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← Cambridgeshire Acre

2025-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Registered Company no. 03690881 Registered Charity no. 1074032

Report and Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 March 2025

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

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: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

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 (to 14-Sep-2024) Ann Lesley Blair (Chair to 31-Mar-2025) David Anthony Gibbs Richard John St Clair Harlow Terry John Jordan (Vice Chair) John Rodger Mitchell (from 9-Oct-2024) David Ian Olney (Chair from 1-Apr-2025) Jessica Lucy Sellick Sarah Elizabeth Rae Severn CBE Ray Vidler (Treasurer)

COMPANY SECRETARY

Alison Catherine Brown

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Hayley Elizabeth Neal

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

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

TRUSTEES’ & DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The trustees present their full report for the period ended 31 March 2025 to the Annual General Meeting of the charity held on 8 October 2025. 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

Rural communities across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough where people flourish, connections grow and everyone can thrive.

Our mission

To inspire, lead and partner with rural communities, enabling local people to create positive, lasting change for themselves.

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

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:

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’

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

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 £193,459 to £177,918. After deduction of potential redundancy liabilities, the current level of general reserve provides a buffer of four and a half 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 were split between Cambridge & Counties Bank Ltd, United Trust Bank and Reliance Bank at the balance sheet date, although the funds invested with Reliance Bank have since been transferred to Redwood Bank Ltd.

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

Cambridgeshire ACRE works alongside the rural communities of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We help them take action to make positive lasting 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 2024/25 across the strategic aims set in the organisation’s strategy.

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

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 2024/25 include:

Championing community-led housing and planning

We 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 2024/25 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 2024/25 include:

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

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 2024/25 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 2024/25 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 2024/25 include:

Charity and governance activity

During 2024 we celebrated the charity’s Centenary Year. Our travelling exhibition was showcased at 6 community events, sharing the story of the charity’s history and that of rural Cambridgeshire. On 13 June 2024, we held a special event at St Mary’s Church in Ely, where we were delighted to welcome His Royal

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

Highness The Duke of Gloucester for an afternoon of celebrations and a chance for past and current staff members to meet and share their memories of the charity.

Our new Chief Executive, Hayley Neal, joined us in mid-June with our old Chief Executive, Kirsten Bennett departing at the end of that same month, after a successful handover of responsibilities. Hayley’s main focus in her first few months was fundraising and she has had notable success including securing a three year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to secure the future delivery of community buildings advice (work commenced Apr-2025); securing a grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation to support the delivery of our Community Hubs Network (from Apr-2025); and securing funding from the Evelyn Trust to support a new community youth project (to start later in 2025).

Cambridgeshire ACRE has continued to enhance its marketing activity, refreshing both our main website (www.cambsacre.org.uk) and that for promoting community buildings (www.hallsforhire.org.uk). We have continued to send out a monthly e-newsletter, Staying in Touch with all staff members contributing blogs giving further insight into their work with rural communities.

Our staff team has grown over the course of 2024/25 and at the end of the year comprised 18 staff (13.8 FTE). Finally, after serving for eight years, Annie Blair stood down as Chairperson on 31 March 2025, with David Olney being elected to the role by his trustee peers.

Financial review (throughout this section comparable figures for the year 2023/24 are shown in brackets)

For the financial year 2024/25 incoming resources were £936,415 (£958,685). This represents a decrease in income of 2%.

The end of the year saw a deficit of £15,541 on the Unrestricted fund. Nearly all costs were contained within approved budgets. Total income exceeded expenditure by £140,444. The restricted reserves have increased from £68,929 to £229,297. 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 £171,698 to £167,315, a decrease of £4,383. The unrestricted general reserve showed a decrease during the year from £193,459 to £177,918; a decrease of 8%.

Plans for future periods

As we look ahead to the future, Cambridgeshire ACRE remains steadfast in its mission to support and empower rural communities across the county. Over the past year, we have been fortunate to secure new funding from the Cadent Foundation, enabling us to continue running our much-valued community hubs and to expand our network of Village Agents. This includes increasing the number of village agents supporting communities in South Cambridgeshire and introducing the service into East Cambridgeshire for the first time.

In the year ahead, we are also excited to begin delivery of our new “Futureproofing Cambridgeshire’s Community Buildings” project, supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. This funding will allow us to strengthen our offer to local community buildings, expanding governance support and introducing energy audits and tailored sustainability advice to help secure their long-term future.

