OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-03-31-accounts

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Registered Company no. 03690881 Registered Charity no. 1074032

Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

Contents

Page
Officers and Professional Advisers 1
Trustees’ & Directors’ Report 2
Report of the Independent Auditors 8
Statement of Financial Activities 11
Balance Sheet 12
Statement of Cash Flows 13
Notes to the Accounts 14

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS

PRESIDENT

The Right Reverend Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ely

VICE PRESIDENT

Julie Spence OBE CStJ QPM, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire

TRUSTEES

The Trustees, who are also Directors of the company, who served during the financial year are as follows: Stephanie Louise Baxter Ann Lesley Blair (Chairperson) David Gibbs Brian Wilfred Hayes (resigned 28 September 2022) Michael David Hellowell (Vice-Chairman and Treasurer) Terry Jordan (Vice-Chairman) Hugh Kyle McCurdy David Olney (co-opted 6-Apr-2023) Ben Poulton (resigned 23-May-2022) Helena Schofield (resigned 27 March 2023) Jessica Lucy Sellick Sarah Severn CBE (co-opted 9-Feb-2023) Elizabeth Ann Stazicker (resigned 28 September 2022) Ray Vidler Hazel Williams MBE (resigned 28 September 2022)

COMPANY SECRETARY

Alison Catherine Brown

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Kirsten Jean Bennett

REGISTERED OFFICE

e-Space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, CB6 1RA

BANKERS

Unity Trust Bank PLC, PO Box 7193, Planetary Road, Willenhall, WV1 9DG

AUDITORS

Chater Allan LLP, 7 Quy Court, Colliers Lane, Stow-cum-Quy, Cambridge, CB25 9AU

1

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

The trustees present their full report for the period ended 31 March 2023 to the Annual General Meeting of the charity held on 27 September 2023. This is also the directors’ report required of a small company by the Companies Act 2006.

Statement of the trustees’ responsibilities

Law applicable to incorporated charities in England and Wales requires the trustees who are also directors for the purpose of company law to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of its financial activities during the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the charity and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has appropriate system of controls, financial and otherwise to provide reasonable assurance that:

The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. They include:

Objects of the charity

To promote any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in particular but not exclusively in the county of Cambridgeshire by assisting the work of statutory authorities and voluntary organisations engaged in pursuing any charitable purposes

Our vision

Thriving rural communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Our mission

To drive positive change and work with others to improve the lives of those that live and work in rural communities.

Public benefit

It is a legal requirement of the Charities Act 2006 that charities must demonstrate they provide a public benefit. The two key principles identified by the Charity Commission to prove public benefit are:

2

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

Incorporation

The company is a registered charity incorporated under the Companies Act 1985 in December 1998. The governing document is the Articles of Association as amended on 25 September 2019.

Governance

Cambridgeshire ACRE is controlled by the Board of Trustees which meets at least four times a year. It delegates day-to-day management of the organisation to the Chief Executive. There are currently 10 members of the Board.

Trustee recruitment

Trustees are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), when one third of all trustees retire and may put themselves forward for re-election for a period of three years. Cambridgeshire ACRE regularly reviews the need for new trustees and any areas of expertise that might need strengthening through further recruitment to the Board. The Board collectively considers prospective candidates and either recommends candidates for election at the AGM, or co-opts them until the next AGM, at which time they must retire and seek re-appointment.

Once elected by the AGM or co-opted by the Board, new trustees complete a declaration of eligibility to serve as a charity trustee and their appointment is notified to the Charity Commission. New trustees are sent a copy of the policy and procedure on Conflicts of Interest and asked to complete a declaration of interests which is reviewed each year.

Trustee induction

New trustees are provided with a training session at which they are given an Induction Pack of key documents, such as Memorandum and Articles of Association, Charity Commission summary of responsibilities of charity trustees, the latest Annual Report and Financial Statement and the Strategy and Business Plan. The Chairperson and Chief Executive meet with a new trustee after 6 months to review how their induction has gone.

Trustee training

Trustees’ training needs may emerge during the induction process but are more systematically assessed through periodic meetings with the Chairperson and Chief Executive. Identified needs are dealt with immediately where possible, or otherwise included in Cambridgeshire ACRE’s annual training plan alongside the training needs of staff. Trustees are encouraged to attend events run by Cambridgeshire ACRE and other conferences/meetings to develop their awareness of the working context, charity governance and key rural issues.

Reserves

The trustees have identified the need to retain a financial reserve as the charity’s income is uncertain and can fluctuate from year to year. Cambridgeshire ACRE aims to hold in reserve no less than three months’ unrestricted gross expenditure to ensure that it can meet its contractual obligations fully. The charity will continue its practice of budgeting prudently and actively seeking funds to finance its activities and maintain the reserve at the approved level. The Board reviews the reserves policy each year and monitors the level of the reserve at its quarterly meetings.

During the year the charity’s general reserve decreased from £171,860 to £157,849. After deduction of potential redundancy liabilities, the current level of general reserve provides a buffer of just under four months of unrestricted fund expenditure. This is considered acceptable under the current reserves policy.

The charity has two designated funds which are represented by investments and fixed assets. The purpose of these funds is detailed in note 21 in the financial statements.

Investments

Cambridgeshire ACRE has an investment policy that is reviewed annually by the Board. The charity’s investments consist of cash deposits. The deposit accounts are kept under review to ensure that an adequate rate of interest is being paid on the charity’s deposits. The strategy is to hold funds with a high level of liquidity for ready access when required. The deposits are split between Cambridge & Counties Bank Ltd and United Trust Bank at the balance

3

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

sheet date.

Pay policy for senior staff

The trustees consider the board of directors, who are the charity’s trustees, and the senior management team comprising the key management personnel of the charity, to be in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity on a day-to-day basis. All trustees give of their time freely and receive no remuneration for their charitable duties in the year. The pay of the senior staff is set by the trustees, benchmarking against pay levels in other charities of a similar size and type.

Risk management

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the organisation is exposed, particularly those related to finances and operations, these are documented on a risk register the trustees have put in place, together with a Business Continuity Plan which sets out actions to be taken in the case of serious business interruption. Cambridgeshire ACRE has a formal procedure on risk management and the procedure and risks identified are reviewed continuously by the senior management team and annually by the trustees, they remain satisfied that measures are in place to manage those risks.

