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2024-03-31-accounts

St Mary’s Eltham Community Centres Association

Annual Report and Accounts 2023/24

(For the year ended 31 March 2024)

Registered Charity No. 1077280

Company Registration No. 03796671

Registered Office:

St Mary’s 180 Eltham High Street, Eltham, London, SE9 1BJ

Contents

Trustees Report Page 3- 4
Public Benefit Page 5
Governance Page 6
Our Venues & Board of Trustees Page 7
Risk Management Page 7
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities Page 9
Independent Examiners Report Page 10
Financial Statements Page 11 - 21

2

Board of Trustees’ 2023/24 report

Following the Board’s review of business at the end of the 2022/23 financial year because of the reduced level of grant aid for 2023/27 notified by the Royal Borough of Greenwich, 2023/24 led to fresh marketing initiatives aimed at increasing business and raising the profile of the Association.

The Board is pleased to report that although business conditions overall remained somewhat challenging, the year in review showed a marked upturn in private hire business. We were also delighted to welcome new regular and one-off bookings to the Association’s buildings including Friday prayer groups, new church bookings and all-day party bookings.

The year ended with 36 Affiliated Groups and 60 private regular groups but sadly we should report the departure during the year of the Eltham Twins & Multiples Group, Kent Models ~~,~~ Brownies & Guides who all cancelled their bookings due to low attendances at their meetings.

The Board is grateful to everyone who has worked tirelessly and diligently throughout the year to ensure St Mary’s offers a welcoming presence to both new and existing users.

The annual open day, held in June 2023, was officially opened by Dominic Mbang, the Mayor of Royal Borough of Greenwich Council. Several Affiliated Groups showcased their great expertise and the Board express thanks to everyone involved in the event.

October 2023 saw the retirement of two trustees: Julian Bartlett and Shaheen Westcombe, after years of dedicated service. Tim Crossley and Brenda Lobo were appointed as new trustees at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 15 October 2023. After the AGM Shivani McCormack expressed interest in joining the Board. Shivani joined the Board in November 2023 and her appointment will be formalised at this year’s AGM.

The Association’s staffing was also subject to change and the Board of Trustees accepted the retirement of Patrick O’Sullivan, Centre Director on 05 March 2024 (last day in the Office was 24 May 2024after more than 14 years of employment with St Mary’s). The Board thanked Patrick for his dedication in the role of Centre Director and wished him well in his retirement at the Board meeting held on 20 May 2024.

St Mary’s venues hosted two Polling Days this year, one on 02 May 2024 and the General Election on 04 July 2024 and we thank our hall assistant team for the long day that both events involved.

Finally, the 2023/24 AGM will be held at 4pm on Tuesday 15 October 2024.

3

Future Outlook for the Financial Year 2024/25

After a competitive interview process, the Board was pleased Kirsten Halle accepted the offer to become the Association’s new Centre Director. Kirsten, of course, is no stranger to users, having been our Deputy Centre Director for the last few years. Hannah Thomson expressed an interest in the Deputy Director role and following interview accepted the offer. Amanda Ball remains the Association’s finance officer and is joined by Nancy Hall as our new office administrator. The Board wish the new team every success.

No decisions have yet been made on possible price increases for 2025/26 – a review is planned for the autumn. The Association faces increasing costs due to our ongoing commitment to pay the London Living Wage and increasing utility costs, aging buildings and a decreasing grant from the Royal Borough of Greenwich. However we remain dedicated to providing community space at reasonable rates.

The Office will continue to build awareness of activities and community space available at the Association through engaging social media content, external advertisements at our buildings and paid advertising locally in the SEnine magazine.

We continue to hire staff to support additional bookings and to provide more flexibility within our hall assistant team.

We have received funding from the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund (GNGF) to undertake improvements to the Progress Hall Kitchen and the Progress Hall Front Entrance. The kitchen renovations took place in June 2024 ahead of lucrative all day hire bookings at this building. The Progress Hall Front Entrance improvements will require planning permission and will be undertaken subject to this permission. We plan to identify other areas for potential GNGF funding for 2025/26 and welcome your suggestions.

