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2023-03-31-accounts

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”

Slough Council for Voluntary Service Annual Report and Accounts 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

Charity No: 1069086 Company Number: 03523907

27 Church Street, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 1PL Tel: 01753 524176 E-mail: enquiries@sloughcvs.org.uk

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Contents Page
Report of the Trustees 3
Independent Report of the Auditors 15
Statement of Financial Activities 19
(Including Income and Expenditure)
Balance Sheet 20
Cash Flow 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 22

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Slough Council for Voluntary Service Annual Report 2022 – 2023

Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2023

The directors are pleased to present their annual directors’ report and financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2023. The financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charity’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Ireland (FRS102) effective 1st January 2021.

Slough CVS is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 03523907. It is also registered at Companies House as a private charitable company limited by guarantee under company number 1069086.

From March 2022 – April 2023, we emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic with a hybrid working model, focusing on new and apparent priorities in Slough, building capacity in the sector and developing further the success of the #OneSlough model to work collaboratively with the NHS, Slough Borough Council and local businesses for the good of Slough residents.

We have reignited active volunteering across the Borough after the immense efforts during the pandemic, through the #One Slough model, holding volunteering events to engage with new audiences. We have continued to see great generosity from funding bodies and businesses that have allowed us to focus on new initiatives and strengthen our core work.

Slough CVS’s services developed during the pandemic have become integrated into our mainline services, for example the Wellbeing Friends, which continues to offer much needed befriending support to vulnerable and isolated residents, complementing the work Slough CVS delivers to reduce health inequalities.

A number of external projects have diversified our range of activity, working on Community Led Research, in turn building capacity across community groups in Slough.

Our online training provision has continued to offer core modules, whilst expanding to deliver to harder to reach community groups, with a more accessible model across Slough, Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead.

The capacity building service has brought in an additional £680,000 in grants which has enabled our voluntary sector organisations to survive, especially important as Slough Borough Council addresses the Section 114 notice.

The Carers service remains invaluable, developing our offer to find hidden carers, working carers and male carers, offering tailored support and signposting.

Our core services were recommissioned in Dec 2022 and in early 2023 we were successfully awarded the contract for the delivery of Infrastructure Support Services with Slough Borough Council. This is a 3-year contract with the option to extend for a further 2 years. A significant change was the removal of the Carers service from the main contract, with the addition of a new Community Connectors service. This has promoted Slough CVS to refocus strategic priorities in order to begin delivery of the contract from July 2023.

The Chairman extends thanks to the Slough CVS’s Trustees, who have supported the team, bringing their individual experience and expertise to improve the organisation’s performance.

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Overview of the Year

The start of the financial year saw Slough CVS working to reduce the effects of the cost of living crisis, tackling poverty issues and health inequalities for Slough residents. Post COVID-19 pandemic, we introduced a hybrid working model at Slough CVS. Staff working at home and in the office continued to deliver for both residents and the voluntary sector.

Slough CVS delivered a range of services, both in-person and online including:

Delivering services proved challenging across the voluntary sector, after the announcement by Slough Borough Council (SBC) Section 114 notice in July 2021, pausing non- essential spending, the impact of which continues to be felt by the organisation, the voluntary sector and Slough residents through 2022-3.

#OneSlough Partnership

As the needs of residents changed the #OneSlough brand developed, it transitioned from an immediate response to volunteer recruitment for the vaccination centres, to engage and build volunteering activity across the Borough, maintaining a central database of 2000 volunteers and exploring new ways of promoting and enabling volunteering. Slough CVS continues to work with key local partners, Slough Borough Council the local NHS and businesses on further developing the #OneSlough model.

#OneSlough Community Fund

This year, two rounds of applications for the #OneSlough Community Fund went live. The fund enables small groups to access funding locally and support the key priorities of the town. Panel members for the fund consisted of representatives from Slough CVS, Slough Borough Council, Slough Public Health, Frimley NHS ICB and Slough Co-Production Network. Slough CVS delivered a Funding Workshop alongside the launch of the fund, highlighting key areas of the Guidance document as well as some useful tips on how to write a successful bid. Key outcomes from this activity were -

3,287 residents supported through community groups activity. 829 volunteers supporting running of community group activity. 26 community groups funded over the course of the year

Capacity building of the voluntary sector

Training

The number of attendees, the provision and range of courses delivered by Slough CVS continues to develop to meet the needs of the voluntary sector. Slough CVS has provided online training and resources, to help organisations navigate change and meet the needs of the community during and post pandemic.

The sessions are open to both Slough and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to increase participation, engagement and to make it as cost effective as possible. It has provided an opportunity

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for groups with common services to share best practice and encouraged dialogue across the areas.

Our training programme provides our delegates with the knowledge and skills that will make a difference to them and to our community. A glimpse of the types of training and support sessions that took place this year included Befriending training, First Aid, Recruiting and Managing Volunteers, Mental Health and Suicide, Conflict Resolution and many more.