Review of activities

The review of activities details our key achievements during the year 2022/23 across the strategic aims set in the organisation’s strategy.

Supporting community run assets

Community-run assets and owned assets like village halls, pubs and shops are at the heart of rural community life. They provide a vital hub for health and social activities, education and vital rural services to take place. Part of our role is to help these assets thrive.

We provide advice, support and training to the trustees of these community-run assets and help them run these to the highest-possible standards for the benefit of their communities.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

Championing community-led housing and planning

We deliver housing needs surveys to find hidden housing need in rural communities and then work with local authorities, housing associations, town & parish councils and communities to build rural affordable homes, including some built through community-led approaches.

We also support communities to research and develop neighbourhood plans to put in place planning policy for a neighbourhood area to guide future development.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

4

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

Tackling environmental challenges

We work with communities to help them tackle environmental issues challenges and consider predicted climate changes impacts.

We support their efforts to enhance their natural environment and improve community green spaces. We help communities plan for decarbonisation and net zero targets, as well as supporting them with issues of flooding and considering local mitigating actions.

We have also been highly successful at developing and leading environmental volunteering programmes.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

Strengthening the rural economy and employment

We are committed to developing and delivering projects that lever in funding to strengthen rural businesses, encourage support networks that bring people together and lead community-led development programmes that increases people’s life chances.

Our place-making partnerships take a bottom-up approach to achieving sustainable rural development, boosting the local economy and getting more people into employment.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

Improving community health and wellbeing

We are committed to ensuring fairer and more equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for people living in rural areas, where access to services can be much more difficult.

Through our work, we see at first-hand the issues that rurality can cause, especially where it is compounded by significant deprivation and isolation.

Cambridgeshire ACRE works with partners and communities to understand inequalities in health and wellbeing and to tackle these issues at a local level.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

5

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

Working in partnership and providing consultancy

We work with a wide range of partners and nearly all the work we undertake involves collaboration and joint delivery of projects.

We often provide in-depth consultancy support to organisations and communities who use our expertise to help them achieve specific goals, delivering research, public consultation, partnership development & management, project development & funding or community / voluntary and cultural sector engagement.

Key achievements during 2022/23 include:

Charity and governance activity

The Board was pleased to welcome back the organisation’s Chief Executive, Kirsten Bennett, in May 2022 following a period of long-term sick leave. The Chief Executive used the opportunity of her return to undertake a complete review of the organisation and to set a new focus and direction for Cambridgeshire ACRE’s work. New emphasis was placed on partnership development, relationship building with other organisations and proposals for new work coming forward.

Cambridgeshire ACRE delivered a second phase of its marketing strategy, targeting efforts at engaging with particular audiences and increasing the quality of our social media content so that it speaks more directly to those we wish to reach about our agreed areas of focus. Raising the profile of Cambridgeshire ACRE with key decisionmakers has helped them understand about our work and generated new interest in working in partnership with us.

Three of the organisation’s longest serving trustees stood down at our 2022 Annual General Meeting, but since then Cambridgeshire ACRE has recruited two new trustees who bring excellent skill sets to complement those held by our existing Board members.

Financial review (throughout this section comparable figures for the year 2021/22 are shown in brackets) For the financial year 2022/23 incoming resources were £1,014,577 (£841,393). This represents an increase in income of 21%.

The end of the year saw a deficit of £14,011 on the Unrestricted fund. Nearly all costs were contained within approved budgets. Total expenditure exceeded income by £55,012. The restricted reserves have decreased from £249,411 to £207,932. The restricted fund is neutral for Cambridgeshire ACRE as the funds are held on behalf of the funders and are returned if not spent.

Designated and capital funds increased from £194,167 to £194,645, an increase of £478. The unrestricted general reserve showed a decrease during the year from £171,860 to £157,849; a decrease of 8%.

Plans for future periods

Our Strategy ‘Towards 100 Years: Building Stronger Rural Communities - 2019 – 2024’ underpins our delivery aims for the next year and our business plan sets out what we will do to achieve these aims.

Over recent years, we have recognised that the organisation needs to remain agile with the ability to respond to a dynamic set of circumstances such as the cost-of-living crisis. The trustees monitor and review our plans regularly during Board meetings and at away days where they discuss the strategic direction of the organisation in more detail.

6

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

____________

As we leave behind EU funding programmes, our priority is to maintain our existing wide stakeholder and funder relationships and to continue to build a pipeline of new work, whilst ensuring the funding opportunities we respond to continue to fit with our Strategy and the unmet needs of rural communities.

We continue to have an important role in providing project funds to support rural community action. 2022/23 has seen us leading and working alongside community volunteers to improve community assets, extend green spaces, support wellbeing projects and to establish community hubs. Our way of working is to provide as much grant funding to local communities as possible so that their ambitions are realised. We need to continue our work to unlock funds to support local delivery from grant funders and public commissioners so that the voice of rural communities is heard and volunteers can lead their own communities effectively.

The successful Warm Hubs in Winter project, set-up to support rural people through the cost-of-living crisis, has evolved to provide year-round support and has been re-named Community Hubs to reflect the aim to support people more holistically. We wish to extend access to community-led Community Hubs so that all rural communities across Cambridgeshire can benefit from being part of the Cambridgeshire Community Hubs Network and receive our support.

Our work to build our brand and profile has developed well and we plan to continue this strategy through better positioning our achievements to engage our key stakeholders and by growing our reach to include more dedicated networks supporting practitioners across all our work. We plan to continue the successful ‘Staying In Touch’ newsletter dedicated to providing informative content for our strategic partners and funders and to further develop our ‘Staying Connected’ online webinar events over the next year so they are well attended.

As 2024 approaches, it will be a landmark year for the Charity and exciting plans are already being developed to celebrate our Centenary. The Charity’s archives tell some fascinating stories of rural community endeavours, and we will be using these achievements of the past to work alongside our members and partners to consider what services and facilities rural communities might need in the years ahead.

Statement as to disclosure of information to Auditors

So far as the trustees are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the company's auditors are unaware, and each trustee has taken all the steps that ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information.

