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2024-03-31-accounts

Company Registration Number 3508718 Charity Number 1070267

Community Impact Bucks

(A Company Limited by Guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

Contents

CONTENTS Pages
Trustees’
Annual
Report		 2
Independent
Examiner’s		 report to the members and the trustees 19
Statement of financial activities 21
Balance sheet 22
Statement of cashflows 23
Accounting policies 24
Notes to the financial statements 26

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Trustees’ Annual Report

The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ending 31 March 2024, which also incorporates the directors’ report for the purposes of company law.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the second edition of the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).

Chair’s Report

During the financial year 2023/2024 Community Impact Bucks has continued to build on the organisation’s transformation programme and continues to pursue new initiatives.

We have started to develop a 5 Year Strategic Plan for 2025-2030 and good progress is being made in focussing on this activity.

As for this current year our emphasis remains the same – to support charitable organisations, to create opportunities for community development and strengthen the local VCSE sector. Our current strategic pillars are:

Our challenges remain much the same, although at the time of writing, with a new government we shall have to keep a close eye on whatever changes may be imposed on the sector.

Community Impact Bucks faces a similar strain on financial resources as others within the charitable and voluntary sector however we remain committed to continuing to support our vulnerable VCSE partners in Buckinghamshire

The Past Year

Over the past year CIB completed our office move to new premises providing a more attractive and appropriate working environment for our hybrid working model which is working very well.

Work has also started on enhancing our online and IT capacity. A new website with greater functionality will be introduced and operational enhancements to our own systems are also being developed, improving our capacity and providing opportunities for smarter working and relieving some of the pressure on our staff team.

Francesca (Frankie) Hockham set up a new Heads of the Fundraising Network, to provide peer support for charity fundraisers across the county. This has been very well received and essential as the fundraising environment becomes increasingly difficult.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Driven by Stephanie Thompson and Michael Curth, CIB have launched a new online volunteer matching platform in Autumn of 2024. Known as Volunteer Bucks, the platform will provide a simpler and more efficient way for organisations and potential volunteers to find each other.

We also introduced a Rural Transport Forum, skilfully managed by Nosh Fiaz. Having attended the launch meeting of the scheme, it clear that this area has required a strong voice for some time and we look forward to developing services for the rural communities challenged by the lack of effective public transport services.

Our CEO Katie Higginson as continued to be active on Health and Wellbeing Board and VCSE Partnership Board, becoming the Deputy Chair, and building relationships with key figures at Bucks Council and ICS.

And finally we were successful in renewing two key contracts – the Voluntary services support contract and our Handy Helpers contract this year.

Unfortunately, our CEO Katie Higginson has been battling Long Covid this past year, a hugely debilitating condition and, despite working reduced hours and taking an extended sabbatical, Katie has decided not to return to Community Impact Bucks. The Board are in the process of recruiting a new CEO who we hope to have in post in early April 2025

We have been extremely fortunate to obtain the services of Alice Copping as Interim CEO. Alice has worked in the voluntary sector for many years and is well known in the sector. She is doing a great job of supporting the Board and managing our team.

I have also had some health challenges and am very grateful to Dominic Pinkney for stepping in as Interim Chair and maintaining the momentum for development of CIB.

Prior to our Strategy workshops I have held meetings with both Heart of Bucks and the Rothchild Foundation in order to see what their strategic plans are over the next few years. These meetings have been very positive and have informed our thinking around service delivery. Both organisations have expressed their appreciation for CIB’s activities and are very pleased to be our Strategic Partners going forward.

In Conclusion

All this work is taking place despite significant health and challenging recruitment issues and a massive vote of thanks is due to the whole staff team for delivering these and the many other activities that they have worked on over the past 12 months.

Community Impact Bucks has an incredibly enthusiastic and strong team of staff and Trustees and none of this hard work could be delivered as effectively without their commitment. So, to all of you, my grateful thanks and I’m sure the appreciation of our clients and stakeholders.

Michael Schindler

Chair of Trustees, Community Impact Bucks

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Our Purpose and Activities

The Charity’s Objects as set out in our governing document, the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Community Impact Bucks, are as follows:

“Promoting any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the County of Buckinghamshire and its adjacent areas and in particular the advancement of education, the protection of health and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness.”

Our vision is for strong, vibrant communities, working together to make a positive contribution to people’s lives across Buckinghamshire.

Our mission is to inspire voluntary and community action in Buckinghamshire, by supporting and enabling people and groups to get involved and make a difference.

Strategic goals

In broad terms, the charity’s activities to meet its charitable objects fall into three key areas that provide public benefit:

*Please note, Milton Keynes is supported by our colleagues at Community Action: MK.

Our Trustees and staff work together to draw up our strategic plan, shape objectives for the year and plan activities to deliver those objectives. Trustees have regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and ensure that our services meet those criteria.

Community Impact Bucks is the parent company of our trading company, Community Impact Bucks (trading) Limited.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Achievements and Performance

Empowering and enabling the voluntary, community and charity sectors in Buckinghamshire to be resilient and effective for their beneficiaries.

We provided a comprehensive programme of advice, support and training to not-for-profit groups across Buckinghamshire covering areas such as setting up and running an organisation, managing risk, safeguarding vulnerable people, seeking funding, and recruiting and managing volunteers.

Community Impact Bucks directly supported 344 organisations:

This support is primarily provided under a three-year VCSE Support Service contract from Buckinghamshire Council, which prioritises support for organisations under £100k income. The majority of support sessions, workshops and network events took place online or by phone, according to the preference of service-users, although in-person events and on-site visits have increased, particularly aimed at connecting more with under-represented groups.

Your guidance, knowledge, & advice were truly invaluable. Thanks to your support, I am now ready to move forward in a major way. I shudder to think what would have happened without this service - likely stagnation. This service, especially with Franky's expertise, is a perfect handheld process that cuts through the red tape & helps us understand the jargon & paperwork to foster our organisation's growth. Unlike other expensive & less effective options, I wholeheartedly recommend this service.

Prevention Better Than Cure (Funding and Governance Advice)

[What would have happened if you had not received this support / service?] "Our charity might have had to close"

Winslow Activity Club (Funding and Governance Advice Session)

I was really happy with how quickly I was able to get some support, I feel more confident now, which is not only because I have a plan moving forward but know I have support that I can ask for if I need it again.

Enhancing Young Adults’ Independence – EYAI (Funding and Governance Advice)

“The zoom session with Alexandra was invaluable, providing clarity, inspiration & support during a period of significant change. It has also highlighted how an experienced collaborative mentor/coach can help us make more informed decisions which I believe are pivotal to our company's sustainability."

Grow Together Bucks (Coaching for Impact)

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Our specialist Community Buildings Service provided bespoke information and advice to community buildings such as village halls. These multi-use spaces at the heart of communities are still working to rebuild hire income following Covid-19 lockdowns, while facing new obstacles brought on by the cost-of-living crisis. Increased energy bills strained already tight budgets, while those needing to repair or refurbish their buildings were faced with significantly higher costs for building materials. Despite these issues, hall committees have shown remarkable resilience and commitment to serving their communities.

