OpenCharities

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

2024-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Registered Company no. 03690881 Registered Charity no. 1074032

Report and Financial Statement

for the Year Ended 31 March 2024

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Contents

____________

Page
Officers and Professional Advisers 1
Trustees’ & Directors’ Report 2
Report of the Independent Auditors 9
Statement of Financial Activities 12
Balance Sheet 13
Statement of Cash Flows 14
Notes to the Accounts 15

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Officers and Professional Advisers

____________

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 Anthony Gibbs Richard John St Clair Harlow (appointed 9-Feb-2024) Michael David Hellowell (resigned 27-Sep-2023) Terry John Jordan (Vice-Chairman) Hugh Kyle McCurdy (resigned 27-Sep-2023) David Ian Olney (appointed 6-Apr-2023) Jessica Lucy Sellick Sarah Elizabeth Rae Severn CBE Ray Vidler (Treasurer)

COMPANY SECRETARY

Alison Catherine Brown

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Kirsten Jean Bennett (resigned 30-Jun-2024) Hayley Elizabeth Neal (appointed 1-Jul-2024)

REGISTERED OFFICE

e-Space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, Ely, 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: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

The trustees present their full report for the period ended 31 March 2024 to the Annual General Meeting of the charity held on 9 October 2024. 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: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

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 9 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/or Loyalty 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 increased from £157,849 to £193,459. 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 three designated funds which are represented by investments and fixed assets. The purpose of these funds is detailed in note 20 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, United Trust Bank and Reliance Bank at

3

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

the balance 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 2023/24 across the strategic aims set in the organisation’s strategy.

Cambridgeshire ACRE works alongside the rural communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We help them take action to make positive changes to their local neighbourhoods.

Whether it’s supporting volunteers to lead community projects, bringing local organisations together to drive meaningful change or amplifying the voices of our parish and community members, our charity is deeply embedded in rural community life.

With our support, residents, groups and partners can seize opportunities and realise their aspirations to improve the places, services and facilities that are important to them.

This section details our key achievements during the year 2023/24 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 2023/24 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.

4

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

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 2023/24 include:

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 2023/24 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.

Key achievements during 2023/24 include:

5

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

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 2023/24 include:

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 2023/24 include:

Charity and governance activity

With 2024 being the charity’s Centenary Year, during late 2023 efforts turned to creating a programme of activity that would celebrate Cambridgeshire ACRE’s 100 years of community action. A travelling exhibition was created, consisting of 32 panels of information that are set out to tell both the charity’s history and that of rural Cambridgeshire. On 5 December 2023, a press launch for the Centenary Year was held at King’s College, Cambridge, the site of the very first meetings to set up the Cambridgeshire Rural Community Council in 1924.

Two of the organisation’s long serving trustees (Mike Hellowell and Hugh McCurdy) stood down at our 2023 Annual General Meeting, but since then Cambridgeshire ACRE has recruited two new trustees (David Olney and Richard Harlow) who bring excellent skill sets to complement those held by our existing Board members. A major exercise was undertaken with a working group of trustees to completely refresh the organisation’s risk register.

Cambridgeshire ACRE has continued to give much emphasis to its marketing activity, 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. We have continued to send out a monthly e-newsletter, Staying in Touch, and to deliver regular online webinars through our ‘Staying Connected’ series.

We have worked with other organisations to collaborate on developing new projects and to find suitable funding for these. We have worked with Living Sport, the County sports partnership to develop a project on green social

6

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

prescribing (currently at expression of interest stage with the National Lottery Community Fund) and with Macmillan Cancer Support to design a new Fenland Community Cancer Champions (now funded and to be delivered between 2024 – 2027).

Financial review (throughout this section comparable figures for the year 2022/23 are shown in brackets) For the financial year 2023/24 incoming resources were £958,685 (£1,014,577). This represents a decrease in income of 6%.

The end of the year saw a surplus of £35,610 on the Unrestricted fund. Nearly all costs were contained within approved budgets. Total expenditure exceeded income by £126,340. The restricted reserves have decreased from £207,932 to £68,929. 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 decreased from £194,645 to £171,698, a decrease of £22,947. The unrestricted general reserve showed an increase during the year from £157,849 to £193,459; an increase of 23%.

