 GRANTS PAYABLE
2024
2023
Charitable Activities
40.861
18,230
The total grants paKI to institutK)ns during the year was as follows:
2024
2023
NEST Weymouth CIC
Redland Rebels
Littlemoor Communty Youth Club
St Francis of Assisi Littlemoor PCC
Houseworks Dorset Ltd
Littlemoor Communty ActK)n Group
Yoga with Caroline
Other grants below £2000
8.000
10,250
5,849
1,374
10,550
4,396
10,300
2,405
2.600
2,238
40,861
1,129
18,230
10 SUPPORT COSTS
Fnance
Governance
costs
Totals
Charitable Actpiitws
2,750
1,700
4,450
11 NET INCOMEI(EXPENDITURE)
Net incomelexpenditure is stated after chargingl(crediling):
2024
2023
Independent examiner fees
Accounts preparation fee
Depreciation and amortisatN)n
2,100
650
625
1,855
1,485
470
12 TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There was no Trustees, remuneration or other benefts for the year to 31 March 2024 nor for the
year ended 31 March 2023
Trustees. expenses
During the year no Trustees received reimbursed travel and conference expenses (2023:£14).
The charity has paid premiums of £399 (2023: £397) to proV￿e £2 millM)n of indemnity insurance
for the Trustees.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
29

A¢tlo
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
13 STAFF COSTS
2024
2023
Wages and salaries
Social securty costs
Other pension costs
330,829
21,843
19,884
372,556
399,332
30,842
28,229
458,403
The average monthly headcount for staff was 15 {2023: 18) and the average monthly number of
full time equivalent empk)yees during the year is stated in the spltt given bebw.
The average monthly number of empbyees during the year was as follovrfs:
2024
2023
Operational
Management and administering the charty
10
12
12
14
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
The key management personnel comprtses of the Chief Executive and two Senior Managers. The
total salary paid to key management personnel was £172,450 (2023: £141,544).
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202&2024
30

D•r%•t
Community
.4 Action
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
14 COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTMTIES
2023
Total
funds
2022
Total
funds
Notes
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
INCOMEAND
ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legaC￿S
312
312
1,484
Charitable activities
Chartsble acts'vrties
96,342
460.032
556,374
688,945
Other trading activities
Investment income
22,651
1.441
120,746
22,651
28,688
92
719,209
TOTAL
460 032
580 778
EXPENDITURE ON
Raising funds
470
470
1,413
Charitable activities
Charitable actNities
192,344
606,386
657 417
TOTAL
192 814
414,042
606 856
658 830
NET INCOMEI(EXPENDITURE)
Transfers between
funds
(72,068)
65,281
45.990
{26,078)
60,379
18
65281)
Net movement In funds
(6,787)
(19,291)
{26,078)
60,379
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
262,804
233 997
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED
FORWARD
12,281
268,298
294 376
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202&2024
31

Notes to the Financial Statements {continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
15 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSErs
Fixiures and Fittings Motor Vehicles
Total
COST
At 1 April 2023
Additions
31 March 2024
17.476
17,476
6,250
23,726
6,250
6,250
17,476
DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2023
Charge for year
17,476
17,476
625
625
At 31 March 2024
17,476
625
18,101
NEf BOOK VALUE
At 31 March 2024
5,625
5,625
At 31 March 2023
16 DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
2023
Funding recep4able
Prepayments and accrued income
15,952
19,245
35,197
23,832
29,328
53,160
17 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
2023
Social securty and other taxes
VAT
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
6,643
14,890
14,157
3,348
39,038
7,290
1,798
25,592
21,769
56,449
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
32