"The project may well have become stuck to the drawing board if it wasn't for the guidance on funding sources that Frankie and her team from Community Impact Bucks provided to the Trustees in the very beginning. In particular, great support and expert assistance was provided in putting together the Stage 1 and Stage 2 application documents for the DEFRA/ACRE Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Fund where a successful award of £18,000 was received."

Bob Merry, Trustee of Worminghall Village Hall

Our specialist Community Transport Hub supports community transport schemes through advice sessions, e- newsletters, and networking forums. This includes support for funding, governance, volunteer recruitment & management, and carrying out volunteer DBS checks.

This service runs in tandem with the Community Transport Hub helpline which signposts Buckinghamshire residents to local community transport options, as detailed on p 11 of this report.

Charities Together – Tackling Financial Insecurity in Bucks is a new partnership with Age UK Bucks, Carers Bucks, Connection Support, and Youth Concern, funded by the Bucks Capacity Fund, a pooled fund from Heart of Bucks, Anson Charitable Trust, Rothschild Foundation, and the Tony & Sheelagh Williams Charitable Foundation.

The project aims to improve access to practical support for clients experiencing poverty (financial disadvantage, unable to afford heating, housing and/ or food). Partners work alongside grassroots organisations in Aylesbury, expanding into Chesham in Spring 2024, to reach people who currently may not know of, be able to engage with, or trust existing services and support.

Community Impact Bucks provides bespoke capacity-building support for those grassroots organisations, offering significantly deeper support than we are able to through the VCSE Support Service, and reaching more grassroots organisations working with Buckinghamshire’s most marginalised communities. However, the limited capacity of grassroots partners has been a real barrier to engaging with the offer of even very

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

hands-on support such as writing funding applications and we have been regularly reviewing and testing different approaches to increase engagement.

The experience and knowledge that Frankie was able to share due to her years of experience in fundraising. She was able to go into detail with me about what funders expect and what they are looking for. She also shared some very useful resources with me. […] It will really make a difference in my day-to-day role.

Southcourt Baptist Church, Grassroots partner in Charities Together

Inspiring, promoting and developing voluntary and community action

*based on national minimum wage for over 23s and minimum time commitment for each role – the true value is likely to be much greater

Volunteering is the lifeblood of most charities, and we are no exception – we benefit enormously from volunteers giving their time and skills to Community Impact Bucks .

Volunteers helped us in a range of ways, including:

The Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service (VMS) provides essential volunteering infrastructure for Buckinghamshire with a central bank of volunteers from across the county, enabling voluntary and statutory organisations to quickly source new volunteers and freeing them up to focus on service delivery.

Volunteer-involving organisations in Buckinghamshire tell us that they are facing higher demand for their services, but struggling to find enough volunteers, and the availability of their existing volunteer base is more volatile – they are less able to rely on their committed volunteers. Organisations who have never previously struggled for volunteers are turning to the Volunteer Matching Service for help.

Without the VMS…

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

“We would have had to restrict the number of families we could accommodate.”

“We would have a lack of local volunteers, crucial to helping keep our costs low.”

Organisations who found volunteers through the VMS

The latest DCMS Community Life Survey (2021/22) showed volunteering is at its lowest levels since it started collecting data in 2013. But locally there are signs of improvement: in 2023-24, new volunteers registering with the Volunteer Matching Service increased by 47% from a particularly low level the previous year.

From its inception, the VMS has been co-designed and delivered by a team of volunteers who match people to suitable roles. The VMS team is skilled in matching roles to the wide range of ages, backgrounds and skill sets and motivations of volunteers to find the best fit; the team introduce volunteers to a range of opportunities they may never otherwise have considered or learned about. By focusing on ensuring high quality volunteering opportunities, tailored to individual’s skills and preferences, that provide a good volunteering experience, the VMS promotes a culture of volunteering in the county that aims to leave a lasting legacy.

The volunteers who have already used the Service report that their volunteering has helped them develop new skills, gain experience, and improve their self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing. Above all, the volunteers value being able to make a difference to the community. Feedback on volunteering roles include:

[15 months after first matched] "I am still involved in the Hospital Car Service at Community Care North Bucks... in fact I have now also joined the Board of the charity as a Trustee!"

Colin, volunteer at Community Care North Bucks

Evie is the 2000[th] volunteer to be matched by the Volunteer Matching Service:

Read more of Evie’s story: 2000[th] volunteer matched/ Evie – Macmillan Cancer Trust and NSPCC

We are thrilled with the launch of our Volunteer Bucks online platform in October 2024 that will enhance the way volunteers and organisations find each other.

Community Impact Bucks partners with the Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy (BHSCA) to develop and pilot an innovative student volunteer skills record. We delivered ‘Preparation for volunteering’ training and induction sessions which were attended by over 100 students. We worked together with BHSCA to support a group of partner organisations to develop student volunteering opportunities that are specifically designed to be flexible around studies. The Volunteer Matching Service matched 3 student volunteers to volunteering roles.

Through our community services , we help to build strong, resilient communities and directly help people – particularly older, vulnerable or socially isolated people – where we see an unmet need.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

In March 2022, the Buckinghamshire Ukraine Community Support Project was launched to support and develop the capacity, capabilities and connections to enable community action that meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees and enables them to thrive within Buckinghamshire’s communities.

A project manager – herself a Ukrainian refugee – has established a strong network of 49 charities and community groups working to support Ukrainian refugees around the county, providing them with support through 61 1:1 and community meetings and connecting them together through a Whatsapp group for 30 community group leaders.

A dedicated webpage shared resources for community groups, sponsors and refugees, while a regular newsletter and Facebook page ‘What’s on for Ukrainians in Buckinghamshire’ grew to 651 members, sharing updates on project activities, upcoming events, and relevant news, services and resources. Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) are a key communication tool; the Project Manager is part of 21 messaging groups with an average of 20 people in a group. A monthly newsletter reaches 69 community groups and organisations.

Over the course of the year some British-led Ukrainian groups have stepped back from activities as demand is reducing; there are few new arrivals and many who have been in the UK a year or more have settled into permanent accommodation, employment and education.

As the project will draw to a close in June 2024, the emphasis has been on empowering Ukrainians to provide sustainable self-managed solutions for the Ukrainian community in Bucks. The Project Manager supported the development and fundraising for a new Ukrainian Supplementary School which launched in January 2024, nurturing children and young people’s connection with their Ukrainian culture and language. A new Ukrainianled Community Interest Company is in development, Bucks Ukraine Community Support (BUCS), which will continue to provide Ukrainians with resources, information and trips and events for cultural sharing.

Numerous community events with Ukrainian artists, a composer and singers fostered integration and cultural sharing, as did a series very popular coach trips for Ukrainians to visit key British cultural and heritage sites including Oxford, Canterbury and Dover. A trip to the Roald Dahl Museum was supported by Daniel’s Chess Challenge – a fundraising challenge undertaken by a Ukrainian child.