Plans for future periods

2024 marks the Centenary of Cambridgeshire ACRE, a milestone we are celebrating with those who matter most to us: our members, volunteers, beneficiaries and partners. It is a time to reflect on our accomplishments and to reconfirm our commitment to providing outstanding service and support to the people and communities of rural Cambridgeshire.

This centenary not only represents a century of dedication and service to our community but also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. As we embark on this new era, under the leadership of a new Chief Executive and within the context of a new government, we are initiating consultations with all our stakeholders to collaboratively develop a new five-year strategy. Our goal is to build on the rich legacy of the past hundred years while embracing future opportunities, driving Cambridgeshire ACRE to even greater success.

The core values that have guided Cambridgeshire ACRE for the past century; community support, rural advocacy and sustainable development, will remain at the heart of our strategic vision.

During the next year, some of our existing projects will be coming to an end, including the five-year New Life on the Old West environmental project, however, we also see new projects starting, such as Fenland Community Cancer Champions. New, old, existing and continuing projects are of equal importance to us and we will continue to deliver them to an outstanding level. We will continue to share the impact of these important projects through our monthly newsletter, “Staying in Touch”.

We have recently worked with the ACRE Network to develop “No rural community left behind: Our recommendations for the next government” which was shared widely before the recent general election. We aim to leverage this report and its findings to collaborate with our newly elected Members of Parliament, ensuring the needs of rural communities are prioritised.

As always, funding will be a critical focus in the coming year. We need to continue to work with our existing funders to ensure our projects continue to operate, whilst investigating new partnerships and opportunities. Innovation will be central to all new projects we develop to meet the evolving needs of rural life. By embracing new technologies and creative approaches, we aim to address the unique challenges faced by rural communities. This includes enhancing access to services, improving infrastructure, and fostering economic development. Our commitment to innovation ensures that we can provide effective, sustainable solutions that not only respond to current needs but also anticipate future trends.

Through collaboration with stakeholders and a commitment to continuous improvement, we strive to deliver impactful projects that empower rural residents and ensure that no member of our rural community is left behind.

7

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

____________

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 2024. 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: _______ Ann Lesley Blair

Company Secretary: _________ Alison Brown

09 October 2024 Date: _______

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

8

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

We have audited the financial statements of Cambridgeshire ACRE for the year ended 31 March 2024 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.

9

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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.

10

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

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

20 November 2024

11

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024

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		 2023
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
13,560
-
-
13,560
12,117
1,273
-
810,446
811,719
907,055
95,255
-
34,617
129,872
93,003
3,534
-
-
3,534
2,402
113,622
-
845,063
958,685
1,014,577
4,511
-
-
4,511
5,059
229,056
2,429
849,029
1,080,514
1,064,530
233,567
2,429
849,029
1,085,025
1,069,589
-
-
-
-
-
(119,945)
(2,429)
(3,966)
(126,340)
(55,012)
155,555
(20,518)
(135,037)
-
-
35,610
(22,947)
(139,003)
(126,340)
(55,012)
157,849
194,645
207,932
560,426
615,438
193,459
171,698
68,929
434,086
560,426
Year ended 31 March 2024
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.

12

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Company registration number: 03690881

Cambridgeshire ACRE As at 31 March 2024

Statement of Financial Position

Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted 2024 2023
Unrestricted Designated/ funds Total Total
fund capital funds
Note £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 13 - 808 - 808 3,237
Investments 14 - 116,387 - 116,387 176,386
- 117,195 - 117,195 179,623
Current assets:
Debtors 15 188,948 - 188,948 292,105
Cash at bank and in hand 68,757 54,503 68,929 192,189 139,372
257,705 54,503 68,929 381,137 431,477
Liabilities:
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one 16 64,246 - - 64,246 50,674
year
Net current assets 193,459 54,503 68,929 316,891 380,803
Total net assets 193,459 171,698 68,929 434,086 560,426
The funds of the charity:
Restricted funds 21 - - 68,929 68,929 207,932
Designated and capital funds 20 - 171,698 - 171,698 194,645
Unrestricted funds 193,459 - - 193,459 157,849
193,459 171,698 68,929 434,086 560,426

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

09 October 2024

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on …......................