During the financial year, Trustees and staff have worked together to develop a new three-year strategy for the organisation. This strategy, which is currently being stress-tested with stakeholders and will be launched at our AGM in October 2025, reflects how the needs of rural communities have evolved. Key findings include a deepening concern around the affordability of housing, continued isolation for some rural residents, growing anxieties about the climate crisis and its local impacts, and the ongoing fragility

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Cambridgeshire ACRE Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustees’ & Directors’ Report

of rural services. Our strategy responds directly to these challenges and identifies practical ways we can support resilience, inclusion and sustainability.

We have also seen significant changes in the wider external environment. The election of a new Labour government brings with it fresh opportunities and we welcome the renewed focus on community, fairness and place-based approaches. Our work with Defra will continue and we are already aligning our programmes with the new government’s missions while championing the importance of rural needs within national priorities.

Closer to home, we are watching with interest the proposals around local government reorganisation and devolution. While the full implications are not yet known, we are hopeful that these changes may offer a renewed emphasis on rural communities. Our thoughts are with our local authority colleagues who may be experiencing uncertainty during this time of transition and we look forward to working collaboratively to ensure that rural voices are not only heard but embedded within emerging structures.

Cambridgeshire ACRE remains future-focused and optimistic. We are proud of our ability to adapt, to forge strong partnerships and to provide meaningful support to the communities we serve. With a clear strategy in place, dedicated staff and volunteers and the ongoing backing of our members and funders, we are well positioned to meet whatever challenges and opportunities the coming year may bring.

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: Company Secretary:
David Olney Alison Brown
Date: 28 October 2025 e-space North, 181 Wisbech Road, Littleport, Ely, CB6
1RA

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

We have audited the financial statements of Cambridgeshire ACRE for the year ended 31 March 2025 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.

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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.

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

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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

30 October 2025

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Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025

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		 2024
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
14,200
-
-
14,200
13,560
1,730
-
831,399
833,129
811,719
55,468
-
26,500
81,968
129,872
7,118
-
-
7,118
3,534
78,516
-
857,899
936,415
958,685
-
-
-
-
4,511
222,545
1,432
571,994
795,971
1,080,514
222,545
1,432
571,994
795,971
1,085,025
-
-
-
-
-
(144,029)
(1,432)
285,905
140,444
(126,340)
128,488
(2,951)
(125,537)
-
-
(15,541)
(4,383)
160,368
140,444
(126,340)
193,459
171,698
68,929
434,086
560,426
177,918
167,315
229,297
574,530
434,086
Year ended 31 March 2025
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.

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Company registration number: 03690881

Cambridgeshire ACRE As at 31 March 2025

Statement of Financial Position

Unrestricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted 2025 2024
Unrestricted Designated/ funds Total Total
fund capital funds
Note £ £ £ £ £
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets 13 - 1,247 - 1,247 808
Investments 14 18,013 166,068 - 184,081 116,387
18,013 167,315 - 185,328 117,195
Current assets:
Debtors 15 100,612 - 100,612 188,948
Cash at bank and in hand 105,019 - 229,297 334,316 192,189
205,631 - 229,297 434,928 381,137
Liabilities:
16 45,726 - - 45,726 64,246
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets 159,905 - 229,297 389,202 316,891
Total net assets 177,918 167,315 229,297 574,530 434,086
The funds of the charity:
Restricted funds 21 - - 229,297 229,297 68,929
Designated and capital funds 20 - 167,315 - 167,315 171,698
Unrestricted funds 177,918 - - 177,918 193,459
177,918 167,315 229,297 574,530 434,086

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 20 August 2025.

Signed on behalf of the trustees:

…………………………………………… …………………………………………… David Olney, Chairperson Date

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Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025

Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended Year ended
31 March 2025 31 March 2024
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities 204,575 (7,716)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Interest and dividends from investments 7,118 3,534
Purchase of investments - -
Purchase of property, plant and equipment (1,872) -
-
5,246 3,534
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period 209,821 (4,182)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period 308,576 312,758
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 518,397 308,576
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period held as:
Cash at bank and in hand 334,316 192,189
Investments 184,081 116,387
518,397 308,576
Reconciliation of net income/ (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities
Net (expenditure)/ income for the reporting period (as per 140,444 (126,340)
the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges 1,432 2,429
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (7,118) (3,534)
(Increase) in debtors 88,336 103,157
Increase/ (decrease) in creditors (18,519) 16,572
Net cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities 204,575 (7,716)

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Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025

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. Full descriptions are given under Note 20.