Needs and gap analysis has led to workstreams and engagement with key partners to address issues such as housing needs, education, employment and mental health support. A survey of Ukrainian’s needs identified a need for legal support and information, and in response the Project Manager arranged as ‘Ask the Lawyer’ online event with over 50 attendees.

Mental health issues continued to be a high priority for Ukrainians, and the Project Manager delivered a series of training sessions on self-care and mental health including a free 8-week training programme offered to empower Ukrainian refugees with effective communication tools, fostering self-sufficiency and improving relationships between Ukrainian and Russian speakers.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

The Community Transport Hub helps vulnerable people access alternative transport, filling gaps in public transport provision. The Hub provides residents with information on local community transport providers, from Dial-a-Ride to community car schemes, minibus hire to wheelchair accessible taxis. It also provides specialist support and advice to community transport schemes, as detailed on p 7 of this report.

77% of calls were to do with transport for health appointments (vaccinations, hospital, GP, physiotherapy, or dentist). As many callers are socially isolated, the Hub provided some much-needed social contact – 75% of the calls last longer than 5 minutes, with many lasting over 10 minutes.

“I really appreciate it – I was at my wits end”

Our Gardening & Wellbeing and Handy Helpers Services helped vulnerable and isolated older people continue to live independently and safely in their homes for longer, by undertaking small repairs and maintenance which residents can’t do for themselves and improving wellbeing through social connections.

The Handy Helpers service provides internal and external maintenance, preventive measures and practical tasks in and around the homes of Buckinghamshire residents who are aged 65+ and infirm or vulnerable , or below 65 and living with a mental or physical disability. 73% of clients live alone, 66% have impaired mobility and 57% have had a slip, trip or fall. The project takes place across 73 towns and villages throughout Buckinghamshire. The most common requests we received were related to home safety and falls prevention, with damp/mould hazards the 3 most common risk. These seemingly small tasks, such as removing clutter causing congestion, relocating wires, and fixing down carpets and mats, have a profound impact on the lives of our clients. They reduce the risk of trips and falls and provide a sense of security and independence.

"The Handy Helpers took a lot of stress away. [Did you feel better after your Handy Helpers visit?] Heaps. I thought they were lovely boys, did everything superb. Thank you all very much for helping me. Could we have regular visits please?”

Handy Helpers client

The Gardening & Wellbeing Service is provided to people aged 65+ and living with a long-term condition or recovering from illness/injury, and to people 65 or under and living with a mental or physical disability. Our team of staff and volunteers provide garden clearance and maintenance as well as social interaction.

The social interactions offered by staff and volunteers during gardening visits support improved wellbeing, and ‘Check, Chat and Connect’ phone calls offer a friendly ear as well as connecting them to statutory, social and community support. 17 clients received mentoring or reablement support: by the end of the project cycle, all now work with us to keep their gardens tidy, and four could take care of their own gardens. We modified three clients' gardens to be low-maintenance, and the clients are now being supported to look after the gardens themselves.

“The service and gardeners are priceless. The gardeners do things for us that we cannot do ourselves. We are so blessed with the help given, and appreciate everything you do for us. We would not be able to maintain our garden without your service”.

Simon, Gardening & Wellbeing client, Aylesbury

Community Impact Bucks supported two Community Growing projects, part of the Grow It, Cook It, Eat it initiative developed by Buckinghamshire Council. The two projects are community-led, with the support of our expert gardener who guides and support local volunteer Community Champion Growers to create a sustainable community garden that fosters community connection, improves well-being, and educates users on food cultivation.

At Micklefield Library in High Wycombe, the site is maturing with the sowing and harvesting of edible vegetables and flowers, including weeding, watering and managing pests. A local Rainbows group attended once a month to help with the garden and built a 5-story bug hotel to welcome bugs into the garden. The

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

garden also provides an attractive environment for library visitors. The Ivers Community Growing Garden, beside the local Scouts building, has been prepared for planting to take place in spring/summer 2024, with the ground cleared and levelled, a French drain dug and a weed membrane installed, the back of the Scout building cleaned and painted, fence posts and picket fence panels installed.

"I recently had the pleasure of spending a day at the community space and it was truly fantastic. The weather was perfect and I had the chance to interact with local community members who will greatly benefit from this space once it's completed. Additionally, I enjoyed spending time with colleagues whom I don't usually get to see because of our remote work setup. A big thank you to the team for organising this wonderful experience."

Volunteer from local business Ribbon Communications

Our Pub Lunch Clubs continued to provide valuable social connections for older people at risk of being lonely and isolated, in 10 rural communities and 7 urban communities. All clubs had lengthy closedowns from the first Covid lockdown, and there are significant challenges in re-establishing them; fewer than half the prepandemic number of 35 clubs are currently running, and 4 that had reopened subsequently closed. Some pubs have closed or no longer open at lunchtime, and all have put up prices significantly: before 2020, low-cost meals were typically offered for £5.00 - £7.00, but by 2024 this had increased to £9.00 - £20.00, reflecting the rise in the cost of living, and two clubs are taking place in community centres instead. Recruiting volunteer coordinators has proven difficult, and these volunteers are vital to help engage local residents. Support was provided to 14 established clubs, 2 new clubs were launched and 1 chose not to open due to lack of local interest.

It offers a unique opportunity for senior members of the local community to get together, meet new people or maintain current friendships, and enjoy a hot meal together. It also helps those who are isolated and living alone to stay connected.

Linden – Lane End Lunch Club Coordinator

Throughout the year, Community Impact Bucks supported national campaigns to raise awareness and stimulate local interest in the voluntary, community and charity sector . We used social media to generate a buzz about the sector, sharing stories about local people and the charities they support, and promoting useful information, toolkits and training for local groups.

Connecting the voluntary, community and charity sectors to lead and influence change

Strong networks and collaboration have been critical to the pandemic response and continue to be so during recovery. Community Impact Bucks engaged regularly with local, regional and national partners, sharing intelligence, identifying gaps, and co-ordinating and collaborating on solutions:

Our CEO represented the sector in key strategic forums where she is able to share insight and advocate for the sector, including the Buckinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Board, the Buckinghamshire Strategic Funders Group, and the Bucks Executive Partnership Delivery Group which brings together operational leads from the Council, NHS and VCSE sector.

We bring VCSEs together for networking, information-sharing and collaboration.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

This session provided me with theoretical knowledge which will support me with my wish for all staff to be trained on the importance of volunteering and how to manage volunteers. Without this session, I wouldn’t have felt I could back myself up.

Calibre Audio Library (Bucks Volunteer Managers’ Network)

[What would have happened if you had not attended this event?] “I would be ignorant of the work of the youth organisations in Bucks and colleagues facing the same challenges”.

Haddenham Community Library (Local Voluntary Sector Network Event)

Community Impact Bucks leads a partnership of local infrastructure providers across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) in delivering the BOB VCSE Health Alliance .

The Alliance brings together a collective of charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises from across the BOB region to enhance the role of the VCSE sector in the delivery of the transformation of health and social care and cement their role as a key strategic partner in an Integrated Care System (ICS). There are over 300 formal members, and more joining our regular Assembly meetings which consistently attract 80100 attendees.