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

31 October 2024

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

13

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended Year ended
31 March 2024 31 March 2023
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities (7,716) (143,989)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest and dividends from investments 3,534 2,402
Purchase of investments - -
Purchase of property, plant and equipment - (2,170)
3,534 232
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period (4,182) (143,757)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 312,758 456,515
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 308,576 312,758
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period held as:
Cash at bank and in hand 192,189 139,372
Investments 116,387 173,386
308,576 312,758
Reconciliation of net income/ (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
Net (expenditure)/ income for the reporting period (as per (126,340) (55,012)
the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 2,429 1,692
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (3,534) (2,402)
(Increase) in debtors 103,157 (80,447)
Increase/ (decrease) in creditors 16,572 (7,820)
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities (7,716) (143,989)

14

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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, Ely, 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.

15

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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
2023
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
13,560
-
-
13,560
12,117
31 March 2024
13,560
-
-
13,560
12,117

2. Donations

16

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

3. Charitable Activities 31 March 2024 31 March
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2023
Funds capital Funds Total Total
£ £ £ £ £
Grants (Note 4) - - 810,210 810,210 904,923
Other charitable income 1,273 - 236 1,509 2,132
1,273 - 810,446 811,719 907,055

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 National Lottery
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)
English Rural
Environment Agency
ESF
Fenland District Council
Hastoe Housing
Huntingdonshire District Council
Longhurst Group
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Rural Payments Agency
Stagecoach East
Social Enterprise East of England
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
£
£
£
£
-
3,497
-
3,150
-
9,848
-
-
-
3,497
-
3,150
-
875
-
3,150
-
-
-
55,000
-
48,878
-
-
-
52,240
-
-
-
37,963
-
7,800
-
3,497
-
3,150
-
79,405
-
44,180
-
176,551
-
259,511
-
3,497
-
77,631
-
9,000
-
6,000
-
64,877
-
25,015
-
3,497
-
-
-
57,710
-
19,966
-
-
-
-
-
2,331
-
2,100
-
3,497
-
3,150
-
2,331
-
2,100
-
3,497
-
3,150
-
145,638
-
236,041
-
-
-
25,678
-
-
-
5,000
-
10,093
-
-
-
87,991
-
117,280
-
-
-
-
-
101
2,620
-
810,210
101
904,822
418,327
519,660
391,883
385,162
810,210
904,822
31 March 2023
31 March 2024
-

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.

17

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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
Meetings & Workshops
Project delivery costs
Centenary event 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
2023
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
95,183
-
34,617
129,800
92,957
72
-
-
72
46
31 March 2024
95,255
-
34,617
129,872
93,003
3,534
-
-
3,534
2,402
3,534
-
-
3,534
2,402
-
-
391,883
391,883
385,162
101,704
-
312,374
414,078
411,777
-
-
1,450
1,450
6,170
4,411
-
-
4,411
4,985
27,459
-
904
28,363
24,038
105
-
6,709
6,814
2,319
-
-
63,409
63,409
89,755
16,644
-
-
16,644
-
3,266
-
32,797
36,063
30,618
5,669
-
1,494
7,163
2,857
11,023
-
-
11,023
20,068
43,717
-
-
43,717
36,533
-
2,429
-
2,429
1,692
4,511
-
32,923
37,434
36,742
142
-
4,944
5,086
2,570
6,418
-
66
6,484
6,589
268
-
76
344
136
6,447
-
-
6,447
6,348
1,783
-
-
1,783
1,230
233,567
2,429
849,029
1,085,025
1,069,589

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

18

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

8. Trustees and Staff costs

Trustees and Staff costs
Year ended Year ended
31 March 2024 31 March 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries 343,820 343,472
Accrued holiday pay movement (7,860) (387)
Employer's NI 25,787 28,541
Pension 38,340 24,644
Travel 7,277 8,000
Training 4,584 6,441
Recruitment 2,130 1,066
Total staff costs 414,078 411,777
Key personnel cost 178,170 147,005
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 (2023: £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 2024 31 March 2023
£ £
Audit fee 6,447 6,348
Non audit financial services 1,783 1,230
Annual General Meeting 558 1,300
Indemnity insurance 454 421
Selected core staff salaries 7,645 5,392
Expenses 10,308 9,855
27,195 24,546

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.