Funding Advice

During this challenging time Slough CVS has supported the voluntary sector, both in Slough and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to apply for funding and raise thousands of pounds, through the provision of online bid writing, advice, training and workshops. Funding opportunities are updated weekly on the website, and we send newsletters every Friday, to over 800 charities. Slough CVS Funding Advisor works to empower groups to access and apply for funding to run projects that will benefit the residents of Slough. Alongside funding opportunities listed on our website, Slough CVS has supported the sector in securing funds to support and enhance voluntary sector activity in the town.

Over £680,000 of external funding was awarded to Slough groups, following advice and support from Slough CVS.

Volunteering

The befriending service, Wellbeing Friends continues to provide a lifeline to many isolated people, giving them hope at the end of the telephone and signposting them to other services. We also worked with other groups to improve their resilience, help them obtain funds and support with finding active volunteers and have worked to embed Slough CVS as a more robust volunteer centre within the Borough of Slough.

The year started with the Knife Angel Monument (The National Monument Against Violence & Aggression) arriving in Slough.

Over 40 volunteers participated as marshals at the Knife Angel monument, engaging with visitors to the monument. This opportunity received fantastic feedback from the volunteers, who found it to be an emotive and powerful experience: Slough CVS was awarded the National Youth Anti-Violence Educational Award presented by Thames Valley Police, in recognition of the positive impact on Slough for the support of the Knife Angel UK tour.

Wellbeing Friends

Wellbeing Friends Volunteers make regular calls to vulnerable and isolated adults. This Slough CVS service was developed during the coronavirus lockdown and has continued successfully. Clients are referred from Adult Social Care, Voluntary Organisations, GP/Social Prescribing referrals and selfreferrals. The aim is to keep people involved in meaningful conversations to support their mental health, as well as making sure they are engaged in community activities. Key outcomes from this project were -

60 wellbeing friends volunteers 120 clients supported. Over 1,280 volunteering hours

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Slough Community Network Meetings

Slough CVS hosted the Slough Community Network on four occasions across the course of the year. The events provide community groups an opportunity to network with partners and meet potential volunteers. Topics of the meetings included:

We engaged with over 1500 residents across our training programmes and network meetings in 20222023

Carers

Slough Carers Support has continued to engage with over 10,000 carers and the groups that support them to ensure that the impact of isolation did not lead to crisis. We offer an online and telephone information service and help enable regular Carers groups to meet and provide peer support. The Slough Carers Support website received over 15,000 visitors during this period. Adhering to legal requirements, we delivered essential food and medical supplies. Networking opportunities, both online and in-person, were held to engage and support carers.

Staff work on the ground level with carers and carer groups to enable a review of services, needs and concerns to be fed into the system. SCS and the Wellbeing Service work in partnership with Adult Social Care and Slough GPs, Social Prescribers to raise awareness and ensure a smooth transition for clients. Key outcomes from this project were -

636 total registrations

118 new registrations over the course of the year

We ran Carers forums with the aim of to create an environment where all carers feel they can share the difficulties they are experiencing in a safe space, with the following themes-

Slough Carers Support also arranged various physical and seated exercises in partnership with Active Slough. This was the first ever Carers Active April campaign month, in accordance with the national campaign.

The month raised awareness about the importance of physical activity and provided lots of opportunities for carers to be active. All carers were supported and encouraged to take part in any activity that worked for them, whether it was walking, jogging, yoga or some simple seated exercises around the home and garden or in the space provided within a carer group setting.

Slough Carers Support celebrated Carers Week in June. The theme was ‘ Make caring visible, valued and supported’ . Slough Carers support and partners came together to provide support for carers, ran activities and highlighted the vital role carers play in our communities.

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Community Vaccine Wellbeing Champions Project

The #OneSlough Community Wellbeing Champions Project ended in July 2022. The project, which started in January, has tackled the high levels of vaccine hesitancy within Slough and thereby increase the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine through ‘Covid and wellbeing chats’ with the community. The project involved mobile vaccination centres (vaccine buses) in local High Streets, Mosques, Churches and Gurdwaras to name but a few places. One was even spotted in an ASDA Carpark.

Vaccine Champions were deployed across the town, door knocking to explain the benefits of the vaccination programme. The aim being to get as many people vaccinated who would otherwise miss out whether it be due to lack of knowledge or from misinformation about the safety of the vaccine. Key outcomes from this project were -

5,447 doors knocked, with 268 engagements with individuals 1,597 positive responses

17 Community groups funded to support with vaccination uptake

Community Led Research Pilot

In November 2022, Slough CVS teamed up with The British Science Association, University of Reading, and Reading Voluntary Action to run a first of its kind Community Led Research Pilot Project (CLRP).

The purpose of this project was to develop new ways of working with community groups in Slough- to create community-led research that is relevant and makes a difference to local areas and lives. Slough CVS employed three Community Researchers to work with local groups to explore issues and topics that are important to them.

Through the process, the pilot project has created a legacy, forming new networks and more equitable ways of working between local communities and the research sector. It has built confidence, interest, and ownership when it comes to research, and science more broadly. The project will conclude in Sept 2023.