Three Action Groups are leading engagement with statutory Health and Social Care partners on key themes – Mental Health, Learning Disability & Autism, Ageing Well – and where possible have representatives appointed to the corresponding ICS working groups and governance structures, with the volunteer Chair of the Alliance holding a key position on the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) Board which governs the ICS. The Alliance enabled its members provided VCSE representation at ICS events on primary care, leadership, urgent & emergency care, mental health, Oxford Children & Young People board, and the Buckinghamshire Health & Wellbeing Board.

In July 2023 the Alliance agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with BOB Integrated Care Board (ICB) which is responsible for planning and commissioning health services in the region. The MoU sets out principles for partnership (growing trust; being purposeful; building inclusivity; fostering community) and the areas of focus in 23/24 around mental health, workforce and primary care.

The Alliance commissioned reports on the size and nature of the VCSE sector in the region and its workforce, which will help health partners gain a better understanding of the VCSE sector and the role it has to play in the health and social care system, and include VCSE sector staff and volunteers in health and care workforce planning. Findings have been shared with NHS and local authority partners as well as the VCSE sector through forums including the Bucks Health and Wellbeing Board, the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Strategy Planning Day and the Bucks VCSE Partnership Board.

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

The report found that in Buckinghamshire the VCSE sector has:

A new website and Easy-Read versions of reports help make information about the Alliance more accessible, and a deep-dive feature on co-production illustrates the strengths of the VCSE sector as credible partners for the NHS in prevention and health inequalities.

Additional funding was brought in to enable the VCSE sector to engage in the development of a BOB-wide Mental Health Provider Collaborative, and a BOB-wide Research & Engagement Network (managed by partner RVA).

Being a strong charity that learns, shares and leads by example

Recognising that we cannot provide high quality support to deliver our mission without ensuring there is a strong organisation behind the delivery, we continue to develop our internal systems and tools to ensure Community Impact Bucks continues to respond to our communities’ changing needs and adapts to new opportunities and challenges, while making best use of our resources and developing ambitious services for the future.

In 2023-24 we saw increased competition for grant funding leading to delays in funding decisions, reduced awards and lower success rates. We made 12 funding applications with a 56% success rate; 3 applications were still awaiting decision at the time of writing. We are mindful of increasing pressures on statutory partners and the risk this poses to income; the Funding Committee is exploring new income routes to improve our financial sustainability.

We continued to develop our systems, policies and procedures and team capabilities, introducing a new personal development framework, engaging expert support to help optimise our use of the Salesforce database, and commencing a project to improve efficiency and ways of working within the Microsoft 365 environment. A new scheduling tool for field-based services has led to significant efficiency gains.

New working groups were formed to explore how we could improve our environmental sustainability and our approach to equity, diversity and inclusion; these groups will also develop plans for support to the wider VCSE sector in Buckinghamshire.

We want to ensure that our services reach those who need them most, so have brought a greater focus to improving engagement and access for minoritised communities and those living or supporting people in Buckinghamshire’s more deprived wards.

In all areas we recognise there is a continuing need for internal improvements to strengthen our foundations and put us in a strong position to continue our organisation’s development and success.

Plans for Future Periods

Throughout 2024-25 Community Impact Bucks will be reviewing and setting out our strategy for 2025 – 2030. To provide the foundations for this, we continue focus on organisational development to secure the longterm future of the Charity.

Our aims in 2024-25 are to:

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Work continues to upgrade our database to improve management information and impact evaluation, and find efficiency gains through better use of technology including improving our use of the MS365 environment.

A new website launched in summer 2024 to improve accessibility and user journeys, making it easier to find the wealth of information and resources we provide.

A new digital platform Volunteer Bucks launched in September 2024 which will add a new self-service route for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations to find each other directly, increasing the speed and the volume of volunteers mobilised to support local good causes. It will streamline the matching process, allowing resources to be diverted to develop new initiatives to make volunteering more inclusive and release untapped sources of volunteers e.g. corporate volunteers, student volunteers, and to increase access to volunteering for underrepresented groups such as disabled people and people from diverse ethnicities.

A Rural Housing Enabling Service, funded by DEFRA and reviving a service last delivered in 2015, started in 24-25 to support rural communities in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes to identify housing needs and bring forward opportunities for small-scale housing developments that meet local need, increasing the pipeline number of rural affordable homes in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. The project will work closely with our neighbouring Rural Community Councils in Oxfordshire and Berkshire with whom we previously partnered on support for community-led housing.

In partnership with the Buckinghamshire Health & Social Care Academy, we have launched a new Health Inequalities Communities of Practice, bringing together those who work and volunteer with people experiencing health inequalities in areas of deprivation in Buckinghamshire. Participants will learn, share knowledge and experience, and problem-solve together, deepening understanding of these complex issues, anchored in their day-to-day work. This work is funded by BOB ICB’s Health Inequalities funding.

Financial Review

Financial performance

Community Impact Bucks (the Charity) has taken advantage of regulations which do not require the presentation of consolidated financial information, so these accounts are solely for the Charity. Accounts for its subsidiary Community Impact Bucks (trading) Limited are separately filed at Companies House.

The Charity has continued to operate effectively with a small growth in income to £951,600 from £917,899. This was primarily due to the growth in the Handy Helpers scheme and the confirmation of funding for 2 years (£335,299, 2023: £136,615) and the new DEFRA-ACRE funding for a Rural Housing Enabler (£72,385, 2023: nil) offset by the decline in the Ukraine support service (£85,483, 2023: 141,805) and a reduction in funding for the VMS (£5,000, 2023: £53,007).

Our expenditure continues to be tightly controlled and showed a small increase in the year to £812,051 (2023: £762,615). The largest increase was due to the full year effect of the NHS VSCE Leadership program (£140,527 2023: £41,329) and the start of the DEFRA-ACRE Rural Housing Enabler (£57,939 2023: £nil). Following our departure from our Monks Risborough office we reached agreement with the landlord on the dilapidations and paid a full and final settlement of £29,000 in October 2024. The additional £22,000 above our existing provision was charged to our SOFA in these accounts. The completion of the move into appropriately sized

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Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

new offices in Weston Turville resulted in a 20% reduction in our running costs (£170,783 2023: 215,292), thereby recovering the loss within 1 year.

Our Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year shows a net surplus of funds of £139,907 (2023: surplus £151,875). This reflected the multi-year contracts received for which spending will be in future years.

To understand our accounts better, it is important to separate unrestricted from restricted funds and these are presented in separate columns in the SOFA.

Comparing the restricted fund shows an increase in funds of £123,797 (2023: increase of £135,853). Details are shown in note 17. During the course of the year, we again received substantial grants for activities taking place next financial year. Although Restricted funds made a lower contribution towards overheads (£112,015 2023: £122,860), this reflected our lower overhead costs and an improved recovery rate.

Considering the unrestricted fund, there was an underlying net surplus of £33,148 (2023: underlying net surplus of £42,019). We have utilised £17,396 (2023: 22,588) of unrestricted funds to cover certain restricted activities where expenditure exceeded the agreed income.