The accounts

These accounts follow previous practice of the charity and have been compiled in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102), commonly known by the acronym SORP. The comparative figures have been extracted from the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022. These were audited by the auditors, Chater Allan LLP of Cambridge, and filed with the Charity Commission. The auditor’s report on those accounts was unqualified. Figures shown in these accounts have been rounded to the nearest whole pound.

Chairperson: ____ Company Secretary: ______ Ann Lesley Blair Alison Brown

Date: 30 August 2023

e-space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, Ely, CB6 1RA

7

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACRE

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We have audited the financial statements of Cambridgeshire ACRE for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, (which also comprises the Summary Income and Expenditure Account), the Balance Sheets, the 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 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis of 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’s 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 directors' 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 charity'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 directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The trustees are responsible for the 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. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 knowledge obtained in 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 there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

8

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACRE

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in 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:

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purpose 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.

Auditor’s 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 auditor’s 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 on the basis of 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 are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the annual financial statements from our general commercial and charitable company specific experience, through discussion with the Trustees (as required by auditing standards), and from inspection of the charitable company's regulatory correspondence, and we discussed with the Trustees the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indication to non-compliance throughout the audit; the audit team are deemed both competent and capable of identifying non-compliance with rules and regulations.

9

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE ACRE

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued)

The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the annual financial statements varies considerably. Firstly, the charitable company is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the annual financial statements including financial reporting legislation and taxation legislation, and we assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related annual account items. Secondly, the charitable company is subject to other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on the amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance non-compliance with industry regulations. We assessed the risk of fraud in the financial statements through discussion with management and from our experience of the charitable company. We communicated identified fraud risk areas throughout our team and remained alert to any indication of fraud throughout the audit. In particular, we assessed the potential impact of the global pandemic known as Covid-19 on the risk of fraud. We did not identify any instances of fraud during the course of our audit.

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Trustees and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Through these procedures, we did not become aware of any actual or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-andguidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilities-for-audit/Description-of-auditorsresponsibilities-for-audit.aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

This report is made solely to Cambridgeshire ACRE 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 Charity those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' 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 Charity and the Charity’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Naomi Hedger (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Chater Allan LLP Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors 7 Quy Court Colliers Lane Stow-cum-Quy Cambridge CB25 9AU

13 November 2023

10

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023

Statement of Financial Activities and Income and Expenditure Account

Note
Income
Donations
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
5
Investments
6
Total income
Expenditure
Raising funds
Charitable activities
11
Total expenditure
7
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
12
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation in funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
22		 2022
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
12,117
-
-
12,117
12,448
1,468
-
905,587
907,055
770,538
68,957
-
24,046
93,003
56,756
2,402
-
-
2,402
1,651
84,944
-
929,633
1,014,577
841,393
5,059
-
-
5,059
18,874
218,992
1,692
843,846
1,064,530
851,360
224,051
1,692
843,846
1,069,589
870,234
-
-
-
-
-
(139,107)
(1,692)
85,787
(55,012)
(28,841)
125,096
2,170
(127,266)
-
-
(14,011)
478
(41,479)
(55,012)
(28,841)
171,860
194,167
249,411
615,438
644,279
157,849
194,645
207,932
560,426
615,438
Year ended 31 March 2023
Designated/
capital funds
Unrestricted
fund
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted funds

Continuing Operations

None of the charity's activities were acquired or discontinued during the current or previous year.

11

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Company registration number: 03690881

Cambridgeshire ACRE As at 31 March 2023

Statement of Financial Position

Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted 2023 2022
Unrestricted Designated/ funds Total Total
fund capital funds
Note £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 13 - 1,894 1,343 3,237 2,759
Investments 14 - 176,386 - 176,386 173,220
- 178,280 1,343 179,623 175,979
Current assets:
Debtors 15 120,498 - 171,607 292,105 211,658
Cash at bank and in hand 88,025 16,365 34,982 139,372 286,295
208,523 16,365 206,589 431,477 497,953
Liabilities:
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one 16 50,674 - - 50,674 58,494
year
Net current assets 157,849 16,365 206,589 380,803 439,459
Total net assets 157,849 194,645 207,932 560,426 615,438
The funds of the charity:
Restricted funds 21 - - 207,932 207,932 249,411
Designated and capital funds 20 - 194,645 - 194,645 194,167
Unrestricted funds 157,849 - - 157,849 171,860
157,849 194,645 207,932 560,426 615,438

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 August 2023.

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

09 November 2023

…………………………………………… …………………………………………… Ann Lesley Blair, Chairperson Date

12

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended Year ended
31 March 2023 31 March 2022
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities (143,989) (63,185)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest and dividends from investments 2,402 1,651
Purchase of investments - -
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (2,170) (2,844)
232 (1,193)
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period (143,757) (64,378)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 456,515 520,893
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 312,758 456,515
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period held as:
Cash at bank and in hand 139,372 286,295
Investments 173,386 170,220
312,758 456,515
Reconciliation of net income/ (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
Net (expenditure)/ income for the reporting period (as per (55,012) (28,841)
the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 1,692 3,072
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (2,402) (1,651)
(Increase) in debtors (80,447) (60,620)
Increase/ (decrease) in creditors (7,820) 24,855
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities (143,989) (63,185)

13

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Statement of Recommended Practice “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” (FRS 102) (2019) and the Charities Act 2011.

Legal Form Cambridgeshire ACRE is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Country of Incorporation Cambridgeshire ACRE is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Address of Registered Office: e-Space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, CB6 1RA.

Currency These financial statements are presented in sterling which is a functional currency.

Principal Activities Cambridgeshire ACRE works alongside communities through a wide range of programmes designed to target specific rural issues or specific community needs.

Public Benefit Cambridgeshire ACRE meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Income and Reserves All of the net income and assets are applied towards the objects of the charity.

Fund Accounting The charity's general funds consist of funds the charity may use for its purposes at its discretion.

The charity has designated certain funds for specific purposes. These are explained in more detail in note 20 below. The trustees have decided that setting aside funds in this way is a useful financial discipline which will help the charity to make the best use of its resources even though there is no legal force to these designations.