Wellbeing for Slough Directory

The Wellbeing for Slough Community Directory was launched on 8 March 2023 at this year’s Social Prescribing Day. The initial idea for the project arose at last year’s event which brings together the voluntary and statutory sectors, to discuss a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

The website is a result of partnership working, with all sectors bringing their knowledge and expertise to ensure that residents have control over their own wellbeing.

Slough residents can now find activities and services all in one place on an online directory.

29 Church Street- Resource Centre

Slough CVS’ Resource Centre at 29 Church Street has enabled twelve community groups to use the space to hold meetings, training, and events to support their activity. There were over 1250 hours of community activity held during the course of the year.

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MADE Week Event, 28[th] - 31[st] March 2023

In March, volunteers from across Slough are at Wexham Park Hospital to support Frimley Health and Care’s Multi Agency Discharge Event (MADE). #OneSlough volunteers are on the hospital wards and at the main reception to raise awareness and link patients and carers to the range of additional support services available to them in the community.

Slough Carers Support and the Wellbeing Friends Service were able to provide advice and information in the main reception of Wexham Park Hospital, to raise awareness and link patients and carers to the range of additional support services available to them in the community.

Bilingual volunteers spoke to patients and carers in their own language, aiming to provide patients with the confidence to reach out to the voluntary sector support groups, as well as showing patients the new online resource ‘Wellbeing for Slough Community Directory’.

The directory holds details of local activities and services such as reading clubs, social groups and exercise sessions.

Slough Quality Protects (SQP)

Slough Quality Protects is a quality assurance programme, for local community and voluntary organisations to complete. It helps them to demonstrate the quality of their services to users, staff, volunteers, sponsors, statutory organisations and influential organisations. #OneSlough Community Fund applicants are required to complete the SQP accreditation.

Accolades & Recognition

Slough CVS has embarked on gaining the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation (VCQA), through the National Association of Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA). This is the quality mark for organisations delivering local Volunteer Centre functions. It provides assurance to members of the public seeking volunteering opportunities, volunteer involving organisations, partner, commissioner and funding organisations, that the holder provides a high quality and effective local service. We are pleased to report that upon completion of our assessment, we have been awarded the accreditation, starting in April 2023, which is valid for 3 years.

A Thank you from Frimley ICS

This year marked the second anniversary of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, and NHS England and the Frimley ICS thanked the Voluntary Sector and its Volunteers for their role in the COVID-19 response.

Thank you for all your help at the Salt Hill vaccination site and Weekes Drive .

As we mark the 2-year anniversary of the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme, we wanted to send this letter as a small gesture of our gratitude to you for all your hard work and dedication. Over the past 24 months we have delivered an astonishing 23.5 million vaccinations across the South-East. This remarkable achievement could not have been realised without us pulling together under the most challenging circumstances, continually going above and beyond to save lives and reduce illness and hospitalisations.

Through your hard work, professionalism, commitment, and resilience, we have managed to build a unique vaccination programme which has positioned us at the forefront of a global immunisation

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campaign. More importantly, tens of thousands of lives have been saved, protecting our loved ones, colleagues, and wider communities across the South-East.

We are immensely grateful to you for the part you have played in the vaccination of our local communities and for how you have risen to the challenge of this fast paced, demanding programme which is of such great importance to our national health and wellbeing. We hope the receipt of this letter offers a moment to reflect on the incredible achievements we have made as a team and the personal contribution you have made to this extraordinary moment in world history. We could not have achieved all we have without you.

External Projects HOME Slough

HOME Slough is a project for which Slough CVS manages their payroll and accounts.

HOME Slough aims to help revitalise the arts and culture in Slough, by providing new and innovative opportunities for people to experience and express creativity by people choosing, creating and taking part in brilliant art experiences in Slough.

HOME Slough is supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England which will cease in June 2023, bringing this project to an end.

WAM Get Involved

Slough CVS have been able to deliver the WAM Get Involved services, providing a range of support and advice activities to a network of over 280 WAM charities, voluntary and community groups only because of external funding Services include training and online workshops, network forums, news alerts with funding information. A new range of digital and wellbeing workshops to promote resilience for residents and groups during the challenges of the pandemic were developed and delivered.

In addition, the Volunteer Passport training has been delivered to WAM groups, accessing the five units on safeguarding, confidentiality and boundaries, communications and diversity and equality.

Building for the future

The lessons learnt over the last couple of years with the COVID-19 pandemic continue to shape our policies and operational practice. The world faces an uncertain future, global pressures affect our town with increasing inflation, food and fuel poverty. We are using the #OneSlough model to strengthen partnership with the statutory, business, voluntary and other sectors to develop integrated approaches so that the impact of challenges is reduced using a partnership approach.

Sustainability Statement

As an employer and service provider to the community, Slough CVS recognises its responsibility to conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions. Slough CVS uses 100% renewable electricity and carbon off-set gas for its premises at 27 and 29 Church Street. The buildings have been made as energy efficient as possible without spending large sums of money, including using energy efficient boilers, with carefully managed heating controls, as well and insulation in the roof at 29 Church Street.