Having taken account of changes to the value of investments, the net movement to unrestricted funds was £16,110 (2023: £16,022) as we continue to return the Charity to a sound financial footing.

Investment performance

The investment portfolio generated income of £8,983 (2023: £3,638) during the year.

The value of the investment portfolio is effectively unchanged at £44,496 (2023: £44,138) with little recovery in the bond markets pending any interest rate reductions.

Investment policy and objectives

The investment policy was reviewed and agreed by the trustees in November 2022.The charity seeks to make the best financial return within an acceptable level of risk for each category. A key objective was to adequately diversify both counterparties and investment vehicles. Currently all funds are held in Government Bonds. The Finance Committee monitors financial performance of these funds on a regular basis.

Reserves policy and review of the charity’s reserves

The Reserves policy of the charity is:

To hold sufficient unrestricted reserves to cover the estimated costs of an orderly closure of the Charity plus continue the existing operations for a period of at least 3 months and a maximum of 6 months. This would allow the charity to deliver its commitments for the period covered, whilst allowing for time to put in place alternative arrangements.

The charity has £176,232 (2023: £160,122) of unrestricted reserves which is enough to cover 2.6 months of operations. During the year the Board continued to review its source of funds in order to increase the unrestricted reserves. Although progress has been made, the process will continue until the unrestricted reserves are in the range specified by the policy. Movements in reserves during the year are set out in notes 16 and 17.

15

Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

Community Impact Bucks is a Registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee. Under the guidance of the Chair and appointed Trustees, it is governed by the Memorandum and Articles dated 12 February 1998, as amended on 23 March 1998 and 18 February 2010.

Subsidiary organisations

The Charity has one wholly owned subsidiary: Community Impact Bucks (trading) Limited is a Private Limited Company (Company Number 07691394).

How the Charity makes decisions

The full Board of Trustees meets at least four times a year and is responsible for administering the Charity. A Finance Committee, comprising the Treasurer and two other Trustees, meets quarterly to monitor and keep under review the financial position and other resources. Other subcommittees and working groups meet periodically as needed, including a Governance Committee, a Funding Committee, a Communications Committee established in August 2023, an Environmental Sustainability Working Group established in January 2024, and an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group established in March 2024.

Operational decisions are delegated to the Chief Executive and the Leadership Team. Both the Finance Committee and the Chief Executive have delegated decision-making on financial matters up to a certain level, as set out by an authorisation scoring system.

Appointment, induction and training of Trustees

Trustees are initially appointed for a three-year term and may be reappointed for a second three-year term. Candidates are evaluated by a selection of Trustees and the CEO, who make recommendations to the Board for the appointment of those considered to bring appropriate skills and experience. Suitable candidates observe at least one Board Meeting before being co-opted onto the Board at a subsequent meeting and ratified at the Annual General Meeting.

New trustees receive a comprehensive induction into the Charity’s key policies, strategy and business plan, accounts and budget, along with the Charity Governance Code and Charity Commission CC3 guidance ‘The Essential Trustee’. Board training needs are reviewed regularly and suitable training undertaken individually or collectively.

Pay arrangements for key management personnel

A salary benchmarking exercise was undertaken as part of the recruitment of the new Chief Executive in 2018 to ensure the salary is in line with similar roles and responsibility-levels within the sector. Other Leadership Team roles were benchmarked as part of the restructure that took place in September 2020.

In October 2023 a former Chair of Community Impact Bucks, Michael Curth, was appointed to the position of Head of Programme Management, an employed role within the Leadership Team. Michael had resigned from his position as Chair the previous month. Although he was no longer a Trustee, the Board had due regard to the Charity Commission guidance CC-11 on Trustee Expenses and Payment, and its ‘duty of care’ set out in the Trustees Act 2000. The Board is confident that the decision to appoint Michael to the post was made in the best interests of the Charity, following a fair process.

16

Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Relationships with third parties

Community Impact Bucks is a member of NAVCA, the national membership body for local voluntary sector support and development organisations in England, and ACRE, the national membership body for Rural Community Councils. It is accredited by NAVCA as the Volunteer Centre for Buckinghamshire.

Community Impact Bucks (Trading) Ltd is a member of Cirican LLP, a rural consultancy partnership formed of ACRE Network members and associates. In 2019-20, the Charity made a loan of £5,000 to its subsidiary, Community Impact Bucks (trading) Limited. These funds were used to invest in Cirican LLP for furtherance of the benefit of the membership of the partnership. The Charity considers this investment as investment for future gain and will benefit from future income generated through the partnership.

The Charity collaborates with infrastructure organisations in neighbouring counties as part of the BOB VCSE Health Alliance and nationally as part of the VCS Emergencies Partnership. Within Buckinghamshire, we collaborate with charities and other bodies in a variety of ways including as part of the VCSE Partnership Board.

Reference and Administrative Details

Registered Charity number 1070267 Company Limited by Guarantee number 3508718

Registered Office and principal address: Calibre Audio Library, New Road, Weston Turville, Aylesbury HP22 5XQ.

Independent Examiner

Azets, Suites B & D, Burnham Yard, Beaconsfield, Bucks, HP9 2JH

Bankers

Lloyds TSB Market Square, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1TD. CCLA Investment Management Ltd (COIF), Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4 4ET. Epworth Investment, 9 Bonhill Street, London, EC2A 4PE.

Trustees/Directors

M Schindler (resigned 30 March 2022, re-appointed 16 February 2023) (Vice-Chair from 21 June 2023, Chair from 22 September 2023 to 23 May 2024) M Curth (appointed 2 April 2020, Chair from 24 November 2021, resigned 12 September 2023) K Satterford (resigned 17 May 2023) (Vice-Chair to 17 May 2023) L Davies (appointed 1 February 2017, retired 14 November 2023) H Haydock (appointed 14 November 2023) O Hughes (appointed 24 May 2022) B Knighton (appointed 24 May 2022) L O’Riordan (appointed 24 May 2022) R Rance (appointed 14 November 2023) L Roberts (appointed 14 November 2023) R Payne (appointed 24 May 2022, resigned 08 September 2023) D Pinkney (appointed 28 July 2021, Interim Chair from 23 May 2024) M Scott (appointed 24 May 2022) C Sills (appointed 24 May 2022, resigned 4 June 2024) P Tichbon (appointed 2 April 2020, resigned 30 October 2023) M Webber (appointed 05 March 2023)

17

Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Leadership Team

Chief Executive: K Higginson

Head of VCSE & Community Development: H Archer

Head of Communications: R Fisher

Head of Programme Management K Komolafe (resigned 30 September 2023), M Curth (appointed 16 October 2023)

Head of Finance & Operations: D Quinn

Trustees’ Responsibilities in Relation to the Financial Statements

The Trustees, who are also directors of the charitable company (for the purposes of company law), are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK (FRS 102), the Charities SORP 2019.