D•rset
sl Communrty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
AT
1.4.23
Net movement in
funds
Transfers
be￿een
funds
At
31.3.24
Unrestricted funds
General fund
wcc
Dilapidatk)n Fund
217.943
26,074
12,000
256.017
(141,357)
10,624
81,719
(10,495)
158,305
26,203
12,000
196,507
(130,733)
71,224
Restricted funds
Abri
ACRE
Anton Jergens
BCP Food Poverty
BCP NEET Prevention
BCP NEET Challenge
BCP Training
BESN
BESN Champion
Big4Lrttlemoor - B￿ Local
NHS Dorset Clinical
Commissioning group
Building Better
OpF)Ortunities
Digital Inclusion Capabilty
European Social Fund
NatK)nal Garden Scheme
NCS Groundworks
NCS Training
Prison Project
Rural Housing Enabler
RHS Florish
SerKJUS VK)lence Duty
Consultation
Talbot Village Trust
Trusted Voices
Seed2Plate Combined Fund
4,920
381
12,203
(3,521)
1,445
2,608
5.000
556
3,825
776
33,578
(2,300)
(12,203)
(1.479)
(1,445)
(2,608)
3,000
5,000
5,000
(556)
{3,825)
(776)
(18,479)
212
15,310
10,592
(10,592)
2.149
(11,949)
1,179
9,800
(1,008)
171
1,999
1,999
(284)
(5,450)
(2,072)
(5.901)
(4,129)
5,450
6,972
14.116
4,129
4,900
8,216
4,439
(4,241)
5,759
34,018
129.598
(4,439)
4,241
(5,759)
(1,960
{71,224)
32,058
70,654
12,281
Total Funds
268,297
(1,136)
267,161
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
33

I Community
Action
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
Net movement in funds. included in the above are as fok>ws:
Resources
expended
Movement
in funds
Incorning resources
Unrestricted funds
General fund
wcc
Dilapidation Fund
25,243
100,025
166.601 (141,357)
89,401
10,624
125,268
256,001 (130,733)
Restricted funds
Abri
ACRE
Anton Jergens
BCP Food Poverty
BCP NEET PreventDn
BCP NEET Challenge
5.769
41.255
5,388
29,052
3,521
4,055
5,614
381
12,203
(3,521)
1,445
2,608
5,000
5,500
8.222
5,000
BCP Training
1,943
1,387
556
BESN
BESN Champion
Big4Littlernoor - Big Local
NHS Dorset Clinical
Commissioning group
Building Better
Opportunities
Digital Inclusion Capabilty
European Social Fund
National Garden Scheme
NCS Groundworks
NCS Training
Prison Project
Rural Housing Enabler
RHS Florish
Serious Violence Duty
Consultation
Talbot Village Trust
Trusted Voices
Seed2Plate Combined Fund
12,976
2,625
130.474
9,151
1,849
96,897
3,825
776
33,578
36,057
25,465
10,592
32.305
3,600
44,253
2,421
(11,949)
1,179
3,247
4,947
12.797
11,900
26,969
15,500
1,249
4,662
7.347
4,928
12,853
11,371
1,999
284
5,450
6,972
14,116
4,129
11,900
1,519
20.000
41,394
435,899
7,461
5,760
14,241
7,377
306,302
4,439
(4,241)
5,759
34,018
129.598
TOTAL FUNDS
561,167
562,303
(1,136
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
34

Communrty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
Comparatives for movement in funds
At
1.4.22
Net movement
funds
Transfers
between
funds
At
31.3.23
Unrestricted funds
General fund
wcc
236,093
17.711
(85,949)
67,799
217,943
13,881
(5,518)
3,000
65,281
26,074
12,000
256,017
Dilapidati)n Fund
9,000
262,804
(72,068
Restricted funds
Action with Communities in Rural
England
Building Better OpportunitEs
Big Energy Saving Nelwork
NHS Dorset Clinical Commissionng
Big Local Funding - B￿LittleM00r
Trusted Voices
Community Oven
Summer in Dorset
Abri
J P Morgan - GoGreen
nold Clark
Health InequalttEs
Anton Jergens
Seed2F4ate Awards for Al
European Social Fund
Low Carbon Communty Spaces
Serious Mental Illness HEP
12.202
(3.397)
3,516
10,665
5,484
5,915
(881 }
{20)
(87)
(13)
(189)
(2.723)
5.000
2,840
1,983
2,743
2.952
(12,202)
5.546
2,149
(3,516)
(10,665)
(20,859)
{5.915)
15,587
212
20
5,134
13
189
4,202
(127)
4,920
{1,479)
5,000
(2,840)
(1,983)
(2,743)
(2,952)
TOTAL FUNDS
294.376
(26,078)
268,298
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
35