4

Public benefit

All our activities are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit. The Board has regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit throughout the year when approving St Mary’s activities.

Our mission is to encourage community cohesion by helping to develop groups and activities which are open to all our community; providing affordable and welcoming venues; supporting and working with other local partners in order to contribute to our vision for Eltham which is a community that feels connected, is culturally vibrant and inclusive.

St Mary’s works towards achieving this mission as follows:

a) building community involvement / cohesion by:

b) working with local agencies to enhance the quality of life for Eltham residents. These include the Eltham Town Centre Partnership, NHS Greenwich, Active for Health, The Federation of Greenwich Community Centres

c) managing and having responsibility for internal maintenance and decoration, furnishing and security of five buildings under Tenancy at Will Agreements with the Royal Borough of Greenwich d) contributing to local emergency recovery services by providing our buildings as emergency centres. We hold disaster support supplies at the St Mary’s Centre in Eltham High Street.

5

Governance

St Mary’s Eltham Community Centres Association is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.

Registered charity number: 1077280

Registered company number: 3796671

Registered office: St Mary’s Community Centre 180 Eltham High Street, Eltham, London SE9 1BJ

Accountants: Michael Adamson & Co., 23 Helena Road, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 8LN

Our bankers:

Unity Trust Bank Aldermore Bank United Trust Bank
Four Brindleyplace Apex Plaza One Ropemaker Street
Birmingham Forbury Road London
B1 2JB Reading EC2Y 9AW
RG1 1AX
Cambridge & Counties Bank Limited Redwood Bank
Charnwood Court Suite 101 The Nexus Building
5b New Walk Broadway
Leicestershire Letchworth Garden City
LE1 6TE Hertfordshire
SG6 3TA

The purpose of St Mary’s is set out in our Articles as follows:

(a) To promote for the benefit of the people of the area without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race, age, disability or of political, religious or other opinions, by associating together those people, the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education, citizenship, community development and social cohesion and to provide facilities for recreation, leisure and community activity with the objects of improving the conditions of life for those people;

6

(b) To establish, or secure the establishment of, community centres and to maintain and manage these whether alone or in co-operation with any local authorities or other persons or bodies in furtherance of these objects.

Our venues

St Mary’s Community Centre, 180 Eltham High Street, Eltham SE9 1BJ Anstridge Hall, Anstridge Road, Eltham SE9 2LL Flintmill Hall, Flintmill Crescent, Kidbrooke SE3 8LU Lionel Road Hall, 540 Westhorne Avenue, Eltham SE9 6DH Progress Hall, Admiral Seymour Road, Eltham SE9 1SL

Board of Directors

Under St Mary’s Articles, which govern the relationship between the Board of Directors and members, and subject to certain matters which are reserved to members who attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM), the St Mary’s Board holds all the charity’s powers and authorities.

Board of Directors/Trustees 2023/24

Mr Bob Treacher, Chair, Affiliated Group member

Mrs Marian McGuigan, Vice Chair, Affiliated Group member Mrs Milena Mitova, Treasurer, Independent member

Ms Julia Gale, Independent member

Mrs Bee Twidale, Affiliated member

Mr Timothy Crossley, Affiliated Member

Ms Brenda Lobo, Affiliated Member

Mrs Shaheen Westcombe MBE, Affiliated member. Resigned from the Board October 2023

Mr Julian Bartlett, Vice-Chair. Resigned from the Board October 2023 Patron: Mrs Judy Smith MBE

Risk management

The trustees actively review the major risks which St Mary’s faces on a regular basis and believe maintaining reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions.

7

The trustees are satisfied adequate Health and Safety and Risk Management policies and procedures, Employers and Public Liability Insurance are in place.

The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks faced by the charity and it can be confirmed they have established systems to mitigate any significant risk.

Independent examiners

A resolution proposing Michael Adamson and Co. to be re-appointed as independent examiners of the charity for the year 2023/24 was put to the membership at the 2022/23 Annual General Meeting and unanimously agreed.

Small company special provisions

The report of the Board of Trustees has been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) and with the Charities Act 2011.