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which 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 charitable company for that period.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

18

Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiner

In so far as the Trustees are aware at the time of approving our Trustees’ annual report:

By order of the Board of Trustees

Murray Scott Treasurer, Community Impact Bucks

Date: 3 December 2024

19

Community Impact Bucks Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s report to the members and the trustees

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Community Impact Bucks (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are 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 the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

  2. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  3. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for 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 (FRS 102).

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

Christopher Nisbet FCA Azets Audit Services Suites B&D Burnham Yard Beaconsfield Bucks HP9 2JH

10/12/2024 Date…………………….

20

Community Impact Bucks Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Un- Un-
restricted Restricted restricted Restricted
Notes Funds Funds Total Funds Funds Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Income
Donations and legacies 2 11,745 - 11,745 9,624 3,400 13,024
Charitable activities 3 252,216 678,656 930,872 322,015 579,222 901,237
Investments 5 8,983 - 8,983 3,638 - 3,638
Other
Total Income 272,944 678,656 951,600 335,277 582,622 917,899
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 6 239,796 572,255 812,051 293,258 469,357 762,615
Total Expenditure 239,796 572,255 812,051 293,258 469,357 762,615
Net (expenditure)/income 8 33,148 106,401 139,549 42,019 113,265 155,284
Transfers between Funds (17,396) 17,396 - (22,588) 22,588 -
Other recognised gains/(losses) - - - - - -
Net (losses) /gains on
investments 12 358 - 358 (3,409) - (3,409)
Net Movement in Funds 16,110 123,797 139,907 16,022 135,853 151,875
Reconciliation of Funds:
Total funds brought forward 160,122 258,508 418,630 144,100 122,655 266,755
Total funds carried forward 176,232 382,305 558,537 160,122 258,508 418,630
----- End of picture text -----

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

The notes on pages 26 to 36 form part of these accounts.

21

Community Impact Bucks Balance sheet

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes
2024
2023
£
£
Fixed assets
a
Tangible assets
-
-
GO
Investments
12
44,496
44,137
a
Total Fixed Assets
44,496
44,137
a
I
Debtors
13
305,569
147,084
Cash at bank and in hand
311,143
305,587
Total Current Assets
616,712
452,671
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
14
102,671
78,178
QO
aa
Net Current Assets
514,042
374,493
a
a
Total Assets less Current Liabilities
558,538
418,630
a
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
Provisions for liabilities
-
-
Total Net Assets
558,538
418,630
I
a
The Funds of the Charity
a
Unrestricted
16
176,232
160,122
Restricted
17
382,306
258,508
Total Charity Funds
558,538
418,630
QO
a
a

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2023,

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on 3 December 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Michael Schindler Chairman

Murray Scott Treasurer

Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3508718 Registered Charity No. 1070267

The notes on pages 23 to 35 form part of these accounts.

22

Community Impact Bucks

Statement of cashflows

For the year ended 31 March 2024

----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Cash used in operating activities 21 (3,427) 72,220
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 8,983 3,638
- -
Proceeds from the sale of equipment
Proceeds from sale of investments - -
- -
Purchases of property, plant & equipment
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 8,983 3,638
Cash flows from financing activities
- -
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 5,556 75,858
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 305,587 229,729
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 311,143 305,587
----- End of picture text -----

The notes on pages xx to xx form part of these accounts.

23

Accounting Policies For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

Basis of preparation

The financial statements of Community Impact Bucks for the year ended 31 March 2023 are prepared in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK (FRS 102), the Charities SORP 2015 (“FRS 102”) and the Companies Act 2006.

Community Impact Bucks meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

Preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis

The trustees are of the view that the measures taken to secure existing and new income streams, and the ongoing monitoring of costs means the charity is a going concern.

Income

Income, including income from revenue grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably

Donated Services and Facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control of them, any conditions associated with the donated item have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP FRS 102 general volunteer time is not recognised.

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market: a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of

Grants receivable

Grants for the purchase of fixed assets are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are receivable.

Interest Receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose.

Restricted funds are grants, donations or other income which the grantor or donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity.

24

Accounting Policies (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

Expenditure and Irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be reliably measured. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Allocation of Support Costs

Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between the cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities.

Operating Leases

The charity classifies the lease of printing and telecommunication equipment as operating leases. Rental charges are charged on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

Tangible Fixed Assets

Individual assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight-line basis as follows:

Fixtures and fittings - over their estimated useful life or, if shorter, the remaining term of the lease Computer and office equipment - 33% straight line

Investments

Investments in shares and common investment funds are stated at fair value.

Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash at bank and cash in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Creditors and Provisions

probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial Instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value, fair value or amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Pensions

auto-enrolment. Employees joining the scheme contract directly with the company. The charity makes a matching contribution of up to 5% of salary to this pension scheme and acts as agent collecting and paying over employee contributions. The charity’s contributions are allocated to unrestricted and restricted funds on the same basis as other employee related costs.

The notes on pages 23 to 35 form part of these accounts.

25

Community Impact Bucks Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

1 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding-up is limited to £10.

The charity benefits greatly from the involvement and enthusiastic support of its many volunteers, details of which are given in our annual report. In accordance with FRS 102 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102), the economic contribution of general volunteers is not recognised in the accounts.

2 Donations and Legacies

----- Start of picture text -----
Un- Un-
restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Subscriptions - - 5,122 - 5,122
Sundry small donations from
individuals 11,745 - 11,745 4,502 - 4,502
Donations from foundations - - - - 3,400 3,400
- - - - -
From Trading Company
11,745 - 11,745 9,624 3,400 13,024
----- End of picture text -----

3 Income from charitable activities

----- Start of picture text -----
Un- Un-
restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Grants from Government - 111,385 111,385 39,000 - 39,000
Grants and contracts from local
authorities, including parish councils 240,078 420,459 660,537 234,705 364,064 598,769
Grants from other sources 4,369 146,812 151,182 38,296 214,866 253,162
Total Grants 244,447 678,656 923,104 312,001 578,930 890,931
Fees from events and training - - - 1,433 292 1,725
Fees from administrative services
provided to others 4,964 - 4,964 6,381 - 6,381
- - - -
Other fees from services provided 1,576 1,576
- -
Sponsorship 1,229 1,229 2,200 2,200
252,216 678,656 930,872 322,015 579,222 901,237
----- End of picture text -----

Included within income are the following government grants received in the year:

Included within income are the following government grants received in the year:
2024 2023
£ £
DEFRA grant for delivering support to the rural community 39,000
39,000
DEFRA grant for a Rural Housing Enabler 72,385
BC grant to support Ukraine Community Capacity Infrastructure 85,483
138,405
BC grant for the gardening befriending project - 50,000
BC grant for a community growing and cookery project - 6,887
BC grant for the volunteer matching service - 32,157
BC - Community Transport Hub 42,997
42,460
BC - Groundwater Resilience and Community Engagement - 5,015
BC grant for Countywide Handy Helpers 335,299
136,615
BC grant for the pub lunch club project - -

There are balances included in deferred income relating to grants received from BC amounting to £19,345 (2023: £22,449). Details are set out in note 15.

26

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

4 Wholly owned subsidiaries

The charity has one wholly owned subsidiary, which is not consolidated in these accounts.