The charity's restricted funds are those where the donor has imposed restrictions on the use of the funds, which are legally binding, or are restricted income funds expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of a particular aspect of the objects of the charity.

Details of the funds and of the restrictions are given in note 21 below.

Voluntary Income All voluntary income is included in income when it is virtually certain the income will be received. Where the donor requires the sum to be invested to provide income for the charity's purposes it is treated as an endowment.

Grant Income Grants not for a specific purpose are credited directly to income. Restricted funds are set up where grants are for a specific purpose. Any balance or shortfall of income in the year is credited to a specific restricted fund (see note 21). Any surplus arising on the ceasing of a specific purpose is dealt with in accordance with the wishes of the grant giver.

Grant Expenditure The charity makes grants from specific funds. These are included in expenditure for the year in which they are paid. Money passed through projects to other bodies are reported as grants.

Membership The charity’s Membership Scheme is run on an annual basis and includes parish councils, statutory authorities, charitable organisations and some individuals.

Investments The charity’s investments consist of cash deposits. The trustees keep the deposit accounts under review to ensure that an adequate rate of interest is being paid on the charity’s deposits.

Interest When receivable or payable interest is included when credited to the relevant account.

Taxation As Cambridgeshire ACRE is a registered charity, interest is included gross and no tax is payable on its activities.

14

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023

Notes to the accounts

1. Accounting Policies (continued)

Value Added Tax (VAT) The charity is registered for VAT.

Governance Expenditure This relates to costs incurred in running the charity and follows the apportionment ratio updated in 2022 (see note 9). Governance costs are allocated to costs of charitable activities.

Netting Off of Income and Expenditure Items of income and expenditure are netted off where income is a direct recharge of expenses to Cambridgeshire ACRE. No other items of income and expenditure have been netted off.

Fixed Assets and Depreciation Fixed assets costing more than £500 are included at actual cost, i.e. inclusive of irrecoverable VAT, less annual depreciation calculated on a straight line basis as follows:

Investments and Investment Income Investments are included in the accounts at market value. Credit is taken for interest when the interest is credited to the relevant account.

Capital Fund The capital fund represents the book value of equipment.

Designated Funds The designated funds are used to make annual provisions to cover otherwise uneven patterns of expenditure. The Project Development Fund is held to support the development of new projects (including the engagement of consultants to prepare plans or funding bids and the employment of staff beyond their funded contracts to develop further projects) to implement Cambridgeshire ACRE’s corporate strategy. The Property and Office Accommodation Fund was set-up to cover the risks in having a rented office. Although Cambridgeshire ACRE currently has no leased office space, this fund provides for that eventuality, should it become necessary.

Raising Funds The cost of raising funds heading on the statement of financial activities includes printing, publicity and marketing costs.

Going Concern The grant and project income of the charity continues at an acceptable level. The trustees are satisfied that available sources of finance and future funding income are sufficient to enable the charity to continue to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The trustees’ policy to manage costs and keep a level of reserves sufficient to cover no less than three months’ unrestricted gross expenditure gives confidence that the charity will continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future.

ns
Grants (Note 4)
Membership subscriptions		 31 March
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
2022
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
12,117
-
-
12,117
12,448
31 March 2023
12,117
-
-
12,117
12,448

2. Donations

15

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

3. Charitable Activities 31 March 2023 31 March
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2022
Funds capital Funds Total Total
£ £ £ £ £
Grants (Note 4) 101 - 904,822 904,923 768,678
Other charitable income 1,367 - 765 2,132 1,860
1,468 - 905,587 907,055 770,538

Income is recognised in accordance with the SORP (FRS 102). As a result, income to Restricted Funds is included in advance of expenditure being incurred and in some cases in advance of the commencement date of a particular project.

4. Analysis of Grants Received
Accent Nene Ltd
Arts Council
Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association
Cambridge Housing Society
Cambs & Peterborough Combined Authority
Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridge Past Present & Future
Cross Keys Homes Ltd
Defra
Department for Work and Pensions
East Cambridgeshire District Council
ECH Local Authority Partnership
Energy Savings Trust (Via PECT)
Environment Agency
ESF
Fenland District Council
Hastoe Housing
Huntingdonshire District Council
Longhurst Group
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Rural Payments Agency
Stagecoach East
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Wisbech Town Council
Other grants
Sources of Restricted Funds:
Grants to Cambridgeshire ACRE
Grants via Cambridgeshire ACRE		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
£
£
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
-
-
39,390
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
55,000
-
-
-
-
-
17,851
-
-
-
56,687
-
7,800
-
-
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
44,180
54,726
-
259,511
-
202,554
-
77,631
-
3,150
-
6,000
-
16,500
-
25,015
-
46,965
-
19,966
-
19,341
-
-
-
17,341
-
2,100
-
12,800
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
2,100
-
2,100
-
3,150
-
3,150
-
236,041
-
197,898
-
25,678
-
56,785
-
5,000
-
-
-
117,280
-
3,150
-
-
-
3,539
101
2,620
-
(1,000)
101
904,822
-
768,678
519,660
580,225
385,162
188,453
904,822
768,678
31 March 2022
31 March 2023
101

Details of grants paid via Cambridgeshire ACRE are disclosed in note 10 of the accounts. Grants paid via Cambridgeshire ACRE are recognised as income because Cambridgeshire ACRE is responsible for the monitoring and allocation of the grant expenditure.