Cwnmunlty
Artion
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
Comparative net movement in funds (for the year ended 31 March 2023), included in the above are
as folk)ws:
Resources
expended
Movement
in funds
Incoming resources
Unrestricted funds
General fund
wcc
34.436
86.310
120,746
(120,385) (85,949)
(72,429)
13,881
(192,814
Restricted funds
Action with Communrties in Rural England
Building Better Opportunities
Big Energy Saving Network
NHS Dorset Clinical CommissK)ning Group
Big Local Funding - B￿LittleM00r
Trusted Voices
Communty Oven
Summer in Dorset
Abri
JP Morgan - GoGreen
Arnold Clark
Health Inequalrties
Anton Jergens
B&Q
Co-op
Seed2Plate Awards for AJI
European Social Fund
Low Carbon Cornmunty Spaces
SerK)us Mental Illness HEP
41,255
194,155
12,975
43,268
85,081
20,000
(29,053)
12,202
(197,552)
(3,397)
{9,459}
3,516
(32,6031
10,665
(79,597)
5,484
(14,085)
5,915
(881)
(881)
{20)
(20)
(318)
(87)
(13)
(13)
(189)
(189)
(7,723) (2,723)
5,000
231
5,000
5,000
4,000
2,063
9,600
17.486
9,918
10,000
(4,000)
(2,063)
(6,760)
(15,503)
(7.1751
(7,048)
2,840
1,983
2,743
2,952
TOTAL FUNDS
580,778
(606,856
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
36

s* Comwnunity
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as folk)ws:
At
1.4.22
Net movement wi
funds
Transfers
between
funds
At
31.3.24
Unrestricted funds
General fund
wcc
Dilapidation Fund
236,093
17.711
(227.306)
24,505
149,518
(16,013)
3,000
136.505
158,305
26,203
12,000
196 508
262.804
202,801
Restricted funds
ACRE
Building Better Opportunities
Big Energy Saving Network
BESN Champion
NHS Dorset Clinical Corrmissioning
Big4LEttlemoor - Big Local
Trusted Voices
Communty Oven
Summer in Dorset
Abri
JP Morgan - GoGreen
Arnold Clark
Health InequalFties
Anton Jergens
Seed2Plate Combined Fund
European Social Fund
Low Carbon Communty Spaces
SerK)us Mental Illness HEP
BCP Food Poverty
BCP N EET Prevention
BCP NEET Challenge
BCP Training
Digital Inclusion Capabilty
National Garden Scheme
NCS Groundworks
NCS Training
Prison Project
Rural Housing Enabler
RHS Fk)rish
Ser￿us Violence Duty ConSultat￿n
Talbot Village Trust
24.405
(15,346)
7,341
3,825
21,257
39,062
11.674
(881)
(20)
294
{13)
(189)
(2,723)
1,479
36,858
1.983
2,743
2.952
1,445
2,608
5,000
556
1.179
1.999
(24,405)
9,800
(7,341)
(3.825)
(21,257)
(39,338)
(11,674)
5.546
15,587
15,310
20
5,134
13
189
4.202
(2.427)
3,000
(1,479)
(1,479)
(4,800)
(1,983)
(2,743)
(2,952)
(1,445)
(2,608)
32,058
5,000
(556)
(1,008)
171
1,999
(284)
(5,450)
(2,072)
(5.901)
(4,129)
(4,439)
5,450
6,972
14.116
4.129
4,439
4,900
8,216
31.572
294,376
178,636
24.165
139,553
3.048
70,654
267 162
TOTAL FUNDS
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
37

Community
Artion
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
PURPOSES OF DESIGNATED FUNDS
Wimbome Community Centre (WCC) Fornierfy Community Learning and Resource Centre
(CLaRC)
Relates to a centre for adult and communty learning in Wimborne and related income and
expendrture. A transfer of £10,495 was made from the desb3nated fund within the year.
Dilapidation Fund
Funds set aside to cover restoratK)n of the leased 0￿e space to its original condition at the end of
the lease term. The lease is due to end in 2028 wth breaks granted every 5 years. A transfer of
£3,000 was made from unrestr￿ted reserves to increase the balance held in this fund at the end of
the previous financial year.
PURPOSES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
Grant received from ACRE resuth'ng from DEFRA'S Grant Aid Investment Programme, to deliver
local strategic support to rural commUni￿S enabling them to take action, to share learning on
sustainable funding models and to provide access to k>cal intelligence.
Building Better Opportunities . Supporting Enterprise in Dorset
DCA was successful in securing the Stage 2 bid of the Building Better Opportunities
Supporting
Enterprise in Dorset funded by the NatK)nal Lottery Communty Fund and European Social Fund.
The grant was given to enable target participants to overcome barriers to employment through
accessible, communty based support as a stepping stone into enterprise, leading to increased
confidence and k)ng- term lrfe changes.
Big Energy Savlng Network {BESN)
To provide assisted action to vulnerable consumers. to help them save money on their energy
costs through outreach sessions, and to deliver an energy saving training programme to front line
workers who have regular contsct with vulnerable customers.
BESN Champion
This project offered direct support to vulnerable consumers (k)cal resmjents) to reduce their energy
bills and save energy.
NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group
Grant from CCG to provKle advTrce, training and consultancy support for the benefrt of community
groups, charities and social enterprises in Dorset.
Biq Local Fundinq - Biq4Littlemoor
DCA is providing the role of a Locally Trusted Organisation to the Bu4Littlemoor Partnership to
support them with strategic leadership and implementation of their Big Local Plan. A grant was
awarded to the partnership by the Lottery Fund which is administered by the Local Trust.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
38

