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2024-03-31-accounts

Wirral Environmental Network

(A company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and Financial Statements Year Ended 31 March 2024 Company registration number: 3462312 Charity registration number: 1068306

“Working to reduce Wirral’s Carbon Footprint”

Wirral Environmental Network

Contents
Reference and Administrative Details 3
Trustees' Report 4 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 13

Reference and Administrative Details

Trustees & Directors

P Sheldricks

D Brown

A Litherland

B Shoebridge D Griffiths

D Jones (Chair)

D Pye, Company Secretary

Other Officers

N Graham, Office Manager

P McHoul, Finance manager

Principal Office

Sandon Building

Falkland Road

Wallasey

Wirral

CH44 8ER

The charity is incorporated in England and Wales.

Company Registration Number 3462312
Charity Registration Number 1068306
Bankers Co-operative Bank
Independent Examiner
Ian Wright

The trustees are pleased to present their report together with the financial statements of the charitable company for the year ending 31st March 2024.

Page 3

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Charity – originally known as Wirral LA21 Network - is constituted as a Company limited by Guarantee and not having a share capital, and is governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association incorporated 7 November 1997, amended by special resolution 21 August 2003 and by certificate of incorporation on change of name dated 31 October 2009.

The charity is registered with the Charities commissioners under charity number 1068306.

Appointment of trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association the trustees are approved at a General meeting. There is no limit to the time a trustee may serve, although one third of trustees are expected to retire by rotation and be subject to reappointment. During the year, the trustees may appoint a person who is willing to act to be a trustee either to fill a vacancy or as an additional trustee. In this case, that person will hold office only until the next following annual general meeting and shall not be taken into account in determining the trustees who are to retire by rotation at the AGM. If not reappointed at such annual general meeting, the additional trustee(s) shall vacate office at the end of the AGM. There is a minimum of three Trustees but no maximum number. A simple process is in place to clarify trustee recruitment and induction, including interviews and references as necessary.

Trustee induction and training

The Chair of Trustees arranges an induction for new Trustees, including their legal obligations under charity and company law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Trustee committee and decision making processes, and minimum commitment expected from the new trustee. They also learn in situ about the organisation structure, business plan and recent financial performance of the charity. The new trustee will meet key team members and be provided with access to operational procedures. They are encouraged to attend appropriate events to gain greater knowledge of the charity’s activities and to help in the undertaking of their role.

Organisation

The Board of trustees oversees the charity and meets formally on a bi-monthly basis; however exceptional meetings on specific matters can be arranged as and when required. The Office Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the charity. The trustees are supplied with financial information bi-monthly together with updates on activity.

Page 4

Objectives and activities

Wirral Environmental Network (WEN) is a non-profit, non-party political coalition of individuals, groups and organisations, working together for a more sustainable society and the respect for nature and the environment. The aim of the organisation is to advance the education of the public about the preservation of our world’s natural environment, ecological sustainability, natural resource conservation, waste management, recycling and the principles of Fairtrade, within Wirral and the surrounding area.

WEN has delivered and continue to deliver training and projects such as Lifelong learning, Learning In Deprived Communities, Green Hub @ St James Garden, WEN Crafters, WEN Reclaimers, Falkland Road Organic Gardeners, Hydroponics, Community Voluntary and Faith Fund, Kirkwood Grant (Dibbinsdale and Schools), Liscard Pop-up, Seed, Climate Champions, Cool Communities, Climate Champions, Courses and workshops, the Mersey Green Map, E news & quarterly newsletter (Wirral Evergreen), website and information service.

The Trustees review WEN’s aims, objectives and activities at a planning workshop each year to ensure that we remain focused and have given due regard to public benefit when planning the charity’s activities.

Achievements and performance

WEN continues to empower individuals, communities and organisations with the knowledge and skills they need to protect our planet for future generations.

In 2023, our work to raise awareness about the environment and natural resource conservation has made a meaningful impact within the Wirral and surrounding areas.

This year, we have deepened our outreach and educational initiatives, providing resources and support for residents and businesses in Wirral to make more sustainable choices in their daily lives. From local schools and community groups to local authorities and eco-conscious businesses, we have seen growing interest and action in adopting environmentally friendly practices.