Financial Review

Performance has been challenging due to a reduced grant from Royal Borough of Greenwich and the impact of high living costs on private hire income. However, due to increased marketing initiatives, St Mary’s recorded a surplus of £8,278 at the 2023/24 year-end

St Mary’s Reserves are detailed on p18 and stand at £258,359. The bulk is our Statutory Reserve which we are required to have by law and we are pleased to report we are meeting our requirements. The majority of reserves cover our obligation for winding up and meeting any of the predictable associated costs. We also have reserves to cover emergency repairs to the inside of the halls.

The trustees are happy with the reported accounts for 2023/24.

Approval

This report was approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf on 2024.

_____ Bob Treacher, Chair

_____ Marian McGuigan, Vice Chair

8

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The trustees are required by law to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the financial activities of St Mary’s and its financial position at the end of the year.

In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:

  1. Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

  2. Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

  3. State whether policies adopted are in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and with applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

  4. Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume the charity will continue in operation.

9

Report of the Independent Examiners to the Members St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association

We have examined the financial statements on pages 11 to 21 for the year ended 31 March 2024, which have been prepared under the accounting policies set out on page 15.

Respective responsibilities of the trustees and examiners

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is our responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiners' report

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiners' statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:

  1. which gives us reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

  2. (a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

(b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act, have not been met; or

  1. to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Michael Adamson and Co Chartered Accountants

23 Helena Road Rayleigh Essex SS6 8LN

Date :

Page 10

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2024

Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Note
funds
funds
funds
2024
Income and expenditure
£
£
£
Incoming resources
Income from use of facilities and catering
4
230,038
-
-
230,038
Grants and donations receivable
2
-
-
17,500
17,500
Investment income
3
12,532
-
-
12,532
Total incoming resources
242,570
-
17,500
260,070
Resources expended
Cost of generating funds
Direct charitable expenditure
5
233,528
-
17,514
251,042
Governance costs
6
750
-
-
750
Total expenditure
234,278
-
17,514
251,792
Net (outgoing) / incoming resources for the year
8,292
-
(14)
8,278
Reconciliation of movement of funds
Net (outgoing) / incoming resources before
other recognised gains -
net movement in funds
7
8,292
-
(14)
8,278
Transfers
520
(520)
-
-
Total funds brought forward
146,426
189,594
14,061
350,081
Total funds carried forward
155,238
189,074
14,047
358,359
Allocation of assets
Tangible assets
-
4,686
127
4,813
Current assets
164,360
184,388
13,920
362,668
Current liabilities
(9,122)
-
-
(9,122)
155,238
189,074
14,047
358,359		 Total
2023
£
174,235
40,000
2,332
216,567
251,964
750
252,714
(36,147)
(36,147)
-
386,228
350,081
5,347
348,639
(3,905)
350,081

The net incoming resources for the year represents the total recognised gains for the period.

None of the charity's activities were aquired or discontinued during the year.

The attached notes form part of the accounts

Page 11

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Comparative Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2023

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total
Note funds funds funds 2023
Income and expenditure £ £ £
Incoming resources
Income from use of facilities and catering 4 174,235 - - 174,235
Grants and donations receivable 2 - - 40,000 40,000
Investment income 3 2,332 - - 2,332
Total incoming resources 176,567 - 40,000 216,567
Resources expended
Cost of generating funds
Direct charitable expenditure 5 207,268 - 44,696 251,964
Governance costs 6 750 - - 750
Total expenditure 208,018 - 44,696 252,714
Net incoming resources for the year (31,451) - (4,696) (36,147)
Statement of other recognised gains and losses
Net incoming resources before
other recognised gains -
net movement in funds 7 (31,451) - (4,696) (36,147)
Transfers 20,579 (20,579) - -
Total funds brought forward 157,298 210,173 18,757 386,228
Total funds carried forward 146,426 189,594 14,061 350,081
Allocation of assets
Tangible assets - 5,206 141 5,347
Current assets 150,331 184,388 13,920 348,639
Current liabilities (3,905) - - (3,905)
146,426 189,594 14,061 350,081

The net incoming resources for the year represents the total recognised gains for the period.