Commuixty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
PURPOSES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
Trusted Voices
To engage wtth Dorset's voluntsry and communty groups to support the COVID19 Trusted Voices
contacts to best communicate the key messages as xlentifEd by the Dorset Health Protection
Board and to report any issues Klentified by the communty in relalK)n to reducing COVID 19
communty transmissw)n.
Community Oven Grants
A grant received from Dorset Councl to give to ten village and communty halls to purchase an
oven for communty use.
Summer in Dorset
A grant from Dorset Councd gtven to the Bu4Littlemoor project to support the delivery of the
holiday acttvities and food programme in Dorset over the 2021 summer holidays.
Abri
A grant received from Abri given to the Big4Littlemoor project to re-invigorate a disused garden,
helping to unlock the potential of the Lrtuemoor communty.
JP Morgan - GoGreen donation
A donatton received for supplies towards the Seed2Plate project to create a growing space that
can be developed with the aNJ of the participants from the Inspire Dorset programme, with the main
aim being to produce nutritious food for those on bw incomes
Amold Clark
A donation received for supplies towards the Seed2Plate project to create a growing space that
can be developed with the aKJ of the participants from the Inspire Dorset programme, with the main
aim being to produce nutritDus food for those on bw incomes.
Health Inequalities
Project funded by CCG to provide ins￿ht relalng to accelerating preventstive programmes..
support the gathering and anatysis of k)cal health inequalrtEs ins￿ht and knowledge to further
Anton Jergens
A grant to empk)y a seff empk)yment and communty enterprtse coach to support long term
unempbyed people back into work. working mainly in urban deprived wards within Dorset,
Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
European Social Fund
A communty training grant received from European Social Fund and supported by Education and
Skills Funding agency for the Seed2Plate project to engage volunteers to repurpose plots of land to
grow fresh frutl and vegetables. whilst gaining skills and qualifications through the National Open
College Network (NOCN). The project is the only level 1 NOCN in HOrt￿ultUre currently delivered
in Dorset.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
39

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
PURPOSES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
Seed2Plate Combined Fund
This combined fund collates grants from numerous funders that contribute to our Seed to Plate
programme. This includes funding from BCP Council for £15,000 to deliver Team Challenge
workshops. £5,960 from the Dorset Communty FoundatK)n for work in Bridport. £2,000 from CLA
Charitable Trust, £2,500 from Hopscotch preschool CIC and £1,000 from Tesco to deliver a
project in Ferndown. There ks also £3,500 from the D'oyle Carte Foundation and £7,500 from the
Oliver Ford Foundation. A project in Wimborne was fvnded by £3,358 from Sainsburys and a
project in Somerford was funded by £993 from Sovereign Netsvork Group.
Low Carbon Community Spaces
The project will support people and communities who are starting to think about taking climate
action, but may not have the knowledge, or would like clearer guidance on what would make a
difference and where to start. We will do this through linking wrth Communty Spaces using a 10
step plan approach to improving k)w carbon awareness and action for communty spaces.
Through workshops, training using co-productM)n to prcmduce resources for use by further groups.
Serious Mental illness HEP
To revisit groups who support people with SerK)us Mental illness (SMI) as part of the Heallh
Inequalrties project to scope out training and peer support that groups could off to the SMI physical
health project. To support the delivery and coordinat¥)n of the Seed2Plate project over Dorset
County and BCP area. Working to devek)p new growing pk)ts and train volunteers in how to grow,
maintain and harvest produce from the growing gardens.
BCP Food Poverty
A grant received from the BCP Food & Warmth Support Fund to deliver a series of cost-of-living
related skills workshops working through Somerford Primary School, Somerford Family Hub and
Christchurch Communty Partnership affiliated groups, prov￿Ing a range of cooking & food skills
and househokl energy advice workshops.
BCP NEET Prevention
A contract funded by BCP Councl to provNJe a NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
prevents'on programme of 121 Coaching and emotK)nal literacy training and support for years 10
and 11 students.
BCP NEEf challenge
A contract funded by BCP Councl to provide a series of social action communty based Team
Challenge workshops specfficaty aimed at young people at risk of being classified as NEET and
asylum seeking young people.
Digital Inclusion Capability
A capabilty grant from the Good Things Foundatr)n - Fix the Digital Divide, to offer access to &
support for IT at Wimborne Communty Centre.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
40