19

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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
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
CHESS+
Various individuals
Community Hubs- East Cambs
Various hubs
Community Hubs- Fenland
Various hubs
Community Hubs- South Cambs
Various hubs
ECH (CPCA)
CHESS Homeless
Re-Opening Doors
Various village halls
Warm Hubs in Winter
Various hubs
Bourn Windmill
Total Grants Given		 Year ended
Year ended
31 March 2024
31 March 2023
£
£
23,784
32,068
9,176
33,545
1,000
30,200
156,599
88,980
-
5,545
15,903
14,085
21,578
-
-
25,729
21,699
64,894
-
-
3,000
2,222
-
10,330
36,250
-
26,424
-
33,500
-
9,400
-
-
4,800
-
480
33,570
72,259
-
25
391,883
385,162

20

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

11. Cost of Charitable Activities

Direct activities
Grant funding activity
Support costs
Total cost of activities 2024
Total costs in 2023		 Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
431,388
115,639
6,566
553,593
-
-
391,883
391,883
48,474
51,509
35,055
135,038
479,862
167,148
433,504
1,080,514
348,970
224,905
490,655
1,064,530

Allocation of Support Costs to Activities:

Allocation of Support Costs to Activities:
Management & HR
Finance & IT
Administration
Total support costs 2024
Total costs in 2023		 Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
33,601
35,704
24,299
93,604
7,565
8,039
5,471
21,075
7,308
7,766
5,285
20,359
48,474
51,509
35,055
135,038
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.

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

21

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

12. Fund transfers
Year ended 31 March 2024
Catchment Partnership (WEIF)
Charity Centenary Celebration 2024 Fund
CHESS+
Community Hubs - East Cambs.
Community Hubs - Fenland
Community Hubs - South Cambs
DEFRA
Digital Transformation Fund
Eastern Community Homes
Eastern Community Homes (Chelmsford City Council)
Eastern Community Homes (CPCA)
Eastern Community Homes (Maldon District Council)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Machinery and equipment
New Life on the Old West
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Social Enterprise Consortium
Warm Hubs EC Ext
Warm Hubs in Winter
Warm Hubs SC Ext
Wisbech CLLD CPCA
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
ECH CPCA (was CLLH CPCA)		 £
£
£
5,643
-
(5,643)
15,178
(15,178)
-
5,444
-
(5,444)
11,946
-
(2,167)
4,237
-
(4,237)
2,367
-
(2,367)
10,717
-
(10,717)
5,340
(5,340)
-
2,092
-
(2,092)
499
-
(499)
2,718
-
(2,718)
3,200
-
(3,200)
10,886
-
(10,886)
-
-
-
31,405
-
(31,405)
15,540
-
(15,540)
269
-
(269)
3,888
-
(3,888)
646
-
4,799
-
-
(39,051)
13,181
-
10,646
10,359
-
(10,359)
Restricted
funds
Designated/
capital funds
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted
fund
155,555
(20,518)
(135,037)
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)
125,096
2,170
(127,266)

22

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

13. Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost
Beginning of the year
At the end of the year
Depreciation
Beginning of the year
Charge for the year
At the end of the year
Net Book Value
As at 31 March 2023
As at 31 March 2024
All fixed assets are used for charitable purposes.
14. Investments
As at 1 April 2023
Additions
Disposals
Revaluation
As at 31 March 2024
Analysis of 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
£
£
£
16,560
13,415
29,975
16,560
13,415
29,975
14,666
12,072
26,738
1,086
1,343
2,429
15,752
13,415
29,167
1,894
1,343
3,237
808
-
808
2024
2023
£
£
176,386
173,220
29,690
3,166
(89,689)
-
-
-
116,387
176,386
83,697
83,697
29,690
89,689
3,000
3,000
116,387
176,386
82,620
106,086
92,462
183,088
13,866
2,931
188,948
292,105
32,944
23,731
2,155
10,015
2,497
11
9,483
7,040
17,167
9,877
64,246
50,674
16,560
14,666
1,086
15,752
1,894
808

23

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

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 2024 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 £1,380 (2022/23 - £12,236) 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 (2022/23 - £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.