There is bike storage available to encourage staff and tenants to cycle to work where possible. Technology has aided Slough CVS to minimise its carbon footprint, ensuring newsletters can be sent

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out digitally, printing double sided as default as well as operating recycling schemes for wastepaper, cardboard and printer cartridges. We have increased our use of online training, making it accessible to more people, reducing travel costs.

Conclusion

The future is always challenging but with the #OneSlough experience, stronger partnerships and integrated service development we will seek to move challenges to opportunities and continue to make life easier and happier for Slough residents.

Fundraising Statement

The most significant income came from grants and contracts from the local authority, NHS and trusts and foundations. Slough CVS is subject to their criteria and monitoring arrangements.

We also receive donations, using Local Giving, a nationally recognised platform. Fundraising promotions are conducted by Slough CVS and not by third parties.

The majority of funding is from statutory sources for core services, with some additional funding from statutory and trust funding for additional projects. A small amount of income is generated through property with less than 1% through local giving and donations. We would like to grow funding from this source over the next 5 years. Our fundraising effort involves encouraging donations.

We do not use third-party suppliers to help us raise funds.

Our website outlines our complaints policy for the public and clearly explains how an individual can complain. We received no complaints during the financial year.

Financial Review

Our contract with Slough Borough Council, for Infrastructure and Adult Care Support Services, remains the largest contributor to our operating results. In addition, this year we have worked on additional projects in the community such as Community Vaccine Champions project. This generated revenue of £241,269. During the year we received rental income from our two properties at 27 and 29 Church Street. During this year we also operated the HOME Slough project, which is funded by The Arts Council and Slough Borough Council. This contract supplies a meaningful but not substantial contribution to our operations.

The operating results for this year were in line with recent years. At the end of the year total funds amounted to £1,366,230.

Investment powers and policy

Slough CVS operates three bank accounts – a current account, an instant access deposit account and a term deposit account. There are no overdraft facilities. It is the policy of the Charity to keep sufficient money in the current account and instant access deposit accounts to cover operating cash flow requirements and to place surplus funds in the term deposit account. During the year the typical interest rate achieved on the term deposit account was 0.3% per annum.

Reserve policy

Slough CVS has two unrestricted funds:

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The General Fund covers our day-to-day operations and relates to our ongoing operational charitable activities. These can be summarised as project management activities for Slough Borough Council and the management of our premises in Church Street Slough. The project management tasks relate to the organisation and support of local voluntary groups in the care sector. Our premises are partly occupied by Slough CVS but are largely offices let to various local voluntary groups at subsidised rents.

The Pension Reserve Fund represents the Slough CVS share of the Local Government Pension Scheme deficit.

Slough CVS has four restricted funds:

The Youth Participation Fund supports youth activities in Slough. The Capital Fund is the amount on hand for future capital projects. The Home Slough Fund increases opportunities and awareness of all the arts in Slough.

The Community Champion Fund supports wellbeing activities, including vaccination projects, in keeping Slough safe.

Designated Funds

Slough CVS has three designated funds (which relate to our properties):

The Leasehold Property Fund relates to the acquisition of a 99 year lease on 27 & 29 Church Street in 2012.

The Leasehold Additions Funds relates to subsequent additions to the offices at 29 Church Street.

The Sinking Fund contains amounts set aside for major refurbishment work that may be required on both properties at some unknown time during the unexpired portion of the lease.

The amounts held on Reserves and further information e.g. movements on Reserves, are set out in Note 12 to the Accounts.

It is the intent of the Directors to maintain an amount on the General Fund at least equal to 6 months operating expenses, excluding property servicing expenses, which are covered by rental income. This sum would enable the current activities of the Charitable Company to be continued, in the event of a significant drop in funding, until such time as the income and expenditure could be brought into balance. The amount on the General Fund, not including the pension deficit, during the financial year and at 31st March 2023 exceeded the 6 month target.

It is also the objective of the Directors to add to the Sinking Fund, where possible, against unknown future major property repairs. The Directors are satisfied with the current level of this fund. And there are no immediate plans for any substantial utilisation of the Capital Fund.

Plans for future periods

Slough Borough Council, who are our major clients, formally notified the Ministry of

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Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in July 2021 of the Section 114 Notice and has since sought ongoing financial support from the Ministry. Slough Borough Council announced a pause on non-essential spending, in response to a report by the Director of Finance into the state of the council’s finances.

In January 2023 Slough CVS was successful in the award of a 3 year, plus 1 year, plus 1 year contract from Slough Borough Council, for the provision of Infrastructure Support Services. Whilst the Charity has this funding for the upcoming period, plus adequate levels of reserves, the Directors are alive to the implications of the current spending environment and will plan and act accordingly, seeking opportunities to diversify income streams with additional funding.

There are no plans for any major capital spending.