Community Impact Bucks (Trading) Limited is incorporated in the United Kingdom (company number 07691394) and operates a number of trading activities that fall outside of the charity’s purposes. The company is a member of Cirican LLP, a commercial consultancy partnership led by ACRE, the purpose of which is to provide consultancy focused on rural issues. The principal activity of the company in the year under review was its membership of Cirican LLP.

----- Start of picture text -----
Community Impact Bucks
(Trading) Ltd
2024 2023
£ £
Income -
Cost of sales and administration costs 1,092 -
Interest receivable - -
Taxation - -
-
Net Profit / (Loss) (1,092)
Amount gift aided to the charity
- -
Retained in subsidiary
The assets and liabilities of the subsidiary were:
Investments 3,000 3,000
Current assets 1,251 1,428
Current liabilities 6,441 5,147
Total net assets (2,190) (719)
Aggregate share capital and reserves (2,190) (719)
----- End of picture text -----

27

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

5 Investment Income

----- Start of picture text -----
Un-
Un-restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Interest income 1,024 - 1,024 52 - 52
Investment income 7,959 - 7,959 3,586 - 3,586
Total income from investments 8,983 - 8,983 3,638 - 3,638
----- End of picture text -----

6 Analysis of expenditure on charitable activities

----- Start of picture text -----
Un-
Un-restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
Salaries and wages 146,717 329,367 476,083 182,025 298,182 480,207
Other staff related expenses 6,511 7,655 14,165 3,780 4,188 7,968
- - - - - -
Payments for services
Vehicle and equipment costs 714 23,906 24,620 389 20,977 21,366
- - - - - -
Subscriptions to other organisations
Other project related costs 3,370 90,449 93,818 2,706 18,660 21,366
IT equipment, website development and
other software costs 11,108 6,317 17,425 10,680 684 11,364
Conferences, events and training 307 55 362 369 - 369
Marketing and communication 815 49 864 49 500 549
Other costs 271 2,442 2,712 828 3,306 4,134
Governance and support costs (note 8) 69,985 112,015 182,000 92,432 122,860 215,292
239,796 572,255 812,051 293,258 469,357 762,615
----- End of picture text -----

28

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

7 Analysis of governance and support costs

Governance and support costs are allocated across activities on a total cost recovery basis.

----- Start of picture text -----
Un- Un-
restricted Restricted Total restricted Restricted Total
2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £
-
Salaries and wages 125,104 125,104 133,727 133,727
Recruitment 699 699 640 - 640
-
Staff and volunteer expenses 1,515 1,515 4,246 4,246
-
Rent, heat and light 8,460 8,460 14,564 14,564
-
Other premises costs 2,012 2,012 12,132 12,132
-
IT support, software and hardware 21,477 21,477 20,479 20,479
Telephone and communications 679 679 10,547 - 10,547
Other office costs 3,147 3,147 9,661 - 9,661
Insurance 1,326 1,326 2,058 - 2,058
-
Audit and other governance costs 6,365 6,365 7,238 7,238
Transfer to restricted funds (112,015) 112,015 - (122,860) 122,860 -
58,768 112,015 170,783 92,432 122,860 215,292
----- End of picture text -----

8 Net (expenditure) / income for the year

2024 2023
This is stated after charging: £ £
Independent Examiner's fees 3,450 3,250
Operating leases - equipment 14,513 14,469
Depreciation - 1,368

9 Analysis of staff costs

2024 2023 2023
£ £
Salaries and wages 542,578 424,607
Social security costs 38,233 37,770
Pension costs 20,376 17,830
Staff redundancy costs -
601,187 480,207

29

Community Impact Bucks Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

10 Staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key management personnel

No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2023: nil).

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity or its subsidiaries in the year (2023: nil). £779 was reimbursed for directly incurred travel expenses to one trustee (2023: nil).

The key management personnel of the charity comprises the trustees, the Chief Executive, the Head of VCSE and Community Development, the Head of Finance and Operations, the Head of Programme Management and the Head of Communications. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £187,080 (2022: £177,093).

The company has a pension scheme with Aviva in which employees may enrol if they wish. The company matches employees’ contributions to a maximum of 5% of salary. 15 employees were part of the scheme during the financial year. The scheme is a defined contribution scheme and the contributions are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities. During the year a total of £20,376 (2022: £17,830) was paid as employer contributions. Pension costs are allocated to activities in proportion to the related staffing costs incurred.

11 Staff Numbers

The average monthly number of staff employed full time and part time by the charity during the financial year was as follows:

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
Charitable 11.6 12.2
Administration 3.9 3.5
15.5 15.7
----- End of picture text -----

30

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

12 Investments

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
£ £
Investment in Common Investment Funds 44,396 44,038
Investments were made in three common investment funds in line with the policy agreed in July 2014.
The investment policy was reviewed in November 2022 and funds will be re-invested as necessary in
accordance with the current policy.
Year ended 31 March
2024 2023
£ £
Carrying value at beginning of year 44,038 47,447
- -
Additions during the year at cost
- -
Less: disposal proceeds during the year
Net (loss)/gain on revaluation 358 (3,409)
Carrying value (market value) at end of year 44,396 44,038
2024 2023
£ £
Investment in Common Investment Funds 44,396 44,037
Investment in Community Impact Bucks
(Trading) Limited 100 100
Health Watch Bucks Holding A/C
Carrying value (market value) at end of year 44,496 44,137
----- End of picture text -----

31

Community Impact Bucks

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

13 Debtors

----- Start of picture text -----
2024 2023
£ £
Community Impact Bucks (Trading) Limited 6,441 5,526
Healthwatch Bucks Limited 3
Trade debtors 37,395 47,964
Prepayments and accrued income 261,701 93,591
Other debtors 32 -
305,569 147,084
----- End of picture text -----

14 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Trade creditors 2,696 16,533
Accrued expenses 47,020 12,562
VAT 10,724 12,167
Other creditors 16,841 13,883
Contract income received in advance (note 17) 25,389 23,033
102,671 78,178

15 Deferred income analysis

Deferred income analysis
2024 2023
£ £
Buckinghamshire Council agreement for the provision of voluntary
sector support and development services 15,603 15,603
Buckinghamshire Council - other grants - 2,400
Buckinghamshire Council agreement for the provision of community
transport services 3,742 4,445
Sundry income from project to support Ukraine refugees 219 -
Village Hall fees 5,825 585
25,389 23,033

32

Community Impact Bucks Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

16 Unrestricted Funds (General and Designated)

----- Start of picture text -----
Balance at Movement in resources Balance at
1 April 31 March
2023 Incoming Transfers Outgoing 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted reserves / General Fund 160,122 272,944 (17,038) (239,796) 176,232
- - -
Business Development Reserve
- - -
IT and Equipment Reserve
- - -
Sustainability Reserve
Investment Revaluation Reserve - 358 (358) - -
Total Designated Funds - 358 (358) - -
Total Unrestricted Funds (General and
Designated) 160,122 273,302 (17,396) (239,796) 176,232
Balance at Movement in resources Balance at
1 April 31 March
2022 Incoming Transfers Outgoing 2023
£ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted reserves / General Fund 56,175 335,277 61,928 (293,258) 160,122
-
Business Development Reserve 25,185 (25,185)
-
IT and Equipment Reserve 5,644 (5,644)
-
Sustainability Reserve 59,649 (59,649)
Investment Revaluation Reserve (2,553) 5,962 (3,409) -
- -
Total Designated Funds 87,925 (84,516) (3,409)
Total Unrestricted Funds (General and
Designated) 144,100 335,277 (22,588) (296,667) 160,122
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The trustees have undertaken a review of the charity's reserves and decided that for the time being, no reserves are required to be designated for specific purposes.