16

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

5. Other Trading Activities
Business Services, consultancy and training
Publications
6. Investment Income
Deposit interest received
7. Total Expenditure
Grants given (Note 10)
Staff costs (Note 8)
Consultancy
Premises
Office running costs
Operating lease rentals
Meetings & Workshops
Project delivery costs
Professional fees
Volunteer expenses
Housing Need Survey Costs
Neighbourhood Plan Costs
Depreciation
Publicity
Expensed equipment
Subscriptions
Miscellaneous expenditure
Audit fees
Non-audit fees
Total expenditure		 31 March
Unrestricted Designated Restricted
2022
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
68,957
-
24,000
92,957
56,597
-
-
46
46
159
31 March 2023
68,957
-
24,046
93,003
56,756
2,402
-
-
2,402
1,651
2,402
-
-
2,402
1,651
-
-
385,162
385,162
188,453
119,742
-
292,035
411,777
389,248
-
-
6,170
6,170
19,371
4,985
-
-
4,985
4,904
22,643
-
1,395
24,038
21,321
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,319
2,319
7,861
-
-
89,755
89,755
103,177
206
-
30,412
30,618
33,778
-
-
2,857
2,857
1,068
20,068
-
-
20,068
7,161
36,533
-
-
36,533
20,822
-
1,692
-
1,692
3,072
5,059
-
31,683
36,742
53,848
645
-
1,925
2,570
606
6,456
-
133
6,589
6,241
136
-
-
136
2,911
6,348
-
-
6,348
5,181
1,230
-
-
1,230
1,211
224,051
1,692
843,846
1,069,589
870,234

A detailed description of the Restricted Fund activities, listed by individual project, is given in note 21.

17

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

8. Trustees and Staff costs

rustees and Staff costs
Year ended Year ended
31 March 2023 31 March 2022
£ £
Wages and salaries 343,472 326,155
Accrued holiday pay movement (387) 3,194
Employer's NI 28,541 27,086
Pension 24,644 23,353
Travel 8,000 5,564
Training 6,441 3,843
Recruitment 1,066 53
Total staff costs 411,777 389,248
Key personnel cost 147,005 128,689
No employee earned over £60,000.
Average number of employees: Number Number
Charity 11 11

The trustees, being directors of the company, are not paid for the time they spend on their duties. They receive out of pocket expenses in connection with those duties and a total of £Nil (2022: £Nil) was claimed during the year by trustees. Professional indemnity insurance cover has been provided for trustees and staff at an estimated annual cost of £189

9. Governance

Governance
Year ended Year ended
31 March 2023 31 March 2022
£ £
Audit fee 6,348 5,181
Non audit financial services 1,230 1,211
Annual General Meeting 1,300 13
Indemnity insurance 421 371
Selected core staff salaries 5,392 5,392
Expenses 9,855 6,350
24,546 18,518

Figures represent the costs associated with constitutional and statutory requirements of administering the charity. Indirect costs or direct costs not wholly allocated are apportioned. The apportionment ratio of 6.14% is calculated on the number of days spent on governance expressed as a percentage of total days, the ratio was last updated in 2022.

18

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

10. Grants Given

Project
Grant Recipient
WCLLD
Clarion Futures
WCLLD
CP Learning Trust
WCLLD
CP Learning Trust
WCLLD
Ferry Project
WCLLD
Head to Toe
WCLLD
LEADA Cambs CIC
WCLLD
People & Animals UK
WCLLD
Rosmini Centre Wisbech
WCLLD
Rural Cambs CAB
WCLLD
Tin Fish Creative Communications Ltd
WCLLD
YMCA
Rural Touring
ADEC
CHESS
Various individuals
ECH (CPCA)
CHESS Homeless
Eastern Community Homes
Thorpe Le Soken CLT
Eastern Community Homes
Thaxted CLT Ltd
Re-Opening Doors
Various village halls
Warm Hubs in Winter
Various hubs
Bourn Windmill
Total Grants Given		 Year ended
Year ended
31 March 2023
31 March 2022
£
£
32,068
-
33,545
-
30,200
24,416
88,980
44,697
5,545
4,876
-
834
14,085
12,910
-
31,174
25,729
14,522
64,894
-
-
15,663
2,222
2,000
10,330
33,641
4,800
1,500
-
500
-
1,000
480
720
72,259
-
25
385,162
188,453

19

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

11. Cost of Charitable Activities

Direct activities
Grant funding activity
Support costs
Total cost of activities 2023
Total costs in 2022		 Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
318,356
165,738
68,008
552,102
-
-
385,162
385,162
30,614
59,167
37,485
127,266
348,970
224,905
490,655
1,064,530
161,595
367,004
322,761
851,360

Allocation of Support Costs to Activities:

Allocation of Support Costs to Activities:
Management & HR
Finance & IT
Administration
Total support costs 2023
Total costs in 2022		 Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
20,231
39,100
24,772
84,103
5,254
10,154
6,433
21,841
5,129
9,913
6,280
21,322
30,614
59,167
37,485
127,266
17,421
76,839
22,159
116,419

The support costs shown in the table above have been allocated on an actual basis where possible. The management, finance and administration costs are a sub-division of the actual totals charged and have been apportioned on the basis of core staff salaries.

For the purposes of activity based costing the core and restricted fund projects have been allocated in the table below. Some projects cover more than one activity, Cambridgeshire Fens LEADER for example covers farming, tourism and an element of Economic Programmes, an accurate split of activity is not practical and projects have therefore been allocated wholly to their main activity.

A full list of the restricted fund projects and their purpose is given in note 21.

20

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

12. Fund transfers
Year ended 31 March 2023
Bourn Windmill
Cambridgeshire Fens LEADER
Catchment Partnership
CHESS
CHESS+
Defra
Eastern Community Homes (was Community Led Housing)
ECH (Chelmsford City Council) (was CLH Chelmsford City Council)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Eels in the classroom
Fens Biosphere Development
Floating Pennywort Prevention
Machinery and equipment
New Life on the Old West
Re-Opening Doors of Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Support Cambs – Community Facilities
Warm Hubs in Winter
Wisbech CLLD Projects
Year ended 31 March 2022
Cambridgeshire Fens LEADER
Catchment Partnership
CHESS
Defra
Eastern Community Homes (was Community Led Housing)
ECH (Chelmsford City Council) (was CLH Chelmsford City Council)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Fens Biosphere Development
Floating Pennywort Prevention
Machinery and equipment
New Life on the Old West
Re-Opening Doors of Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Support Cambs – Community Facilities
Support Cambs – Local Councils
Wisbech CLLD Projects
ECH CPCA (was CLLH CPCA)
ECH CPCA (was CLLH CPCA)		 £
£
£
6,191
-
(6,191)
25
-
(25)
5,459
-
(5,459)
2,396
-
(2,396)
880
-
(880)
6,796
-
(6,796)
(1,799)
-
1,799
5,414
-
(5,414)
22,453
-
(22,453)
13,663
-
(13,663)
(58)
-
58
4,873
-
(4,873)
1,560
-
(1,560)
(2,170)
2,170
-
31,404
-
(31,404)
(33)
-
33
3,815
-
(3,815)
1,012
-
(1,012)
45
-
(45)
17,857
-
(17,857)
5,313
-
(5,313)
Restricted
funds
Designated/
capital funds
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted
fund
125,096
2,170
(127,266)
1,323
-
(1,323)
5,774
-
(5,774)
4,792
-
(4,792)
5,509
-
(5,509)
1,523
-
(1,523)
5,414
-
(5,414)
1,637
-
(1,637)
10,165
-
(10,165)
16,648
-
(16,648)
543
-
(543)
(829)
2,844
(2,015)
41,873
-
(41,873)
2,091
-
(2,091)
4,067
-
(4,067)
703
-
(703)
5,094
-
(5,094)
2,904
-
(2,904)
6,358
-
(6,358)
115,589
2,844
(118,433)