Reference and administrative details

Charity number: 1069086 Company number: 03523907

Registered Office: 27 Church Street, Slough, Berkshire SL1 1PL

Our advisers

Auditors: Cansdales Audit LLP, Bourbon Court, Nightingales Corner, Little Chalfont, Bucks HP7 9QS

Bankers: Bank of Scotland, 3rd Floor, 8 Lochside Avenue, Edinburgh EH2 9DJ Solicitors: Aston Bond, Windsor Crown House, 7 Windsor Rd, Slough SL1 2DX Insurances:Lark(Group)Ltd,Colman House, King Street, Maidstone, ME14 1DN

Directors who served during the Financial Year

Jamie Green (Chairman) Ambily Banerjee Erduana Catovic (Treasurer – Resigned November 2022) Thomas Conlin (Interim Treasurer– Appointed November 2022) Andalina Kolsawala Gautam Saraogi

Key management personnel

Chief Executive Officer: Ramesh Kukar Director of Operations: Vicki Atherton

Structure governance and management

Slough Council for Voluntary Service, Registered Charity Number 1069086, is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The company was incorporated under the Companies Act 1985, Registered Number 03523907. There are 185 members each of whom has guaranteed to pay £1 in the event of the winding up of the company.

Appointment of directors

The members elect a Board (which for historic reasons are referred to as the Council of Management) every two years to oversee the affairs of the charitable

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company.

Director induction and training

Potential Directors undergo induction with the CEO and Chair. The induction comprises structure and function of SCVS, organisational roles and responsibilities and legal roles and responsibilities. Potential Directors are then introduced to staff and other board members. They are encouraged to spend time getting to know staff and members and are encouraged to attend a programme of both internal and external Governance training.

Organisation

The day to day management of SCVS is undertaken by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who reports to the Chairman and Board. The CEO has written delegated authority approved by the Board sufficient to manage day-to-day operations. The Board meets approximately 6 times a year to consider major strategic and operational matters, including management accounts, the annual budget and the statutory accounts. There is also a subgroup of the Board (The Finance and General Purpose Committee) that meets on an ad hoc and more frequent basis when circumstances require. Volunteers have contributed greatly to the effectiveness of SCVS. Their expertise in the fields of financial and general administration has been particularly helpful.

Related parties

No Director receives a salary or any other benefit from their work with the Charity. Some Directors are employees of charities or voluntary organisations that may have directly or indirectly an interest in Slough CVS projects, and as such would be considered a related party. These circumstances occur rarely and would be disclosed in the register of Directors’ Interests. Where appropriate the Director would absent him or herself from appropriate decisions or meetings.

Pay policy for senior staff.

The Directors consider the board and the senior management team comprise the key management personnel responsible for controlling and operating the Charity. All the Directors give their time freely and are unpaid.

All staff salaries are reviewed annually although not necessarily increased annually. Salary increases are dependent upon market rates for similar positions in the voluntary sector and the financial position of the charity at the time.

Risk management.

A review of the risks to which the charity is exposed is conducted annually. The review looks at risks affecting the administration and staff of the charity. The risks identified were various e.g. operational, strategic and financial. Each identified risk was prioritised by allocating a judgement score on the level of the risk and the likelihood of each risk item. Actions as necessary were then identified and allocated to various staff or board members to mitigate those risks. Also, the charity has a series of robust policies and procedures in place to identify clearly the appropriate work practices, all of which are reviewed regularly.

One risk the directors have considered in particular is the risk associated with our membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (the Scheme) which is a

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defined benefit scheme. On current and forecast contribution rates the directors consider the Scheme is affordable and, after due consideration of other relevant factors, intend to continue membership of the Scheme for the foreseeable future. Please see note 14 to the Accounts for more information.

Responsibilities of the directors

The Directors of Slough Council for Voluntary Service are responsible for preparing the Report of the Directors and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law required the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company at the end of the year and of the surplus or deficiency for the year ended. In preparing those financial statements the Directors are required to:

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements could comply with the Companies Act 2006.

The Directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Directors are aware:

As Trustees, they have regard for Charity Commission guidance on public benefit

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by Jamie Green

Chairman Date:

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Independent Auditors Report to the Members of Slough Council for Voluntary Services

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Slough Council for Voluntary Services (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31st March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Cash flow statement and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31st March 2023, and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charitable company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our

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knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• the information given in the Trustees’ Report for the year ending 31st March 2023 for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the Trustees’ Report for the year ending 31st March 2023 has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the financial statements as on 31st March 2023 and the Trustees’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

• adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the Trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies’ regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the Trustees’ Report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 10, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees’ determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees’ either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken based on these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures can detect irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

• We obtained an understanding of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements through discussion with management and those charged with governance, including financial reporting and taxation legislation. We considered that extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.

• We addressed the risk of fraud through management override by reviewing the appropriateness of a sample of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making key accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business that we come across throughout the audit.