Through information, advice, guidance, education, community engagement and on-the-ground action, we have increased our efforts to promote sustainability and raise awareness about the urgent need for care for our environment.

Year on year income has reduced, but this was due to a significant one-off donation we had the previous year. The expectation is that next year there will be an increase in regular income and another yearon-year increase in delivering environment education and activity.

Follow us, support us, join us. Together we can make a difference.

Page 5

Plans for future periods:

The Board of Trustees have produced a vision for WEN in 2030 and this provides direction to activities and decisions made within the team – for example in deciding which grant opportunities to pursue. We continue to produce a business plan for the year ahead to help us focus our efforts, and then make this a part of our ongoing approach on an annual basis.

In the next year, WEN will be looking to apply for grants and funding again. A key focus will be to develop our long-term accommodation needs, now that possible options are becoming clearer, and to continue to embed risk management within our operating approach.

Risk management

The following risk areas have been identified as key to the organisation:

Mitigation Strategy:

Risk areas have been prioritised and individual risks are a focus of trustee meetings, through the forward agenda for the year. This will continue to allow the Trustees and the WEN team to have a better articulated, common perception of the risks and mitigation actions.

Financial review:

The income for this accounting period amounted to £45,386 (previous year: £50,008) with the net loss of £3,863. The level of unrestricted funds stands at £27,247 which surpasses our minimum aim of retaining reserves of the equivalent of 12 months of overhead expenses (circa £10,000). We are outgrowing our current premises and so are building up unrestricted reserves for a planned premises project in 2025/2026. Signed on behalf of the WEN Trustees on 22nd November 2024

Page 6

Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of the Wirral Environmental Ne￿Ork (WEN) I report on the accounts ef tha charity for the year end￿1 the 31 March 2024 which a￿ set out on pages 8 to 12. R•8pon8ibllltl•s and bas18 of r•port As tha ch8rlty's trustèas of the Company land also its directors for the purposes of company lawl you 8re responsible for the preparation of th8 a¢¢ounts in 8ccordance with the requirements ol the Companw Act 2006 Ithe 2006 ACVI. Having satisfied myself that ihe accounts of Ihg Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 01 the 2006 A¢t and are eligible for indep8ndant èxamination, I report in respect of my examination of your ¢harty's accounts as earriéd out under $￿tion 145 of the Charth'es Act 2011 1'th8 2011 kt'i. In carrying out rny examination I have followed thg Directions given by the Charity Commission under sectK)n 145151 Ibl of th& 2011 Act. Ind•p•ndent examlner's statemènt Since the Company's gross income did not exceed £250,000 your gxaminer need not be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I conlimi that l am qualrfiad to undertake the èxamination be¢3u3e l am a member of tha ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies. I have cornpleted my examination I confirm that no matters have Come to my attention in connection with thè examination giving me cause to believe." 1. accounting r•cords ￿r& not kept in respect of thg Company as required by Beth'on 386 of the 2006 Act." or 2. the accounts do not accord wth those words,. or 3. the accounts do not Cornply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 A¢1 other than any raquiremenl that the accounts give 8 'true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independènt examination,. or 4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Ststement of Recommèndèd Practice for accounting and ￿pOrting by charities applicable to ¢harities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Fin8n¢ial Reports'ng Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021. I havè no concerns and have comè acros5 no other matters in conne¢tion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this raF4)rt in order to enable a proper undarstanding of the 8ccounts to be reached. lan Wright, BA, FCA Chartered Accountant 15 Stretton Drive Southport Merseyside PR9 7DR 22 November 2024 Page 7

Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

(Including Income and Expenditure Account)

Page 8

Balance Sheet

31 March 2024

For the financial year ending 31 March 2024 the charity was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. The financial statements on pages 8 to 9 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 22 November 2024 and signed on that day and on their behalf by:

Company Registration Number: 3462312

Page 9

Wirral Environmental Network

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2024

Page 10

Wirral Environmental Network

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2024

Page 11

Wirral Environmental Network

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2024

Page 12

Wirral Environmental Network

Notes to the Financial Statements

Year Ended 31 March 2024

Page 13