21

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

13. Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost
Beginning of the year
Additions
Disposals
At the end of the year
Depreciation
Beginning of the year
Charge for the year
Disposals
At the end of the year
Net Book Value
As at 31 March 2022
As at 31 March 2023
All fixed assets are used for charitable purposes.
14. Investments
Cambridge & Counties 120 Day Fund
United Trust
Cirican LLP
15. Sundry Debtors and Prepayments
Income Due
Accrued Income
Prepayments
16. Sundry Creditors and Accruals
Due within 1 year
Accruals
Accrued Holiday Pay
Payroll Liabilities
Sundry Creditors
VAT		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Equipment
Equipment
£
£
£
16,405
11,400
27,805
155
2,015
2,170
-
-
-
16,560
13,415
29,975
14,252
10,794
25,046
414
1,278
1,692
-
-
-
14,666
12,072
26,738
2,153
606
2,759
1,894
1,343
3,237
2023
2022
£
£
83,697
82,128
89,689
88,092
3,000
3,000
176,386
173,220
2023
2022
£
£
106,086
6,652
183,088
192,973
2,931
12,033
292,105
211,658
2023
2022
£
£
23,731
7,714
10,015
10,402
11
190
7,040
34,862
9,877
5,326
50,674
58,494
16,560
14,252
414
-
14,666
2,153
1,894

22

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

17. Contingent Liabilities

Certain donations and grants are potentially repayable should the aims and objectives of the charity not be achieved. The trustees, however, are of the opinion that this possibility is remote and therefore the income has been recognised within the accounts for the period under review.

In the event of its activities ceasing the charity would be liable to meet notice and redundancy payments to staff. The trustees are of the view that such liabilities could be met by the existing General Reserve.

18. Pension Scheme

All new eligible job holders are automatically enrolled to the NEST pension scheme. Staff make a contribution of 5% of salary and the charity adds an employer’s contribution of 5% (10% for staff employed before November 2012). Staff employed before June 2014 were able to take out their own schemes or join the Pension Trust Growth or Ethical Plans, these options were withdrawn following the introduction of auto enrolment in April 2017. At the balance sheet date there were 11 employees in pension schemes (equivalent figure for the previous year was 10).

At 31 March 2023 there was no balance owing by Cambridgeshire ACRE to the various pension schemes.

19. Related Parties

No one individual controls the charity with all trustees having equal voting rights. All trustees give of their time freely and receive no remuneration for their charitable duties in the year.

Each Trustee completes an annual Declaration of Interests form and these are noted at every meeting of the Board and its Committees. Trustees and senior staff are also required to complete an annual Related Parties Schedule so that any possible transactions or arrangements made or entered into by Cambridgeshire ACRE involving an individual or his/her close family members can be identified.

During the year £12,236 (2021/22 - £5,808) was paid to Jessica Sellick, a Trustee, for professional services through the company of which she is a Director, Rose Regeneration. No amounts were outstanding at the year end (2021/22 - £nil).

Trustees are appointed as individuals but do have involvement with organisations which Cambridgeshire ACRE works with on a regular basis. During the past year, Cambridgeshire ACRE has received resource support from, or has supported, and in some case funded, activities with:

In all situations, rigorous procurement or project management procedures are followed to ensure no single individual has undue influence over decisions.

23

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

20. Designated and Capital Funds
Capital funds
Equipment (Unrestricted)
Equipment (Restricted)
Total Capital Funds
Designated Funds
Project Development Fund
Property and Office Accommodation
Total Designated Funds
Total Capital & Designated Funds		 Brought
Income/
Expenditure Transfers
Carried
forward
Revaluation
forward
£
£
£
£
£
2,153
-
(414)
155
1,894
606
-
(1,278)
2,015
1,343
2,759
-
(1,692)
2,170
3,237
72,552
-
-
-
72,552
118,856
-
-
-
118,856
191,408
-
-
-
191,408
194,167
-
(1,692)
2,170
194,645

Equipment:

A capital fund to reflect the value of the tangible fixed assets held equal to the net book value of the assets. The equipment can be held in either unrestricted or restricted funds.

Project Development Fund:

A fund to be used to support the development of new programmes of work.

Property & Office Accommodation Fund:

The Property and Office Accommodation Fund was set-up to cover the risks in having a rented office. Although Cambridgeshire ACRE currently has no leased office space, this fund provides for that eventuality, should it become necessary.

Changes to Designated funds during 2023/24:

Business Continuity and Development Fund

Sum: £100k

Rationale: The Business Continuity and Development Fund is held to support the development of new programmes of work including the engagement of consultants to prepare funding plans, to cover business uncertainties in costs for programme delivery such as the impact of recent rising costs; to support increasing demands for services where there is a commitment of ‘match funding’ to develop partnership approaches; to invest in the training staff in new areas of work in order to implement Cambridgeshire ACRE’s corporate strategy.

Digital Transformation Fund

Sum: £70k

Rationale: The Charity’s membership and stakeholder digital communication expectations are rapidly changing, with future advancements in technology requiring investment beyond the annual digital budget for running and maintenance costs. This fund has been established to allow for the charity to invest in digital solutions and innovation. Investments will be used for furthering the use of digital technology to provide improved member and stakeholder communications, to develop digital fundraising requirements and to increase project management efficiencies for members and partners. Investments will support new software technology for communications and business efficiency; renewing and updating of websites and the buying new equipment.