24

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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
Digital Transformation Fund
Charity Centenary Celebration 2024 Fund
Business Continuity and Development Fund
Total Designated Funds
Total Capital & Designated Funds		 Brought
Income/
Expenditure Transfers
Carried
forward
Revaluation
forward
£
£
£
£
£
1,894
-
(1,086)
-
808
1,343
-
(1,343)
-
-
3,237
-
(2,429)
-
808
72,552
-
-
(72,552)
-
118,856
-
-
(118,856)
-
-
-
-
64,660
64,660
-
-
-
4,822
4,822
-
-
-
101,408
101,408
191,408
-
-
(20,518)
170,890
194,645
-
(2,429)
(20,518)
171,698

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.

25

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

21. Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds
Bourn Windmill
Catchment Partnership (WEIF)
CHESS+
Community Hubs - East Cambs.
Community Hubs - Fenland
Community Hubs - South Cambs
DEFRA
Eastern Community Homes
Eastern Community Homes (Chelmsford City Council)
Eastern Community Homes (CPCA)
Eastern Community Homes (Maldon District Council)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Fens Biosphere Development
New Life on the Old West
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Social Enterprise Consortium
Warm Hubs EC Ext
Warm Hubs in Winter
Warm Hubs SC Ext
Wisbech CLLD
Wisbech CLLD CPCA		 Brought
Income
Expenditure Transfers
Carried
forward
forward
£
£
£
£
£
-
13,524
(13,524)
-
-
3,089
15,000
(11,430)
(5,643)
1,016
(1,325)
64,877
(58,108)
(5,444)
-
-
52,240
(46,995)
(2,167)
3,078
-
73,317
(69,122)
(4,237)
(42)
-
50,000
(21,591)
(2,367)
26,042
-
44,415
(33,698)
(10,717)
-
16,219
18,950
(28,267)
(2,092)
4,810
9,307
-
(8,808)
(499)
-
-
8,000
(5,282)
(2,718)
-
16,667
(8,717)
(3,200)
4,750
534
42,710
(28,723)
(10,886)
3,635
13,779
-
(1,484)
-
12,295
-
145,638
(114,278)
(31,405)
(45)
-
68,737
(39,807)
(15,540)
13,390
23,092
9,848
(32,671)
(269)
-
-
10,093
(6,205)
(3,888)
-
-
-
(4,799)
4,799
-
39,051
-
-
(39,051)
-
-
34,494
(45,140)
10,646
-
75,477
174,389
(250,022)
156
-
28,709
2,164
(20,358)
(10,515)
-
207,932
845,063
(849,029) (135,037)
68,929

26

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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 delivered in partnership with Cambridge Past Present & Future, Cambridgeshire ACRE supported a project to conserve Bourn Windmill, one of the oldest windmills in the UK. Cambridgeshire ACRE's role involved delivering 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. This project ended in July 2023.

Catchment Partnership (WEIF)

This project started in April 2023 and finished in March 2024 (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 2024/25.

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 runs 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 project aims 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.

Community Hubs – East Cambs

This project ran from May 2023 to March 2024 and was funded through Cambridgeshire County Council’s Care Together programme. It allowed us to continue our work supporting community hubs in East Cambridgeshire district.

Community Hubs – Fenland

This project started in July 2023 and will run until March 2025. Funded through DCMS’s Know Your Neighbourhood fund, the funding has allowed us to develop a network of community-led Community Living Rooms across Fenland district which aim to reduce chronic loneliness and increase community volunteering.

Community Hubs – South Cambs

This project started in November 2023 and will run until October 2025. Funded by South Cambridgeshire District Council, we are able to continue to support the network of Community Hub in South Cambridgeshire (previously funded through Warm Hubs funding).