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
18 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (CONTINUED)
PURPOSES OF RESTRICTED FUNDS (continued)
National Garden Scheme
A grant to fund gardening materials to create a growing and sensory communty garden
NCS Groundworks
Social and communty action Team Challenges & training support for young people 16 117 and
those in care or with mental heallh or learning disabd￿"eS up to the age of 24. Funded by NCS via
Groundworks.
NCS Training
Social and communty actNJn Tearn Challenges & traning support for young people with mental
heallh or learning disabililies up to the age of 24. Funded by NCS.
Prison Project
Funding from Dorset Council. This was an extensDn of the previous Serious Violent Crime project
to include current Serious Vthnt Crime Prisoners in the research.
RHS Flourish
A communty training grant received for the Seed2Plate project to engage volunteers to repurpose
plots of land to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, whilst gaining skills and qualifications through the
National Open College Network (NOCN). The project is the onty level 1 NOCN in Horticulture
currently delivered in DorseL
Rural Housing Enabler
Funding from ACRE aimed at boosting the suppty of new rural affordable housing by providing
access to a sep4re that supports landowners and communities Klentify sites, work with housing
associatK)ns and k)cal authorrties to deliver hNJh qualty homes that meet local housing need
through small scale schemes.
Serious Vlolence Duty Consultation
Funding from Dorset Council {HM Govt fvnding) to undertake research work on the causes and
impacts of serious VK)lence, with both perpetrators and victims of violence.
Talbot Vlllage Trust
A partnership with the Dorset Vinage Hall Association. 75 % funding was secured from Talbot
Village Trust alongside 25./0 from DCA reserves to support Village Halls through the Hallmark
Transfers between funds
Transfers between funds have been used where Dorset Communty ActM)n have used core
resources to fulfl the restrictK)n on the fund.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024
41

L)•r￿t
Communvty
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
for the Year Ended 31 March 2024
19 LEASING AGREEMENTS
Minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating ￿aSeS fall due as follows.,
2024
2023
Wrthin one year
Between one and fve years
In more than fwe years
16.022
59,573
15,224
60,000
11,250
86,474
75,595
20 RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party discbsures for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor the year ended 31
March 2023.
21 PENSIONS
Defined Benefit
The charity operated a defined benefft pension scheme for some longer serving employees of
Dorset Community Action but the scheme was closed to new entrants and new employees. The
Dorset County Council pension scheme is a multl-employer defined benefrt scheme administered
for the benefrt of Local Authorrties and other bodies and is managed in accordance wtth the Local
Government Pension Scheme RegulatM)ns 1997. Dorset Communty Action ceased participation in
the Fund on 11 August 2023 when the last actNe member left service. All assets and liabilities as
at 11 August 2023 fell back to Dorset Council at that date and no exit payment was required to be
paid by Dorset Cornrnunty ActK)n. As a ceasing Empbyer, Dorset Communty Action has no
further obligations to the Fund under RegUla￿n 64 and the Rates and Adjustments Certificate
dated 31 March 2023 has been revised to this effect.
Defined Contribution
The charrtable company operates two defined contribution pension schemes for its employees,
one being with Dorset Council which is now closed to new employees. and the other with Aviva.
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charty. Contributions payable to
the Charitab￿ company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in
the period to which they relate. Dorset Communty Action pays a contribution of 6 % into the Aviva
scheme and acts as an agent in collecting and paying over empk)yee pension contributions. DCA'S
staging date for auti>enrolment was 1 st May 2017 and those qualifying staff not already in the
Aviva Scheme were enrolled into the scherne wilh DCA paying 60/0 employers contribution. The
employer contributM)ns made for the accounts'ng period are treated as an expense and were
£19.565 (2023: £19.222).
22 COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE
Dorset Communty ActK)n is a company lirnited by guarantee and accordingly does not have a
share capital.
DCA Annual Report and Accounts 202>2024
42