Charity Centenary Celebration 2024 Fund

Sum: £20k

Rationale: The charity celebrates its Centenary year in 2024. This fund is held to provide for the undertaking of a programme of special events and rural seminars during that year of celebration. The trustees wish to use the celebrations to raise the profile of the charity’s work and show how the charity has shaped rural community life in the County. Investment will be used to strengthen the charity’s relationships with key stakeholders and to position the organisation for the future.

24

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

21. Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds
Bourn Windmill
Cambridgeshire Fens LEADER
Catchment Partnership
CHESS
CHESS+
Defra
ECH CPCA (was CLLH CPCA)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Eels In The Classroom
Fens Biosphere Development
Floating Pennywort Prevention
New Life on the Old West
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Support Cambs - Community Facilities
Support Cambs - Local Councils
Warm Hubs in Winter
Water Environment Grant
Wisbech CLLD
Wisbech CLLD Projects
Wisbech CLLD CPCA
Eastern Community Homes (was
Community Led Housing)
ECH (Chelmsford City Council) (was CLH
Chelmsford City Council)
Re-Opening Doors of Cambridgeshire's
Community Buildings		 Brought
Income
Expenditure Transfers
Carried
forward
forward
£
£
£
£
£
-
10,020
(3,829)
(6,191)
-
30
-
(5)
(25)
-
1,530
16,212
(9,194)
(5,459)
3,089
-
21,015
(18,619)
(2,396)
-
-
4,400
(4,845)
(880)
(1,325)
-
44,510
(37,714)
(6,796)
-
39,905
6,435
(31,920)
1,799
16,219
25,521
-
(10,800)
(5,414)
9,307
(1,411)
24,000
(136)
(22,453)
-
22,904
10,086
(18,793)
(13,663)
534
7,471
-
(7,529)
58
-
19,930
-
(1,278)
(4,873)
13,779
1,560
-
-
(1,560)
-
-
187,598
(156,194)
(31,404)
-
447
-
(480)
33
-
-
29,400
(25,585)
(3,815)
-
48,169
-
(24,065)
(1,012)
23,092
-
46
-
(46)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
193,611
(136,703)
(17,857)
39,051
-
19,346
(19,346)
-
-
49,610
9,585
(18,331)
(2,456)
38,408
33,745
298,369
(295,045)
-
37,069
-
55,000
(23,435)
(2,856)
28,709
249,411
929,633
(843,846) (127,266)
207,932

25

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Included in the expenditure total above are the projects’ share of central core costs. In accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102) (October 2019), the management fee element of these costs has been treated as a transfer in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Bourn Windmill

Grant funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and working in partnership with Cambridge Past Present & Future, Cambridgeshire ACRE is supporting a project to conserve Bourn Windmill, one of the oldest windmills in the UK. Cambridgeshire ACRE's role is to deliver a programme of community engagement activity to involve local people in accessing the mill more and to increase the range of audiences who know about the mill.

Cambridgeshire Fens LEADER

This six and a half year project ran from May 2015 to December 2021. The very small movement in funds related to final accrued expenditure.

Catchment Partnership

This project started in April 2022 and finished in March 2023 (having been funded on an annual basis since 2014/15). Grant funding is provided by the Environment Agency to stimulate engagement with local communities, groups, businesses and organisations and to involve them in decision-making and activities to improve the Old Bedford River’s water ecology. A further year of funding has been secured for 2023/24.

Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service (CHESS)

This project started in October 2020 and finished at end September 2022. Grant funding was provided through the Energy Industry Redress Scheme via our delivery partners PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) who were the project lead. The project improved the health and wellbeing of 1,000 vulnerable households in market towns and parishes across northern Cambridgeshire, who were suffering from or at risk of fuel poverty by providing energy savings advice and support and offering fuel debt relief. Cambridgeshire ACRE’s role involved administering the fuel debt relief pot.

Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service Plus (CHESS+)

This project started in February 2023 and will run for 23 months to end December 2024. As with the previous CHESS project, grant funding is being provided through the Energy Industry Redress Scheme via our delivery partners PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) who are the project lead. The new project is aiming to improve the health and wellbeing of 1,200 vulnerable households in market towns and parishes across northern Cambridgeshire, who are suffering from or at risk of fuel poverty by providing energy savings advice and support and offering fuel debt relief. Cambridgeshire ACRE’s role involves engaging with frontline workers to help them make project referrals and administering the fuel debt relief pot.

Defra

This project started in April 2022 and finished in March 2023 (funding is provided on an annual basis). Defra requires us to deliver local strategic support to rural communities, enabling them to take action, sharing learning on sustainable funding models and providing access to local intelligence. Funding for 2023/24 has been confirmed.

Eastern Community Homes

This project started in April 2020 and currently runs until March 2024. The project aims improve housing supply in the East of England by increasing the number of additional affordable homes delivered by the community-led housing sector. Funding is provided by a partnership of 18 local authorities from across the East of England to underpin a regional Hub of trained advisers in each of the ACRE Network members in the region who provide advice and support for community groups.

26

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Eastern Community Homes (Chelmsford City Council)

This project involves the delivery of a bespoke support agreement with Chelmsford City Council to support the delivery of community-led housing in that local authority area. The project has emerged from the work of Eastern Community Homes. The project started in April 2021 and will finish at end March 2024.

Eastern Community Homes (CPCA)

This project involves the delivery of a bespoke support agreement with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to support the delivery of community-led housing in that local authority area. The project has emerged from the work of Eastern Community Homes. The project started in January 2021 and will finish at end July 2023.

Environment Agency (EA) Volunteers

This project started in April 2016 and finished at the end October 2022. A further phase of the project commenced March 2023 and will run until end February 2025. The Environment Agency has contracted Cambridgeshire ACRE to run a volunteer scheme to help it manage its statutory navigation objectives within the Anglian Region. By using volunteers, the Environment Agency has brought about better engagement with local communities and gained local support to help deliver essential services.