27

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Defra

This project started in April 2023 and finished in March 2024 (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 2024/25 has been confirmed.

Eastern Community Homes

This project started in April 2020 and currently runs until March 2025. 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 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.

Eastern Community Homes (Chelmsford City Council)

This project involved 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 is managed through Eastern Community Homes. The project started in April 2021 and concluded at end March 2024.

Eastern Community Homes (CPCA)

This project involved 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 concluded at end July 2023.

Eastern Community Homes (Maldon District Council)

This project involved the delivery of a bespoke support agreement with Maldon District Council to support the delivery of community-led housing in that local authority area. The project is managed through Eastern Community Homes. The project started in April 2023 and concluded at end March 2024. A further tranche of funding is expected in 2024/25.

Environment Agency Volunteers

This project started in 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.

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 2023/24 and it is anticipated that the remaining funding will be handed to Natural Cambridgeshire to continue the work during 2024/25.

New Life on the Old West

This project started in October 2020 and will run until end September 2025. 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.

28

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Rural Affordable Housing

This project started in April 2023 and finished in March 2024 (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. Additionally, during 2023/24 additional funding was provided through the Defra Rural Housing Enabler Programme. Partners and Defra have committed to provide a further year’s funding for 2024/25.

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 with an extension to the delivery window agreed to end September 2023. Grant funding from Arts Council England supported 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.

Social Enterprise Consortium

Cambridgeshire ACRE entered into a consortium arrangement with Cambridge CVS, Hunts Forum, Peterborough CVS and Allia Impact, using funding provided by Social Enterprise East of England, to provide support to social enterprises and community-owned businesses across the County. The funding received in 2023/24 was from a ‘pilot’ phase and funding for a second phase of the pilot has been secured for 2024/25.

Warm Hubs in Winter (also Warm Hubs EC Ext and Warm Hubs SC Ext)

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. From April 2023, the remaining funding was separated into two separate funds (one for East Cambridgeshire and one for South Cambridgeshire) so that these warm hubs could be supported to transition to operate as year-round community hubs.

Wisbech CLLD

This project started in January 2017 and project delivery concluded in June 2023. Funding was 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 encouraged local people to take the lead on supporting skills and employment activity that provides sustainable economic benefits to the Wisbech area.

Wisbech CLLD CPCA

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

29

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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
£
£
£
£
-
808
-
808
-
116,387
-
116,387
193,459
54,503
68,929
316,891
193,459
171,698
68,929
434,086

23. Statement of financial activities - Comparative figures for 2023

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
£
£
£
£
12,117
-
-
12,117
1,468
-
905,587
907,055
68,957
-
24,046
93,003
2,402
-
-
2,402
Year ended 31 March 2023
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
fund
Designated/
capital funds
84,944
-
929,633
1,014,577
5,059
-
-
5,059
218,992
1,692
843,846
1,064,530
224,051
1,692
843,846
1,069,589
-
-
-
-
(139,107)
(1,692)
85,787
(55,012)
125,096
2,170
(127,266)
-
(14,011)
478
(41,479)
(55,012)
171,860
194,167
249,411
615,438
157,849
194,645
207,932
560,426

30

Docusign Envelope ID: C1CE5151-C727-47D6-9DFD-0BC5CF33EE6D

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2024 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 Culture, Media and Sport Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Department for Work & Pensions Environment 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

Local Authorities specifically funding Eastern Community Homes

Cambridge City Council Chelmsford City Council Great Yarmouth Borough Council Maldon District Council North Norfolk District Council Uttlesford District Council

Housing Associations / Registered Social Landlords

Accent Group Ltd Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association Cross Keys Homes Ltd English Rural Housing Association Flagship Housing Hastoe Housing Association Ltd Longhurst Group

Lottery Distributors

Arts Council England National Lottery Heritage Fund

Grant Makers, Trusts and Foundations

Allia Impact Cambridge Past Present & Future Cambridgeshire Community Foundation Energy Industry Redress Fund through Energy Savings Trust Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation Plunkett UK Social Enterprise East of England Trinity Denoir

31