33

Community Impact Bucks Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

17 Restricted Funds

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1. NHS VCSE 2. Ukraine 3. Volunteer 4. Digital workshop
Leadership Refugee Matching for youth - 5. Community 6. Handy 9, DEFRA - 10. Charities
programme support Service Rothschild Transport Helpers 7. Lunch Clubs 8. Gardening ACRE Together Total
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Total funds b/fwd 1 April 2022 1,450 14,796 50,000 8,145 8,264 30,000 10,002 122,655
Income - Charitable activities
Grants from local authorities 138,405 32,157 136,615 - 364,064
Other grants & contributions 129,015 3,400 20,850 - 20,000 45,293 218,558
Total income 129,015 141,805 53,007 - - 136,615 20,000 582,622
Expenditure on: 0
Charitable activities 41,329 123,293 59,005 14,795 8,145 134,741 27,278 469,357
Net (expenditure)/income 87,686 18,512 (5,998) (14,795) (8,145) 1,874 (7,278) 41,410 113,265
Transfers from unrestricted funds (7,332) 10,000 19,920 22,588
Net movement in funds 80,354 18,512 4,002 (14,795) (8,145) 1,874 (7,278) 61,330 135,853
Total funds c/fwd 31 March 2023 81,804 18,512 18,798 35,205 - 10,138 22,722 71,330 258,508
Total funds b/fwd 1 April 2023 81,804 18,512 18,798 35,205 - 10,138 22,722 71,330 258,508
Income - Charitable activities
Grants from government - - - - - - - - 111,385 111,385
Grants from local authorities - 85,160 - - - 335,299 - - 420,459
Other grants & contributions 119,000 - 5,000 - - - - 5,600 - 17,212 146,812
Total income 119,000 85,160 5,000 - - 335,299 - 5,600 111,385 17,212 678,656
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 144,436 76,543 41,194 5,234 - 168,184 22,722 49,846 57,939 6,158 572,254
Net (expenditure)/income (25,436) 8,617 (36,194) (5,234) - 167,115 (22,722) (44,245) 53,446 11,054 106,402
Transfers from unrestricted funds 17,396 17,396
Net movement in funds (25,436) 8,617 (18,798) (5,234) - 167,115 (22,722) (44,245) 53,446 11,054 123,798
Total funds c/fwd 31 March 2024 56,368 27,129 0 29,971 - 177,253 0 27,085 53,446 11,054 382,306
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  1. The charity coordinates the BOB VCSE Health Alliance, a network of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations, to enable collaboration and integration in the planning, design and delivery of health and care for the benefit of patients and communities in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West (BOB) region.

  2. Buckinghamshire Council has provided funding to support community action that enables Ukrainian Refugees to integrate and thrive in Buckinghamshire

  3. The Buckinghamshire Volunteer Matching Service matches registered volunteers to roles where they are most needed in the county. Funding and support has been provided by Buckinghamshire Council and independent funders.

  4. Rothschild Foundation Covid-19 Recovery Fund: funding to support Community Impact Bucks’ organisational development, including delivering research into the needs of rural communities in Bucks, investment in equity and inclusion , staff training, digital capacity, and environmental sustainability, resulting in additional capacity to support the VCSE sector. 5. Flood resilience: supported the development of a community engagement strategy for a major groundwater flooding initiative, bringing local knowledge and working with local charities and community groups to obtain intelligence and insight. 5. The Community Transport project, funded by Buckinghamshire Council, provides bespoke support and advice to community transport schemes, and via a Transport Hub helpline, provides Buckinghamshire residents and their carers with information, advice and signposting to community transport providers in Bucks. 6. The Handy Helpers service, through funding from Buckinghamshire Council, supports vulnerable adults living in Buckinghamshire with internal and external maintenance tasks, preventative measures and practical tasks in and around the home so as to reduce accidents and enable people to continue living at home for longer. 7. The Pub Lunch Project provides support to set up and maintain volunteer run monthly Pub Lunch Clubs to support residents over 65 across rural parts of the county. Pub Lunch Clubs provide social opportunities and an informal network with opportunity to express concerns and connect with others, which can support residents’ mental health and wellbeing, reducing isolation and loneliness.

  5. The Gardening and Wellbeing project supports low-income, socially isolated/lonely, elderly & disabled residents with gardening assistance and provides support/guidance with social and welfare matters.

  6. ACRE

  7. Charities Together

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Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

18 Analysis of net assets between Restricted and Unrestricted Funds

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Unrestricted Restricted
Funds Funds Total
£ £ £
Investments 44,496 44,496
Fixed assets - -
Debtors 52,375 253,194 305,569
Cash and bank 182,031 129,112 311,143
Creditors (102,671) (102,671)
Provision for liabilities - -
Balance at 31 March 2024 176,232 382,306 558,538
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Unrestricted Restricted
Funds Funds Total
£ £ £
Investments 44,137 44,137
Fixed assets - -
Debtors 62,084 85,000 147,084
Cash and bank 132,079 173,508 305,587
Creditors (78,178) (78,178)
Provision for liabilities - -
Balance at 31 March 2023 160,122 258,508 418,630
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19 Commitments under operating leases

The charity was committed to making the following payments under non-cancellable leases as follows:

2024 2023
£ £
Premises
Due in one year 640 6,400
Total 6,400 6,400
Plant and Equipment
Due in one year 816 1,957
Due in two to five years 816 1,632
Total 1,632 3,589

20 Related Party Transactions

For companies within the Community Impact Bucks group, the charity has taken advantage of the exemptions within FRS 102 relating to the disclosures of related party transactions within groups of companies.

Transactions with key management personnel of the charity and the group have been disclosed within note 11.

35

Notes to the financial statements (continued) For the year ended 31 March 2024

Community Impact Bucks

21 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

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2024 2023
£ £
Net movement in funds 139,907 151,875
-
Depreciation charge 1,368
- -
Proceeds from the sale of equipment
Interest income shown in investing activities (8,983) (3,638)
Net losses / (gains) on investments (358) 3,409
Decrease / (increase) in debtors (158,485) (45,955)
Increase / (decrease) in creditors 24,492 (34,839)
- -
Increase / (decrease) in provisions
Net cash used in operating activities (3,427) 72,220
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The net debt is made up entirely by the cash balance outlined in the Statement of Cash Flows, and all the movements in the year were cash flow changes.

36