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.

2. Donations
Grants (Note 4)
Membership subscriptions		 31 March
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
2024
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
14,200
-
-
14,200
13,560
31 March 2025
14,200
-
-
14,200
13,560

16

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

3. Charitable Activities 31 March 2025 31 March
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2024
Funds capital Funds Total Total
£ £ £ £ £
Grants (Note 4) - - 820,100 820,100 810,210
Other charitable income 1,730 - 11,299 13,029 1,509
1,730 - 831,399 833,129 811,719

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
Cadent Gas Ltd
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
Macmillan
Fenland District Council
Hastoe Housing
Huntingdonshire District Council
Longhurst Group
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Social Enterprise East of England
South Cambridgeshire District Council
Miscellaneous Grants
Sources of Restricted Funds:
Grants to Cambridgeshire ACRE
Grants via Cambridgeshire ACRE		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Unrestricted
Restricted
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
3,497
-
-
-
9,848
-
-
-
3,497
-
-
-
875
-
166,909
-
-
-
-
-
48,878
-
29,036
-
52,240
-
-
-
37,963
-
-
-
3,497
-
102,121
-
79,405
-
-
-
176,551
-
6,497
-
3,497
-
-
-
9,000
-
49,219
-
64,877
-
-
-
3,497
-
57,710
-
57,710
-
60,654
-
-
-
2,331
-
2,331
-
-
-
3,497
-
2,331
-
2,331
-
-
-
3,497
-
103,860
-
145,638
-
-
-
10,093
-
103,497
-
87,991
-
135,935
-
-
-
820,100
-
810,210
708,728
418,327
111,372
391,883
820,100
810,210
31 March 2024
31 March 2025
-

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: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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
2024
Funds
capital
Funds
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
55,243
-
26,500
81,743
129,800
225
-
-
225
72
31 March 2025
55,468
-
26,500
81,968
129,872
7,118
-
-
7,118
3,534
7,118
-
-
7,118
3,534
-
-
111,372
111,372
391,883
117,095
-
392,923
510,018
414,078
-
-
-
-
1,450
6,151
-
-
6,151
4,411
31,588
-
1,606
33,194
28,363
1,134
-
3,422
4,556
6,814
-
-
36,655
36,655
63,409
389
-
-
389
16,644
10,367
-
8,092
18,459
36,063
91
-
2,008
2,099
7,163
-
-
-
-
11,023
40,328
-
-
40,328
43,717
-
1,432
-
1,432
2,429
-
-
8,698
8,698
37,434
916
-
7,125
8,041
5,086
6,427
-
-
6,427
6,484
996
-
93
1,089
344
6,782
-
-
6,782
6,447
281
-
-
281
1,783
222,545
1,432
571,994
795,971
1,085,025

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

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

8. Trustees and Staff costs

rustees and Staff costs
Year ended Year ended
31 March 2025 31 March 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 420,431 343,820
Accrued holiday pay movement 956 (7,860)
Employer's NI 30,461 25,787
Pension 34,604 38,340
Travel 15,499 7,277
Training 4,490 4,584
Recruitment 3,577 2,130
Total staff costs 510,018 414,078
Key personnel cost 209,466 178,170
No employee earned over £60,000.
Average number of employees: Number Number
Charity 16 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 (2024: £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 2025 31 March 2024
£ £
Audit fee 6,782 6,447
Non audit financial services 281 1,783
Trustee meeting and networking 2,109 558
Indemnity insurance 489 454
Selected core staff salaries 13,257 7,645
Expenses 21,654 10,308
44,572 27,195

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 10.01% is calculated on the number of days spent on governance expressed as a percentage of total days, the ratio was last updated in July 2025.