However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the company. Our examination should not be relied upon to disclose all such material misstatements or frauds, errors or instances of non-compliance as may exist.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

17

Richard Rhodes (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Feltons

1 The Green Richmond Upon Thames TW9 1PL United Kingdom

18

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2023

Total income
Not
2
3
Expenditure
On charitable activities
5
Total expenditure
Net Income / (Expenditure)
Transfer between funds
Movement on Pension Reserve
5
Net Movement on funds
Total funds brought forward
12
Total funds carried forward
12
Income
From charitable activities
Grants
Other income
Investment income
4		 e


Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Designated
funds
Total 2023
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Designated
funds
Total 2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
451,425
504,244
-
955,669
418,424
492,600
-
911,024
138,711
-
-
138,711
314,946
-
-
314,946
~~590,136~~
~~504,244~~
~~-~~
~~1,094,380~~
~~733,370~~
~~492,600~~
~~-~~
~~1,225,970~~

1,495
-
-
1,495
524
-
-
524
591,631
504,244
-
1,095,875
733,895
492,600
-
1,226,494

560,203
494,288
5,280
1,059,771
583,243
597,061
5,280
1,185,584
560,203
494,288
5,280
1,059,771
583,243
597,061
5,280
1,185,584
31,428
9,956
(5,280)
36,104
150,652
(104,461)
(5,280)
40,910
(100,000)
-
100,000
-
(100,000)
-
100,000
-

282,000
-
-
282,000
72,000
-
-
72,000
213,428
9,956
94,720
318,104
122,652
(104,461)
94,720
112,910

120,204
415,989
511,932
1,048,125
(2,449)
520,451
417,212
935,214

333,632
425,945
606,652
1,366,229
120,203
415,990
511,932
1,048,124

This statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities. The notes numbered 1 to 18 form part of these financial statements

19

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st MARCH 2023

Creditors: due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less liabilities
Total funds
Note
8
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank
Provisions for liabilities
11
Unrestricted funds
12
Designated funds
12
Restricted funds
12		 Creditors: due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less liabilities
Total funds
Note
8
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Current assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank
Provisions for liabilities
11
Unrestricted funds
12
Designated funds
12
Restricted funds
12		 (372,959)

83,005
1,516,530
1,599,535		 (372,959)

83,005
1,516,530
1,599,535		 256,653
1,226,576
(117,000)
1,366,230
2023
£		 265,250
1537855		 261,933


1,185,192
(399,000)
1,048,124
1,048,125
2022
£
120,204
511,932
415,989
,,
1,803,105
(617,913)







1,366,230
333,632
606,653
425,945

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved by the Board and signed on their behalf by:

J Green Director
T Conlin Director

Date:

20

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

CASH FLOW AS AT 31st MARCH 2023

Net movement in funds
Net cash from operating activities
Investing activities
Investment income
Cash flow from investing activities
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash at start of year
Cash at the end of the year
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Investment income
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
Increase/(decrease) in provisions		 318,105
(22,819)
1,495
1,495
(21,324)
1,537,855
1,516,531
2023
£
5,280
(1,495)
182,245
(244,953)
(282,001)		 112,911
2022
£
5,280
(524)
(168,140)
299,687
(72,001)
177,213
524
524
177,737
1,360,118
1,537,855

21

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Slough CVS is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 03523907. It is also registered at Companies House as a private charitable company limited by guarantee under company number 1069086. The registered office is 27 Church Street, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 1PL.

a. Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1st January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS102)) and the Companies Act 2006.

The Slough Council for Voluntary Service (Slough CVS - the Charity) meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £1.

b. Income and Expenditure

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

All resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis for all funds, inclusive of irrecoverable VAT. Where expenditure is directly attributable to specific activities it is allocated to those activities. In other cases costs may be attributable to more than one activity, in these cases the costs have been apportioned to the individual activities within charitable expenditure and governance costs in accordance with the Basis of Accounting described in detail above. Governance costs comprise all costs relating to the public accountability of Slough CVS and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs relating to the statutory audit.

c. Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Assets are capitalised if their cost exceeds £1500.

In November 2012 Slough CVS acquired a 99 year lease on 27 and 29 Church Street from Slough Borough Council on a peppercorn rent. The capitalised amount for Leasehold Property in these accounts represents the acquisition cost of the lease and associated fees. The total cost of the lease is being written off over the life of the lease. In the financial year ended 31st March 2014 an extension was completed at 29 Church Street. The cost of this work has been capitalised and is being written off over 20 years.

d. Pensions

Slough CVS participates in the Local Government Pension Scheme, which is a defined benefits scheme providing pensions based on pay and length of service not contributions. Both the Charity and employees contribute to this scheme on a defined scale. The contribution made by the charity in defined pension benefit scheme is treated as expenses. The Charity stopped entry to the Scheme for new employees some years ago. New employees of Slough CVS hold personal pension plans which are defined contribution schemes. The Charity contributes to these plans and employees are free to choose their own contribution rates. Further details of both these schemes are detailed in note 14 to these accounts.

e. Unrestricted funds

Consist of donations, grants and other incoming resources receivable or generated for the objects of the Charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.

f. Designated funds

Are amounts agreed to be set aside by the Directors for a specific purpose.