None of the charity's activities were aquired or discontinued during the year.

The attached notes form part of the accounts

Page 12

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2024

Notes
Fixed assets
9
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
11
Net current assets
Net assets
Reserves
Accumulated fund
12		 2024
£
4,813
9,226
353,442
362,668
(9,122)
353,546
358,359
358,359
358,359		 2023
£
5,347
3,879
344,760
348,639
(3,905)
344,734
350,081
350,081
350,081		 2023
£
5,347
3,879
344,760
348,639
(3,905)
344,734
350,081
350,081
350,081
350,081
350,081
350,081

The board of trustees are satisfied that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and that members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The board of trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Approved by the board of trustees on

and signed on their behalf

Mrs M Mitova

Mr B Treacher

The attached notes form part of the accounts

Page 13

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 March 2024

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association
Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Notes
Net cash generated from operating activities
13
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
3
Purchase of fixed assets
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the period
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward
Consisting of:
Cash at bank and in hand		 Total funds
2024
£
(3,850)
12,532
-
8,682
344,760
353,442
353,442		 Total funds
2023
£
(40,600)
2,332
-
(38,268)
383,028
344,760
344,760

The attached notes form part of the accounts

Page 14

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation of accounts

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, and are in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019 and with the Charities Act 2011.

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

Fund Accounting

Incoming resources

Voluntary income and donations are included in incoming resources when they are receivable, except when the donors specify that they must be used in future accouning periods or donors conditions have not been fulfilled, then income is deferred. The income from fees is recorded gross.

Grants receivable

Grants receivable are recorded on the accruals basis

Resources expended

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of any VAT which cannot be recovered.

Expenditure which is directly attributable to specific activities have been included in these cost categories. Where costs are attributable to more than one activity, they have been apportioned across the cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of these resources.

Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation.

Depreciation is provided on all fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost over their useful economic lives as follow:

Furniture and equipment

10% reducing balance

Governance costs

Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the independent examiner's fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.

Value added tax

Value added tax is not recoverable by the charity, and as such is included in the relevant cost in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Pensions

The company operates a defined benefit contribution scheme operated by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Under FRS 102, as this is a multi-employer scheme and it is not possible to identify the share of the underlying assets and liabilities belonging to the charity, the scheme is treated as a defined contribution pension scheme for the purposes of the accounts. Contributions are charged to the profit and loss account as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

Page 15

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Financial instruments

Basic financial assets and liabilities are initially recognised as the amount receivable or payable including any related transaction costs and subsequently under the effective interest method. There are no non-basic financial instruments.

2 Grants receivable and donations

General (page 20)
3
Investment income
General (page 20)
4
Other incoming resources
General (page 20)
Media Resources (page 21)
5
Direct charitable expenditure
General (page 20)
Media Resources (page 21)
6
Governance costs
General (page 20)		 Restricted
funds
£
17,500
17,500
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
Restricted
funds
£
17,500
14
17,514
Restricted
funds
£
-
-		 Unrestricted
funds
£
-
-
Unrestricted
funds
£
12,532
12,532
Unrestricted
funds
£
230,038
-
230,038
Unrestricted
funds
£
233,528
-
233,528
Unrestricted
funds
£
750
750		 2024
£
17,500
17,500
2024
£
12,532
12,532
2024
£
230,038
-
230,038
2024
£
251,028
14
251,042
2024
£
750
750		 2023
£
40,000
40,000
2023
£
2,332
2,332
2023
£
174,235
-
174,235
2023
£
251,948
16
251,964
2023
£
750
750

Page 16

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

7 Net movement in funds for the year

The net movement is after charging:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets
Independent Examiner's fee		 2024
£
534
750		 2023
£
595
750

8 Staff costs No remuneration was paid to trustees. The staff costs of the remaining staff were:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 2024
£
177,682
7,471
29,969
215,122		 2023
£
176,450
9,260
27,824
213,534

The average weekly number of staff employed, calculated as full time equivalents during the year was as follows:

Direct charitable work
Governance		 2024
FTE
7
-
7		 2023
FTE
7
-
7

No employee received remuneration over £60,000 in the year.