19

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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
People & Animals UK
WCLLD
Rosmini Centre Wisbech
WCLLD
Tin Fish Creative Communications Ltd
Rural Touring
ADEC
CHESS+
Various individuals
Community Hubs- East Cambs
Various hubs
Community Hubs- Fenland
Various hubs
Community Hubs- South Cambs
Various hubs
HSF Additional Hub Funding
Various hubs
Warm Hubs in Winter
Various hubs
Total Grants Given		 Year ended
Year ended
31 March 2025
31 March 2024
£
£
-
23,784
-
9,176
-
1,000
-
156,599
-
15,903
-
21,578
-
21,699
-
3,000
27,909
36,250
10,620
26,424
24,805
33,500
28,088
9,400
19,950
-
-
33,570
111,372
391,883

20

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

11. Cost of Charitable Activities

Direct activities
Grant funding activity
Support costs
Total cost of activities 2025
Total costs in 2024
Allocation of Support Costs to Activities:
Management & HR
Finance & IT
Administration
Total support costs 2025
Total costs in 2024		 Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
350,214
125,832
83,028
559,074
-
-
111,372
111,372
30,828
54,367
40,342
125,537
381,042
180,199
234,742
795,983
479,862
167,148
433,504
1,080,514
Social &
Environmental
Economic
Total
Community
Programmes
Programmes
Action
Programmes
£
£
£
£
21,369
37,685
27,964
87,018
4,811
8,485
6,296
19,592
4,648
8,197
6,082
18,927
30,828
54,367
40,342
125,537
48,474
51,509
35,055
135,038

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: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

12. Fund transfers
Year ended 31 March 2025
Catchment Partnership (WEIF)
Charity Centenary Celebration 2024 Fund
CHESS+
Community Hubs - East Cambs.
Community Hubs - Fenland
Community Hubs - South Cambs
DEFRA
Eels in the Classroom
Environment Agency Volunteers
New Life on the Old West
Rural Affordable Housing
Machinery and equipment
Social Enterprise Consortium
Cambs Community Hubs (Cadent)
Fenland Community Cancer Champions
HSF Additional Hub Funding
Fens Biosphere Development
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		 £
£
£
6,495
-
(6,495)
4,822
(4,822)
-
4,244
-
(4,244)
1,861
-
(1,861)
5,486
-
(5,486)
14,732
-
(14,732)
8,099
-
(8,099)
929
-
(929)
15,180
-
(15,180)
15,018
-
(15,018)
22,911
-
(22,911)
(1,871)
1,871
-
2,529
-
(2,529)
13,780
-
(13,780)
12,958
-
(12,958)
1,050
-
(1,050)
265
-
(265)
Restricted
funds
Designated/
capital funds
Unrestricted funds
Unrestricted
fund
128,488
(2,951)
(125,537)
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)
155,555
(20,518)
(135,037)

22

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

13. Tangible Fixed Assets
Cost
Beginning of the year
Additions
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 2024
As at 31 March 2025
All fixed assets are used for charitable purposes.
14. Investments
As at 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
Revaluation
As at 31 March 2025
Analysis of investments:
Cambridge & Counties 120 Day Fund
United Trust
Cirican LLP
Reliance 1 year fixed term
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
Equipment
Equipment
£
£
16,560
13,415
1,871
-
18,431
13,415
15,752
13,415
1,432
-
17,184
13,415
1,894
1,343
1,247
-
2025
£
116,387
67,694
-
-
184,081
91,391
29,690
3,000
60,000
184,081
67,637
27,756
5,219
100,612
7,747
1,199
232
15,696
20,852
45,726		 Total
£
29,975
1,871
18,431 31,846
15,752
1,432		 29,167
1,432
17,184 30,599
1,894 3,237
1,247 1,247
2024
£
176,386
29,690
(89,689)
-
116,387
83,697
29,690
3,000
-
116,387
82,620
92,462
13,866
188,948
32,944
2,155
2,497
9,483
17,167
64,246

23

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

Deferred income comprises income received in the year that is attributable to the following year in which the expenditure will be incurred.

expenditure will be incurred.
Balance of deferred income as at 1 April 2024
Amount released to income earned from charitable activities
Amount deferred in the year
Balance of deferred income as at 31 March 2025		 2025
£
6,913
(6,913)
1,212
1,212		 2024
£
9,883
(2,970)
-
6,913

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 17 employees in pension schemes (equivalent figure for the previous year was 11).

At 31 March 2025 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.