22

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31st March 2023

ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

g. Restricted funds

h. Taxation

i. Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The Directors consider that there are sufficient funds in place having secured a three year contract for delivery of services from the Local Authority (with two additional years’ funding subject to performance), and that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

2 GRANTS RECEIVABLE

GRANTS RECEIVABLE
General
fund Other funds Total 2023 Total 2022
£ £ £ £
SBC - Slough Adult Social Care / SPACE 358,424 254,444 612,868 532,438
SPH-Community Champion welbeing / vaccination Proj - 241,269 241,269 92,600
ACE- The Arts Council - re Home Slough - 262,975 262,975 400,000
NHS Trusts 93,000 - 93,000 60,000
Grants receivable (gross) 451,424 758,688 1,210,112 1,085,038
Due to other stakeholders (OneSlough) - (254,444) (254,444) (174,014)
Net Amount Receivable 451,424 504,244 955,668 911,024

3 OTHER INCOME

OTHER INCOME
Rental income
Other charitable activities
Other Income		 General
fund
Other funds
Total 2023
Total 2022
£
£
£
£
80,544
-
80,544
60,893
58,167
-
58,167
254,053
138,711
-
138,711
314,946

Rental income arises from the offices and meeting rooms at our properties at 27 & 29 Church Street, which are let to a variety of voluntary organisations at below market rents. The item Other charitable activities includes income from support activities supplementary to our main (less Covid related funding than LY) contracts with Slough Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

4 INVESTMENT INCOME

Investment Income 2023
2022
£
£
1,495
524

All the investment income is bank deposit account interest.

23

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

5 TOTAL EXPENDITURE

EXPENDITURE
Staff costs
Staff recruitment
Premises
Travel and subsistence
Training
Telephone
Office Expense, Postage & stationery
Computer supplies
Depreciation
Other expenditure
Governance:
Admin & Audit
Staff Costs
Total expenditure
Movement on Pension Reserve		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Designated
308,500
-
-
-
178,670
-
-
-
487,170
412,210
429
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
429
1,181
58,760
-
-
-
-
13,558
-
-
-
72,318
91,861
5,668
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
5,668
73
16,486
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
16,486
8,037
23,469
-
-
-
-
412
-
-
-
23,881
11,176
39,572
-
-
-
-
5,363
-
-
-
44,935
31,676
37,799
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
37,799
42,872
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,650
2,630
-
5,280
5,280
2,690
-
-
-
121,624
164,554
-
-
-
288,867
531,848
-
-
50,382
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
50,382
9,642
16,447
-
-
-
-
10,107
-
-
-
26,554
39,728
HOME
SLOUGH L'HOLD
L'HOLD
SINK'G
TOTAL
TOTAL
FUNDING
ADD'NS
FUND
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
GEN
PENS
YP
CAP
SPH
FUND'G
RES'VE
FUND
FUND
FUND
£
£
£
£
560,203
-
-
-
300,294
193,994
2,650
2,630
-
1,059,771
1,185,584
-
282,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
282,000
72,000

24

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

7 STAFF COSTS AND NUMBERS
Salaries and wages
Social security costs
Pension costs
6 EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR
Is stated after charging
Depreciation
Auditors' remuneration		 2023
£
416,553

38,917
31,701
487,170
2023
£
5,280
5,610		 2022
£
349,399
31,019
34,318
414,736
2022
£
5,280
5,610

No employee received benefits of more than £60,000. No directors were paid, neither were they reimbursed expenses in the year (2022: £nil). No directors received payment for professional or any other services supplied to the Charity (2022: £nil). The key management of the Charity (excluding the directors) comprise the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Operations. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £74,823 (2022: £80,148)

The average weekly number of employees during the year was:

At 1st April 2022
Average monthly head count
Average monthly full time equivalent head count
COST
At 1st April 2022
Additions in the year
At 31st March 2023
9 DEBTORS
Accrued Income
HMRC receivable
Other Receivables

CREDITORS & ACCRUALS
8 FIXED ASSETS
DEPRECIATION
At 1st April 2022
Charge for the year
At 31st March 2023
NET BOOK VALUE
At 31st March 2023		 2023
16
13
256,860
52,593

-
-
256,860
52,593

Leasehold
Property
Leasehold
Additions
£
£		 2023
16
13
256,860
52,593

-
-
256,860
52,593

Leasehold
Property
Leasehold
Additions
£
£		 2023
16
13
256,860
52,593

-
-
256,860
52,593

Leasehold
Property
Leasehold
Additions
£
£		 2022
16
13
309,453
-
Total
£
52,593
 309,453
47,520
5,280
23,850
2,650		 23,670
2,630
26,500 26,300 52,800
230,360 26,293
256,653
233,010 28,923
261,933
2023
2022
£
£
-
100,000
22,445
-
60,560
165,250
83,005
265,250
2023
2022
£
£
3,127
10,335
127,938
248,313
133,443
139,618
108,451
219,647
372,959
617,913

10 CREDITORS & ACCRUALS

Deferred revenue represents grants received in advance from Slough Borough Council

11 PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES
Reconciliation of Defined benefit obligation 2023 2022
£ £
Net defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the year 399,000 471,000
Changes in net defined benefit obligation (282,000) (72,000)
Net defined benefit obligation at the end of the year 117,000 399,000
2023 2022
Present value of defined benefit obligation 840,000 971,000

25

Fair value of the Fund asset 727,000 576,000 Deficit/(Surplus) 113,000 95,000 Present value of unfunded obligation 4,000 4,000 Net defined benefit liability/(asset) 117,000 399,000

Represents the deficit allocated to Slough CVS on the Local Government Pension Scheme (see Note 14).