Eels in the Classroom

This short-term project was supposed to be delivered between March 2020 and August 2020, but, due to the pandemic, the start date was changed to March 2022 and the project ran until end August 2022. Funded by Anglian Water’s Flourishing Environment Fund, the project saw us work in two schools to give children hands-on experience in rearing endangered eels, learning about their life cycle and releasing them into the wild.

Fens Biosphere Development

This fund holds the remainder of the grant funding provided by the People's Postcode Lottery Dream Fund for the purpose of developing and submitting a UNESCO Biosphere nomination for the Cambridgeshire Fens. A decision was ultimately taken not to proceed with the UNESCO nomination. The funder did not want the unspent funding returned. Some limited activity was undertaken during 2022/23 to make applications to other funders for partnership environmental and climate change mitigation projects.

Floating Pennywort Prevention

This project ran from April 2021 and finished in March 2022. The very small movement in funds related to final accrued expenditure.

New Life on the Old West

This project started in October 2020 and will run until end March 2024. A grant of £730k was awarded from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to deliver 88 wildlife habitat enhancements on farmland and community green spaces in areas around the Old West river. The project is working with people living in the surrounding communities to increase their access to local nature and help a wide range of children and adults to develop new skills and learn about their unique fenland wildlife and natural heritage.

Re-Opening the Doors of Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings

This project ran from April 2021 until end March 2022. The very small movement in funds related to final accrued expenditure.

27

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Rural Affordable Housing

This project started in April 2022 and finished in March 2023 (having been funded on an annual basis for many years). Grant funding is provided by district councils and housing associations, as members of the Cambridgeshire Rural Affordable Housing Partnership, to allow Cambridgeshire ACRE to facilitate the development of affordable housing schemes for people living in rural Cambridgeshire. Partners have committed to provide a further year’s funding for 2023/24.

Rural Touring

This two-year project started in April 2020 but had to be paused at the end of Sep-20 due to the pandemic, resuming delivery in Apr-2021. We have since requested and received an extension to the delivery window to end September 2023. Grant funding from Arts Council England is supporting the re-establishment of a rural touring scheme for the northern area of the County. Funding is used to identify and train village hall management committees to become ‘promoters’ of live performances and cinema screenings to be delivered from their community buildings making high quality arts experiences accessible to those who might not normally experience them.

Support Cambridgeshire (Community Facilities and Local Councils)

This project ran from September 2015 until end November 2021. The very small movement in funds related to final accrued expenditure.

Warm Hubs in Winter

Grant funded by East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire District Councils, using money from the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care System, Cambridgeshire ACRE facilitated the development of 38 community-led Warm Hubs that operated from community buildings across the Districts of East Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire over the winter of 2022-23 supporting vulnerable and isolated people, as well as those on lower incomes. Due to its success, this project has continued into 2023/24 under the new name ‘Community Hubs’.

Water Environment Grant

This project ran from April 2021 until end March 2022. Grant funding was provided by the Environment Agency for Cambridgeshire ACRE to address agricultural diffuse pollution and contribute to supporting improvements within the water body’s Water Framework Directive status by trapping the sediment that runs from the land using coir rolls sown with a range of native marginal water plants.

Wisbech CLLD (and Wisbech CLLD Projects)

This project started in January 2017 and project delivering will conclude in June 2023. Funding is provided through an ESF grant of £1.05m with match funding from local public funds (Cambridgeshire County Council, Fenland District Council and Wisbech Town Council). The project encourages local people to take the lead on supporting skills and employment activity that provides sustainable economic benefits to the Wisbech area. Projects that are brought forward must provide 50% match fund funding.

Wisbech CLLD CPCA

Grant funding from Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority is being used to support an extension to the Wisbech Community-Led Local Development Programme until 31 December 2023. The funding will be applied as match-funding to the Wisbech CLLD programme allowing underspent ESF funding via DWP to be released so it can be allocated to existing and new projects that will generate learning and skills outputs for a further cohort of participants.

28

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

22. Analysis of Net Assets between Funds

Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Total		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
-
1,894
1,343
3,237
-
176,386
-
176,386
157,849
16,365
206,589
380,803
157,849
194,645
207,932
560,426

23. Statement of financial activities - Comparative figures for 2022

Income
Donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation in funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Total
£
£
£
£
12,448
-
-
12,448
480
-
770,058
770,538
49,734
-
7,022
56,756
1,651
-
-
1,651
Year ended 31 March 2022
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
fund
Designated/
capital funds
64,313
-
777,080
841,393
18,874
-
-
18,874
141,113
3,072
707,175
851,360
159,987
3,072
707,175
870,234
-
-
-
-
(95,674)
(3,072)
69,905
(28,841)
115,589
2,844
(118,433)
-
19,915
(228)
(48,528)
(28,841)
151,945
194,395
297,939
644,279
171,860
194,167
249,411
615,438

29

DocuSign Envelope ID: F0047CEB-CC21-4B54-A4CB-F7D806DB3200

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2023 Notes to the accounts

_____________

Cambridgeshire ACRE wishes to thank the individuals, community groups, organisations and statutory partners who funded and supported our work over the last year, in particular:

Central Government

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Work & Pensions Environment Agency Rural Payments Agency

Local Authorities and Statutory Agencies

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care System Cambridgeshire County Council East Cambridgeshire District Council Fenland District Council Huntingdonshire District Council South Cambridgeshire District Council Wisbech Town Council

Local Authorities specifically funding Eastern Community Homes

Babergh and Mid Suffolk Council Breckland Council Cambridge City Council Chelmsford City Council Colchester Borough Council East Suffolk Council Epping Forest District Council Great Yarmouth Borough Council Maldon District Council North Norfolk District Council Norwich City Council South Cambridgeshire District Council Stevenage Borough Council Suffolk County Council Tendring District Council Uttlesford District Council West Suffolk Council

Housing Associations / Registered Social Landlords

Accent Group Ltd Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association CHS Group Cross Keys Homes Ltd Hastoe Housing Association Ltd Longhurst Group

Lottery Distributors

Arts Council England National Lottery Heritage Fund

Grant Makers, Trusts and Foundations

Cambridge Past Present & Future Cambridgeshire Community Foundation Energy Industry Redress Fund through Energy Savings Trust Stagecoach East Trinity Denoir

30