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: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

20. Designated and Capital Funds
Capital funds
Equipment (Unrestricted)
Equipment (Restricted)
Total Capital Funds
Designated Funds
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
£
£
£
£
£
808
-
(1,432)
1,871
1,247
-
-
-
-
-
808
-
(1,432)
1,871
1,247
64,660
-
-
64,660
4,822
-
-
(4,822)
-
101,408
-
-
101,408
170,890
-
-
(4,822)
166,068
171,698
-
(1,432)
(2,951)
167,315

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.

Digital Transformation Fund:

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. Funds 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. Funds might be used for such things as supporting the purchase of new software technology for communications and business efficiency; renewing and updating of websites and the buying new equipment.

Charity Centenary Celebration 2024 Fund:

The charity celebrated its Centenary year in 2024. This fund was set up to provide for the undertaking of a programme of special events during that year of celebration in order to raise the profile of the charity’s work and show how the charity has shaped rural community life in the County. Funds were used to strengthen the charity’s relationships with key stakeholders and to position the organisation for the future.

Business Continuity and Development Fund:

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; 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.

25

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

21. Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds
Bourn Windmill
CHESS+
Community Hubs - East Cambs.
Community Hubs - Fenland
Community Hubs - South Cambs
DEFRA
Eastern Community Homes
Eastern Community Homes (Chelmsford City Council)
Environment Agency Volunteers
Fens Biosphere Development
New Life on the Old West
Rural Affordable Housing
Rural Touring
Cambs Community Hubs (Cadent)
Fenland Community Cancer Champions
Futureproofing Camb. Com. Bldgs
Garfield Weston
HSF Additional Hub Funding
Eals in the classroom		 Brought
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
Carried
forward
forward
£
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
49,219
(44,975)
(4,244)
-
3,078
31,235
(18,934)
(1,861)
13,518
(42)
86,955
(81,427)
(5,486)
-
26,042
100,000
(90,266)
(14,732)
21,044
-
44,180
(36,081)
(8,099)
-
4,810
1,500
(556)
-
5,754
-
-
-
-
-
3,635
42,711
(31,166)
(15,180)
-
12,295
-
(12,030)
(265)
-
(45)
79,619
(64,601)
(15,018)
(45)
13,390
90,579
(57,052)
(22,911)
24,006
-
-
-
-
-
-
166,909
(40,509)
(13,780)
112,620
-
60,655
(47,697)
(12,958)
-
-
4,242
(1,481)
-
2,761
-
20,000
-
-
20,000
-
21,000
(19,950)
(1,050)
-
-
11,297
(3,157)
(929)
7,211
68,929
857,899
(571,994)
(125,537)
229,297

26

Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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.

Catchment Partnership (WEIF)

This project started in April 2024 and finished in March 2025 (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 2025/26.

Cambridgeshire Home Energy Support Service Plus (CHESS+)

This project started in February 2023 and ran for 23 months to end December 2024. This was the second iteration of the CHESS project with grant funding provided through the Energy Industry Redress Scheme via our delivery partners PECT (Peterborough Environment City Trust) who were the project lead. The project aimed 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 involved engaging with frontline workers to help them make project referrals and administering the fuel debt relief pot. A third iteration of the project, CHESS 3, commenced April 2025 and will run until 31 March 2027

Community Hubs – East Cambs

This project ran from May 2024 to March 2025 and was funded through Awards for All, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Care Together programme and East Cambridgeshire District Council. It allowed us to continue our work supporting community hubs in East Cambridgeshire district.

Community Hubs – Fenland

This project started in July 2023 and ran until March 2025. Funded through DCMS’s Know Your Neighbourhood fund, the funding allowed us to develop and support a network of community-led Community Living Rooms across Fenland district which have reduced chronic loneliness and increased community volunteering. In Jun 2025, we were awarded some additional funds from the underspent national programme that will allow us to deliver further project activity in the period to March 2026.

Community Hubs – South Cambs

This project started in November 2023 and runs until October 2025. Funded by South Cambridgeshire District Council, we have continued to support the network of Community Hubs in South Cambridgeshire.

Defra

This project started in April 2024 and finished in March 2025 (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 2025/26 has been confirmed.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Eastern Community Homes

This project started in April 2020 and ran until March 2025. The project aimed to improve housing supply in the East of England by increasing the number of additional affordable homes delivered by the community-led housing sector. Funding was 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 (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. Although managed by Cambridgeshire ACRE, the project is delivered by our sister organisation, the Rural Community Council of Essex. The project started in April 2024 and concluded at end March 2025. A further tranche of funding is expected in 2025/26.