Remuneration to key management personnel in the year amounted to £68,813 (including employer pension contributions of £9,798) (2023 : £68,100 (including employer pension contributions of £9,655)).

9 Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2023
At 31 March 2024
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2024
Net book value
At 31 March 2023
At 31 March 2024		 Furniture and
equipment
General
£
42,013
42,013
36,807
520
37,327
5,206
4,686		 Furniture and
equipment
Media
Resources
£
7,922
7,922
7,781
14
7,795
141
127		 Total
£
49,935
49,935
44,588
534
45,122
5,347
4,813

Page 17

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

10 Debtors
Trade debtors
Other debtors
11 Creditors : amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Other taxes and social security costs
Accruals
12 Accumulated fund
At 1 April 2023
Retained (deficit)/ surplus
At 31 March 2024		 2024
£
9,226
-
9,226
2024
£
1,675
3,109
4,338
9,122
2024
£
350,081
8,278
358,359		 2023
£
3,515
364
3,879
2023
£
3,055
-
850
3,905
2023
£
386,228
(36,147)
350,081
St. Mary's meets statutory obligations to hold minimum reserves to cover 3 minimum reserves to cover 3 months running
costs in the event of winding down the Association.
Accumulated fund 2023/24
Restricted Designated Unrestricted
Statutory reserves - 174,388 -
Long Term Sickness Fund - 10,000 -
Development fund - - -
Fixed Assets - 4,686 -
Media Resources 127 - -
Friends of St Mary's - - -
General Reserve - general account balance 13,920 - 155,238
14,047 189,074 155,238
Accumulated fund 2022/23
Restricted Designated Unrestricted
Statutory reserves - 174,388 -
Long Term Sickness Fund - 10,000 -
Fixed Assets - 5,206 -
Media Resources 141 - -
Friends of St Mary's - - -
General Reserve - general account balance 13,920 - 146,426
14,061 189,594 146,426

Page 18

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

13 Reconciliation of net movements in funds to net cash flow from operating activities

Net movement in funds
Add back depreciation
Less interest received
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
Increase / (decrease) in creditors
Net cash generated from operating activities		 2024
£
8,278
534
(12,532)
(5,347)
5,217
(3,850)		 2023
£
(36,147)
595
(2,332)
47
(2,763)
(40,600)

Page 19

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association General Income and Expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2024

Income from use of facilities and catering
Affiliation fees
Hire fees - affiliated
Hire fees - other
Catering income
Sundry income
Grants
Restricted
Royal Borough of Greenwich core funding
Total grants
Investment income
Interest receivable
Media Resources (page 21)
Total income
EXPENSES
Direct Charitable Expenses
Catering expenses
Wages and salaries
Pension costs
Staff travel
Water Rates
Light and heat
Cleaning
Telephone and fax
Stationery, postage and printing
Sundry expenses
Bad debts
Repairs and maintenance
Depreciation
Insurance
Payroll fees
Advertising
Governance costs
Independent examiners fees
Total expenses
(Deficit) / surplus for year		 2024
£
2,170
26,596
193,462
5,286
2,524
230,038
17,500
17,500
12,532
(14)
12,518
260,056
1,015
185,153
29,969
1,078
2,414
14,426
3,011
2,297
1,059
410
-
5,380
520
1,668
583
2,045
251,028
750
750
251,778
8,278		 2023
£
2,475
18,835
149,538
1,830
1,557
174,235
40,000
40,000
2,332
(16)
2,316
216,551
376
185,710
27,824
1,035
780
14,188
3,439
2,345
1,064
395
280
8,799
579
2,602
633
1,899
251,948
750
750
252,698
(36,147)

Page 20

St Mary's Eltham Community Centres Association Media Resources Income and Expenditure account for the year ended 31 March 2024

Income
Direct Charitable Expenses
Depreciation
(Deficit) for year		 2024
£
-
14
14
(14)		 2023
£
-
16
16
(16)

Page 21