26

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE

12 MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

The General Fund
unrestricted
Transfer
unrestricted
Pension Reserve Fund
unrestricted
Sub total - Unrestricted funds
Youth Participation
restricted
Capital Fund
restricted
SPH-Community Champion wellbeing / vaccination restricted
Home Slough
restricted
General restricted
restricted
Sub total - Restricted funds
Leasehold Property
designated
Leasehold Additions
designated
Sinking Fund
designated
Sub total - Designated funds
Total Funds		 Balance at
1st April
2022
income
expenditure other items
Balance at
31st March
2023
£
£
£
£
£
619,204
591,630
(560,203)
-
650,632
(100,000)
-
(100,000)
(200,000)
(399,000)
-
282,000
(117,000)
120,204
591,630
(560,203)
282,000
333,632
39,000
-
-
-
39,000
214,868
-
-
-
214,868
134,146
241,269
(300,294)
75,121
27,976
262,975
(193,994)
-
96,956
-
415,989
504,244
(494,288)
-
425,945
233,010
-
(2,650)
-
230,360
28,923
(2,630)
-
26,293
250,000
-
100,000
350,000
511,932
-
(5,280)
100,000
606,653
1,048,125
1,095,874
(1,059,771)
382,000
1,366,230

The General Fund covers our day to day operations and relates to our ongoing operational charitable activities. The Pension Reserve Fund represents the Slough CVS share of the Local Government Pension Scheme deficit. The Youth Participation Fund supports youth activities in Slough.

The Capital Fund is the amount on hand for future capital projects.

The Community Champion wellbeing / vaccination Project funded by SPH

The Home Slough project promotes Art in Slough and is jointly funded by the Arts Council England and Slough Borough Council. The General funding restricted related to the Space and #OneSlough projects

The Leasehold Property Fund relates to the acquisition of a 99 year lease on properties at 27 & 29 Church Street. The Leasehold Additions Funds relates to subsequent additions to the offices at 29 Church Street.

The Sinking Fund contains amounts set aside for major refurbishment work that may be required on the properties.

27

SLOUGH COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st March 2023

ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
Current assets
Fixed assets
Current liabilities
Provisions for liabilities		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Designated
funds
Total funds
£
£
899,354
450,181
250,000
1,599,535
-
-
256,860
256,653
(348,723)
(24,236)
-
(372,959)
(117,000)
-
-
(117,000)
333,632
425,945
606,653
1,366,229

13 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS

14 PENSIONS

Slough CVS participates in a Local Government Pension Scheme (the Scheme). The Scheme is a multiemployer defined benefit scheme and is contracted out of the Second State Pension. The administering authority for the Scheme is the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and it is administered in accordance with the Local Government Scheme Regulations 2013.

Members of the Scheme accrue an index linked pension and receive other benefits including a lump sum on retirement according to salary and length of service. The Charity contributed an amount of 23.6% of the gross salary of the member of staff in the Scheme in the year. The employee in the Scheme contributed 8.5% of gross salary in the year. The total Slough CVS contribution to the Scheme in the year was £26,035 (2022: £17,204).

A formal valuation of the fund was performed at 31st March 2023 by the Scheme's actuaries using the Projected Unit Method, which set the contributions for the period 1st April 2020 to 31st March 2023. There are no minimum funding requirements in the Scheme, but contributions are generally set to target a funding level of 100% using the actuarial valuation assumptions.

The Scheme is in deficit and the Scheme's actuaries have produced an estimate of the element of that deficit attributable to the Charity at 31st March 2023, under the relevant accounting standard (FRS 102) which amounts to £117,000 (2022: £399,000).

Employees with personal pension plans (which are money purchase schemes) contract directly with the relevant insurance company. The Charity makes a contribution of 5% of gross salary to these plans. Contributions paid and expensed in the year totalled £7,531.

A Post year end Cessation valuation report was obtained from the scheme’s actuaries on 31 October 2023 on account of the member of the fund leaving active service and the estimated deficit in defined benefits was valued at £559,919. This estimated amount is payable to the member leaving the active service.

15 CONNECTED CHARITIES

The Charity is affiliated to the National Association of Councils for Voluntary Service and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations

16 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At 31st March 2023 there were no capital commitments (2022: £Nil).

17 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

No related party transactions took place during the year (2022: None).

18 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

At 31st March 2023 there were no contingent liabilities known to the directors (2022: £Nil)

28