Environment Agency Volunteers

This project started in March 2023 and ran until the end February 2025. The Environment Agency 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. A further single year contract has been agreed for 2025/26.

Fens Biosphere Development

This fund held 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. During the course of the year, the remaining funding was transferred to the County Nature Partnership, Natural Cambridgeshire, to take forward the work.

New Life on the Old West

This project started in October 2020 and runs 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.

Rural Affordable Housing

This project started in April 2024 and finished in March 2025 (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 2024/25 additional funding was provided through the Defra Rural Housing Enabler Programme. Partners and Defra have committed to provide a further year’s funding for 2025/26.

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. Initially a pilot project in 2023/24, a second phase of the pilot ran from April 2024 – August 2024.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

_______________

21. Restricted Funds (continued)

Cambs Community Hubs (Cadent)

Cambridgeshire ACRE has received funding through Cadent’s Centres for Warmth programme to continue and extend its support for Community Hubs across East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and South Cambridgeshire. The funding allows us to employ a team of Village Agents who support individuals with improving their health and wellbeing. Cadent is particularly concerned that we should support people with income maximisation, energy efficiency advice and carbon monoxide safety advice. The project commenced in September 2024 and will run until end March 2026.

Fenland Community Cancer Champions

The Fenland Community Cancer Champions project aims to ensure people living in Fenland have improved knowledge about cancer that supports their access to earlier diagnosis and treatment. Funded by Macmillan Cancer Support the project started in May 2024 and will run for three years until end April 2027.

Futureproofing Camb. Com. Bldgs

This project will start in April 2025 and will run by three years to end March 2028. Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, with match funding brought across from our Defra funding and membership fees, it seeks to enhance support for community buildings by providing a comprehensive suite of services and resources tailored to the needs of volunteer management committees. A new addition is the provision of sustainability advice, including energy audits for community buildings seeks to ‘go greener’ by installing energy efficiency measures.

HSF Additional Hub Funding

Cambridgeshire County Council distributes the Household Support Fund (HSF), the UK Government grant to support those most in need and to help with the rising cost of living. The funds permits them to allocate a certain proportion of funding for preventative measures and they granted funded to Cambridgeshire ACRE to passport onto our network of Community Hubs. This was a one-off initiative during 2024/25.

Eals in the classroom

This short-term project was delivered between February 2025 and end May 2025. Funded by the Centre for Landscape Regeneration, 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.

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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
£
£
£
£
-
1,247
-
1,247
18,013
166,068
-
184,081
159,905
-
229,297
389,202
177,918
167,315
229,297
574,530

23. Statement of financial activities - Comparative figures for 2024

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
£
£
£
£
13,560
-
-
13,560
1,273
-
810,446
811,719
95,255
-
34,617
129,872
3,534
-
-
3,534
Year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
fund
Designated/
capital funds
113,622
-
845,063
958,685
4,511
-
-
4,511
229,056
2,429
849,029
1,080,514
233,567
2,429
849,029
1,085,025
-
-
-
-
(119,945)
(2,429)
(3,966)
(126,340)
155,555
(20,518)
(135,037)
-
35,610
(22,947)
(139,003)
(126,340)
157,849
194,645
207,932
560,426
193,459
171,698
68,929
434,086

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Docusign Envelope ID: 7F0BF586-44D7-4874-A16F-114277E41A6E

Cambridgeshire ACRE For the year ended 31 March 2025 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 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

Housing Associations / Registered Social Landlords

Accent Group Ltd Amplius (formerly the Longhurst Group) Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association Cambridge Housing Society English Rural Housing Association Hastoe Housing Association Ltd

Lottery Distributors

Awards for All National Lottery Community Fund National Lottery Heritage Fund

Grant Makers, Trusts and Foundations and Others

Allia Impact Anglian Water Cadent Gas Ltd Cambridgeshire Community Foundation Centre for Landscape Regeneration Energy Industry Redress Fund through Energy Savings Trust Evelyn Trust Garfield Weston Foundation Macmillan Cancer Support Papworth Trust PECT Plunkett UK Resolve Poverty Social Enterprise East of England Trinity Denoir

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